Transcript Slide 1

Welcome to this
Y9 Parents
Information Session
Curriculum and
Qualifications
for Sept 2015
Aims of this evening

Summarise the main changes to
qualifications and the curriculum
affecting our current Year 9 students when
they begin Y10 in September 2015.

Explain how Oriel is responding to these
changes
Context
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Most significant Exam reform since 1986 when
GCSEs were first introduced
Scale and pace of the changes pose real
challenges for schools
………and have implications regarding the way in
which we structure the Y10 and 11 curriculum
………but also give us opportunities to change
what we do to ensure we best prepare our students
for their futures in a changing society.
Your involvement in these changes is crucial to us
so that we can all support our students.
What changes have there been
to GCSEs already?
Sept 2012
 Terminal Exams
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All assessment at the end of Year 11
No modular exams
No opportunities for retakes of units
 Controlled Assessment
 Reduction in the amount of non-exam
assessment
 Increased control placed on how controlled
assessment takes place
What changes have there been
to GCSEs already?
Science
 New Specification
 More challenging content
 Linear course – no module exams
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Core & Additional Science (Double Science)
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x2 GCSEs – 6 exams at the end of Y11
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Biology, Chemistry & Physics (Triple Science)
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x3 GCSEs – 9 exams at the end of Y11
New GCSEs for Sept 2015
 Maths
 English
Language
 English Literature
 Exams:
Summer of 2017
What’s Different?
 Graded
from 9 to 1 not A* to G
 Exams:
Summer of 2017
GCSE Maths
Ensures:
Students possess the numerical skills
required to progress to employment
 That the most able students are stretched
and prepared thoroughly for the study of A
level mathematics
 A greater emphasis on problem solving
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Much larger volume of content – the GCSE is
approximately twice the size of the previous
maths GCSE
GCSE English
Students studying the new GCSE in English
Language will be expected to read ‘a wide
range of texts’
 There will be greater emphasis on accurate
use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
 No Controlled Assessment
 100% Examination
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All students take both GCSE English
Language and GCSE English Literature
GCSEs Quality not Quantity
Change in expectations of students and
schools nationally:
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Larger and more demanding GCSEs
Recognition from regulatory bodies that the
appropriate amount of teaching time must
given to qualifications to ensure students
maximise success
No longer a measure of success to squeeze
as many GCSEs in as possible.
Emphasis on quality and effectiveness of
provision not quantity of qualifications
Implications
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New GCSE Mathematics qualification will
require greater teaching time
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increase in the volume of content
Increase demand of the assessments.
Increased teaching time for Science
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Increased demand of content
Increased volume of knowledge
SEPT 2015 CORE
All students will study:
Maths
English Language and Literature
The Sciences
RE
PE
PDC
Options
Students will then be able to choose courses
to fill the optional part of their timetable
There are three option spaces to fill.
1
2
3
Ensuring Progression
An increasing importance has been placed on the
following facilitating subjects:
GEOGRAPHY
HISTORY
COMPUTER SCIENCE
SPANISH
FRENCH
GERMAN
University entrance information highlights
these subjects as facilitating subjects at A Level for
top degree entry
Ensuring Progression
To ensure that students are not being disadvantaged
by not opting for a broad range of subjects
including a facilitating subject.
Option 1 of the three options must be one of these
subjects
GEOGRAPHY
HISTORY
COMPUTER SCIENCE
SPANISH
FRENCH
GERMAN
OPTIONS 2 and 3
GCSEs:
BTECs
Media, Drama, Music, PE
Sport
Fine Art, Textile Art, 3D Design
Health and Social Care
French, Spanish, German,
Music Technology
Business Studies, ICT, Computing
Dance
History, Geography, Sociology,
Citizenship, RE
Catering, Graphic Products, Systems
and Control, Textiles Technology,
Product Design,
Next Steps
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OPTIONS PROCESS – March 2015
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We will continue to keep parents and students
informed of all developments as we plan next
years curriculum
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Provide information to enable our students to
make the best choices.
Our Philosophy
To ensure that students are not being
disadvantaged by not opting for a broad
range of subjects including facilitating
subjects.
To enable students to make an informed
choice
To empower them to achieve; to inspire
them to excel