THE 13-19 CURRICULUM Personalised Learning at SWCHS Welcome to the Year 8 Curriculum Evening Tuesday 16 January, 2018
Year 8 Curriculum Evening Mrs Jane Watts Year 8 Achievement Coordinator
Year 8 Curriculum Evening Mr Graham Oxborrow Director of Curriculum
Aims To outline key national developments that have influenced the curriculum at SWCHS To outline the structure of the Key Stage Four curriculum for Years 9 to 11 To introduce the options courses available and the four Learning Pathways To summarise key dates within the options process
National Context Key Stage 4: Introduction over 3 years of linear, harder GCSE courses Additional content in most subjects, notably Maths (+30%) New grading structure: A*-G replaced by 9 (top) to 1 (lowest) ; top grade 9 is harder to achieve than A*!
National Context Key Stage 4: Students must continue in education or training up to age 18, and to continue study of English and/or Maths if they do not attain a 4 in Year 11 Practical skills-based courses eg Btecs include examination component and are harder
Key Stage 3: National Context New, less prescriptive National Curriculum Some new demands eg computing, cooking! Key Stage 5: Progressive introduction of linear A Levels Stand alone AS Levels Withdrawal of some duplicating courses Post-16 funding cuts
National Context Key Stage 4: A time of unprecedented change Rightly or wrongly, the net effect of government policy is to drive schools towards a more traditional, academic curriculum. Year 8 is third cohort through all reformed courses - lessons have been learned!
Personalised Learning KS4 courses consist of CORE and PERSONALISED elements: Post-2015 Core: Taught Periods English and English Literature 7 Maths 7 Science 10 (9 in Year 9) PE 3 (4 in Year 9) RPE 3 Personalised Learning Pathway 20 Total 50
In Science: Personalised Learning in the Core Triple Science sets will work towards completing 3 GCSEs in separate sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) in Year 11 Most other students will start a course working towards GCSE Combined Science the equivalent of 2 GCSEs in Science covering content in Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Personalised Learning Subjects available to personalise learning: Expressive Arts: Art; Art 3D Design; Drama; Music Humanities: Geography; History Languages: French; German; Spanish; Latin (if course started in Y8)
Personalised Learning Subjects available outside the core (Technology): Engineering or Metals Food Graphics Timbers ( Resistant Materials ) Textiles Some combinations of Technology and Art subjects are not allowed
Personalised Learning Subjects available outside the core: Vocational and Computing: CiDA; Computer Science; Business; Applied Health & Social Care Physical Education: PE; Dance
Personalised Learning Personalised Learning is offered as a choice of 4 Learning Pathways, each worth the equivalent of at least 4 GCSEs and taught in 20 periods of time. Students choose from: Pathway 1 = 1 GCSE from each of Expressive Arts, Humanities, Languages and Technology
Personalised Learning Personalised Learning is offered as a choice of 4 Learning Pathways, each worth the equivalent of at least 4 GCSEs and taught in 20 periods of time. Students choose from: Pathway 2 = 2 Expressive Arts or 2 Humanities or 2 Languages (including Latin) or 2 Technologies (where allowed), plus 2 from two areas not chosen as specialism
Personalised Learning Personalised Learning is presented as a choice of 4 learning pathways, each worth the equivalent of at least 4 GCSEs and taught in 20 periods of time. Students choose from: Pathway 3 = 1 from Business or Dance or Health & Social Care or CiDA or Computing or PE, plus 3 from Expressive Arts, Humanities, Languages or Technology (one from each of three Areas is encouraged but two from one Area might be possible)
Personalised Learning Personalised Learning is presented as a choice of 4 learning pathways, each worth the equivalent of at least 4 GCSEs and taught in 20 periods of time. Students choose from: Pathway 4 = 2 from Business or Dance or Health & Social Care or CiDA or Computing or PE, plus 2 from Expressive Arts, Humanities, Languages or Technology (but not two from any one area)
Personalised Learning There are some additional constraints on combinations of Technology and Art courses please read the Options Booklet carefully when published
Personalised Learning The idea is to maintain breadth and balance Nationally and locally, schools are moving to a more academic curriculum; at SWCHS we will therefore require students to opt for at least one English Baccalaureate subject within their four options subjects
The English Baccalaureate At present is a performance measure not a qualification Students must achieve 5+ passes in Maths, English Language, two Sciences (can include Computer Science), History or Geography, and a Language Uncertainty about attitude of (top) universities See briefing sheet for more information
The English Baccalaureate Students will therefore need to opt for at least one from: Computer Science French Geography German History Latin Spanish
Who will fly Easyjet s aircraft?
What Can We Do? A National Issue! Easyjet pilot working With Year 8 girls last year See beyond gender stereotypes there are great careers out there for boys and girls Follow your passions and interests don t be put off by others! Find out what qualifications different careers need Choose the right qualifications at GCSE and A level
Who is this and what is her job? Is this Britain's most successful female engineer? (Daily Telegraph)
Who is this and what is her job? Ailie MacAdam: a former student at SWCHS!
Year 8 Curriculum Evening Mrs Jane Watts Year 8 Achievement Coordinator
Guidance All students will understand how their choices: Fit into a balanced and coherent personalised curriculum. Have consequences for future study and career. Avoid gender bias! Are based on accurate information on progress and motivation. Should be based on their own personal strengths rather than those of their friends or the desire to have their current teacher.
Guidance Y8 Curriculum Evening: 16 th January. Y8 Progress Check 2: published mid-february Specific subject queries about student progress should be raised at Parents Evenings or directed to subject teachers via email or phone call. More general queries should be directed to the form tutor in the first instance. In some instances, parents can request to join the scheduled tutorial by emailing the tutor. NB: tutors will not be able to answer subject specific questions. Options Booklets will be given out after the Options Assembly: 19 th February.
Key Dates Year 8 options assembly: 19 February (Options Booklet issued) Year 8 Progress Check: February Year 8S Parents Evening: 8 March Year 8W Parents Evening: 15 March Senior staff will be available for further queries on options during those evenings Option forms submitted: 21 March
Guidance Further support is offered by Jwatts@swchs.net or Aosborne@swchs.net An appointment can be made with Mrs Revell for specific career information. Please make requests through Mr Osborne on Aosborne@swchs.net Queries regarding the structure of options choices should be made with Mr Oxborrow on Goxborrow@swchs.net
Y8 Spring Progress Check (mid-february) 1. Learner Score 2. Improvement Codes 3. Comment on progress 4. Where student is in relation to end of Year 8 SWCHS expectations
Comments on Progress Is about students progress from their individual starting points in each subject: or excellent progress good progress some concerns about progress serious concerns about progress If there are concerns, the Learner Score & Improvement codes should indicate why. If there are concerns, there may be underperformance at GCSE.
End of Year 8 Expectations Where a student is in relation to SWCHS end of Y8 expectations in each subject and how well prepared they are for GCSE On track to be. by the end of the year : Well above Above Meeting Working towards A student meeting expectations indicates that, if they continue to make good progress, they are likely to go on to achieve a Grade 5 at GCSE in this subject at the end of Y11.
An Example Subject Learner Score Comment Codes Progress SWCHS end of Y8 expectations History 1 P Excellent Working towards Geography 2 M, H Good Working towards French 1 Excellent Working towards German 2 H, P Good Working towards Technology 1 Excellent Meeting Making more progress in History than Geography Making more progress in French than German Highest attainment in Technology
Subject Learner Score Commen t Codes Progress SWCHS end of Y8 expectations History 3 D, F, M Some concerns Well above Geography 4 B, F, D Serious concerns Above French 3 F, M Some concerns Well above German 2 P Good Above Music 1 Excellent Meeting Higher attainment (and better progress) in History than Geography Higher attainment in French than German but better progress (and Learner Score) in German
THE 13-19 CURRICULUM Contacts Goxborrow@swchs.net Jwatts@swchs.net Aosborne@swchs.net
THE 13-19 CURRICULUM Personalised Learning at SWCHS The Year 8 Curriculum Evening Tuesday 16 January, 2018