Success at GCSE Evening

25th September 2014

Welcome

Success

Purpose of the Evening Students

Home School

• To give an overview of the roles of parents, school and students in ensuring success

• To hear from key members of staff• To explain the Work Experience process

Welcome and Introduction J Pilgrim Deputy HeadteacherHome-School Communication D Sanderson Head of Year 10Success at Maths T Craig Second in MathsSuccess at English S Scantlebury Head of EnglishSuccess at Science C Brown Head of ScienceSupport and Interventions S Bassett Assistant HeadteacherWhat I wish I’d known! Maggie, George & Isabelle Y12 studentsSummary J PilgrimWork Experience J Knowles Careers AdvisorThanks J Pilgrim

Speakers

Burford School

D Sanderson

Head of Year 10

Burford School

MathsMr Craig – Second in Department

Maths

What qualifications are students working towards?

Maths

AQA GCSE Mathematics

• Two exams at the end of year 11• Two tiers

– Foundation (G – C)– Higher (D – A*)

Maths

AQA GCSE Mathematics

• Increased emphasis on:– Applying Maths in context– Problem solving– Functional skills– Quality of written communication

GCSE Results 2014

84% A* - C35% A* or A

• 83% 3+ levels of progress since KS2• 53% 4+ levels of progress since KS2

Maths

Maths

AQA Entry Level Certificate in Mathematics

• One year course (year 10)• 100% classroom assessed (no final exam)• Suitable for students working below L4• The ideal stepping stone to GCSE Maths

Maths

AQA L2 Certificate in Further Mathematics

• Suitable for A* GCSE Mathematics students• Bridges the gap between GCSE and A-Level• Taught in Maths lessons alongside GCSE• Two exams at the end of year 11• Graded C- A* with distinction

Maths

AQA L2 Certificate in Further Mathematics

Results 2014• 100% A** - C• 77% A** - A

Maths

How do we support the students?

• Increased number of sets • Regular monitoring of setting through:

– Departmental homework assignments– Regular testing using GCSE exam questions

Maths

How do we support the students?

• Daily lunchtime drop-in support sessions• Tutoring for D-C borderline students in Y11• Revision days in summer of Y11

Maths

How can you support your child?

• Provide them with the correct equipment:– Black pen– Pencil– Ruler– Angle measurer– Compasses– Scientific calculator

Maths

How can you support your child?

• Take an interest in what they are learning• Guide them to get help when they get stuck

Maths

How can you support your child?

• Be positive about Mathematics

Burford School English Department

Mrs Scantlebury – Head of English

‘For example, in one highly successfulYear 11 English lesson the pace of learning was

rapid because the teacher used a broad range of techniques, questions and texts which engaged and

motivated the students.’

OFSTED 2012

GCSE Results 2014

English Language 76% A*-C 30% A*/A

English Literature 91% A*-C42% A*/A

Levels of Progress3 levels of progress 80%4 levels of progress 46%

GCSE English 2013-15

At Burford School we follow the AQA syllabus.The majority of pupils take two GCSE qualifications:

English Language and English Literature. A small number of pupils study for English, a course which combines the two skills sets and leads to one

GCSE.All final examinations will be sat at the end of the two

year course – May/June 2015

English Language

Assessment Format Overall weighting

Controlled Assessment Extended Reading (15%) Spoken Language Study (10%) Creative Writing x 2 (7.5%

each)

40%

External Exam(2 ¼ hours)

Section A – Analysing Unseen Non-Fiction Texts

Section B – Creating Non Fiction Texts

60%

English LiteratureAssessment Format

Overallweighting

ControlledAssessment

The Significance of Shakespeare and the English Literary Heritage

25%

External Exam(2 ¼ hours)

Poetry Across Time Poetry Anthology Analysis of an unseen

poem

35%

External Exam Exploring Modern Texts Section A – Modern prose

or drama Section B – Exploring

cultures

40%

English

Assessment Format

Overall weighting

Controlled Assessment

Understanding Creative Texts x3 Producing Creative Texts x3

40%

External Exam

Section A - Analysing non fiction textsSection B – Creating Non-Fiction Texts

60%

What is Controlled Assessment in English?

Controlled Assessments (CA) are essays which are written, under controlled conditions, in class.

Year 10 of the GCSE course focuses, almost wholly, on Controlled Assessments.

Pupils will typically study a subject or text, and then they will be given the CA title. Pupils spend time in class, and homework, planning and learning their

responses. They are allowed to take brief notes into the CA with them.

Controlled Assessment (2)

If a student has to re-sit a CA they cannot have the same title again, so careful preparation is essential.

Please note that the titles for each year group are different and are released by AQA at the start of each course. All pupils nationally focus on the same

areas of study.

How parents can help…

Make sure that planning sheets are completed at home prior to CA.

Encourage son/daughter to come to English Clinic Thursday after school J6 for help with planning/catching up

In preparation for English exams: recommended revision guides, the i newspaper, discuss current affairs, watch the news, encourage an interest in

the wider world, make sure pupils complete writing bursts focused on the skills for individual exam questions.

Literature – encourage holiday reading and rereading of set texts, theatre visits, look out for film versions on TV/cinema, York notes.

Burford SchoolScience

Mrs Brown – Head of Science

“…. Students’ performance has accelerated… most on track to make well-above-expected progress by the end of the year and

to attain well-above average results” OFSTED 2012

GCSE Results 2014Our exam results for last academic year were the highest in West

Oxfordshire for the third year running! A*-C Result National Average

Additional Science 79.2% 65.5%Biology 96.2% 90.3%Chemistry 96.2% 90.0%Physics 92.4% 90.8%

100% pass rate for BTEC Science

ScienceHow is it taught at KS4?

KS4 classes are taught by subject specialists (as are KS5)

Year 10 Core Science (9 lessons per fortnight) - AQAYear 11 Additional/ ELBS (9 lessons per fortnight) - AQA

Triple (14 lessons per fortnight) - AQAELBS - OCR

ScienceHow is it assessed?

KS3Level-assessed tasksReviewsEnd of topic testsPractical workAPP

End of Year Exam

KS4 Graded work throughout courseGrade-assessed tasksReviewsEnd of topic testsMock Exam

ISA (25%)

GCSE modular examinations (75%)

Year 11 ELBS course is assessed

slightly diifferently

Course studied Year 10 Year 11 Re-sits?

Core/ Additional Science

At the end of Year 10 :B1 – one Biology exam (25%)C1 – one Chemistry exam (25%)P1 – one Physics exam (25%) Coursework (25%) undertaken at a suitable point in the academic year (date TBC) = 100% Core Science

At the end of Year 11 :B2 – one Biology exam (25%)C2 – one Chemistry exam (25%)P2 – one Physics exam (25%) Coursework (25%) undertaken at a suitable point in the academic year (date TBC) = 100% Additional Science

There are no re-sits available for any examination in any year. The results gained at the end of Year 10 are known as Core Science – this is the result that will show on a CV.

The results gained at the end of Year 11 are known as Additional Science.

This result will also show on a pupils CV.

Triple Science

There are no external examinations in Year 10

At the end of Year 11 there are 9 exams : B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 P1 P2 P3 Each individual science will also have a piece of coursework

There are no re-sits available for any of the examinations in any year. At the end of year 11, each pupil will have a three GCSES exam in each science.

As each module represents 25%, as does the coursework, it is clear how these are calculated: B1+B2+B3+coursework = 100% (one Biology GCSE) C1+C2+C3+coursework = 100% (one Chemistry GCSE) P1+P2+P3+coursework = 100% (one Physics GCSE)

Science• How is it supported?

• Science Surgery• “Open-door” policy • Revision Classes • TA’s present in the class when needed• Running Entry Level Certificate with lower set• Materials such as past papers, revision CD-ROMs,

websites, and pupil-led revision sessions• KS5 students in class as support

How can I support my child in Science?

• Make sure that your child has read and understood the ISA booklet

• Encourage son/daughter to attend revision sessions for the Core Science exams – Easter onwards

• Encourage your son/daughter to create revision cards/ posters/ resources as soon as they start their end of topic tests – this creates a ‘bank’ of personalised revision material

• Encourage your son/daughter to use TWIG as a learning tool – encourage independent learning

Helpful Websites!

www.topmarks.co.uk

www.docbrown.co.uk

www.schoolsuccess.co.uk

www.parentportal.co.uk

www.networds.net

BBC Bitesize

http://www.chemcollective.org/students.php

• www.weheartscience.com

• www.skool.co.uk

• www.fizzics.co.uk

• www.homework-help-secrets.com

• www.slideshare.net

• www.getrevising.co.uk

• www.chem4kids.com

…and there’s more…

• www.theparentportal.co.uk• www.networds.net• BBC Bitesize• Topmarks.co.uk• skcool• The Blobz guide to Electrical Circuits• www.getrevising.com• www.homework-help-secrets.com

Support and Interventions

S Bassett- Assistant Headteacher

What is my role?

To ensure that all students make expected levels of progress within their subjects.

If students are not making progress I help to remove any barriers that are in the way and

implement key interventions to create a positive improvement.

How do I do this?

Use data to identify groups of students, who are not making expected levels of progress.

Liaise with key members of staff to ascertain the best way to support students within the given

subjects.

Organise and co-ordinate a mentoring / intervention programme to improve progress.

How will students be supported?

Students will receive a number of interventions to improve their levels of progress.

Students progress will be monitored termly and the types of interventions required will be

modified accordingly.

Some students will be involved in a mentoring programme.

How will parents be supported?

Regular termly updates on student progress via reviews.

Detailed information on which interventions are being put in place to help your son/daughter

progress.

Parent forums are run to help you support your son/daughter at home.

Impact

Students feel supported in areas where they are underachieving both pastorally and academically.

Parents are fully aware of how to support their son/daughter at home.

Student progress is improved in line with target grades.

The voice of Experience!

Maggie Boyd

George Genc

Isabelle Gulley

What I wish I’d known at the start of Year 10.

What would I do differently?

What worked for me?

What/where were the biggest stresses in Year 10?

What did you do to keep sane?

What’s the one key message that every Year 10 student

should take away with them?

In Summary…

What happens at home is vital!

15% of a student’s time is spent in school85% is spent outside school

‘Parental involvement in a child’s education can mean the difference between an A*

and an also-ran at GCSE’(TES, 10th October 2003)

Parent Packs

• Key contact information and dates• Handouts and useful information from

each Core subject• ‘101 Tips To Ensure Success’

Please make sure that you have collected your pack before you leave

Students

Home School

School Work ExperienceMrs Knowles – Careers Advisor

Burford School23rd to 27th March 2015

What is Work Experience?

• The opportunity to learn about a business and the jobs involved in the work place

• The opportunity to assist and observe different occupational tasks

The benefits of Work Experience

• Students are able to find out about themselves – their likes, dislikes, their strengths and weaknesses.

• Students may be given an insight into careers that might interest them.

• Students may learn about the relevance /application of school subjects

• It provides students with an insight into the world of work• It can result in part-time holiday work – sometimes even a

job/apprenticeship offer• It supports applications for college, university courses and

apprenticeships

When does Work Experience take place?

23rd to 27th March 2015

What types of placements are most readily available?

• Work with children – Primary schools and nurseries• Catering• Motor Vehicle work• Engineering• Retail• Hairdressing and beauty• Office work• Armed forces – Army residential at Longmoor

Placements that are more difficult to secure

• Work with animals, particularly veterinary practices – except for horses

• Theatres• Media/newspapers• Art and Design including Graphic Design, Interior

design, Fashion design• IT• Professional placements – law and architecture

Placements for which students need to be older or which aren’t possible

• Cotswold Wildlife Park - animal sections• The Blue Cross• RAF Brize Norton• Hospital placements including medicine nursing

and professions allied to medicine• Fire Service• Thames Valley Police• Placements where confidentiality would make it

difficult for the student to observe/assist

Planning the placement

• You can help by:• Discussing with your son/daughter the types of

placement that would be of interest• Helping them to think about whom they might

approach and support them in writing letters/emails. Do you have any contacts?

• Ensuring that the forms issued are completed and returned to school by the deadlines given

• Encouraging them in their ambitions, including the consideration of non-traditional placements

The Process• Return parental consent form to form tutors by

Monday, 01.10.14.• Contact employers without delay.• Once an placement offer has been made, student to

collect the next form from me – WES3. This needs to be given to the employer.

• It is the students responsibility to chase up the return of the form and bring it back to me so that I can register the placement with the County Council and so that they can do a visit check.

The deadlines

• All placements both out of county and Oxfordshire placements need to be registered by Friday 19th December 2014

• Note that out of county placements incur a charge of £30

• BUT – the sooner the WES3 form is completed and handed in the better!

The deadlines

• All placements both out of county placements need to be registered by Friday 19th December 2014

• BUT – the sooner the WES3 form is completed and handed in the better!

Complications!

• My son or daughter doesn’t know which companies to approach

• They don’t know what they would like to do• They have written to employers but have had no

replies or only negative responses• They need help with writing letters

PLEASE ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME AND SEE ME

Prior to the placement

• You can help by ensuring that your son/daughter knows:

• How they are going to get there• Who to report to • What to wear• Lunch arrangements and hours of work• Goes to bed early before the work

experience starts!

During the placement

You can help by: Checking that the placement is going well Encouraging a mature response to any difficulties Encouraging your son/daughter to persevere

even if the placement isn’t what they expected Letting the school know if there is a REAL

problem Informing both school & the employer if your

child is sick

At the end of the evening…

Please come and see me if you have any questions

Alternatively do not hesitate to phone or email me – jkno0971@burford.oxon.sch.uk