Welcome

Mrs S KhanDeputy Headteacher

Supporting your child in English

Mrs N AthertonHead of English

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

1 hour 45 minute exam

Section A: Reading (25%) 1 hour

Four questions based on an unseen fiction text. (20th or 21st Century)

Section B: Writing (25%) 45 mins

One extended description or narrative writing

piece.

Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoint and Perspectives

1 hour and 45 minute exam

Section A: Reading (25%) 1 hour

Four questions based on two unseen non-fiction texts.

(One is 19th Century, the other will be 20th or 21st Century)

Section B: Writing (25%) 45 mins

One extended piece of writing (letter, speech, article, essay or text for a

leaflet) presenting a point of view on a topic.

English Language:

Students MUST spend 10 mins planning for the

Writing sections in both exams.

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Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th century Novel (40%).

1 hour 45 minute exam

Section A: Shakespeare.

One question based on the play Macbeth/

Romeo and Juliet. (50 mins)

Section B: 19th Century Novel.

One question based on A Christmas Carol. (50 mins)

Paper 2: Modern Texts and Poetry (60%).

2 hour and 15 minute exam.

Section A: Modern Text.

One question from a choice of two on Blood Brothers/ An Inspector Calls/

Lord of the Flies. (45 mins)

Section B: Poetry.

Comparing two poems from the anthology Power and Conflict. (45 mins)

Section C: Unseen Poetry.

Students will answer one question on an unseen poem (30 mins)

and one comparing two unseen poems. (15 mins)

English Literature:

Students MUST plan their literature

answers before writing them.

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PARENTS: How can you help and support your child?

• Make sure your child knows what is expected for each exam

• – especially timings.

• If they struggle with their writing in any way – spellings etc – please help

them. The better vocabulary they have, the better grade they will achieve.

• Read articles together, focus on particular words and why they have been

used.

• Please ask them to recite at least 5 quotes a day for literature, as well as

explaining how they present that theme, character or poem. They need to

know writer’s techniques but the most important part is analysing the quotes

in as much detail as possible.

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The texts and poems:

• A Christmas Carol

• Macbeth/ Romeo and Juliet

• Blood Brothers/ An Inspector Calls/ Lord of the Flies

• Ozymandias

• London

• Extract from, The Prelude

• My Last Duchess

• The Charge of the Light Brigade

• Exposure

• Storm on the Island

• Bayonet Charge

• Remains

• Poppies

• War Photographer

• Tissue

• The Emigrée

• Checking Out Me History

• Kamikaze

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How do I revise in English?

• Understand what is expected for exam – particularly focus on completing practice questions.

• Make a list of your weaknesses – and work on them first!

• Learn and recite quotations but also understand how to analyse them.

• Work on vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar skills. Improving your writing will help everything.

• Most important of all, try your best in lessons and complete your revision homework.

Supporting your child in Maths

Mrs S StottAssistant Headteacher

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Preparation

Approach to learningBe prepared to work hard

Exams• Exam Board: Edexcel

• 3 exams, each 90 minutes 80 marks

• First paper non-calculator, paper 2 and paper 3 calculator

• Grades awarded:Foundation- 1-5Higher- 4-9

• There is a greater emphasis on problem-solving and mathematical reasoning, with more marks in the GCSE exams being allocated to these higher-order skills. Students will also have to memorise formulae

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Key to success in maths• Learn your formulae

• Practice, practice, practice – Little and often

• Review the class work

• Complete all set homework on time

• Use the apps to refresh prior knowledge

Hegarty Maths

• Most mathematics homework is set on Hegarty Maths

• Students sign in, access the tasks make notes in their Hegarty homework book (Orange).

• Students then complete the online task. All scores recorded from every task from Yr7 to 11.

• Fix up 5 – five questions, quick task aimed at questions that the student has got wrong

• Memri – recall task, puts together a mini paper that students can use to improve outcomes. (Think Tassomai for maths)

Revision strategies for maths

• Little and often – 20 mins every night is better than 3 hours in one go

• Use trapped time: Buses, car journeys are perfect chances to maximise the app

• Post it notes in key places: The fridge door, near your phone charger, mirrors for when you are getting ready.

• Use your feedback sheets after assessments to track areas you need to improve

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Online resources

Pinpoint LearningCorbett Maths

Maths Genie

Dr Frost

Supporting your child in Science

Miss J MortonAssistant Headteacher

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Types of Course

• 3 courses:

• Entry Level Certificate- Bridges the gap between KS3 and GCSE in Y9 for 9D2

• AQA Combined science – 2 GCSE’s with a combined grade e.g. 77 or 65

• AQA Separate science – 3 GCSE’s each with a single grade

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Exams

• AQA Entry Level Certificate• Externally-set assignments (ESAs) consist of a short written test.

• Teacher-devised assignments (TDAs) consist of a short piece of practical work.

• AQA Combined science • 6 exams each 1 hour 15 minutes (2 biology, 2 chemistry and 2

physics)

• AQA Separate science• 6 exams each 1 hour 45 minutes (2 biology, 2 chemistry and 2

physics)

Curriculum Time

• AQA Combined science • 5 hours per week• Taught by subject specialists

• AQA Separate science • 8 hours per week • Taught by subject specialists

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Homework

• Mode B Homework

• Mode A Homework- Tassomai• Y9 are to complete 4 out of 7 daily goals• Separate scientists will get additional work

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Science Clinic

• Members of science staff present to help where required.

Here students can:• Use the computers for tassomai

• Complete independent revision

• Use the revision resources available (revision guides, flash cards etc.)

• Collect and complete resources from the science leaflet holders (at entrance to F-block)

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Resources Available for Revision

• CGP revision guide- On sale this evening

• CGP revision question cards (flash cards)

• Revision resources in the leaflet holders at the entrance of F-block

• Library Resources

• Youtube: Primrose kitten, myGCSEscience, Freesciencelessons, 21 GCSE Physics Equations Song

• Links to more online support sites can be found on the school website

Effort in lesson

Life after Hodgson…college orapprenticeship?

Foley’s Futures

The Process

Attend open days

Apply to colleges

InterviewsReceive

Confirmation letters

Attend Taster sessions

Enrol

(results day)

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Wellbeing

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How can you help your child

and prepare them to

perform?

Each day you can

support your child to

make choices which can

impact how they

perform in and outside

of school

Sleep Patterns

• Young people need between 8 – 9

hours sleep per night

• Help your child create a relaxing

evening routine

• Make sure they don’t eat too late at

night

• Avoid giving them caffeine or

sugary drinks late at night

• Make sure they don’t work or revise

too late before going to bed

• Encourage them to switch off from

social media / technology at least

an hour before bedtime

Goal setting

• Encourage them to keep

their goals planner visible –

e.g. printed and displayed on

their bedroom wall

• Help focus them and talk to

them about their goals

regularly

• Give positive reinforcement

• Connect with them about

‘why’ and ‘what’ they want to

achieve

Keeping Active 60

minutes

per day • Encourage them to keep active on a daily

basis

• Carry out exercise in manageable chunks

e.g. 3 x 20 min sessions throughout the

day

• Plan to do active things together on a

weekend: walks , days out, entertainment

that doesn’t involve a screen, gym, footie

or other team sports etc.

• After exercise your brain functions well,

so encourage a revision session

afterwards!!!!!

Healthy eating

• Plan your family meals for the week –

breakfast, snacks, lunches and evening

meals

• Get them involved in the weekly shop and

cooking – skill for life

• Avoid high sugary and fatty foods or drinks

– links to mood/ highs and lows/teeth rot/

kidney disease/ diabetes/heart

disease/cancer/ depression/skin aging and

acne/drains energy.

• Aim to eat clean, fresh and healthy foods

• Treats are important

• Encourage them to eat breakfast everyday

• Hydration is key to brain functioning so

make sure your child carries a bottle of

water with them

Online

Online gaming

Social media

Online grooming

Gambling

County lines

Healthy lifestyle

DRUG CONCERNS37% of 15 year oldsWeed/Bud (Bispham Bud/Blackpool Bud)Ketamine SpiceMethamphetamineCocaineNitrous oxide and new psychoactive substancesLegal Highs

Know their friends – peer pressure is one of the most influential factors affecting young people’s alcohol consumption. Children whose friends drink alcohol are five times more likely to drink than those whose friends do not.

ALCOHOL CONCERNS‘For each year during adolescence a young person doesn't drink alcohol, they are 10% less likely to abuse alcohol as an adult.’Better exam results: Drinking once or twice a week has been associated with scores around 20 points lower at GCSE (equivalent to 3 grades, or the difference between an 8 and a 4 in one subject); and drinking on most days may mean 80 points lower scores (equivalent to 13 grades) (National Centre for Social Research 2010).

WEEKEND PARTIES- Serious safeguarding concerns.

YoutherapY

We offer therapy at various locations, so please ask

for details.

Drop-in

If for any reason you are not coping and need

someone to talk to, you are welcome to attend the

drop-in sessions which are:

Every Wednesday

(Excluding Bank Holidays)

Between 3:30pm and 5.00pm.

At Connect, 26 Talbot Road, Blackpool, FY1 1LF.

For all enquiries please

Tel: (01253) 955858

Time Out

Encourage them to build in opportunities to take some

time out every week, away from study. For example:

• Going out for food

• Seeing friends

• Having a bath

• Listening to music

• Reading a book

• Doing a hobby

• Going shopping

• Going to the cinema

Be Supportive

• Be a good listener

• Be approachable

• Encourage them to take breaks

in between revision

• Show some understanding of

what they are going through

• Help them deal with their

emotions & feelings

• Offer caring advice

• Just be there for them!

Thank you for your support