Key Stage Three Information Evening. Mrs C Whitfield: Assistant Headteacher Mr C Prankerd: Assistant Headteacher Dr. P Sleat: Head of Mathematics Mrs A Egerton: Assistant Head of English
Mr C Prankerd: Assistant Headteacher GCSE Reform On behalf of the DfE Ofqual have made the following changes to the content of GCSE’s: • English Language – a requirement for better reading skills and good written English • English Literature – encouragement for students to read, write and think critically; it will assess students on challenging and substantial whole texts and on shorter unseen texts • Mathematics - provides greater coverage of areas such as ratio, proportion and rates of change; it will require all students to master the basics, and will be more challenging for those aiming to achieve top grades • Science - cover new content, including the human genome, life cycle analysis and space physics, and they will be more mathematically challenging
GCSE Reform On behalf of the DfE Ofqual have made the following changes to the content of GCSE’s: • History - requires students to study more historical periods; it will cover 3 eras - medieval, early modern and modern - and will concentrate more on British history • Geography - requires pupils to use maths and statistics, and will concentrate more on UK geography; it will also require students to carry out at least 2 pieces of fieldwork • Languages - more demanding and most exam questions in modern languages will be asked in the respective foreign language
GCSE Reform For the assessment aspects of the new GCSEs, Ofqual has introduced: New Basic Comparison Grade • New grading scale 1 to 9. 9 Top half of A* • All assessment at the end of the course. 8 Bottom of A* & Some of A • All exams, except where they 7 The rest of A cannot provide valid assessment of 6 Most of B the skills required. 5 Some of B & Top half of C • No tiering, except where untiered papers do not allow all students to 4 Bottom of C & some of D demonstrate their knowledge and 3 Rest of D skills, or will not stretch the most 2 E grade able. 1 F grade & some of G
Timeline of Changes The progression through the change to GCSE will look as follows: Current Year 9 Current Year 8 (Examinations 2017) (Examinations 2018) New GCSE New GCSE English & Specifications Specifications Mathematics (1 – 9 Grading) (1 – 9 Grading) Old GCSE New GCSE All other Specifications Specifications GCSE’s (G – A* Grading) (1 – 9 Grading)
Dr. P Sleat: Head of Mathematics
Why change? “GCSE qualifications are being reformed to ensure they are rigorous and robust and give students access to high quality qualifications that match the expectations in the highest performing jurisdictions. “
What are the changes?
What are the changes?
What are the changes?
What are the changes?
What are the changes? a 2 = b 2 + c 2 – 2bcCosA
What are the changes?
How have we prepared? • We have always introduced GCSE topics from Year 7 – more topics will be introduced earlier for the able students • Our KS3 and KS4 schemes of work have been re-written – to reflect the different weightings of topics and introduction of new topics – to include more problem solving – to emphasise mastery of number • Sample assessment material is still be produced by the exam boards and reviewed by the maths department – We still need to review and select which exam board to use • We are in regular contact with HCC maths advisory service and other heads of maths in the area
Mrs A Egerton: 2 i/c English Department Examinations: English Language: – Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing • 50% • 1hour and 45 minutes – Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives • 50% • 1hour and 45 minutes
Examinations English Literature: – Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19 th Century novel • 40% • 1hour and 45 minutes – Paper 2: Modern Texts and Poetry • 60% • 2hours and 15 minutes
Over the next three years … Year 9 – exposure and awareness of the range and quantity of texts pupils need to study: • Whole text – Shakespeare, modern prose and 19 th Century novel • Lots of poems • Extracts from modern prose • Range of non-fiction texts
Year 9 – this is what they will do: • Echo the structure of Years 10 & 11; • Experience and enjoy a wider range of reading; • Gain opportunities to write in the real world; • Explore and develop ideas and opinions about fiction and non-fiction; • Develop a written and spoken voice that can be adapted for different purposes and audiences.
Year 9 – outcomes for the pupils: • A greater love of reading; • Greater confidence in their writing; • Enthusiasm for Literary Heritage; • Ability to question and evaluate different viewpoints and layers of meaning; • Prepare them for Year 10 and 11 and beyond; • Confidence in passing their exams!
Years 10 and 11 • New texts • Development of understanding and responding to texts • Enrichment of writing fiction and non- fiction pieces • Consolidate skills needed for the exams • Understand the timings and format of the exams
What you can do... • Encourage your children to read a range of fiction and non-fiction texts; • Talk to them about their reading; • Show good practice by reading as well!
Mrs C Whitfield: Assistant Headteacher. Year 9 RE • Option 1 • Continue with the full RE GCSE to be sat in May 2016. • Option 2 • Take the Short Course RE GCSE option to be sat in May 2016.
Year 8 Options • Why choose options during Year 8? • Options chosen this term. • Option subjects are chosen for Years 9-11. • Options Booklet. • Parents and Options Evenings in March.
“ Starting GCSEs in Year 9 has given me the chance to use all my time on the subjects I really enjoy and want to do. I am able to spend more time on just a few subjects rather than having to study subjects this year which I know I didn’t want to do a GCSE in.” Pupil in Year 9
“ I like knowing that we have plenty of time to cover everything before Year 11. We get to discuss our work and focus on the detail. We have lots of time to practise and I feel really good about how I am progressing. We have already started looking at how to revise for our exams and I feel confident about them” Pupil in Year 10
The National Picture • Time of change • Reformed GCSEs in most subjects • Increased Rigour and Demand • Assessment - At end of Year 11 • Need for pupils to study a range of subjects • A changing picture
Compulsory Subjects Leading to qualifications: • GCSE English • GGCE English Literature • GCSE Mathematics • GCSE Science (2 or 3 GCSEs) Non-qualification: • Core PE • Core RE • Citizenship/PSHE/Careers
Option Choices Four further choices from set option blocks One of these four subjects must be: • Geography • History • French • Spanish
Important Dates • Options Booklet available to pupils (hard copy and online): 13th February 2015 • Year 8 Options Information Evening: 12 th March 2015 • Year 8 Parents’ Evening: 19 th March 2015 • Deadline for Option Forms: 23 rd March 2015
Thank you for your time this evening
Recommend
More recommend
