1. Welcome to Year 9 Information Evening

2. Head Of Year: Ian Haslam Year 9 Ihaslam@woolwichpoly.co.uk
Check contact diaries weekly
Let us know if anything changes at home
Ensure your son is reading regularly Ask him about his class work, homework and school in general
Support the ‘PROUD’ ethos, including uniform
Encourage your son to attend clubs and extra intervention sessions
Ensure that he is responding to staff feedback
Attend all ARDs and parents events
Ensure that your son is given opportunities to maximise his progress
Provide regular feedback to students and parents
Provide outstanding pastoral care
Ensure that your son is working in a safe and productive environment
Contact home with any concerns
Reward and praise positive contributions
Consistently teach great lessons in order to get great results!
Home school partnership
Parents
School
Student
Do everything we say and you’ll be ok!

3. New GCSE Grading Grades from 1 – 9
Fine grades 1C, 1B, 1A, 2C … 9C, 9B, 9A
5+ counts as a top pass
KSp/KS to present on GCSE changes, new grading system, government measures etc. and what it means for our boys (10 mins MAX)

4. How do the new and old grades compare?
New GCSE Grade
Legacy equivalent 9
Highest A* 8 A* 7 A 6 B 5
C + 4
C - 3 D 2 E 1
F/G U
KSp/KS to present on GCSE changes, new grading system, government measures etc. and what it means for our boys (10 mins MAX)

5. What will Year 9 be measured on nationally?
Attainment 8
Progress 8
English & Maths
(Grades 5 - 9)
KSp/KS to present on GCSE changes, new grading system, government measures etc. and what it means for our boys (10 mins MAX)

6. Average attainment grade across 8 qualifying subjects
No relation to starting points/expected outcomes
KSp/KS to present on GCSE changes, new grading system, government measures etc. and what it means for our boys (10 mins MAX)

7. Average progress made across 8 qualifying subjects
Related to starting points (KS2)
‘Fairer’ comparison measure
Main school performance measure
KSp/KS to present on GCSE changes, new grading system, government measures etc. and what it means for our boys (10 mins MAX)

8. Achievement of both English and Maths GCSEs at grade 5 or higher
English & Maths (5+)
Achievement of both English and Maths GCSEs at grade 5 or higher
Students who don’t achieve a grade 5 or higher in English and Maths in Year 11 will be required to retake in Year 12.
KSp/KS to present on GCSE changes, new grading system, government measures etc. and what it means for our boys (10 mins MAX)

9. English – Mr Ray-Choudhuri
What is happening?
English will be assessed by EXAM ONLY.
Students will be awarded one of nine grades, represented by the numbers 1-9, with 9 representing the highest level of attainment.
Those who fail to meet the minimum standard will be graded with a U – as before.

10. Thank you for your support!
Woolwich Poly English Department
It is a privilege
We have a commitment
Empowering the boys to be effective communicators, readers and writers

11. GCSE English Literature 100 % exam Two papers - not one. 1
GCSE English Literature 100 % exam Two papers - not one! 1. Macbeth and Jekyll and Hyde 2. An Inspector Calls and Poetry

12. GCSE English Language 100 % exam No coursework/no speaking and listening Two papers - not one! 50% writing

13. Extra Support Extra support in learning support available
English Language revision guides to be purchased available through Wise Pay
Mr Jablonka is running after school clubs

14. Remember…
There were not the distractions there are now, when you were a student. Mobile phones, games consoles, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram & the internet are part of the student life now.
• But some distractions are the same, TV and social life.

15. How can you help? Encourage your child to read widely and frequently.
Read news articles or texts together and discuss the key points and help your child develop their opinions, broadening their knowledge.
Ensure and check that your child is completing homework set and is keeping up with the reading of the set texts.
Homework – 40 minutes twice a week

16. Maths – Mr Christian What is happening? cchristian@woolwichpoly.co.uk
Maths will be assessed by EXAM ONLY.
Students will be awarded one of nine grades, represented by the numbers 1-9, with 9 representing the highest level of attainment.
• Maths will be tiered with an overlapping tiers model, with Foundation tier covering grades 1-5 and Higher tier covering grades 4-9.

17. GCSE Mathematics

18. Resources for Maths Aiming for 5a/5b Independent learning
To develop confidence and resilience
Grade 4/5 taster
Maths Watch VLE – NOW AVAILABLE FOR FREE TO ALL STUDENTS
Revision list with clip numbers
Youtube clips
Pixl APP
Create customised test papers
To identify strengths and weaknesses
Diagnosis Testing and Therapy
Good performance in PPE/WAVE !!!!!!!

19. Regular contact book checks Discuss school homework
As a parent, what can I do to help?
Regular contact book checks
Discuss school homework
Open communication with school
Clear space for study away from distractions
Ensure good diet and appropriate bed-time
Encourage and reward the effort rather than focussing on the grade

20. Science – Ms Masoud & Mr Tweedale
What is happening?
Changes from old GCSE:
All exams are at the end of year 11. NO EARLY ENTRY
Pupils will receive a 9-1 grade. NO LONGER A*-G
2 routes: Trilogy (2x GCSEs) and Separate sciences (3x GCSEs)
6 papers for everyone. (SEPARATE SCIENCE WITH HAVE ADDITIONAL MATERIAL WITHIN THE PAPER INSTEAD OF A SEPARATE UNIT)
No CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT % EXAM ASSESSED
21 required practicals; 30 for separate sciences. These will be assessed in the exams.
There is an increased level of mathematical demand.
23 equations for Physics now must be memorised. NO EQUATION SHEET
‘Triple science’ is now about depth of knowledge, not breadth.

21. GCSE Science 6 exams. Two different route ways
Trilogy (combined Science) - 2 GCSE’s
6 x 1 hour 15 minutes exams
Each exam will contribute 16.7% to the GCSE grade (9-1).
Paper 1 and paper 2 will contribute towards each of the two GCSE grades.
Questions based on the knowledge, understanding and skills of the required practical elements will contribute to at least 15% of the marks for each exam.
Separate Sciences - 3 GCSE’s
6 x 1 hour 45 minutes exams
Each exam will contribute 50% to the GCSE grade (9-1) for each of the separate Sciences.
Questions based on the knowledge, understanding and skills of the required practical elements will contribute to at least 15% of the marks for each exam.
Biology Paper 1
Chemistry Paper 1
Physics Paper 1
Biology Paper 1
Chemistry Paper 1
Physics Paper 1 + + + + + +
Biology Paper 2
Chemistry Paper 2
Physics Paper 2
Biology Paper 2
Chemistry Paper 2
Physics Paper 2

22. Trilogy or separate sciences?
Chemistry paper 1
Atomic structure and periodic table
Bonding, structure and properties of matter
Quantitative chemistry
Chemical changes
Energy changes
Physics paper 1
Energy
Particle model of matter
Electricity
Atomic structure
Biology paper 1
Cell biology
Organisation
Infection and response
Bioenergetics
Physics paper 2
Forces
Waves
Magnetism and electromagnetism
Space physics
Biology paper 2
Homeostasis and response
Inheritance, variation and evolution
Ecology
Chemistry paper 2
Rate of chemical change
Organic chemistry
Chemical analysis
Chemistry of the atmosphere
Using resources
All pupils will have 6 exams regardless of the route they are entered for. The key topics are identical for both routes however, the depth of content is increased in separate sciences. This means there is an extra level of challenge at the top end for those pupils who are gifted at Science.
Currently pupils in Sets 1 and 2 are following the accelerated separate science route, with pupils in sets 3-6 following the Trilogy route. Final decisions will be made in Year 11.

23. How can you help? Ensure that your son does the following:
Responds to feedback – he should be responding to his teachers’ marking.
After an assessment/test use his PLCs to guide his revision.
Purchase copies of the revision guides (available from the science department).
Uses the revision techniques he has been shown e.g. Mind maps, flash cards, exam questions – check polyknowit.net for help
Useful websites for revision:
Be aware of key assessments:
Half term assessments
End of Term Exams (Dec/Jan)
End of academic year exams (June)

24. polyknowit.net