Welcome Welcome to KS4 Evening - to help you to help your child.
Overview of Changes in Grading System
New GCSEs in English Language, English Literature and maths. Taught from September 2015. Pupils getting results in August 2017. Grades 9 1 instead of A* - C.
GCSE Mathematics
Paper 1: non-calculator Paper 2: calculator Paper 3: calculator Content Content from any part of the specification may be assessed Content Content from any part of the specification may be assessed Content Content from any part of the specification may be assessed Assessment 1 hour 30 minutes written exam 80 marks 33% of GCSE Assessment 1 hour 30 minutes written exam 80 marks 33% of GCSE Assessment 1 hour 30 minutes written exam 80 marks 33% of GCSE Students will be required to answer all questions on all papers The assessment structure will be the same for both foundation and higher tiers
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Students, what can you do? Complete all homework, which is set on a Monday. Use MathsWatch to help you with: - homework - preparation for assessments - anything you may need extra practice on after a lesson. Use CollinsConnect when guided to by your teacher.
Parents/Carers, what can you do? Ensure that there is mathematical equipment available at home to complete homework : - scientific calculator - ruler, pencil - protractor, compass.
Parents/Carers, what can you do? Check planners to see what homework has been set and encourage completion. Closer to the exam, purchase revision guides.
Welcome to KS4 English Language and Literature at the Kingsway Academy
WJEC/EDUQAS English Language Untiered qualification. Graded from 9-1. Linear qualification. Two externally marked papers or components. Separate endorsement of spoken language which is internally assessed.
Component 1 1 hour 45 minutes Section A - Reading assessment on an extract from 20 th Century Literature. This will be five questions 40 marks in total. Section B Creative Prose Writing. Choice of four titles for a narrative or recount. You will be awarded up to 24 marks for communication and organisation and 16 marks for technical accuracy.
Component 2 2 hours Section A Reading assessment on two linked nonfiction texts - one from the 19 th century and one from the 21 st century. This will be six questions - 40 marks in total. Section B - Transactional/persuasive Writing for real life contexts. There will be two tasks and you will be rewarded up to 12 marks for communication and organisation and 8 for technical accuracy.
Year 10 Assessment Schedule (July 2015 = Component 1 paper). Mid October = Component 1 paper. Beginning of February = Component 2 paper. Mid June = Component 1 and Component 2 papers.
WJEC/EDUQAS English Literature Untiered qualification. Graded from 9 1. Linear qualification. Flexibility in choice of texts to be studied. A WJEC/Eduqas produced poetry anthology. Straightforward wording of questions. 5% of total marks will be for accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Component 1 2 hours Section A Romeo and Juliet - Shakespeare. There will be one question based on an extract and one question on the text as a whole. Section B Poetry 1789 to the present day. You will be assessed on two poems from the Eduqas Poetry Anthology of.poems that you will have studied over the two years.
Component 2 2 hours 30 minutes Section A An Inspector Calls J B Priestley. Section B a 19 th century novel TBC. Section C Unseen modern poetry.
Resources Eduqas GCSE text books for use in class. Kerboodle Online teaching and learning materials linked to the books. A bank of assignable spelling, punctuation and grammar interactive activities that you can complete at home. Study guides for the Literature texts. GCSE Bitesize is always a very useful resource.
Year 10 GCSE English Language and English Literature Long Term Planning Autumn 1 Autumn 2 LANG Component 1 Section B + Section A Creative prose writing narrative/recount. (will have choice of five titles in exam) Section A Analysing unseen extracts from 20 th century fiction Use to inspire creative ideas LANG Component 2 Section A study a couple of 19 th century non - fiction extracts LIT Post 1914 prose/drama e.g. An Inspector Calls AO1/AO2/AO4 Source based question - explode out from extract to cover whole text Include spoken language Spring 1 Spring 2 LANG Component 2 Section A Comparing 2 extracts (19 th and 21 st century non-fiction) Section B Transactional/persuasive writing tasks (explain, instruct, give and respond to information, argue) Writing for impact *Spoken language link LIT Poetry anthology Component 1 Section B Start by exploring poems as unseen finding links between them (in preparation for Component 2 Section C) Summer 1 Summer 2 LIT Shakespeare Component 1 Section A Romeo and Juliet Whole text studied in preparation for 1 extract and 1 essay question Return to LANG Component 1 Reading and Writing fiction Component 2 Comparing and writing non-fiction *Include spoken language Revise post 1914 prose/drama and anthology poetry Year 10 exams: all LANG LIT Component A (Romeo and Juliet and poetry)
Parents/Carers What can you do? Encourage your son or daughter to read and watch/read the news daily. Ensure they complete the weekly English homework which will be set on Thursdays and noted in the planner. If the homework is a writing homework, look through and check your son or daughter s work for basic accuracy of expression.
Students what can we do? Complete all homework. Attend GCSE support sessions on Thursdays after school. Read as much as possible. Revise for the mock exams. Always check what you have written. Concentrate hard in lessons and ask if you are unsure of anything.
GCSE Science at Kingsway
Science is taught by a team of specialist Biology, Chemistry and Physics teachers. Students all get 8 hours of curriculum teaching time per fortnight divided between each area of Science. Students who elected to take triple Science receive an extra 4 hours of teaching completing an extra unit in each area and an extra centre assessed practical unit.
Students who are undertaking the basic provision at Kingsway. (did not elect for any extra Science) Students who elected to take Triple Science
AQA GCSE Science Units GCSE AQA Core Specification A Additional Science Separate Science B1 Keeping Healthy B2 Tissues, Organs and Organ Systems B3 Movement in and Out of Cells C1 Atoms and elements C2 Structure and Bonding C3 Periodic Table P1Transfer of energy P2 Forces and Their effects P3 Medical applications of physics
Centre Assessment : Investigative Skills Assessment. Students devise and carry out an investigation in an area set by the exam boards. Section 1: Planning an investigation ( /20). Section 2: Reporting, concluding and evaluating an investigation ( /30).
Each GCSE in Science has three taught units assessed through 1hr exam papers and a centre assessed practical unit. Paper are given a scaled mark out of 100. These marks are combined to give a total score out of 400 with candidates graded against the boundaries in the table. Foundation tier students can achieve a maximum scaled mark of 69 (equivalent to a C grade). Scaled Mark Overall Grade 360 (+) A* 320 (+) A 280 (+) B 240 (+) C 200 (+) D 160 (+) E 120 (+) F
Assessment Books and the application of knowledge and skills to practical activities will be assessed. Students will be assessed continually through formal sub unit assessments for which they will receive graded feedback. Revision activities will be made available for each sub unit. Summer Term Full Mock (Unit 1 in Biology, Chemistry and Physics). Investigative Skills Assessments (ISAs).
Students what can we do? Complete all homework. Attend GCSE support sessions on after school. Read around the subject. Revise for the assessments. Concentrate hard in lessons and ask if you are unsure of anything.
Parents/Carers What can you do? Support the use of the AQA website to access the SPECIFICATION and PAST PAPER QUESTIONS. CGPbooks.co.uk. Resources from this publisher are low cost. They include revision guides, workbooks and specimen exam papers roughly 6 each. Link www.cgpbooks.co.uk BBC Bitesize. This is the best web resource. It is organised according to exam board, so you know that what it says is what you need to know. Read the revision notes and do the exercises. Look out for any podcasts or videos. Link bbc bitesize.
GCSE What are they? 2 year course Provide useful skills and knowledge Stepping stone to higher qualifications and training opportunities Employers seek candidates with at least 5 GCSE s or equivalent BTEC Firsts What are they? First awarded around 25 Years ago Vocational, Practical and Work related Valued by Employers and Higher Education Equivalent to GCSE s Assessed mostly by coursework Assessed mostly by written examinations
Home Learning at The Kingsway Academy
Home learning - NOT Homework. It is not intended to be something to just keep students occupied. It should consolidate and enhance what goes on in school.
How can students help themselves? Have their student planner in school. Write information down properly : Subject: Activity: Deadline/Due in date:
Plan ahead. Prioritise their workload. Look at the bigger picture/use a year planner. Speak to parents and staff if they want help.
How can parents help? Check student planners regularly. Write comments in planner yourselves if you want to inform or contact staff. Contact school directly if you feel there are bigger issues.
Have they got a quiet place to work? Desk? Correct equipment? Avoid distractions ipads, phones, television. Give them a distinct timeframe to complete work in. Ask to see the final product.
Talk to them, ask questions, show an interest Take part in homework - learn from them! Be knowledgeable about course content, topics, deadlines Help us to help them!
Attendance & Punctuality
The Importance of regular school attendance & punctuality The Kingsway Academy wants all children to have the best possible attendance and punctuality at school so they reach their full potential. There is a strong link between good school attendance/punctuality and achieving good results for children. Good school attendance also shows future employers that a young person is reliable, more likely to achieve well and play a positive role in their community. Young people who are frequently absent from school are more likely to become involved in, or be a victim of crime and anti-social behaviour.
Your responsibilities as a parent/carer All children aged between 5 and 16 are required by law to receive an education, and it is the duty of parents and carers to ensure that they are supported to do so. Children sometimes have to miss school because of illness or if they have long term medical issues. If this is the case, parents should contact school the same day to let them know the reason that their child is not in school. You are legally responsible for making sure they attend regularly. If your child fails to do so, you risk getting a fine (each parent could be fined up to 1,000 for each child) or being prosecuted.
Changes to government legislation from 1 September 2013 Schools are no longer allowed to authorise requests for children to be taken out of school for a holiday during term time. Requests for leave can only be granted by schools if there are exceptional circumstances, and holidays are not considered exceptional. Requests for leave must also be made to the school in advance. Schools cannot authorise any absences after they have been taken. A penalty notice is a fine to parents or carers if they fail to ensure that their child attend school regularly. Each year there are 190 school days which leaves 175 days for holidays, shopping, birthday treats and non-urgent medical and dental appointments. Therefore, the school is very unlikely to authorise absence for these reasons.
Changes to government legislation from 1 September 2013 Every effort should be made to arrange appointments outside of school hours. Illness. Sometimes pupils are kept from school because they have a cold, sore throat etc. Please do not allow your child to have time off for minor complaints or illnesses; if they are well enough to be up and about, they are generally well enough to attend school. If your child suffers from a recurring illness take him/her to the doctor. If your child is absent without reason or without sufficient reason or if there are constant absences or long periods of absence you can expect a visit from the Attendance Office, Inclusion Leader, Director of Inclusion or the Educational Officer from the Local Authority. If the situation fails to improve then we will arrange a meeting in school to discuss your child s attendance and agree on an action plan. In a small number of cases it will be necessary to take the parents to court in order to achieve a higher attendance rate.
Why is good attendance/punctuality important? Good attendance at school is vital for pupils to achieve their full educational potential. Pupils with good attendance records benefit in the following ways:- 1. Continuity of learning which makes progress and retention easier 2. Improved performance in coursework tasks 3. Enhanced performance in examinations 4. Continuity of relationships and friendships 5. Good references for further education or employment 6. Good habits are formed for later life
Attendance percentages are not like examination results. An attendance percentage needs to be in the high nineties before it can be considered good. Consider the following examples over the course of a school year. 10 days absence = 95% attendance = 50 lessons missed 20 days absence = 89% attendance = 100 lessons missed 29 days absence = 85% attendance = 145 lessons missed 38 days absence = 80% attendance = 190 lessons missed 47 days absence = 75% attendance = 235 lessons missed Research states that having 20 (89%) days off school every year means that a pupil will probably obtain a whole grade lower in their exams than they are really capable of. Pupils with less than 85% attendance are unlikely to gain 5 A*-C GCSE qualifications.
What is good attendance? In order for an attendance record to be good it must be 95% or above. 100% = excellent attendance 98% = very good attendance 95% = good attendance Each year, a large number of pupils in every year group achieve 100% attendance; showing that this is an achievable target. A number of pupils have achieved this level of attendance for a number of years. Students with excellent attendance at Kingsway Academy are rewarded with certificates and prizes
Local Authority/Academy actions Over 95% = Positive letter each term 90% to 95% = Warning letter home 85% to 90% = School intervention by DB/YM Falls below 85% = 1st Fine/Attendance panel No improvement over next 4 week period = 2nd Fine No improvement over next 4 week period = Court papers issued
I would be grateful if you would observe the following procedures if your child is absent for any reason: 1) Phone the school to inform us that your child is absent, even if only for a day - 0151 677 7825 2) Write a note for your child to bring to school to give to their Form Tutor
Pastoral Support Each Year Group has a Inclusion Leader Special Educational Needs Team led by Ms Pettersen An Attendance Officer Trained first aid staff Trained Child Protection/Safeguarding staff Named Safeguarding member of staff is Mr Wright, Director of Inclusion Work with external, specialist agencies
Sixth Form Consultation New Curriculum offer Inclusive Pathways Future workplace skills Academic Aspiration Routes to Apprenticeships Enrichment opportunities and experiences We would value your contribution. Please complete one of our questionnaires.