1. Enjoying, Achieving, Succeeding
Welcome to Key Stage 4
Enjoying, Achieving, Succeeding

2. Aims Curriculum structure Expectations Year 11 and beyond
We will make this presentation available on the website.

3. What are they studying? Everyone does:
English Language and English Literature GCSE
8 lessons a fortnight
Maths GCSE 8 lessons a fortnight
Science 9 lessons a fortnight
Combined Science (2 GCSEs) or Separate Sciences (3 GCSES) in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

4. PSHE – 1 lesson per week
Looking at healthy living and drugs awareness, relationships, finance, college applications and CVs, careers advice, global challenges, life after school and having part-time jobs.

5. Core PE - 3 lessons a fortnight
Non examined
Part of the statutory requirement
Core Computing - 1 lesson a fortnight
Online awareness
ECDL (1 GCSE)
Supports other subjects – looking at revision planning, researching skills, supporting controlled assessments

6. Options subjects 5 lessons each per fortnight.
This gives the majority of students the chance to gain 10 GCSE qualifications.

7. Linear exams
Most of the final grade will depend on performance in the final exam in June 2018.
What students have already started to learn could be asked on an exam paper two years from now!
This means that revision, planning and preparation are key to success.

8. Changes GCSE courses have changed.
Maths will require students to be able to apply the skills covered to problem solving and to explain why they are using particular mathematical concepts.
The problems will be more word-based and so they will have to have good literacy skills to access the Maths paper.

9. English
Far more open curriculum than in the past – more choice of texts for schools.
Controlled Assessment will no longer exist – more pressure on the final exam but more time to prepare for it.
No longer able to take any texts into the exam.

10. We will send out a letter inviting you to buy the recommended text books for English.
Students can bring them into lessons and can then write notes in the texts which will help with revision.
We will have information about suggested revision guides for all subjects on the website.

11. New grading Results will NOT be awarded as A* - G grades in 2018.
Students will get a grade from 9 to 1.
A good pass was a C grade. The new equivalent will be a 5 but this will be harder to achieve than the current C grade.

12. Reporting progress Regular points throughout the two years.
Parents’ evening
Grade cards at the end of each term
Mock exams – During Year 10 and Year 11
Academic review day
Plus – you can call at any time to discuss individual subjects

13. We’ll tell you…. + (top) = (mid) - (bottom)
For every grade e.g. 5+, 3=, 7- etc
You can use this to help focus their support
All aiming for grade 5+ in all subjects

14. Expectations
Year 10 sees students starting harder courses – harder than ever before
Success will not happen by accident and there must be very careful preparation.
Behaviour in lessons must be excellent.
Students have no right to disrupt the learning of other students.

15. Equipment
Students must come to school with the correct books for the day and the correct equipment.
Pen (and a spare), pencil, ruler, calculator
They should prepare their bags the night before school so that they know what is coming the next day.
They should have a place to keep their school work at home so that things are not lost.

16. Attendance
There is more to learn than ever before but no more time in the school day.
It is vital therefore that students are in school as much as possible.
One missed day means 5 hours of content is lost.
Expect to be called about absence - we do it for the benefit of the students.

17. Homework
Students will continue to be set homework in lessons and this will be posted on Show My Homework which parents can access.
This will be set by subjects during lesson time.

18. Subject Groups Group 1 – English (best of Lang/Lit) and Maths
Group 2 – Ebacc – Science, MFL, Computing, History and Geography
Group 3 – All other subjects
What does your child have for each group?
Use the timetable and bucket sheet to work it out?
Why? – over the year you can check they are achieving across a range of subjects and use this to help support them with college applications.

19. Work Experience is no more
Now part of the requirement after Year 11 when in post-16 study
Specialist visits will be explored and employers will visit schools to talk to students
College visits

20. Beyond Year 11 Students have to leave us at the end of Year 11.
Miss Griffiths Post – 16 co-ordinator. Supported by Mrs Murdoch.
Students will receive opportunities to find out about local post 16 provision (A levels and technical courses)
Careers interviews are available to make sure that the suggested courses are suitable and will allow for progression beyond the age of 18.

21. A levels are also changing and are also getting harder over the next few years.
In the past 5 GCSE grades at C or above would have been enough to get in.
Now, they are far more interested in students having a broad range (up to 8) of courses at grade 5 or above as a minimum.
This means students must work hard right from the start.

22. Remember…
Exciting time but must approach school in the right way (equipment, planning, behaviour and effort)
Harder exams based on final exams – students cannot ignore this and must work hard now to be successful in 2018
Please continue to work with us to help your children achieve success.

23. Thank you for coming