1. Ponteland High School Welcome to the Year 10 Parents’ Information Evening Kieran McGrane Headteacher 23 September 2015

2. Information Evening Staff Kieran McGraneHeadteacher Kieran McGraneHeadteacher Jim BalkwillAssistant Headteacher Jim BalkwillAssistant Headteacher David CockburnRAL Maths David CockburnRAL Maths Sarah RoutledgeRAL English Sarah RoutledgeRAL English Mark WarlandRAL Science Mark WarlandRAL Science Phil ArmstrongPL Year 10 Phil ArmstrongPL Year 10

3. Information Evening Students MathsAdam and Georgina EnglishCatherine, Haneen and Rory ScienceLibby, Annabel, Andrew and Alex

4. Supporting Your Child Jim Balkwill Assistant Headteacher Information Booklet : Key dates Key dates Preparing for GCSEs – parents’ roles Preparing for GCSEs – parents’ roles Revision – helping your child progress Revision – helping your child progress Specification details Specification details

5. Information Booklet Subject information Controlled assessment Controlled assessment External examinations External examinations Setting arrangements Setting arrangements Key dates Key dates Homework Homework

6. Supporting Study Controlled Assessments (CAs) and Linear Exams Some subjects have just GCSE exams at the end of the 2 years’ study (e.g. Maths) Some subjects have a mix of Controlled Assessments and end of course exams (e.g. MFLs) Information on each subject is to be found in the Information Booklet

7. Levels of Control The exam boards set different levels of control for different subjects High Control – Exam conditions apply. Students are not allowed to communicate with other students or to bring new work in to the session (e.g. MFLs, Art and Design) Medium Control – Students can communicate with each other but they are not allowed to collaborate with each other during the controlled assessment itself (e.g Media Studies, Graphics). Low Control – Generally means students can work together and take resources to and from sessions to work on at home (most subjects are low control during the preparatory phase)

8. Managing controlled assessments √ Students must … act on feedback provided by the teacher. prepare thoroughly for the task beforehand using the information provided. – –read guidance and prepare resources set aside time to carry out supporting study at home whilst carrying out the assessment. make sure that you meet all of the deadlines.

9. Switch to only linear examinations There are no longer any modular examinations: – –Most exams will be sat in May and June of year 11. – –Exams will test the work covered over two years. – –CAs will take place throughout Y10 and Y11 – –English and Maths have no CAs and will also be graded differently (9-1 and not A*-G). Changes required in study strategies: – –Internal assessments, tests and mock exams will take on even greater significance – –Students to summarise topics to aid revision – –Longer revision period in Spring of Year 11 to prepare for end of course examinations

10. We are ‘designed’ to forget It’s quite normal to forget things, it’s how our brains have evolved – but repetition overcomes this It’s quite normal to forget things, it’s how our brains have evolved – but repetition overcomes this Evolution did not prepare our brains to remember much of the information we see once only – review and revision are vital Evolution did not prepare our brains to remember much of the information we see once only – review and revision are vital

11. Improving Memory Learn to remember Building understanding Building understanding –Takes time –Confusion often precedes understanding –The ‘pit’ is good for you, don’t fear it Review and revise Review and revise –Improves recall –Find ways to make repetition interesting The pit Understanding Unaware Recall Time

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22. Multiplying out brackets: Worked examples: (i) Multiply out (ii) Expand (iii) Expand You Try: Expand (i) (ii) (iii) 1) 5 x 2 x 5 x 3 x x 4 xx x 3 4x 2 x x 3 4x 2 x 3y4x 2 x 7 Multiply out and expand mean the same thing. You get rid of the brackets

23. Struggling in maths is not the enemy, any more than sweating is the enemy in basketball; it is part of the process, and a clear sign of being in the game

26. It will help you understand what you’re doing and when you look back to revise it will make it clear how you got your answer. It helps you maximise your marks in your exams. Get your notes organised so you don’t miss anything.

27. Spending hours revising things in the wrong way for you can be very unproductive and a waste of time. Find your weaknesses and work on those most. If you have been doing a topic in class that you’ve found difficult, don’t ignore it. You could try: flashcards; revision notes; youtube videos; practise papers; mind maps; mymaths etc. Sort it out as soon as you can or you’ll end up with too much to do in Year 11

28. Teachers are here to help you – don’t be scared to ask any questions no matter what they are. It is important to complete all of your homework as it support your classwork. Close to your exams support sessions are available in the morning which we found to be very beneficial.

29. Clear, simple, interactive lessons.

30. Linked tasks with instant feedback.

31. If you can do everything in every practice paper you should do extremely well in the real thing. Practise them in timed conditions to stop you from getting stressed and understand the way in which the questions are worded.

36. ENGLISH A Guide to the New GCSE for Y10 Parents EXAM BOARD: Edexcel

37. General Information Exam board: Edexcel All students will take a GCSE in both English Language and English Literature. It is an untiered qualification. The assessment consists of four externally examined papers (2 for English Language; 2 for English Literature), plus a separate endorsement of Spoken Language which is internally assessed. It is a linear qualification so all examination papers must be taken at the end of the course. The qualification will be graded and certificated on a nine grade scale from 9 to 1, where 9 is the highest grade

39. 9-1 Grading System

40. YEAR 9

41. 9-1 Grading System YEAR 10

42. 9-1 Grading System YEAR 11

43. GCSE English Language Paper 1- 1 hr 45mins (40%)Paper 2- 2 hrs (60%) Section A (15%) Unseen 19 th Century Fiction Extract will be approx 650 words Shorter response questions will focus on close analysis of the text; longer response questions will ask students to show their understanding of the whole text. Section A (30%) Comparison of two unseen texts from the 20 th and 21 st century One non-fiction; one literary non- fiction Extracts will be approximately 1000 words in total Shorter response questions will focus on close reading of the texts; longer response questions will ask students to compare the texts. Section B (25%) Creative Writing Choice of 2 tasks linked to the theme of the 19 th century fiction One task will include images to help students address the task Audience and purpose along with SPaG will be assessed. Section B (30%) Transactional Writing Choice of two tasks linked to the theme of the texts Newspaper articles, letters etc Audience and purpose along with SPaG will be assessed.

44. GCSE English Literature Paper 1- 1 hr 45 mins (50%)Paper 2- 2 hrs 15 mins (50%) Section A (25%) Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet Two questions One based on a 30 line extract and one on the whole play Section A (25%) 19 th Century Fiction ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ or ‘A Christmas Carol’ Two questions One based on a 400 word extract and one on the whole novel Section B (25%) Post-1914 British Drama or Prose Either DRAMA or PROSE Choice of essay questions SPaG is assessed Section B (25%) Poetry: Relationships One question comparing one named poem from the chosen anthology collection with another of the student’s choice from the collection One question comparing the two unseen contemporary poems

45. What Can Parents Do? Encourage your son/ daughter to read widely and frequently. Help to proofread their work. Talk to your child about their strengths and areas for improvement. Help your son/ daughter to access past papers and revision materials on FROG.

46. Y12 Advice Catherine Young Haneen Amer Rory Liddell Xan Milligan

47. GCSE Sciences 2015 Ponteland High School

48. Entry Level Award Entry Level Science GCSE Science Dual Award Science GCSE Science GCSE Additional Science Separate Science GCSE Biology GCSE Chemistry GCSE Physics

49. B1, B2, B3C1, C2, C3P1, P2, P3 Controlled Assessment Linear Course May 16 Year 10 25% 60 min 25% GCSE Science B4, B5, B6C4, C5, C6P4, P5, P6 Controlled Assessment Linear Course June 17 Year 11 GCSE Additional Science 25% 60 min 25% Dual Award Sciences (2 x GCSE’s)

50. Advice to Parents Students will gain a GCSE in Science at the end of Year 10. If students wish to retake this qualification in Year 11 they must redo all examined units in May 2017. Only their controlled assessment mark can be carried forward. Dual Award Science

51. Separate Sciences (3 x GCSE’s) Unit 1Unit 2Unit 3Unit 4 B1, B2, B3B4, B5, B6B7 Controlled assessment GCSE Biology 25% 60 min 25% C1, C2, C3C4, C5, C6C7 Controlled assessment GCSE Chemistry 25% 60 min 25% P1, P2, P3P4, P5, P6P7 Controlled assessment GCSE Physics 25% 60 min 25% All examined units to be sat in May & June 2017 – NO RE-SIT OPTION Course

52. Advice to Parents Only Dual Award students will complete controlled assessments in Year 10 Controlled Assessment 1 st attempt (WB: 16 th November) Case Study – Using chlorine to treat water Animal extinction UV radiation Data Analysis – Dissolving Salt Controlled Assessment 2 nd attempt (WB: 29 th February) Case Study – Using chlorine to treat water Animal extinction UV radiation Data Analysis – Area of a Solar Panel

53. Advice to Parents Students will complete a lot of the preparation for their controlled assessment as homework. Support them with their studies by… - ensuring they can plot a graph of their results; - talking about the topic that they are researching; -directing them towards useful websites, newspapers and magazine articles; -checking their notes before the write-up session to make sure they are in good order.

54. Purchase a revision guide from school (£5 each). Advice to Parents

55. Ensure your child can access the online homework and ebook website - Kerboodle Advice to Parents www.kerboodle.com ABROWN nu6

56. Biology, Chemistry & Physics ebook. Practice questions in different styles for all topics in the course

57. SCHOOL USERNAME SCHOOL PASSWORD Ensure your child can access the school’s Virtual Learning Environment (FROG) via the Pont High website. Revision presentations, past papers & specifications.

58. Purchase a hard copy of the textbook. Advice to Parents www.oup.org.uk

59. Advice to Parents Purchase a hard copy of the textbook. www.oup.org.uk

60. Advice to Parents Any questions or concerns please contact the school. -Mr Mark Warland (Raising Achievement Leader– Physics) -Miss Amelia Richardson (Deputy Raising Achievement Leader– Biology) -Mr Nick Tuck (Raising Achievement Coordinator Chemistry) -Mr Graham Tulip (Raising Achievement Coordinator KS4 Science)

61. Tips for students in lesson ‘Use highlighter pens to identify key facts in your lesson notes.’ ‘Stay organised – make sure your book is sectioned into different modules and lessons, with key information highlighted.’ ‘Speak to your teacher when stuck. They are there to help.’ ‘Focus on all your science subjects not just the one you find easiest or most enjoyable e.g. Biology.’ ‘Make notes throughout the lesson on anything that is new to you. Don’t wait for instruction from the teacher.’

62. Tips for students when revising ‘Don’t leave revision till the last minute. Do a bit each night.’ ‘Attend the afterschool revision sessions. They are always useful.’ ‘When revising create a revision sheet to show the main topics in a module and how they are related. Use the syllabus to focus on the areas you do not understand.’ ‘Buy the revision guides, they don’t cost much and are a big help. The textbooks are also really useful, especially for catching up on missed work.’

64. Raising Achievement Jim Balkwill Assistant Headteacher Attendance Attendance Homework Homework The Planner The Planner

65. Attendance Matters

66. Homework At Key Stage 4 students always have homework: –Learning –Reinforcement Purpose? Preparation –Research If no formal homework is set in a subject: –10 minutes per examined subject per evening

67. The Planner The planner is a very effective home-school communication tool, as well as an excellent student organiser: Organising the following school day/week Organising the following school day/week Seeing what work/prep needs to be done Seeing what work/prep needs to be done Passwords for e-learning Passwords for e-learning Checking what lessons students have had Checking what lessons students have had Checking what homework needs doing Checking what homework needs doing

68. Now is the Time Students with poor GCSEs at 16 “rarely improve by 18”. In Britain in 2011: 188 000 failed English Language GCSE. 188 000 failed English Language GCSE. 211 000 failed Maths GCSE 211 000 failed Maths GCSE Just over half resat, of whom: only 6.5% eventually got their C in English only 6.5% eventually got their C in English only 7% eventually got their C in Maths. only 7% eventually got their C in Maths.

69. Now is the Time From now on young people are required to remain in Education or Training until the age of 18. They must continue to study English Language and Maths until they achieve ‘good’ grades.

70. Closing Comments We hope this evening has been informative and useful for parents and students Staff and students are available for questions and information Please have a safe journey home