Year 11 Curriculum EveningMonday, 26 September 2016

Curriculum Changes

• English Language, English Literature and Maths to follow new grading system of 1-9

• No iGCSE English

• New Maths curriculum

Important dates

• Mock exams - 21st November 2016

• Parents evening – 25th January 2017

• Mock exams – 21st February 2017

What can you do to support?

• Homework: Agree routine, place and accountability

• Coursework: Awareness, strategy and accountability

• Sleep: 8 hours on average

• Diet: Water, sugar and timing

• Relaxation: Be active in agreeing time to switch off

What can you do to support?

• Make active use of the Planner

• Praise

• Make time to ask and for them to show what they have learnt

• Recognise and discuss all types of feedback (Teacher, peer and self)

• Revision- Reinforce, creative and VAK. Revision handbook.

• Help keep us informed- Successes as well as problems.

Year 11 Parents/Carers

Maths GCSE Preparation Evening September 2016

Purpose of the evening

By the end of the evening you should have:

1. A full understanding of the key expectations, events and challenges of Year 11.

2. A variety of strategies to use to support your daughter in her learning.

Our Expectations

• Committed to turning potential into exceptional achievement

• Centred on students, learning and achievement

• Committed to working partnership with parents and students

• To have high expectations of ALL students in ALL respects.

2015-2016 Maths GCSE Results

• A* to A: 14%

• A* to B: 32%

• A* to C: 63%

• 64% of students made the expected progress which is in line with the national average. (National expectations are three levels of progress based on the KS2 result)

Maths –The exam

• Three papers – Two calculator papers and one non-calculator.

• The exam time has increased from 3.5 to 4.5 hours.

• There is a higher element of problem solving on both papers.

• New content is included on both papers.

• No coursework, purely exam based.

• Two tiers.

• Higher = 4 to 9

• Foundation = 1 to 5

• Early entry to the exams is no longer available. All students will sit their Maths GCSE in June 2017.

Comparison with the Old Spec

• A “C” grade is still achievable on both papers.

• A grade 9 means that a student will be in the top 3%.

• The target for all students is a grade 5.

What does a new spec question look like?

This is question 7

on a foundation

paper

Homework , Revision, Exam details

• Homework will be set once a week, and it will be paper-based and available on www.showmyhomework.co.uk

• The exam details are as follows:

• Term 1: Calculator paper

• Term 2: Full Mock

• Term 3: Non-calculator paper

• Term 4: Full Mock

Maths - Resources

• MyMaths• We have found that those students who regularly access

MyMaths feel more confident about their own ability• Immediate marks given

• Red/Amber/Green indicated

• Booster packs

• Levelled tasks

• Lessons provided online to support independent study

• www.mymaths.co.uk

• Username: helenswood Password: mathsrocks

Maths - Resources

• YouTube

• A really quick and effective way to find how to answer maths questions.

Maths - Resources

• EdExcel Exam Paper App

• Exam practice at your finger tips and totally free.

Maths - Resources• Revision guides and

workbooks

• Half price if bought through the school at £5 for the pair.

• Use early and target their revision.

Maths –What can we do?

• Provide high quality lessons

• Target students that are underachieving through regular and thorough analysis of any MOCK examinations.

• Give you any information that you require.

• Offer external revision sessions and guidance for students.

Maths –What can you do?

• Support students and encourage them to use MyMaths or revision guides regularly.

• Persuade and coax or nag and moan?

• Remain positive – Maths can be learnt

• Get involved – Ask them to explain what they have worked on in lesson to you.

Any Questions?

• If you have any further question then please do not hesitate to contact me on the below e-mail address.

kmurphy@helenswoodacademy.org

YEAR 11 SCIENCE

Why is science important?

The purpose of science

• Learning how to problem solve

• Improve analytical skills

• Being practical

• Science is creative

• Keeping up-to-date with the world

• Discovering the world around you.

The Curriculum• All students follow the Edexcel GCSE

• The majority of students this will involve completing the Core and Additional GCSE’s. These are combined science awards, covering aspects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

• Each of Core and Additional are worth one GCSE, meaning that by the end of Year 11 students will have two GCSE’s from Science. These are entirely separate and so can be different grades.

• Some students also study Further Additional Science. This is an extension course that is worth one GCSE. It takes the ideas from Core and Additional and extends upon them. Again, this GCSE covers aspects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Assessment• Each GCSE consists of three examined units each worth 25%

of the final grade. The remaining 25% is controlled assessment whereby students have to complete a write up of a practical experiment.

• Examinations can be taken at Higher or Foundation tier, with students able to mix tiers within the GCSE. This flexibility allows students to match their strengths, depending upon the subject.

• Higher tier ranges from A* - D grades, whilst Foundation tier ranges from C – G grades. However, if students do not attain enough marks to achieve a D on the Higher tier, then they are awarded a U.

Assessment• Exams are one hour in length and consist of a mix of question

styles, building in difficulty. At the end of each paper there are two six-mark questions that require an extended written response. All exams are marked out of 60.

• The actual topics assessed varies year-on-year, but the exam papers cover a good breadth of each topic from each subject.

• Exams are taken at the end of Year 11, though depending on progress, some students may sit their Core exams at the end of Year 10.

• This means that the majority of students will have six one hour exams in Science in their summer examinations.

Overview

CORE

B1Biology

25%

C1Chemistry

25%

P1Physics

25%

Controlled Assessment

25%

ADDITIONAL

B2Biology

25%

C2Chemistry

25%

P2Physics

25%

Controlled Assessment

25%

FURTHERADDITIONAL

B3Biology

25%

C3Chemistry

25%

P3Physics

25%

Controlled Assessment

25%

What could you use to help with revision?

• Exam papers

• Extended question

• Keywords

• Lesson powerpoints

• Revision guides

• Mind maps

• Flash cards

The V.L.E – what’s that!?http://arkhelenswood.org/

The V.L.E – what’s that!?http://arkhelenswood.org/

The V.L.E – what’s that!?L: Drive (Library)

The V.L.E – what’s that!?

The VLE – what is available?

Past papers

Finally…• Keep checking the VLE – it is continually updated

with materials

• USE the resources – get prepared for the exams and start early

• Practice LOTS of exam questions – what are they asking?

• Focus your revision – what bits do you need to go back over?

All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women are

merely players…

William Shakespeare

Welcome from the English Department

What is your role?

Is it Centre stage?

Supporting actor?

Behind the scenes?

Whichever part you play it should make an impact on the

development and success of your children.

The English Department’s aim tonight is to ensure that you

leave here equipped to take on an active role in your

children’s study of English.

20/9/12 37

Aims of the English Curriculum atHelenswood Academy

•To enable pupils to reach their potential in English and

achieve the highest possible grades in external examinations.

•To encourage pupils to be both self-critical and aware of their own achievements; to enable them to develop strategies to bring about improvements in their work.

• To make pupils aware that skills developed in English lessons have a vital contribution to make their work across the whole curriculum and to life outside school, including the workplace.

Single Tier

GCSE English Language

Paper 1:

Section A: Reading 20/21st

Century prose fiction

Section B: descriptive/Narrative

writing

Paper 2:

Section A: Reading

19th/20th/21st Century non-fiction and literary texts

GCSE English Literature

Paper 1:

Shakespeare play: Macbeth

The 19th-century novel: Robert Louis Stevenson The

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Paper 2: Paper 2:

Modern prose or drama texts

The poetry anthology

Unseen poetry

Overview of the English curriculum

GCSE English language

Paper 1: 50%

Paper 2: 50%

Section B: 40 marksSection A: 40 marks

1 hour and 45 minutes

English Literature

Paper 1

Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes

64 marks

40% of GCSE

Written exam: 2 hours 15

minutes

96 marks

60% of GCSE

SPAG is essential

Students will be assessed on their Spelling, Punctuation

and Grammar.

It is important that they get this right to avoid confusions

like this………..

Punctuation saves lives

The English Department’s expectations

Be fully equipped for all your lessons

Remain focused throughout your lessons

Complete all homework

Present your work neatly at all times

Folders with worksheets must be kept tidy and up to date.

Our guaranteeThe units will be covered thoroughly

You will be assessed frequently in order to prepare for your

final exams

Lessons will be engaging and interactive (be prepared to

participate fully).

What are we doing as a department to

help your child?1. Timetabled Interventions sessions.

2. Additional periods of English each week.

3. Revision Days closer to the exams.

4. On- going Literacy intervention.

5. Drop- in revision sessions.

6. Master Classes.

7. Interim Assessments and Mock exams.

How can you help your child?

• Provide them with a range of reading materials from

various authors from the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.

• Encourage them to read non- fiction texts such as the

newspaper, magazines, biographies etc.

• Check that homework is being completed

• Purchase the relevant study guides in advance

• Have a copy of the text they are reading, at home as well;

read with them.

SUPPORTING YOUR

CHILDHow to support your daughter.

Brain food!

• Fish

• Rice

• Cereal

• Pasta

• Chicken

• Vegetables

• Fruit

• Milk

• water

Strain Food!

• Sugary stuff

• Fizzy drinks

• Crisps

• Chips

• Fast food

• Cakes

• Foods with artificial colours

• sweets

Somewhere to work!

• Quiet

• Comfortable

• Few distractions

• Organised

• No television!

• Music

• Regular breaks

Supporting your Daughter!

• Discussing his day

• Talking about his work

• Encouraging him to

research

• Encouraging him to

watch the news /

documentaries

Revision

• Useful revision websites include:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/

http://www.englishbiz.co.uk/

http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse

http://www.geoffbarton.co.uk/student-resources.php