The Key Stage 4 Curriculum

Paul Miller, Deputy Headteacher

The Key Stage 4 Curriculum Offer

Subject Hours per fortnight No. of GCSEs or BTECs

English (Lang. and Lit.) 6 2

Maths 6 or 8 1

Science (double or triple) 10 or 12 2 or 3

Religion and Life 4 1

PE 2

Option 1 5 1

Option 2 5 1

Option 3 5 1

Option 4 5 1

Some students have additional English & Maths lessons in place of one of their 4 options

Year 10 are studying new, ‘reformed’ GCSEs in English and Maths

• These are more demanding academically, and with more content

• There is an increased emphasis on Spelling, Punctuation and grammar (SPaG) in all qualifications.

New GCSEs and BTECs

Preparing students for the new GCSEs and BTECs:

• Teachers will be ensuring their marking focuses on SPaG

• For most subjects, teachers will be providing weekly feedback to students

The Key Stage 4 Curriculum Offer

The new GCSE grading scaleOld GCSE

grade New GCSE

grade 9

A* 8

A 7

B 6

5

C 4

D 3

E

2

F

1 G

Expected standard will be higher than

current grade C

New grade 9 will be a higher standard than

current A* grade

Assessment and measuring progress

Attainment 8 Progress 8

English Baccalaureate

English & Maths(grades 5-9)

New Performance Measures

English & Maths

Expectations for most students:

• A grade 5-9 in both English and Maths is the expected national standard

• These grades will be required to progress on to A Level courses in the Sixth Form

English Baccalaureate

Expectations for most students:

• The ‘Ebacc’ is a package of subjects that most students are expected to study:

• English, Maths, Science, a Language and History / Geography

• A grade 5-9 or A*-C in all these subjects is desirable.

x 2 x 2

Attainment 8This is a measure of overall attainment of a student:

• The average grade of a student’s best 8 subjects

• English and Maths are ‘double weighted’

• This may become a measure used by Sixth Forms and colleges when considering post-16 courses

Progress 8A measure of the overall progress of a student:

• A student’s best 8 GCSE grades are compared with the national average for students with a similar performance in the Year 6 SATS

• For example: a Progress 8 score of +1 means that a student has achieved 1 GCSE grade higher (on average) than the national average for students of similar ability – i.e. made more progress than the national average.

• Predicted Progress 8 (P8) scores will appear on Student Profiles:

P8 = positive – better progress than expectedP8 = 0 – expected progressP8 = negative – underachievement

You will receive a Student Profile 4 times a year: Student: Lucy Lurnerr, Form: CAM S8, Year: 10 Attendance: 97.8%

Authorised Absences: 9 Unauthorised Absences: 1

SUBJECT End of KS4

Target Grade

End of KS4

Challenge Grade

Jul- Oct Nov-Dec Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Achievement & Targets

Set: date Effort WaG PG Effort WaG PG Effort WaG PG Effort WaG PG

ENGLISH

g6 g7 E g6c g7c E g6b g7c Comment Target

MATHS

g6 g7 G g5c g6b G g5b g6b Comment Target

SCIENCE

B A V B3 A3 E B2 A3 Comment Target

GEOGRAPHY

B A R D1 C1 U D1 C2 Comment Target

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

Progress 8: +0.5

Colour Effort Working at Step (WaG) Predicted Step (PG)

Excellent Working significantly above age expectation. GCSE indicator: g8 / A* or better

Excellent progress: on track to achieve Challenge Grade

Very good Working above age expectation. GCSE indicator: g6 / B or better

Very good progress: on track to exceed Target Grade

Good Working at age expectation. GCSE indicator: g5 / C or better

Good progress: on track to achieve Target Grade

Requires improvement

Working below age expectation. GCSE indicator: g4 / D or better

Progress towards Target Grade requires improvement

Unsatisfactory Working significantly below age expectation. GCSE indicator: g3 / E or better

Progress towards Target Grade is unsatisfactory

Controlled Assessments

Controlled Assessments are a key part of the GCSE assessment process, and can represent a significant proportion of the marks awarded for a GCSE qualification.

• Controlled Assessments are usually completed in class under ‘exam conditions’ (or in the words of the examination boards, “a high level of supervision”), but may involve some preparation work at home. It is vital that students go into controlled assessment lessons properly prepared having revised the appropriate skills and knowledge or having conducted the necessary research, practice or pre-drafting. It is obviously essential that students are in school for all the controlled assessment lessons.

• Make sure you take a Controlled Assessment booklet!