GCSE Focus- Reaching Potential

Welcome Address

Mrs Robinson

Headteacher

Mr Griffen

Deputy Headteacher

How to support your child during the GCSE Examination Season

How to help your child with Maths, Science and English

Revision Strategies

Examination Preparation

Opportunity to discuss any issues with a member of staff

Aims for Parents/ Guardians

Students will have an examination timetable

Ensure that they know which examination that they have on each day. Is it in the morning or the afternoon?

Check that they know what equipment they should have for each examination

GCSE Examinations

Illness – Contact the School and get an urgent appointment at the GP

Pastoral Issues – Contact Mr Turner-Monk or Mrs Trezise for support

Subject Concerns – Speak to the CTL for the subject or Mr Turner-Monk

Any issues during the Exams

English LanguageEnglish Literature

Mr Johnson

Curriculum Team

Leader

English

ENGLISH

What we’ve studied since

September 2017:

GCSE English languageAssessed through two written

examinations.

Paper One – Explorations in

creative reading and writing

(50%)

Section A: analysis of how

established writers use

narrative and descriptive

techniques to capture the

interest of readers

Section B: students create

their own creative text,

inspired by the topic that

they have responded to in

section A to demonstrate

their narrative and

descriptive skills in response

to a written prompt, scenario

or visual image.

Paper Two – Writers’ viewpoints

and perspectives (50%)

Section A: reading and commenting on two linked sources from different time periods and genres in order to consider how each presents a perspective or viewpoint to influence the reader

Section B: producing a written text to a specified audience, purpose and form in which they give their own perspective on the theme that has been introduced to them in section A

English literature

Conflict poetry

(seen and unseen)

Macbeth

Jekyll and Hyde

An Inspector CallsUSEFUL WEBSITES:

Sparknotes, Genius,

SAM learning

GCSE English Literature

Assessed through two written examinations.

Paper One – Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel (40%)

Macbeth - students will answer one question on Macbeth. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole.

Jekyll and Hyde - 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 Two – Modern texts and poetry (60%)

Section A Modern texts: An Inspector Calls students will answer one essay question from a choice of two.

Section B Poetry: students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from Power and Conflict 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.

USEFUL WEBSITES:

Sparknotes, Genius, SAM learning

Active revision in

English

Mindmaps

Critical thinking

Subject terminology Quotation pages

Triggers -P.E.A.Ls

Why they are

used, what the

impact of using

them is

Annotated

Linked to the

context

Practise makes

permanent

Flash cards

What am I?

Annotate blank copies

Shrink

it

Mathematics

Mr Ekwalla

Curriculum Team Leader

Mathematics

Preparing for Your GCSE Maths Exams

Success through positive attitude and hard work

Input OutputProcess

The Success Box Model

Maths Exams in context

• Paper 1(80marks) 90min

• Non-calculator

• Paper 2 (80marks) 90 min

• Calculator

• Paper 3(80marks) 90 min

• Calculator

Grading

• Grade 9 : 202+• Grade 8: 170-201• Grade 7: 139-169• Grade 6: 109-138• Grade 5: 79-108• Grade 4: 50-78 • Grade 3: 35-49

Focused Revision • “Passport4Success” as your guide

• Use Aim High 2/ 1books to revise topics already covered

• Complete the Online Method Maths

• Kerboodle Pack Practice test Set A-E and Paper 1-3.

• Further Maths Questions on AQA Level 2

Using a variety of revision styles

• Use past papers as a source of questions.

• www.mathsgenie.co.uk (favorite topics)

• Use Aim High Revision books• Use www.mymaths.co.uk• Username:Gaynes• Password: Rectangle

Supporting Your Child

Mr Turner-Monk

Assistant Headteacher

Ask if they need help on regular occasions. Gentle reminders work best!

Stay calm. Teenagers taking exams can get tunnel vision, so rows can be common place at the stressful time. Anger can be a cover for fear

You can’t make them study, but you can emphasise why they need to study

Try to diffuse negative thoughts. Try to be realistic.

How can I help my child?

“ There is so much to learn” Have a revision calendar

Put in their “non negotiables” – the things they will do whether they’re meant to be revising or not (gym, sport etc)

Agree the timetable – put in on the fridge door

Agree to keep to it (this includes you keeping to their free time schedule too)

Write on the Exams and key dates

Divide the day into three sessions (morning, afternoon and evening)

Focus on subject topics

Have variety in subjects and activities

How to help you child deal with common exam issues

40 minutes revising

10 minutes testing

10 minutes resting

How to help you child deal with common exam issues

How to Revise…

MON

TUES

WEDS

THURS

FRI

SAT

SUN

Mor

ning

SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOLHIST

- WW2FRENCH- writing

Aft

ern

oon

SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL RELAXRECAP- WW2

Eve

ning MATHS

- algebraENG

– poemsBIOL

- nerves

RECAP– algebra- poems

CHEM– salt

RECAP- nerves

- saltRELAX

Spend time making a thorough revision timetable and STICK TO IT

“ I can’t concentrate!” Concentration levels do vary for each

individual

Begin working for short periods

Introduce the ideas of rewards and goals

How to help you child deal with common exam issues

“ This is so boring…..” Revision is not fun!

Get actively involved with the materials

Use a range of techniques

Have variety and goals

How to help you child deal with common exam issues

Ways to revise… Mindmaps

Index/flash cards

Past papers

Memory skills

Look/cover/write/

Check

Posters

Topic ranking

Games and quizzes

Websites

Group revision

Video/audio

Become a teacher

Just a minute

Write the key term or concept on one side of the flash card

Write short, concise notes on the other side of the flash card

Make sure your writing is large, clear, and well-spaced

Write in bright colours

Use shorthand to save space

“I like studying in bed” Have a quiet place without distractions

Insist on no TV, no computer games and no phone calls when revising

Ensure a place at a table or desk

Quiet music in the background

How to help you child deal with common exam issues

“I can’t remember anything” This is a panic cry

Try to recall information after a revision session

Use strategies such as charts to jog memories, post-it notes of key terms

How to help you child deal with common exam issues

Create a Central Idea. The central idea is the starting point of your Mind Map and represents the topic you are going to explore

Add branches to your map. The next step to get your creative juices flowing is to add branches

Add keywords

Colour code your branches

Include images

“I don’t understand” Use a range of resources including

textbooks, revision guides and notes

Examination Boards have guidance

How to help you child deal with common exam issues

“As a parent it is never good to get caught up in arguing about revision, however frustrated you may get. Try to remain calm and be open to negotiation when it comes to free time/rewards”

“Don’t try to make your child sit at a table for hours revising. It doesn’t work. Encourage short timed sessions of revision”

Tips from Parents

“Encourage them to talk to you about what they have been doing. It’s good for them to know that you are interested!”

“Help them to stay calm. It’s always about trying to do their best and come away knowing that they have tried their hardest!”

Tips from Parents

“If you find yourself getting stressed out, step back. Ask for support from a family member. Share the worry!”

“Plan in ‘guilt- free’ me time. This will reward revision. Let them enjoy playing on the computer game, watching TV etc”

“Organisation! Organisation! Organisation!”

Tips from Parents

“Make sure they have a dedicated study area. Try to organise work by subjects. Stick the revision timetable up somewhere”

“Keep in touch with them. Encourage them every day…..don’t nag!”

Tips from Parents

“I leave for work at 7.30am and my child is still in bed. I don’t think they will revise if I’m not there”.

“Wake them up before you go. Keep in touch with them. Link to a reward system (as long as you see evidence!)

Test them when you get back on all they have revised that day while you are at work!

Ask relatives to check in with your child on a regular basis”.

Tips from Parents

You can