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Bullers Wood School GCSE Core Subject Evening A Guide for Parents and Students Tuesday 9th October 2012 Core Subject Evening • Your daughter has been selected to take one or more of the following: – Early Entry Maths Paper I & Paper II (November 2012) – Early Entry English/English Language Unit 1 Exam (January 2013) – Re-sit Science (January 2013) • The purpose of the evening is to explain our rationale behind this decision and to give you information regarding the examinations. • We would also like to guide you in supporting your daughter at home and provide you with the opportunity to speak directly to subject specialists. • The evening will commence with a talk in the Hall for English students then we would like to give you the opportunity to talk to the Maths and Science teams, so we will be separating into those groups later on. • We hope that you use this evening as a chance to speak to the subject leaders and teachers available and to ask any questions that you may have regarding your daughter’s education. Why is Attendance so high profile? Every school day counts towards your daughter's future. Days off school add up to lost learning. Research has shown that ‘Students who attend school on a regular basis and are offered access to high-quality teaching and learning opportunities will usually leave school with qualifications and access to greater employment opportunities. The links between attendance and achievement are strong, and high levels of attendance at school should be the right of each student.’ (National Strategies 2009) In total there are 175 non-school days a year. This gives families the opportunity to: • Spend time together • Go on family visits • Go on holiday • Go shopping • Go on days out • Attend routine appointments Holidays in term time Many parents and carers think it's okay to go on holiday during term time, but this has a negative effect on their children's learning and ability to achieve. If your child goes on holiday during term time, they are absent. Percentage Attendance Weekly 90%= 80%= 70%= 60%= ½ day 1 day 1 ½ days 2 days Children with over 90% attendance at school are more likely to gain 5 or more A-C GSCEs or equivalent qualifications. Children with less then 85% attendance at school are unlikely to gain 5 A-C GCSEs or any qualifications. Potential Earnings Job 1 - Job 2 £120 £140 1 GCSE Job 3 £160 Job 4 £170 2 GCSE 3 GCSE 4 GCSE 5 GCSE Job 5 £200 GCSE Grades = £’s Pupils leaving with 5A’s at GCSE, over a lifetime, will earn £350,000 more than those leaving with 5C’s. High Attendance = More learning opportunities More qualifications More choice Attendance Attendance is the key to success • If students are not in school they are not learning • Students must attend all examinations • Students must attend all lessons and after school sessions in order to be successful English Early Entry Ms Heaney •Set 3 •Set 4 •Set 5 Examination Structure • Section A: Reading 1hr 15mins Read 3 non-fiction texts Answer questions about the texts Section B: Writing 1 hr Write 2 pieces 1 inform, explain, describe 1 persuade, argue Reading Questions Higher paper example: • Section A Reading (16 mark question) Q - You are going to compare two texts, one of which you have chosen. Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts. Give some examples and analyse what the effects are. Foundation paper example: • Section A Reading (12 mark question) Q - How does the writer use language features to inform the reader about his trip and to describe his experiences? Remember to – • Give some examples of language features to inform • Give some examples of language features to describe • Explain the effects Writing Higher Paper Example • Section B Writing (24 mark question) It has been said that; “people who save lives or help to improve the lives of others are the role models of today”. • Write an article for a newspaper in which you argue your view about what makes a good role model. Foundation Paper Example • Section B Writing (24 mark question) Q - Write a letter to a well-known person persuading them to visit your school or college for the benefit of the students. Remember to – • Write a letter • Use language to persuade In the run-up to the exam... • • • • 11th Dec = After-school sessions start 5th Jan = Saturday school 9th Jan = Periods 5&6 10th Jan = Breakfast session in DALO 8am Key Date & Information: • Examination: 10th January 2013 Breakfast revision in the Dalo @ 8am All students in the Hall @ 8.45am Exam starts @9am • Equipment: 2 black pens Clear pencil case Water bottle with label removed www.samlearning.com Login Mrs May L10 Office [email protected] We will now go to Maths and Science groups Maths - L6 Science - Dalo SAM learning – L4 GCSE MATHEMATICS Early entry 2012 - 2013 In 2011, Sets 5 and 6 were entered for the November papers for GCSE maths (early entry) 49 out of 51 students achieved a grade C. Of these 49 continued to study Maths and were entered for the Higher tier in the summer. The final results for sets 5 and 6 were impressive – Grade A - 9, Grade B – 23 , Grade C - 19 This year, we entered set 5 for the exam in June of Year 10. They all achieved a grade C. If your daughter is in Mr Grady’s set 6 she has been entered for the November examinations this year. When are the exams? Paper 1 - Non-calculator paper Tuesday 6 November (morning) Paper 2 - Calculator paper Thursday 8 November (afternoon) How is Mr. Grady helping your daughter to prepare for these exams? • Practice papers –marked regularly and discussed with students • After school revision sessions – on Tuesdays every week • Revision materials have been ordered including: Guides and workbooks Mathswatch CDs How can you help your daughter to prepare for these important exams? • Make sure they have access to the appropriate revision materials – and encourage them to use them regularly • Encourage them look up the things they don’t know and ask their teacher for individual help • Ensure that they are completing the practice papers to the best of their ability – and handing them in on time • Check their contact books to ensure that they are completing the whole paper • Make sure that they attend all the revision sessions provided for them What other resources are available? There are numerous revision websites available (see booklet) but especially: What else is being provided? All students are having targeted extra maths sessions during form time on a certain day each week. Additional revision sessions will be held for all students in set 6 immediately prior to the exams – •on the afternoon of Monday 5 November •in the morning of Thursday 8 November. Mathswatch • The Mathswatch CD is an excellent revision resource that students can use at home The Maths area of school VLE has other resources specifically targeting D to C grade work C if U can! 10 STEPS TO SUCCESS How do you know how well your daughter is progressing? You should have received individual details outlining your daughter’s achievement on the practice papers she has completed so far this term. How will you know how well your daughter is progressing? In addition, students in set 6 have recently completed Mock GCSE Maths exams. The results of these will give you an up-to-date picture of your daughter’s achievement in Maths in terms of a current GCSE grade. These results are also on the individual record sheet that you have received tonight. Is there anything else can you do to support your daughter? Ensure that she uses the results of her mock and practice papers to focus her revision over the coming weeks. Please make sure she has access to all the available resources including her own calculator. Some of these resources are available to buy tonight. SAM learning • If you would like to try out SAM learning please go to L4. AQA Science A re-sits Exam dates • 9th January 2013 - Biology • 14th January 2013 – Chemistry • 17th January 2013 – Physics 50% rule ISA dates • If you are redoing your ISA this will be completed during school lessons next halfterm and finished at an after school session on 14th November. After school revision Club • Starts on Tuesday 2nd October 2012 • You can get individual teacher help and support and guidance. • Attendance is compulsory. Mocks • After half-term ISA dates Date Lessons Monday 5th November 5 and 6 Tuesday 6th November 3 and 4 Monday 12th November 5 and 6 Tuesday 13th November 3 and 4 Wednesday 14th November After school 50 minutes Resources • Key resources are the revision guides and your class notes. • Past papers which can be found by using Google and typing in “AQA Science A” try and do one past paper at home per week and bring it to your teacher Mrs Gwyn on Tuesday in H3 if you have any queries. • SAM learning. • BBC Bitesize. • Make sure you attend the after school revision sessions - Tuesday after school • Use SAM learning and Bitesize regularly at home. • Do one exam past paper per week for the exams you are taking. • The best revision guide to buy is the AQA Science guide from school. • Timetable, make yourself a revision timetable adding in dates of exams and revision times. SAM learning • If you would like to try out SAM learning please go to L4.