TARGET SETTING AT KEY STAGE 4

TARGET SETTING

• Achieve your potential.

• Effective when used properly.

• Motivate.

• Rewards & Intervention.

GCSE Results

95% A*- C Maths (National Average for boys 64%)91% A* - C English (National Average for boys 58%)

85% A* - C inc English & Maths

Grading the new GCSEs in 2017

• New GCSEs in English Language, English Literature and Maths will be taught in schools from September 2015.

• Number grades from 9 to 1 for English and Maths.

• Grade 5 will be the new benchmark.

• It is positioned in the top third of the marks for a current grade C and bottom third of marks for a current grade B.

• The new Maths GCSE will be tiered, with grades 4 and 5 available through both tiers.

This will mean it will be of greater demand than the present grade C.

Target Grades

• For English and Maths, students will receive a split Number Target Grade.

eg, 5/6 or 6/7

• For all other subjects they will receive a “minimum expected grade” or MEG using grades A*-G.

BACKGROUND

• The Minimum Expected Grade or Number Target Grade represents a predicted grade in each GCSE subject that your son studies.

• These are based on his prior attainment and the progress made by pupils with similar characteristics in previous years.

• The data used to establish the grades comes from a variety of sources which use probability tables, historical data and progression rates informed by a number of key factors including Cognitive Ability Tests, Key Stage 2 results and teacher assessments.

Target Grades

• As with any statistical indicator there is a degree of tolerance, but the grades represent a guide to future achievement and remain fixed from this point onwards.

• Target Grades are designed to inform students and parents what the likely outcome will be if average progress is made.

• All our students will be encouraged to aim higher and aspire to improve upon their Target Grades whenever possible.

Attitude to Learning

1 A highly motivated and co-operative student, who is able to recognise areas for improvement and work to remedy them, consistently amending and correcting his work. He is a highly organised and independent learner. His excellent behaviour consistently aids his learning and he makes positive contributions which support the learning of others in the class.

2 A mostly committed and positive student who usually shows interest in the set tasks and some determination to achieve. He is developing the skills to advance his own learning. He mostly completes work appropriate to his ability. His good behaviour mostly aids his learning and supports the learning of others in the class.

3 A student who sometimes shows interest and determination and sometimes completes the work to a standard in line with his ability, but does not show consistent commitment. A considerable number of set tasks are not completed, are not corrected or he can lack the initiative or motivation to develop his own learning further. He has to be challenged at times regarding low level disruption in class, which may affect the learning of others.

4 An underachieving student who demonstrates little motivation to learn and often leaves work incomplete or uncorrected. He shows minimal commitment to class work and homework. There are significant issues regarding his provision of correct equipment. His behaviour is inconsistent and attentiveness is erratic. He requires frequent reminders in order to correct behaviour and focus on learning. This behaviour significantly impacts on the learning of others.

REWARDS & INTERVENTION• We will provide support and encouragement to help

students achieve and in many cases exceed their Number Target Grades or MEGs.

• Certificates presented in assemblies.• Subject Commendations.• GCSE Awards Evening

• Intervention Strategies• Focus Groups GEMs• To achieve this we must all work together in partnership

Key Stage 4Extra curricular activities

Additional Activities

• Additional activities are an important part of life in Key Stage 4.

• Your son may partake in many extra curricular activities, some will be a continuation of those from his earlier school career, others will be new.

• We want all of the students in Years 10 and 11 to enjoy their additional activities as a balance to their working life in school.

What is on

offer?

Peer support strategy

Charity supporter

Careers Librarians

KS4 Prefects

School Council

members

School Council

member

Musical band

member

Senior sports team

members

Community Sports Leader

‘Connect’ chapel group

Senior sports team

members

Subject specific

competitions

Young Enterprise

opportunities

Senior sports team

members

Time management

• Clearly, time management is an important strategy in ensuring your son achieves his full potential, both inside and outside the classroom.

• Please encourage your son to involve himself in extra curricular activities, they will help him to develop into a well rounded individual.

Ways to encourage good time management

Although additional activities have many benefits, it is important that your son

ensures school work always takes precedence over any supplementary

pastimes he is involved in, in order that he achieves the very best results at GCSE.

Finally ...

E-safety advice for parents

Parental advice

• Thinkuknow website

• https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/

• Advice and resources.

In school

• Pupils are taught Esafety in Computing lessons:– How to use technology responsibly

– Cyberbullying

– Online stranger danger

– What to share online (safe profile pages)

– Digital footprint (think before you post!)

– Digital literacy (effective searching of the internet)

– Viruses, hacking and security