1. Year 10 GCSE Parents Information Evening 9th October 2017

2. Aims for tonight To emphasise how important KS4 success is;
To highlight some of the changes to GCSE and the issues/challenges that students will face;
To provide basic information about the courses of study;
To explain the help/support Nobel will offer;
To offer advice on how you can support your son/daughter.

3. Government, University & Employer’s Perspective
GCSEs count !
Especially English and Maths (indicators of literacy / communication and numeracy)
They will be needed & asked for into the future on all applications for jobs and courses.
Over the past 10 years we have lost many non qualification jobs
Huge competition for jobs, college & university places
International dimension – competing with candidates from all over the world not just England

4. GCSE Reforms The new GCSEs will:
Make more demands of students, to help them achieve as much as students in countries with the best education systems.
Be taken by the same range of students who took GCSEs in the past, across a range of abilities.
Be awarded in grades from 1 up to 9, with grade 9 being the highest grade.
Will have a reduced coursework and modular content

5. GCSEs: The Main Changes
Students will be assessed by terminal examinations (exams at the end of the course).
All exams will be at the end of a two year course of study.

6. GCSE Grading 9-1

7. Overview: English and Maths
The New Maths GCSE
More content to study, and more stretching maths at the higher grades.
Supports a deeper and broader understanding of the subject.
The New English language GCSE
Robust foundation in reading, and writing good English.
20% of marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar.
The New English literature GCSE
Encourages students to read, write and think critically.
Range of challenging and substantial whole texts, and unseen texts.

8. GCSE English Literature
Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel
What's assessed
Shakespeare plays
The 19th-century novel
How it's assessed
written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
64 marks
40% of GCSE
Questions
Section A Shakespeare: students will answer one question on their play of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole.
Section B The 19th-century novel: students will answer one question on their novel of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel as a whole.
Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry
What's assessed
Modern prose or drama texts
The poetry anthology
Unseen poetry
How it's assessed
written exam: 2 hour 15 minutes
96 marks
60% of GCSE
Questions
Section A Modern texts: students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on their studied modern prose or drama text.
Section B Poetry: students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from their chosen anthology cluster.
Section C Unseen poetry: Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.

9. Chosen Texts Shakespeare play:
Macbeth (Cambridge School Shakespeare Edition)
The 19th-century novel:
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 
Modern prose or drama texts:
An Inspector Calls (Heinemann Plays For )
The Poetry Anthology:
Love and Relationships (Provided by AQA)
More information will be sent home by Mrs Phillips in due course.

10. GCSE English Language
Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing
What's assessed
Section A: Reading
one literature fiction text
Section B: Writing
descriptive or narrative writing
Assessed
written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
80 marks
50% of GCSE
Questions
Reading (40 marks) (25%)– one single text
1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
2 longer form questions (2 x 8 marks)
1 extended question (1 x 20 marks)
Writing (40 marks) (25%)
1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)
Paper 2: Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives
What's assessed
Section A: Reading
one non-fiction text and one literary non-fiction text
Section B: Writing
writing to present a viewpoint
Assessed
written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
80 marks
50% of GCSE
Questions
Reading (40 marks) (25%) – two linked texts
1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
2 longer form questions (1 x 8, 1 x 12 marks)
1 extended question (1 x 16 marks)
Writing (40 marks) (25%)
1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)

11. GCSE English Language: Spoken Language
Non-examination Assessment: Spoken Language
What's assessed
(AO7–AO9)
presenting
responding to questions and feedback
use of Standard English
Assessed
Teacher set throughout course
Recorded by the class teacher to be sent to the moderator
Marked by teacher
Separate endorsement (0% weighting of GCSE)
Although it does not count towards the full GCSE grade there will be a mark for this in their final results.

12. Helping your child at home with English
Encourage your child to revise the characters, themes, settings and language used in the texts as often as possible – they can create flashcards to help them do this.
Ask them questions about what they are reading in class.
Encourage them to read widely especially pre-1914 texts including non-fiction.
Support them with their grammar and encourage the use of Standard English as much as possible.
Talk to us if you have any concerns.

13. What are controlled assessments?
Projects and activities that contribute towards the final grade. The will be more for the CNAT courses.
Extended essays, investigations, practical experiments, performance work, portfolios
Independent learning a key factor
The work must be the student’s own
Preparation may be done at home
Completed under low, medium or high control in school

14. School Monitoring
Target grades – These will be aspirational as we want to install the aspiration to be successful and push themselves into pupils.
Actual & Teacher assessment results
Indicative & Forecast grades
Progress checks including Attitude to Learning score

15. School Support Student Support –Mrs Thompson
Helping students to cope with exam and work pressure
- One-to-one sessions
- Group sessions
Provides advice, support and a friendly ear for many issues that Year 10 students face

16. School Support Online resources – Subject/GCSEPod/SAM learning/BBC
Targeted lessons & faculty communication /Interventions
Self study guides & support
Study Skills workshops
Mentoring/Sixth Form Mentors
Revision sessions/Revision Guides
Exam warm-ups/Study breakfasts
H/w clubs

17. How can parents help: Provide ideal environment:
Available at the right time
Free from interruptions
Free from distractions
Accessible study materials
Desk space
Comfortable chair
Well lit
Comfortable temperature

18. How can parents help Take an interest and ALWAYS be positive
Discuss work with son/daughter
Help plan for deadlines
Look in planners regularly
Help plan all son/daughter time & revision timetables
Encourage son/daughter to ask for help- home or school
Help son/daughter to get organised- packing bags the night before etc.
Know coursework, mock (first 2 weeks after Easter) and exam deadlines
Review work with son/daughter; does it meet criteria?
Encourage, praise & reward
Feed and water!
Believe in them!

19. Get son/daughter into school!
How can parents help
Get son/daughter into school!
Attendance = success
Impact of missed lessons
With the right frame of mind
With correct equipment
Behaving well
Support the school

20. Results and Attendance
On the whole you get what you deserve!
Attendance:
93% attendance (1.75 hours per week) = 73% chance of getting 5 A*-Cs or 5 grade 4 and above.
90% attendance (half a day per week /20 days a year absence) = 55% chance of getting 5 A*-Cs or 5 grade 4 and above.
17 days equates to a drop of one GCSE grade per subject!

21. What doesn’t help: Comparison with siblings
Constantly mentioning exams
Internet usage
Referring back to ‘when I was….’
Questioning ‘strange’ study/revision methods

22. Communication with school
1ST point of contact
FORM TUTOR or Subject teacher
2ND point of contact
Mr Willsher/Mrs Thompson
Please, when calling describe issue to reception for the message.
Support the school

23. What does good exam prep look like?
Structured & planned
Starting early
Revision/work is in short bursts
Effective revision is active, not passive
Revision/work is reviewed & tested often
the forgetting curve
Rewards received for hard work!

24. Use of the internet, music & social media
Internet Pros and Cons
Everything is there somewhere (exemplars)
It is interactive
It is fun
BUT……….
There are many distractions
You can’t guarantee quality
Music may or may not help!

25. Use of the internet, music & social media
Use high quality websites – speak to class teachers
Structure your time to…
make sure you cover the range of topics (use revision checklists)
attack your weak topics first
Learn actively…
– study the chosen topics (make your own revision documents)
– test yourself (again and again…)
The internet is an additional resource. It does not replace “traditional” revision techniques!

26. Advice for self study…….
Mainly online:

27. Summary message
Every little counts – Start NOW! It is really important to achieve throughout the 2 years!
Marginal gains – little but often improvement.
Key Stage 4 results will impact on what you do in the future (even if you don’t know what that future will be)
Maximising achievement to your potential is key
Make the most of all opportunities, and time, between now and the final exams in Summer 2019.

28. How can parents help?
If you are concerned or have any future questions/enquiries contact :
The subject specific teacher- first instance.
Head of Faculty- If the matter is not resolved.
Form Tutor- for pastoral issues.
Mr Paul Willsher (HOY)
Mrs Genevieve Thompson (Student Support)
Mr Steve Morley (Assistant Head)
e.g.

29. GOOD LUCK!!
Thank you!
Any general questions?