newent community school and sixth form centre striving for excellence year 10 parents’ information...

Newent Community School and Sixth Form CentreStriving for Excellence

Year 10 Parents’ Information Evening

24th September, 2015

Welcome

Changes to GCSEs

• Year 10 students will be taking new GCSEs in English Language, English Literature and Mathematics

Newent Community School and Sixth Form Centre

Striving for Excellence

Changes to GCSEsAll new GCSE specifications are:

• “More rigorous” • Contain more Content• Have no controlled assessment: except in Languages, Art and DT subjects• Assessed by Longer, terminal exams• Only have Higher and Foundation tiered exams for Maths and Languages.• Have greater Literacy demand

Mechanisms will be put in place to ensure first cohorts are not disadvantaged. I.e. similar % of students achieving grades at each threshold nationally.



Controlled Assessment

• Calendar to take away• Worth between 25 and 60% of “Old” GCSE courses• Reward:–Excellent attendance–Thorough preparation–Reflection


Changes to GCSEs



OLD

A*

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

NEW

98

7

65

4

3

2

1


GCSE Mathematics

The changes …

Examinations

Old – for current Y11 New – for current Y10 and below

• Three exams1 hour 30 mins each

• Paper 1: Non-calculator• Paper 2: Calculator• Paper 3: Calculator



• Two exams1 hour 45 mins each

• Paper 1: Non-calculator• Paper 2: Calculator

Tier of entry


• Two tiersHigher and Foundation

• Foundation 1 to 5• Higher 4 to 9



• Two tiersHigher and Foundation

• Foundation G to C• Higher D to A*


New grading and tier overlap OLD NEW

HIGHER

A*

A*+9

HIG

HER

A*A*-

8

A

A+A

7A-

B

B+6B

B-5

FOUN

DATION

FOU

NDATION

C

C+C

4C-

D

D+

3

DD-

E

E+E

2

E-

F

F+FF-

1G

G+GG-

U U U

Style of questions





Changes to the syllabusThe biggest changes are associated with the extension of both tiers.

The Foundation tier now goes to what used to be a B so this B grade material has moved into this tier. This includes topics like trigonometry, quadratic equations and graphs and lots more lovely algebra.

The Higher tier now goes beyond the A*meaning that some AS skills have moved into this tier. This includes extending into graphs of higher powered functions, and kinematics.

Both tiers also have the brand new topic of set theory.


EnglishStudents must sit Literature and Language – English GCSE as a subject is no longer available. •All English GCSEs will have terminal assessment with no controlled assessment. •Language is the main area of change – Literature has fewer changes •An additional 1.75 hours of examinations (2 x 2hr examinations) •Spoken language will be assessed in the course but will not contribute to the grade. •The new English Language GCSE will encourage students to read a greater range of high quality, challenging literature and non-fiction text from a range of genres and types (from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries).


English

•Reading and writing will be equally weighted in the new English Language GCSE •The new English Language GCSE will have a greater focus on making sure that students are able to write clearly and accurately, in good Standard English. There will be an increased emphasis on spelling, punctuation and grammar including the use of vocabulary. •Tiers will be removed from GCSE English Language. This means that specifications and question papers will have to cover the full range of abilities.


EnglishHow you can help:

With a greater emphasis in assessment on the social and historical background of the books studied for GCSE, students will need highly effective revision strategies and wider background reading, so:

•Encourage wider reading •Encourage students to maximise efforts for end of module topics • To check through work and be a critical partner e.g. “Is this

what you want to hand in?”, “Are you pleased with it?”, “Is it accurate?”

Aiming High



Minimum Expected Grades

Where do they come from?



Aiming High



Aiming HighUsing MEG to set Targets

• MEGs are an estimate not a prediction• MEGs are a minimum benchmark – many

exceed MEGs each year• Student are expected to set their own,

ambitious targets



Progress Checks

November 7th Report 1January 14th Parents Evening + Report 2March 4th Report 3May 18th Report 4July 13th Report 5

If you have a concern don’t wait – share it



Aiming High



Guidance and Support

Careers Guidance:• Internal and External support available at any stage.• Formal programme running throughout Y11• Post 16 Open Evening and Careers Fair – Thursday 19th

November

Work Experience• Week Beginning 20th June 2016• Packs sent out with students early in the new year• Contact Mrs Lawrance with any queries



The Sixth Form at Newent Community School

Miss Lissa RogersDirector of Sixth Form

Mr Ian BrittenDeputy Director of Sixth Form



What makes us different?



• Small class sizes.• Develop students as

skilled learners.• Excellent pastoral &

academic support.• Very good teaching in all

subjects.• Strong Sixth Form

Committee.

Extra-curricular opportunities



• Many opportunities on offer.

• Students keen to start new clubs, e.g. Radio podcast.

• Competitive sport.• Work experience.• Trips and visits.• ‘Take-away quiz nights’!

Working with the Drama team on the National Theatre Connections Project.

What else do we offer in addition to studying?

• Rotary club Public Speaking Competition.

• Community work with charities and in school.

• Sports Ambassador.• Subject Ambassador.• Duke of Edinburgh Award.• Paired Reading.• Bar Mock Trial.• EPQ.• Sixth Form Committee.



Personal Development

Biology Field Trip Rotary Club Public Speaking Competition



Looking Forward...

Bar Mock Trial Competition November 28th 2015 Cardiff• The Bar National Mock Trial

Competition involves:• 2,000 students in Y10-Y13;• 300 barristers and advocates;• 90 judges.

• We’ve been selected!If you would like to take part, see Mrs Lawrance today for further

details.



Sixth Form Changes.

We listen to our students:• Bigger study space. • Quiet areas for Sixth Form

only.• New furniture to facilitate

studying.• Designated Sixth Form

Computer study room.• Focus on Sixth Form student

voice.• Fund raising events.



School Attendance Target2015/16 – 95%So Far……Year 10 – 94%Persistent Absence <90%No Leave of Absence!



Attendance



What can I do to support my child through their GCSE’s?

Thank you for turning up tonight…

M Wycherley

Sound familiar?

Some parental frustrations...

M Wycherley

What can you do to support your child?

Your involvement during these crucial years can make an enormous difference – the difference between success and failure or between ‘D’ and ‘E’ passes and ‘A’s and ‘B’s.

Parental support is eight times more important in determining a child’s academic success than social class, according to a new study. The Campaign for Learning found that parental involvement in a child’s education can mean the difference between an A* and an ‘also-ran’ at GCSE.

(TES, 10 October 2003)

And the good news is – you don’t have to be an expert in any of the subjects your child chooses to make a real difference, and you don’t have to become a ‘super-parent’ giving up your own life and responsibilities

– you just need to know how best to spend the time you do have, at each stage of the process.



You Them

What you do alreadyYou are the expert on your own child and have always been his or her most important teacher.

Your support, encouragement and interest can make a spectacular difference to your child’s motivation and ability to cope with the academic and organisational demands of the exam years.

When you, your child and the school work in partnership, you can be sure that your child will achieve the best results possible


Some of your other jobs!


• Attendance Officer • Partner with the school and your child • Provider of the tools for homework and revision • Banker • Study buddy • Entertainments officer • Sounding board & adviser • Project manager • Go-between • Information provider and interpreter

Tips for parents

• When your child is overwhelmed & de-motivated talk to them.• Consider using rewards to motivate your child. This is not

bribery and the rewards need not be big or costly.• Be flexible – use the 80/20 rule. • Let them know you are there for them and talk them up.• If your child asks for your support encourage them to put the

difficulties in perspective.


Good exam results – what is the secret?

• The secret of good results in exams is about getting things right (and being aware of what can go wrong) at each stage of the process.

• The broad stages are:• Stage 1: Learning the content first time round. The process of revision

(looking at something again) does assume that the content of the subject has been learned in the first place – Every Lesson Counts.

• Stage 2: Revision. Every student need to revise to achieve their potential, revision can be done in many ways.

• Stage 3: The exam itself. There are three sets of skills involved in taking exams – knowing the subject matter, organisational skills and exam technique.


Revision Help Tips for Parents• Talk to your child about how you can support them• Support your child in choosing one good revision guide for each subject.• Help your child with their revision timetable• Support your child in sticking to their revision plan and keeping to the start

and finishing times they have agreed. Praise them when they do it and necessary agree a reward structure.

• Provide favourite snacks and water for revision periods.• Be sensitive about the pressure your child is feeling – let them know that if

they are not really up to it on odd days that it isn’t the end of the world.• Show an interest in how the revision is going, talk through any difficulties

and be prepared to help them reschedule their planning as necessary.• Keep things in perspective – your child may not be doing things the way you

would or as often as you would like but they are doing the best they can in the way that works for them.


newent community school and sixth form centre striving for excellence year 10 parents’ information...

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