Woodkirk AcademyWelcome to the 2015 Year 9 Information

Evening

2014 Examination Results5+A*-C including English and maths GCSE

5+A*-GGCSE

1+A*-GGCSE

77%(55%) 96% 99%

A2 Pass Rate 98%

A*B Grades 42%

English A*-C 88% (67%)

Maths A*-C 87% (58%)

2014 Results5+A*-C including English and maths GCSE

5+A*-GGCSE

1+A*-GGCSE

77% 96% 99%

A2 Pass Rate 98%

A*-B Grades 42%

English A*-C 88% (62%)

Maths A*-C 87% (62%)

Progress

English expected progress 91%Maths expected progress 84%

English better than expected progress 43%Maths better than expected progress 42%

AttendanceProgress Reports

SUPPORTING GOOD PROGRESS

Full (100%) attendance guarantees a better chance of success

Minimum target for each KS3/4 student is 96%. What does this mean?

ATTENDANCE

YEAR DAYS MISSED

WEEKS MISSED

LESSONS MISSED

OVER 5 YEARS

96% 8 ALMOST 2 45 LESS THAN ¼ YEAR

Average attendance is 96.1% - National is 94.3%

52 (56) students have 100% attendance to date

64 (81) students have 98% attendance

75 (62) students have 96% attendance

191 (199) students have met the school’s target so far.

THE FIGURES

Less than 96%

YEAR DAYS MISSED

WEEKS MISSED

LESSONS MISSED

OVER 5 YEARS

95% 10 2 weeks 50 ¼ year

90% 19 4 weeks 100 ½ year

Assessment Point 4 is available on Friday 26 June What are you looking out for?

PROGRESS REPORTS

Shows motivation and willingness towards work in lessons.

Has an active* role in lessons. Asks relevant questions and volunteers answers. Good role model and willing to support others. Seeks clarification from staff and/or peers to

support progress.

Attitude to Learning Dedicated and enthusiastic. Aspires to exceed targets and seeks ‘next steps’. Actively* engages in all tasks. Excellent role model and supports others very well. Leads one’s own learning. Actively* seeks opportunities to support one’s own

progress both within and beyond lesson time.

Curriculum and Assessment

Understanding your child’s’curriculum and assessment

All GCSEs now have terminal exams No modules or resits

Controlled assessments take place during lesson time and often make a large contribution to the final grade

All BTEC/OCR qualifications all have externally assessed unit.

All the other units take place in lesson time

Understanding the qualifications

All GCSEs apart from English and Maths will be reported in grades A* - G

Target grades are aspirational but achievable with consistent hard work.

Curriculum and Assessment

Assessment Point 4 is available on Friday 26 June What are you looking out for?

PROGRESS REPORTS

English and Maths GCSEs have changed in content and assessment.

The will be reported on in numbers 1-9 rather than grades.

9 is the top grade

Curriculum and Assessment

New GCSE Grade Old GCSE Grade9 A**

8

A*

A*

A+

7A

A-

6B+

B

5B-

C+

4C

C-

3

D+

D

D-

E+

2

E

E-

F+

F

1

F-

G+

G

G-

Curriculum and Assessment BTECs are assessed in Levels 1 and 2 Pass, Merit, Distinction, Distinction *

All 3 years of KS4 matters.

Assessments taking place throughout. Exams should be taken seriously and

thoroughly revised for. A gap in knowledge or understanding is

much more difficult to correct later.

Don’t leave it too late!

Students must stay in education or training until they 18.

Competition for the best places at 6th form and colleges.

Achieving the best grades possible is vital.

Parental support has the greatest effect on a child’s achievement.

Curriculum and Assessment

Avoid your child missing school. On average 95% and above – on target 85% below – one grade lower 75% below – two grades lower

Get involved in your child’s learning. Use the planner to monitor homework Use calendar to be aware of important dates Find out when exams and tests are and help you child with

their revision.

Aim high and believe your child can achieve.

Encourage your child to achieve and then go beyond their target grade.

How to help

Year 9 Parents’ Information

Evening

Supporting progress and success in Maths and English

To present parents with an overview of GCSE Maths and GCSE English Language and Literature.

To provide parents with a range of practical strategies to help your sons and daughters succeed for GCSE Maths and GCSE English Language and Literature.

To familiarise parents with the key resources required to succeed in GCSE Maths and GCSE English Language and Literature.

Why are we here tonight?

Grades and Progress◦ For Maths and English your children will be the first

awarded grades using the new 1-9 system.

Targets◦ Grades for all subjects at the moment but will switch to

numbers for maths and English in September.◦ Set based on prior outcomes◦ Targets are not limits◦ Aspirational to encourage the best from everyone

Students, teachers and parents share the responsibility

What constitutes Success English and Maths

What will your children study?

English

Awarded two separate GCSEs by the end of Year 11: GCSE English Language. GCSE English Literature.

Three strands assessed: Reading and Writing. Spoken Language.

English Language and English Literature will have the same weighting for post-16 study and employment.

KS4 English in Summary

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and WritingWritten examination1 hour 45 minutes 80 marks 50% of GCSE Section A: Reading response to one literature fiction text.Section B: Descriptive or narrative writing.

Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and PerspectivesWritten examination1 hour 45 minutes 80 marks 50% of GCSE Section A: Reading response to one non-fiction text and one literary non-fiction text.Section B: Writing to present a viewpoint.

Non-Examination Assessment: Spoken Language Presenting. Responding to feedback. Use of Standard English.

No longer included as part of the overall GCSE English Language grade.An endorsement on final GCSE English Language certificate.

Exam ContentGCSE English Language

Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th Century NovelWritten examination1 hour 45 minutes 40% of GCSE Section A: ShakespeareSection B: The 19th Century Novel

Paper 2: Modern Texts and PoetryWritten examination2 hours 15 minutes 60% of GCSE Section A: Modern Drama and Prose TextSection B: Poetry Anthology.Section C: Unseen Poetry.

All the above assessments are closed book examinations.

Exam ContentGCSE English Literature

What will your children study?

Maths

One GCSE awarded at the end of year 11.◦ Two tiers of Entry, foundation and higher with our

anticipated split between the two being approximately 50:50.

Assessment is through three exams◦ 2 x 1.5 hour calculator papers◦ 1 x 1.5 hour Non-Calculator

All four ‘strands’ of Maths are assessed in each exam◦ Number – Algebra – Shape – Statistics

KS4 Maths in Summary

The demands on students knowledge and understanding has been increased in the new GCSE.

Higher tier has some more content and there will be a much greater focus on problem solving and algebra.

Foundation tier has significantly more content, a greater focus on problem solving and a wider range of outcomes available.

Maths Subject Content

Maths Subject ContentSubject area Foundation Tier

weighting Higher Tier weighting

Number 25% (35%) 15% (17%)

Algebra 20% (17%) 30% (35%)

Ratio, proportion and rates of change

25% (subsumed in other areas)

20% (subsumed in other areas)

Geometry and measures

15% (28%) 20% (28%)

Probability and statistics

15% (20%) 15% (20%)

Figures in brackets represent the current GCSE

Maths Subject ContentHigher Tier• Grades 4 – 9 available

• Some entirely new content:• Functions, function notation

and inverse functions• Iterative processes• Area under graphs• Equations of circles and

tangents…

• Many more formulae for the students to recall, including the quadratic formula and suvat equations.

Foundation Tier• Grades 1 – 5 available (up to a

current grade B)• A significant amount of content

now included from the current higher tier:

• Trigonometry• Vectors• Cumulative Frequency

diagrams• Simultaneous equations• Calculations involving π…

• Much more for the students to learn and be examined on and many more formulae to learn.

Studying for Success

English

IF YOU READ!YOU WILL

SUCCEED!

Helping your child with English

You can help your child to develop their reading skills by: Encouraging them to read for a short amount of

time every day. Encourage them to read good quality journalism. Read your child’s set texts and discuss them

together. Let your child see you reading. Read together!

Helping your child with English - reading

Helping your child with English – spelling, punctuation and grammar

You can help your child to practise these skills by: Encourage your child to use a dictionary. Work with your child to check through work

for spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors.

If you aren’t sure, look things up together.

Helping your child with English – understanding You can help your child to practise this skill by: Asking your child to describe the main

characters in their books. Talk about the story and the parts the

characters play

GCSE Study Guide series are available for all titles.

Studying for SuccessEnglish

BBC Bitesize. Universal Teacher. Sky Learning. ‘English Biz’. www.gcseresult.co.uk Cherwell online @YouTube. BBC Skillswise. Use the AQA online resources for GCSE

English Language and English Literature.

Studying for SuccessEnglish – Tap into Technology

Studying for Success

Maths

Maths – Then and Now

◦ The Maths has not changed but the methods look a bit different sometimes.

◦ The most common is multiplication…

Studying for SuccessMaths

Maths – Then and Now Different methods do not mean you can not help.

◦ Spend time working with children on problems.◦ If the methods you use are different compare solutions,

discuss which is more efficient, ask them to explain their methods to you.

◦ Make sure they know the basics – times tables.◦ Encourage them to believe they can do maths and offer

opportunities to access maths at home when possible.

Studies have shown that students and parents spending time studying together has a positive impact on outcomes.

Studying for SuccessMaths

Studying for SuccessMaths – New GCSE Questions

Foundation Tier – Grade 4

Studying for SuccessMaths – New GCSE Questions

Higher Tier – Grade 8/9

Assessment◦ Students will notice an increase in the number of assessments

throughout year 10 and will be expected to prepare for them thoroughly.

Homework◦ Assessed after each unit of work◦ Should be treated throughout as preparation◦ More essential than ever with the new GCSE.

Seek Help!◦ Staff run after-school classes◦ After Maths is available every Wednesday (LRC 3pm)◦ Ask parents/carers/grandparents/siblings…

Studying for SuccessMaths

MathsWatch CD’s

GCSE Bitesize – BBC

Apps (smartphone)◦ Available free specifically for GCSE or just for general practice◦ Maths Card

MyMaths Website◦ Individual passwords for each student ◦ Tracks progress and gives instant feedback

YouTube tutorial videos

Studying for SuccessMaths – Tap into Technology

Importance of Maths and English

Good grades in all subjects are essential but

◦ Employers more and more want good grades in Maths and English

◦ A minimum standard has been introduced for all students to achieve and they will have to keep studying until 18 to achieve it (Grade 4)

◦ This is about more than factual knowledge and is about demonstrating communication skills, problem solving ability and initiative

Grades and opportunities

We will be here to answer any questions now but if you do have any other questions please feel free to contact us directly through the school.

Thank you