Please switch off mobile phones Our aim is to: provide a broad, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Welcome ome Amy McGuinness Assistant Head Louise Bishop Head of Key Stage 4 Please switch off mobile phones

Our aim is to: • provide a broad, balanced and flexible curriculum • provide an excellent baseline for the continuation into post-16 education and/or employment.

Core curriculum Al All st studen udents ts will st study udy English Language 6 periods in Year 10 English Literature 6 periods in Year 11 Mathematics 6 periods in Year 10 6 periods in Year 11 Science 7 periods in Year 10 8 periods in Year 11

• In January 2012 the government confirmed that all GCSEs taken from 2014 would be examined at the end of the two year course. • There are therefore NO modular examinations in Year 10, or the January of Year 11. • All examinations will take place in the summer of 2022.

• The Government’s intention is that these new GCSEs are more demanding and more rigorous. • They are graded 1 to 9, with 9s being awarded to approximately the top 3% of students. • The top three grades (9, 8 and 7) have replaced the old A* and A grades. • A grade 4 or higher will be considered a ‘pass’, with grade 5 a ‘good pass’.

Significant features: • 100% exams (so controlled assessment and coursework have gone) • Two exams each assessing reading and writing • No tiering (so papers have to be accessible to far less assured pupils and challenging to the most able) • Designed – however - to be ultimately more demanding, with e.g. unseen reading from 19 th century sources and assessment objectives requiring greater analytical competence • Also, a new expectation that reading responses have to enable evaluative thinking (not just analytical as at present) • Speaking and Listening still an assessment element but separately awarded and certificated

Significant features: • 100% exams (so controlled assessment and coursework have gone) • Two exams each assessing readings of and responses to set texts • Closed book exams (so the need to remember details and quotations now much more significant) • Designed to be more demanding, with 19 th century fiction and a Shakespeare play assessed within an exam (so no longer within controlled assessment, with the questions known beforehand)

• There will be an emphasis on all candidates mastering basic mathematical techniques ( calculation, ratio and proportion) and on recall ( lots of formulae which are currently given will need to be learned). • There will be new content: e.g. pre-calculus (using and interpreting gradients, function notation), use of special angles in trigonometry, use of graphs, some mechanics, conditional probability and Venn diagrams). • There will be greater emphasis on mathematical communication and reasoning, with more rigorous proof required. • There will be a much greater emphasis on problem solving. Problems will be presented in unfamiliar contexts with more analysis and interpretation required.

• Students will be taking triple science – separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSEs so they will get three GCSEs. • GCSE started at the beginning of Year 9 It is possible to get different grades for the • three science qualifications.

2019 % 9 % 8 % 7 % 6 % 5 Biology logy 24.2 25.7 17.4 22.7 7.6 Chemi mistr stry 16.6 21. 1.2 18. 18.1 19.6 17.4 Physics sics 28.7 25.0 20.4 14.3 8.3

All students will study RS PE - non exam and citizenship, financial literacy, emotional wellbeing, and careers as part of personal, social and health education (PSHE)

• The teaching of RS will lead to a GCSE Full Course qualification for the majority of students. • In Year 10 the lessons will be taught on a topic based roundabout system with different teachers. • In Year 11 they will have a double period each week with the same teacher.

The teaching of RS incorporates a broad range of topic areas which allows students to explore life issues. • Religion and Life • Religion, Peace and Conflict • Religion, Crime and Punishment • Religion, Human Rights and Social Justice. This helps them to understand more about human nature and hopefully encourages tolerance towards the beliefs of others. It also has an in depth study of both Christianity and Islam.

What use is it? • Top universities are looking for numbers of high grades regardless of subject at GCSE. • There are no current plans to provide certificates for students nor has any university made it an admission requirement • It is possible but not compulsory to choose a combination of subjects satisfy this requirement

• English • Maths • Science • History or Geography • French or German

• They develop ex excel elle lent t commun ommunic ication ation skil ills ls, applicable to many walks of life. • They offer a go good d caree eer r choic oice, as languages are a skill valued in many professions and important for entrance to many good universities. • They promote cultura tural l awaren enes ess and tolerance. Exchange visits help to promote this. • Languages are a skil ill l for r both th work rk an and l d lei eisur ure.

• Latin and Spanish are not subjects students can chose as one of their 3 main options • They will be an additional subject choice • They are taught as an extra curricular provision • This will be at lunchtime and afterschool • It could still lead to either a short course or full course GCSE • The courses begin during term 6 of year 9 • The courses do come at a cost, which is determined once numbers are confirmed.

• Another dimension to consider • Alternative routes in post 14 education include vocational courses • Wiltshire College's Vocational Options include Level 1 qualifications in: • Land based activity • Hospitality • Construction • Hair and Beauty • Motor Vehicles

Students have the opportunity to choose three ee option subjects. We will do our best to ensure that all students are able to study the courses they wish. However, occasionally this is not always possible. The computer fits on the basis of first, then second choice so the order you put them down matters.

The process has been designed to allow a balanced curriculum. It can accommodate the EBacc. It is a flexible option process. You have an excellent range of GCSE subjects, more than enough to allow entry to the Sixth Form at South Wilts and elsewhere.

You will choose 3 subjects

• All the data is entered into an options program. This is a computer program linked to the school timetable. • The program will be run on more than one occasion to get the best possible fit. • It is not always possible to fit every single student choice, especially if numbers are too high or too low and taking staffing into consideration. • Impossible combinations are rare - Music, Product Design and PE could be a challenge!

• Any student whose choices are unable to be met will be seen by myself and Mrs Bishop. • When this process is complete a letter will be sent confirming the option choices made. • Once a student has started a course in September it is exceptional for a course change to occur.

Tim imet etable ble of even ents All students have received input about the option process in PSHE lessons and will hear much of this presentation in an assembly tomorrow. th January • Year 9 parents evening on 15 15 th • Option forms are to be completed and handed to th Jan the form tutor by the 24 24 th anua uary

• The transition from Year 9 to 10 is an important one • Students will follow the choices they make for the next two years • Choices could have implications on what students study post 16 • Tonight is just part of an information gathering process

Where can students find information? • Option booklet • Subject teacher • Tutor and year head • Other students • PSHE Lessons

• Wellbeing Day • Outdoor Education Day – New Forest Experience • Enterprise Days

• In addition to the academic subjects, many extra-curricular activities take place in Years 10 and 11.

• As well as Heads of Year, there are several people students can experience extra support from. • Students will continue with the same tutor for the next two years and they will oversee their daily welfare. • Additional support is available through the KS4 team, the School Counsellor (Kate Luker), the School Nurse and the Careers Advisor (Catherine Short).

There are many leadership opportunities for students in Key Stage 4: • Form Captains • Sports Captains • School Council Reps • Eco Reps • Charity Reps

In year 10, students should be working towards thinking about applying to become a Year 1 1 Prefect. There are several different roles: • Senior Prefects • Community Prefects • Extra-curricular Prefects

Junior Sports Leaders Award (Level 2) – with PE lessons

th January 15 15 th Parents’ Consultation Even enin ing th Jan 24 th 24 anua uary Opt ptio ion n forms rms de dead adlin ine st and 2 nd June 1 st d 2 nd Wel ellbei eing/ g/Outdoor Outdoors Edu ducation ation Days rd – 5 th th June 3 rd Enter erpri prise se Days