Welcome to Key Stage 4

Aims To be aware of the changes in GCSEs To be aware of key information related to English, maths, science, raising aspirations and well-being

Changes at KS4 The content of GCSEs has changed The style of assessment of GCSEs has changed The grades awarded have changed

Y11 Student Charlie Preston

Head of Year Mrs Harrison angharad.harrison@priory.herts.sch.uk Miss Duric Alex.duric@priory.Herts.sch.uk

English at KS4 Miss Dolling katie.dolling@priory.herts.sch.uk

English at GCSE Your son/daughter will have been placed in to an English group Every group will study English and Literature over the 2 year course Every student will obtain 2 GCSE s: 1 for English Language and one for Literature

How is the course structured? No coursework/controlled assessment- 100% exam Focus on key reading and writing skills needed for the exams S&L (now known as Spoken Language ) separately endorsed using a Distinction, Merit and Pass system

Course weightings ENGLISH LANGUAGE (50% Reading 50% Writing) 2 x Exam papers both 1 hour 45 minutes in length Students are expected to read a range of 19 th /20 th /21 st texts for their exam (spread across the 2 papers)- extracts of usually 1 side of A4 Students are expected to write for different purposes and audiences and the quality of their written communication makes up 40% of their total mark for writing

Course weightings ENGLISH LITERATURE 2 x Exam papers Paper 1: 1 hour 45 minutes (40%) Shakespeare (Romeo & Juliet/Macbeth) The 19th-century novel (The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde) Paper 2: 2 hours and 15 minutes (60%) Modern texts (Animal Farm/Lord of the Flies/An Inspector Calls) Poetry (Power and Conflict) Unseen poetry

How you can help Speaking and Listening skills Encourage them to speak to you! Presenting homework Make them present a detailed and coherent argument about why they should be allowed to stay out a bit later Writing SPPaG is more important than ever- not just in English Encouraging proof reading Read more widely to improve their understanding of good writing Reading Reading anything is better than nothing Encourage them to think about the effect of what they ve read

Online resources that can really help http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/

Maths at KS4 Mr Greenwood alex.greenwood@priory.herts.sch.uk

Mathematics GCSE 9-1 Exam Papers

GCSE 9-1 Curriculum Changes

Edexcel Level 3 Algebra Award This is a stand alone qualification which will support students who are aiming to achieve a grade 8/9 in their GCSE 95% of the course content is the same topics as the grade 7/8/9 GCSE Algebra topics. This will allow for more practice and opportunities for all misconceptions to be covered on these topics. Revision for this course will directly support their revision for their GCSE. 66% of the A level course is algebra based, the Level 3 algebra course will help bridge the gap between the GCSE and A-level syllabus and will ensure that students will have been introduced to a significant part of the start of the A Level course. Even if students are not intending to study A-level mathematics, it will give them a deeper understanding of the higher GCSE algebra topics and provide them with an extra qualification. The award is worth 7 UCAS points which would support any further education application.

Past Performance & Timetable Results - 2017: 69% of students Grades 9-4 (nationally 69%) - 2017: 50% of students Grades 9-5 (nationally 48%) - 2017: 22% of students Grades 9-7 (nationally 19%) Key exam dates 2018 June: end of Year 10 Examination Nov: 1 st Pre-Public Exam 2019 March: 2 nd Pre-Public Exam May: Start of the Public Examinations

Support Revision lessons in 2019 Independent study MathsWatch VLE & app PiXL Maths App Maths Genie

http://www.mathsgenie.co.uk/gcse.html

Science at KS4 Dr Richard Blackford richard.blackford@priory.herts.sch.uk

GCSE Science - Key questions What is the difference between Double and Triple Science? Can students progress to A-level Biology, Chemistry and Physics if they do Double Science?

GCSE Science Routes T1 GCSE Biology GCSE Chemistry GCSE Physics KS3 Science D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 GCSE Science (Double award) A-level Biology, Chemistry or Physics

GCSE Science - Key questions What is the difference between Double and Triple Science? Can students progress to A-level Biology, Chemistry and Physics if they do Double Science? What is entry level certificate? What resources are available to support students and parents?

Resources www.aqa.org.uk (specifications, practise papers and mark schemes) www.kerboodle.com (worksheets and interactive activities) AQA revision guide (will be available to purchase)

Raising Aspirations Mrs Emler sally.emler@priory.herts.sch.uk