1. St Mary’s Catholic College English Department GCSE English Language and English Literature

2. How can I support my child? Reading a range of non-fiction Practising writing skills Exam board – WJEC Website has past papers and mark schemes.

3. What does the Language Paper test? Paper 1 is four questions based on two similar non-fiction texts. E.G. From a travel piece by Bill Bryson about Manchester - to a newspaper article about Lewis Hamilton’s property in Monte Carlo.

4. What can parents and carers do to help? Regular reading of non- tabloid newspaper articles. Encourage discussion and opinion of current topics. Talk to your child about how/why writers present different viewpoints.

5. Paper 2 Two functional written tasks in one hour. E.g. Formal letters, leaflets, articles, reports and reviews. Students need to read a range of these text types. Constantly review their spelling, punctuation and grammar.

6. GCSE Literature Controlled Assessment is worth 25% (Romeo & Juliet and Poetry). Exams cover – Blood Brothers, Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men and unseen poetry.

7. Three steps to success… 1.Has your child completed all of their CA? If not Wednesday Week 2 is catch up session. 2.Exams cover – Blood Brothers, Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men and unseen poetry. www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize has great resources on how to revise all of these! www.wjec.co.uk 1.Reading newspapers, practising spelling, punctuation and grammar and revising the format of the writing tasks.

8. St Mary’s Catholic College Maths Department

9. How can I support my child? PRACTICAL MATHS Check Planner for Weekly Homework. Ask student to explain their homework to you. If students are stuck they can access really comprehensive help online or come to maths club on a Wednesday after school. Download free past papers or free apps to quiz students in the car or at breakfast on mental arithmetic or exam questions. Do students have the correct equipment, compass, ruler, protractor, calculator (can borrow this from school)

10. Centre ID: smcc login: stmaryscc Password: timer

11. stmaryscc ruler

12. How can I support my child? Changing Mindsets Lots of students think they are either “good” or “bad” at maths. This is not the case! At the moment talk to students about the effort they are making rather than getting answers right or wrong. What do they do when they are stuck? What strategies do they use? 3B4Me – what happens in real life? Maths is needed to get on lots of A-level, college courses, apprenticeships, work placements.