Year 11 Parents information Evening Tuesday 30th September What a parent can do?

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Keep an active interest in what your child is doing.

Discuss future plans and career options. Help your child to stay motivated.

Keep up to date in terms of examination changes.

Attend information evenings and Mentoring days.

Be prepared to contact school outside of these times when necessary.

Are GCSEs becoming more difficult ?

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The amount of marks needed to achieve certain grades has risen over the last few years.

Questions have become less structured and increasingly complex (move beyond description to evaluation, compare and contrast, weighing up evidence, giving examples in context.) A higher degree of literacy is required in understanding of what is being asked understanding of the command words and key subject vocabulary.

Are GCSEs becoming more difficult ?

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Understanding the differing responses required and how to decide which it is the most relevant.

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A move towards more extended writing responses.

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Questions which are synoptic and bring two or more themes together and by unstructured calculations.

English

“The pass rate in different subject areas varied dramatically with English recording the biggest ever drop in the pass rate in the history of the exam” The Independent

The Strategy

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The University of Cambridge International Certificate (iGCSE)

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40% Exam 40% COURSEWORK

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20% Speaking and Listening (this contributes to the final grade)

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AND a Literature GCSE (EdExcel – KETO syllabus) Pupils will carry forward their study of ‘Of Mice and Men’ from Year 10.

Benefits…

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Everyone will now be entered for two GCSEs in English: one in English Language and one in English Literature.

Coursework can be re-drafted by students in school and at home by iGCSE students.

All pupils will be equipped with the necessary skills to move onto English courses Post-16. The iGCSE , EdExcel Literature and AQA English and Literature courses are all recognised GCSEs by Post-16 settings and Universities. All are accredited by Ofqual.

Ensuring that Year 11 are prepared…

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In order to ensure pupils are fully prepared for the rigours of the new method of assessment in examination, we have placed on the school calendar 3 additional English Language mock examinations that pupils will sit throughout the year.

The first of these is on the morning of Friday 17 th October. This will be a ‘walking talking’ mock exam where the pupils will be taken through the iGCSE exam paper step by step.

Ensuring that Year 11 are prepared…

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All of the English Department will be involved in this process to ensure that pupils gain a valuable first insight into the different style and layout of examination paper.

In light of this, we will tailor the December mock examination preparation lessons to the needs of the pupils.

The December mock will also be a ‘walking talking’ mock as part of the process of training pupils for the terminal examination in May.

AQA Dual Award pupils will also have the additional mock examinations at the same time but in a separate setting.

Ensuring that Year 11 are prepared…

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We have Hip Hop Rap artist, Breis, coming to work with Year 11 pupils on Wednesday 15 pupils nearer to exam time.

th October. Breis will be performing to the whole of Year 11 and then working with 60 pupils in workshops throughout the day. He will return in April to inspire and motivate An English trip to Longrigg is currently being organised and pupils who we feel would benefit most from an intensive English course coupled with outdoor activities will be invited.

Pupils will be invited to attend revision days during the school holidays. The focus will be on key skills and examination technique.

Finally…

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Year 11 pupils have responded extremely maturely and positively to these changes mid-way through Key Stage 4.

They are currently producing some cracking pieces of narrative / descriptive coursework.

After half-term they will be embarking upon the second piece of coursework before the mock examination preparation.

Maths

What’s changed?

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Level of challenge Language demands

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Interpretation of question

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Correct spelling of keywords

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Need to answer in sentences Context Allocation of marks

In addition to this…

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Marks awarded for

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correct spelling of keywords

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standard of the layout of workings

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Communicating effectively

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Increased grade boundaries

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Requirement to retake if attain less than a grade C

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How can you help?

Look at your child’s book

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Can you understand their thinking?

Can they explain it to you?

Encourage them to work on their targets

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Targets are recorded in their books on the green stamps Encourage attendance at the after school support club

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Mondays after school Encourage completion of homework

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Vital for regular practice and increased progress

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Not liking the teacher.

A lack of interest in the subject.

Finding the work difficult and giving up.

Deciding that they are no good at a subject.

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Not being fully equipped - poor organisation.

behind with homework.

Avoiding lessons/school.

The CAN DO ATTITUDE

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You CAN DO everything, but not all at once.

You CAN DO everything, if it’s important enough for you to do.

You CAN DO everything, but you may not be the best at everything.

You CAN DO everything, but there will be limitations.

You CAN DO everything, but you’ll need help.

The Three Stages of attaining good exam results…

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Stage 1 : Learning the content first time round

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Stage 2 : Revision

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Stage 3 : The exam

A GCSE in Days ?

They may think that they have forever but look at how many hours they actually have in Year 11 Maths 3 .9 days (5 x 40 minutes lessons per week) Technology 2.7 days (3 x 45 minute lessons) History 2.3 days (3 x 40 minute lessons)

Topics will most likely only be covered once in this time – learning first is key to successful revision and exam results.

Every lesson counts………

Learning the content first time round

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Focus and effort in lessons.

Research at home to further develop knowledge. Fill gaps and check understanding.

Producing good quality work in exercise books. The quality of revision can only be as good as the materials that are to be used.

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Develop the confidence that pupils can do it. Being more self-motivated and taking responsibility for their own learning.

Confidence to ask when they do not understand.

Perseverance, sticking at things when they become difficult… not making excuses.

Organisation and being equipped for the job.

Working independently away from lessons.

Develop a more mature working relationship with staff.

Partner… Diplomat Study Buddy… Project manager

Entertainment

Officer

Adviser

Resource Manager Job description of a parent whose child is preparing for GCSEs Banker

Independent Study…

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In year 11 pupils should be expected to be completing 45 minutes to an hour per subject per week.

On average pupils should be completing around 2 hours homework per night (5 nights).

If this is this not the case, parents should be asking why not?

My work is on the computer at school.

Mr ‘x’ never gives us homework.

It doesn’t have to be of time

I need to be in the library at school to do it- I’ll do it tomorrow.

for ages – I've got loads

We were given time to finish it in lesson.

We didn’t get homework because there was a supply teacher.

I’m doing that with a friend and she’s got the book.

We only have to look something up on the computer.

Where homework is not evident you could suggest…

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Revisit the subject covered in a lesson that day.

Research the topic further to gain a more in depth understanding.

Check for gaps in class notes/exercise books.

Make revision materials.

Visit exam websites and look at past papers.

Work on practical coursework subjects such as Technology and Art.

Learn Modern Language vocabulary.

Read.

When to contact school….

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If your child constantly tells you that they have no homework or preparation to do.

You do not receive information from school.

If you note any changes in your child’s behaviour.

If a particular subject is causing your child particular difficulties.

Important dates for Year 11…

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14th October Post 16 information night.

17 th October English ‘Walk and Talk’ exams 25 th November Mentoring Day 2 nd 8 th December Prospective Post 16 Evening December Mock Exams begin 15 th 21 st 23 rd January Mock Exam results sent home January Year Group Photographs January Deadline for Post 16 applications 9 th 13 th February Post 16 interviews begin February English ‘Walk and Talk’ mock exams