Transcript Document
Year 9 Information Evening September 2014 Changes to the GCSE exams Changes to the KS3 curriculum Changes to KS3 assessment What’s new? GCSE changes to Maths • Final assessment will consist of 4.5 hours of exams, as opposed to the current 3.5 hours. • A huge amount of new content at both Foundation and Higher Tiers, especially the Foundation Tier. • Significantly harder content assuming fluent mental arithmetic skills. • More formulae need to be memorised, with very few provided in the exam. What’s new? GCSE changes to Maths In Y9 Maths, we are following a special transitional course developed by Edexcel to help better prepare pupils for the new GCSE course. What’s new? GCSE changes to English language: • • • • • • 100% exam - No coursework or Controlled Assessment. 3 x 1.5 hr exams. Much greater emphasis on spelling, punctuation & grammar. Reading: 19th, 20th and 21st century must be represented. Writing: descriptive or narrative and to present a viewpoint Speaking and Listening: uncertainty at present but there will be some testing and reporting. What’s new? GCSE changes to English literature: • • • • 100% exam - No coursework or Controlled Assessment. 4 hours of exams. Much greater emphasis on spelling, punctuation & grammar. Will cover Shakespeare, a nineteenth century novel, a modern text (drama or prose), and poetry. All will be complete texts. • More emphasis on unseen texts. What’s new? In order to prepare pupils for demands the new GCSE English, and to improve pupils’ confidence, we have introduced a new literacy course in Y9. Focus on spelling, sentence structure, broader vocabulary, correct use of words, punctuation, comprehension, and reading for enjoyment. Selection for this course based on: • Observations made by modern language teachers. • Latin/Classics setting. • Membership of English stretch group. What’s new? Top 3% Changes to exams Maths Tier overlap What’s new? Changes to KS3 curriculum New National Curriculum as of now What’s new? Changes to KS3 assessment As of now, schools are no longer expected to use National Curriculum Levels to assess pupil progress. However, in common with the majority of schools nationally, Loreto will continue to do so for the time-being.