2018- 2021

YEAR 8 INTO 9

KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM

THINKING ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S FUTURE STARTS NOW!

In September 2018 students will be in Year 9

Students will start GCSE courses and Technical Awards

These are three year courses

All will have exams in Year 11 – Summer 2021!

In September 2021 –Sixth Form; College; Apprenticeship

September 2023 – University; Work

WHY START KS4 IN YEAR 9?

Allows three years of study

Best chance of exam success

Complete teaching by Christmas 2020 – then revision until May 2021

Allows system supplies plenty of time for Maths, English and Science (‘Core’ subjects)

It allows 4 options

It allows the best selections of both worlds – academic and technical courses

TIMELINE

Year 8 KS4 assembly 6th March

Subject reports released 22nd March

KS4 Booklets handed out on Parents’ evening – 22nd March

Year 8 careers assembly 27th March

KS4 curriculum evening (Parents meet with subject teachers) 27th March

Deadline for return of Preference Forms – 25th April

There is plenty of time to think, ask and decide

CHANGES IN EDUCATION

• New specification GCSEs

have been introduced. They

are more difficult!

• GCSEs are becoming more

exam focused

• New KS4 grading system 1-9

Legacy GCSENew

GCSETechnical Award

A*+

A*

9

8Distinction*

A 7 Distinction

B

C

6

5

4

Merit

Pass

D 3 Level 1 Pass

E 2

F

G

1

U 0

GRADES AND TARGETS

UNDERSTANDING A SCHOOL REPORT

AT KS4 EVERYONE WILL STUDY…

English Language and Literature

Maths

Trilogy (study three sciences, gain two qualifications) unless you are guided to study Separate Sciences on your preference form (study three sciences and gain three separate qualifications – Biology, Chemistry and Physics)

PE

Cultural Literacy

History or Geography

Most students will take 10 GCSEs

A STUDENT CAN CHOOSE TO STUDY…

History or Geography

Another 3 choices including:

GCSE Mandarin

Separate Sciences

Design Technology

Art

Computer Science

Engineering

Music

Health and Social Care

Food preparation

GCSE PE

VCert Health and Fitness

ROUTES To support your child to make the best choices we have devised three routes to maximise every students chances of success.

options

EBACC Open TEaMs

The EBACC guided route selects an academic pathway to success.

English, Maths, Science, plus PE and Cultural Literacy. 3 Separate

Sciences, a Humanities subject , a Modern

Foreign Language and one other subject.

The Open guided route selects an academic and

technical pathway to success.

English, Maths, PE, Cultural Literacy and

Trilogy Science, aHumanities subject and

then a selection of 3 other academic and technical subjects.

The TEaMs guided route selects a supported pathway to success.

English, Maths, PE, Cultural Literacy and

Trilogy Science, TEaMSand then 3 other

academic and technical subjects

Preferences form

Block 1 Pref

1 and 2Block 2 Pref

1-4Block 3 Pref

1-4Block 4 Pref

1-4

History MandarinSeparate

Sciences

Product

Design

GeographyHealth and

Social CareMandarin Music

Engineering

Food

Preparation

and Nutrition

Health and

Fitness

Art GCSE PEComputer

Science

TEaMS (if

allocated

above)

Please complete this form with your parents/ carers and return it to Reception no later than

Wednesday 25th April 2018.

A guided route has been designed for you to best fit your academic profile and to ensure the

highest probability for successful outcomes in 2021 and beyond.

When considering which subjects you want to study, remember to choose a broad range of

subjects that interest you, and remember any future career you may have in mind can be accessed

by any subject route at KS4. We will work to allocate the most appropriate subjects for you based

your academic profile and your preferences.

DISCUSS THE REASONS FOR CHOICES

Good reasons to choose

Enjoy the subject

Good at the subject

Relevant to your future

Bad reasons to choose

Your friends are doing it

Just because it is new

Favourite teacher

NEXT STEPS – TAKE YOUR TIME

There is a lot to take in:

Read the KS4 Curriculum Booklet

carefully

Discuss with your parents/carers

Discuss with your tutor

Look at your grades and discuss

with your teachers

English Literature and Language

These are all 100% linear exams –no coursework or controlled assessments.

The exams will be takenat the end of Year 11.

These are all 100% linear exams – no coursework or

controlled assessments.

The exams will be taken

at the end of Year 11.

AQA English Language GCSE

All texts in the examinations will be unseen

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing - written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes. 80 marks 50% of GCSE

Section A: Reading - one literature fiction text (40 marks)

Section B: Writing - descriptive or narrative writing (40 marks)

Paper 2: Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives - written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes. 80 marks 50% of GCSE

Section A: Reading - one non-fiction text and one literary non- fiction text (40 marks)

Section B: Writing - writing to present a viewpoint (40 marks)

Non-examination Assessment: Spoken Language separate endorsement (0% weighting of GCSE)

AQA English Literature GCSE

All assessments are closed book: any stimulus materials will be provided as part of the assessment.

Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th century novel

How it's assessed - written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes - 64 marks 40% of GCSE

Section A: Shakespeare: students will answer one question on their play of choice. They will be required to

write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole.

Section B: The 19th century novel: students will answer one question on their novel of choice.

They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write

about the novel as a whole.

AQA English Literature GCSEAll assessments are closed book: any stimulus materials will be provided as part of the assessment.

Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry

How it's assessed - written exam: 2 hour 15 minutes - 96 marks 60% of GCSE

Section A: Modern texts. Students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on their studied

modern prose or drama text.

Section B: Poetry. Students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper

and one other poem from their chosen anthology cluster.

Section C: Unseen poetry. Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question

comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.

Maths

Maths is 100% exam based. There are 3 papers, and two tiers of entry.

Students are required to learn all the key formulae

AQA Separate sciencesBiology, Chemistry and

Physics

Two choices

Equivalent to 2 GCSEsSix One hour 15 minute exams.

Equivalent to 3 GCSEsTwo 1 hour 45 minute exams for each subject

AQA combined scienceTrilogy

The content of the two courses is initially similar so there is some possibility of movement between them in year 9.

Six lessons a week Four lessons a week

No coursework but each exam has 15% of the marks based on practical experiments

that students have completed.

By

recommendation

only

Science

TIMELINE –A REMINDER

•Year 8 KS4 assembly 6th March

•Subject reports released 22nd March

•KS4 Booklets and Preference Forms handed out on Parents evening – 22nd March

•Year 8 careers assembly 27th March

•KS4 curriculum evening (Parents meet with subject teachers) 27th March

•Deadline for return of Preference Forms – 25th April

•There is plenty of time to think, ask and decide