1. Parent Information Evening
Year

2. Parent Information Evening
Partnership / Independent Learning
English
Mathematics
Assessment and Reporting
Attendance
RRSA
The shape of Year 8

4. Partnership

5. Student
Parent
School

6. Independent learning Essential to your child’s success.
Contributes significantly to progress

7. English The English Curriculum
In year 8, students will study both the reading and writing elements of English.
The three key units which incorporate both reading and writing skills in line with those skills required for GCSE:
‘America’s Dreams’ which focuses on ‘Of Mice and Men’ and other American novels such as ‘The Great Gatsby’;
‘Childhood’ which focuses on a range of poetry including that of Sylvia Plath and William Blake;
‘Justice and Revenge’ which includes the study of Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’.

8. How you can support your child’s learning?
Independent Learning – Show My Homework; Doddle;
‘Skills’ page of the English area on the ALNS website – help pages on a number of key skills in English (for example paragraphing)
Students have also been provided with an E-library log in;
We strongly encourage reading a wide range of texts at home, eg: ‘The Guardian’, ‘The Telegraph’ or watching ‘Newsround’.

9. How we assess in English:
We assess students for both their reading and their writing skills.
Each unit of study contains an opportunity for a formal assessment in reading and writing as well as some ‘spoken language’, which would take the form of a presentation.
These assessments are undertaken in exam conditions and in the students’ purple books.
Feedback is provided by the teacher and students will transfer this into their yellow books.
English teachers will also mark work in students’ yellow books when it addresses the key skills being covered in the unit and students will then have feedback before they approach their formal assessments.

10. Accelerated Reader
Accuracy
20 minutes a day
Tests comprehension

11. Mathematics
Maths GCSE has 3 papers – one non- calculator and two calculator
Total exam length time 4 ½ hours.
Can enter at higher or foundation tier.

12. Assessment Knowing Maths
These are basic straightforward maths questions.
These test the student’s maths knowledge of each topic.
Using Maths
For these questions students need to select which maths to use to solve a real life problem
Applying Maths
The students need to decide how to answer these questions and explain why.
It is the using and applying type questions that students are finding the most difficult and these are the areas in which parents can help the most.

13. Real Life Questions that have come up recently
Buying goods, calculating change
Finding the cost of 8 cakes if you know the cost of 5.
Filling the missing amounts in a bank statement or invoice
Changing money into different currencies
Reading an electricity meter and calculating the bill
Finding areas involving gardens, wallpaper, carpet, paint
Planning a visit to Grandma given a bus timetable
Calculating best buys
Working out postage & packing charges for online goods

14. MATHSWATCH
After each exam we analyse how our students perform and provide them with an analysis sheet.
We have found that one of the most effective ways of improving is for students to use the Mathswatch website to revise topics that they are red or amber on.
We have subscribed to this and so it is free for our students, all they need is their username and login.
FirstnameLastnameYear – MartinFuller Password alns
There are also worksheets that the students can print out using their school printing budget.

16. Calculators
For the calculator papers students need a scientific calculator. Every brand of calculator works differently so it is essential students are using a calculator they are familiar with in the exam. In school we use CASIO calculators and would recommend them as they are very clear to use.

18. Ongoing
Formative
Summative
GCSE’s
Assessment

19. Targets
Expected
Challenge

20. AOB

21. New GCSE’s New grades 1 to 9 instead of G to A*
New GCSEs that are ‘bigger’ and require more content
Mostly 100% exam all at the end of Year 11

22. Attitude to Learning

25. Personal Development UNCRC Personal Development Curriculum
Personal Development Days

26. 90% Attendance Equates to: 4 weeks a year missed
Over 5 Years that’s half a year missed
One grade lower in each GCSE

28. PARENTPAY
Parent Pay is the preferred method of payment for items such as school meals, trips etc.
Login and password already issued with the vast majority of parents already making use of this facility
More information about Parent Pay on the school website.

29. Key Dates Thursday 24th November – Awards Evening
Thursday 15th December – Performance Evening
Thursday 16th - Saturday 18th February – Ypres Trip
Wednesday 1st March – Mentoring Day
Thursday 16th March – Year 8 Parents Evening – Part 1
Monday 8th May – Year 8 exams begin (two weeks)
Thursday 15th June – Year 8 Parents evening – Part 2.
Sunday 3rd July – Saturday 8th July - Camp
Thursday 20th July – Performance Evening

30. Thank you for coming this evening

31. Homework Reading Attendance You
Habits
Homework Reading Attendance You