1. YEAR 11 STEPS TO SUCCESS - A PARENTS’ GUIDE

2. GCSE MATHEMATICS 2012-2013

3. Every Thursday afterschool targeted revision sessions Teachers available at lunchtimes Small group Mentoring Mock analysis and topic specific targeted homework Scheme of work finished in January Exam practice – past papers Mathematics - School support

4. Exam timetable Revision timetable – sit down and plan How to revise – pick up a pen and DO Revision books – available here Past papers – mark scheme’s Websites - Fronter, Mymaths, Edexcel Equipment – scientific calc, ruler, compass, protractor etc.. Mathematics - Parent support

6. A Typical question and example of the mark scheme

9. Exam dates 27 th February 2013 – non calculator 4 th March 2013 – calculator Also June 2013 – non calculator June 2013 – calculator Mathematics

10. GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

11. The key dates in Year 11 Language Literature Controlled Assessment (15%) Creative Writing. December 2012. Unit 1 ‘Reading and Creating Non-Fiction Texts’ resit for some students (40%) January 10 th 2013. Controlled Assessment (15%) Based on the novel being studied for Literature exams. February 2013. Speaking and Listening tasks (20%) Between November and April 2013 Unit 1 Exploring Modern Texts. (40%) Examination. May 2012. Unit 2 Poetry examination (35%) January 16 th 2013.

12. How we are preparing students Any students resitting English Language in January have had weekly revision classes with their teacher and will have 2 days’ worth of intensive revision in December. Extra teachers work in lesson time with groups who need to resit. Year 12 mentors. January to April weekly Controlled Assessment booster sessions. Easter revision classes. Mock examinations in December and March. Revision guides and booklets on Fronter. Drop in sessions during summer study leave. Theatre trips Visiting speakers Sample essays, mark schemes and examiner feedback used consistently in lessons.

13. You can’t revise for English…..? Know the assessment objectives. Read the texts (more than once!) Make notes on characters, settings, themes. Learn the notes made in class. Learn key quotations. PLAN essays – lots of them! Do the homework. Students will be set a minimum of an essay a fortnight. The planning, research and writing of these is ALL important revision. A suitable amount of time should be spent on this. Read sample essays on the AQA website.

15. How you can help your child. Check they spend enough time researching and planning essays. Encourage them to extend their answers by commenting on TECHNIQUES rather than PLOT. Read through the sample assessment materials on the AQA website. The examiners’ report is also available here. Encourage students to read – even if it’s only the sports pages of the Sunday paper. Encourage students to discuss the texts at home. Ask them about what they are doing. Read the text with them if they are reluctant readers. Encourage students to attend extra revision sessions and to attend theatre trips and workshops. Students might find publications like York Notes helpful with revision. Remind students that revision is also necessary for Controlled Assessment. Encourage attendance. www.aqa.org/English

16. GCSE SCIENCE 2012

17. Exam Dates UNIT 1: P3,B3,C3: TUESDAY 22 TH JANUARY 2013 9:00AM UNIT 2: P4,B4,C4: WEDNESDAY 5 TH JUNE 2013 9:00AM

18. Support Provided by the Science Department Lunchtime Intervention Sessions in rooms S3, S8 and S7: For students who have missed lessons, or who need to complete their piece of Controlled Assessment Revision Guides For sale from the prep’ room at lunch and break time. £3.50 Thurs drop-in sessions 1:15 to 1:45 in S3 Coursework consultation/any other issues

19. Support Provided by the Science Department Regular updates and information via Year 11 assemblies. Programme of revision classes several weeks before each exam session. Saturday Morning Master-Class in May 2012. Work set on the Fronter VLE for snow-days. Past exam papers available on Fronter VLE

22. Long Answer Questions -New style of question in the new course -Open ended questions worth 6 marks -No specific mark-scheme – “best fit approach” -Scientific vocabulary vital

23. Long Answer Questions C3 - Long Answer Question – Allotropes of carbon Explain the term allotrope and state why diamond, graphite and buckminsterfullerene are allotropes of carbon. Describe a use for each allotrope and relate its use to its properties. Explain the properties of diamond and graphite in terms of their structure and bonding.

24. Long Answer Questions LevelMark 11-2 Explains the term allotrope as different structures of the same element States that the allotropes mentioned are all forms of carbon 23-4 Explains that allotropes have different physical properties but similar chemical properties. Gives one use for each allotrope and links the use to a property E.g. diamond – cutting tools, due to hardness or high melting point Graphite – pencils, due to slipperiness or electrodes, due electrical conductivity Buckminster Fullerene (C 60 ) – drug delivery systems, 60 carbon atoms arranged in a cage-like structure which can carry molecules around the body 35-6Explains the properties of diamond and graphite in terms of their structure and bonding. e.g. diamond; hardness or high m.pt due to each carbon atom being joined to four others in a 3D tetrahedral lattice e.g. graphite; slipperiness due to layered arrangement, where atoms are covalently bonded to three others forming single layers of regular hexagons which can slide over one another

25. A real question from a Physics exam: c) What happens to microwaves when they hit the metal grill in the door of the microwave oven?..................................................................(1)

26. A real question from a Physics exam: c) What happens to microwaves when they hit the metal grill in the door of the microwave oven? They bounce off the metal door..................................................................(1)

27. A real question from a Physics exam: Mark Scheme: “ The microwaves will be REFLECTED back into the microwave oven. Do not credit ‘bounce’”

29. WWW.PARENTSCENTRE.GOV.UK Dfes site with information on helping your son/daughter learn WWW.QCA.ORG.UK Guidance on qualifications. WWW.JCQ.ORG.UK Guidance on exam, controlled assessment and coursework rules Where to find out more

30. Key dates DECEMBER:ENGLISH CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT NOVEMBER: MOCK EXAMS JANUARY:SCIENCE UNIT 1 ENGLISH UNIT 1 RESIT ENGLISH LIT UNIT 2 FEBRUARY: ENGLISH CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT MATHEMATICS GCSE MAY:ENGLISH LITERATURE UNIT 1 JUNE: MATHEMATICS GCSE SCIENCE UNIT 2

31. Post-16 Progression: key dates 6 th Form Information Evening: Thurs 1 st Nov, 6pm Year 11 Meetings with a senior teacher: week beginning 5 th November Deadline for 6 th Form Applications: Fri 23 rd November 2 nd Y11 Meeting with senior link: March 6 th Form Induction Days: Wed 26 th & Thurs 27 th June 2013