Year 11 Curriculum Booklet

A Marathon NOT a Sprint

• There are 29 school weeks left until the beginning of exam season.

• The next 29 weeks will prove incredibly demanding for all involved but it is vital that your child approaches this challenge with their full commitment and full support.

• Those students who work consistently hard throughout the year are those who ultimately achieve success in their exams.

• Those who leave it all to the last minute end up experiencing high levels of stress and, ultimately, discover they do not have enough time to get everything completed and do not reach their full potential.

This year should, therefore, be seen as a marathon and NOT a sprint.

How Much Time to Spend

• In year 11 pupils should be expected to be completing, at least,

one to two hours, per GCSE subject, per week.

• On average pupils should be completing around 2 hours of

study or homework per night (for 5 nights).

• Homework is not necessarily work set by the teacher – it is also your own independent study and revision done at home.

• If your son does not have homework set by the teacher he should be independently studying or revising to consolidate the learning taking place in class.

Factors to Success The following factors have been identified as key elements which should help ensure your son’s success at GCSE if they make them part of their daily routine and their habitual approach to their studies:

EXCELLENT ATTENDANCE Research shows that attendance of less than 95%, on average, results in 1 GCSE level lower in each subject. You need to be in school learning.

POSITIVE ATTITUDE A positive attitude of ‘I can do’, ‘I will try’ and ‘I will make efforts to improve and learn from my mistakes’ will help to increase achievement.

SELF BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT

Being responsible and well behaved in class and focusing in lessons will ensure that you have the right foundations to build on in your own study time. You cannot revise what you have missed in the classroom.

MEETING DEADLINES Meeting deadlines helps to reduce pressure and stress at exam time and can allow for more opportunity to receive feedback from teachers to help to improve your work and allow you to identify where the gaps in your knowledge are.

SELF STUDY & REVISION Research indicates that effective revision and self study can increase exam performance by up to 30% -equivalent to 2 GCSE levels. The learning must continue outside of the classroom. You should develop self motivation and become an Independent Learner.

Give school attendance 100%

• Pupils who miss school risk failing to achieve what they are capable of.

• Figures have shown that 90% of persistent, poor or non‐attenders fail to achieve five or more good grades at GCSE

• And approximately 1/3 achieve no GCSEs at all.

When you miss school… you miss out!

Attendance & Attainment

Chances of success at GCSE

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

100-95% 94-92.5% 92.4-91% 90% 89% 88%

% Attendance

A*

-C

% A

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ent

Catch Up Sessions, Booster and Revision Classes • At different intervals throughout the year Heads of Department and

subject teachers will be arranging Catch Up Sessions, Booster and Revision Classes in order to help your son to prepare for their exams and to bridge any gaps in their knowledge.

• Revision classes will be commencing from November onwards

• Some Catch Up Sessions for work missed in year 10 have already begun.

• These sessions will be timetabled and will run until 4:15pm, after usual lessons.

• Some sessions will take place on Saturday mornings.

The Main Changes to the GCSE’s:

• A new grading scale introduced that uses numbers to identify levels of performance.

• The numbers are 1 – 9, with 9 being the top level

• The grade 9 has been described as an A**

• The traditional grade C ‘pass’ has been superseded by new grade 5 – which is worth more

Curriculum Changes

• GCSE qualifications are currently undergoing changes.

• These changes are taking place over three years with the first of the new qualifications (GCSE Maths and English) having been taught since September 2015 and being examined for the first time in June 2016

• This changes will affect your son.

• Information on all subjects will be provided via the school website

Pupils aged 16 will no longer be able to drop maths or English

• Teenagers in England who fail to achieve at least a grade C in English and maths GCSEs will have to continue studying these two subjects.

• Pupils aged 16 will no longer be able to drop maths or English unless they have achieved at least a ‘pass’ grade C

• A GCSE ‘pass’ in 2018 is new a grade 5

• Many A Level courses require a grade 5 pass in English and Maths

• Grade 5 has to be considered the benchmark

English

Language and LiteratureExam Board: AQA• All students sit both GCSEs.

• If they pass both, they count for triple weighting on progress 8.

• Numerical grading for English Language and Literature.

• Separate grading for Speaking and Listening – now called Spoken Language endorsement. Graded as: Pass, Merit, Distinction or Not Classified.

English Literature

• All externally examined terminal assessment – no coursework or controlled assessment.

• Two papers as follows:

• Paper 1: Shakespeare and 19th Century Novel (Romeo and Juliet & Jekyll and Hyde). 1 hour 45 minutes.

• Paper 2: Modern Texts, Studied Poetry & Unseen Poetry (The play DNA, AQA Anthology & two unseen poems). 2 hours 15 minutes.

English Language

• All externally examined terminal assessment – no coursework or controlled assessment.

• Two papers, covering Reading and Writing skills with equal weighting.

• Reading sections require a response to texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st century.

• Writing sections require a response to purpose, audience and text type.

• 3 hours, 30 minutes of exams over two papers. (Two papers at 1 hour 45 minutes each).

Studying

• The exams are all CLOSED BOOK.

• Students must have read and reread the texts for Literature several times – the examination requires whole text knowledge.

• Students must have carefully studied the poems and have a bank of quotations on hand to cover a range of themes and ideas.

• A wide range of reading to cover the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries is essential to maximise students exposure to the styles and approaches of each era.

Top Grades

• The grading of 8/9 is awarded to the top students nationally.

• In order to reach for these grades, an organised, regular and matureattitude to independent study is essential.

• Your English teacher will provide you with a list of websites and texts to aid your independent study – do ask.

• The British Library website is an excellent starting point with a range of further reading suggestions.

Maths

Foundation 1 2 3 4 5

Higher 4 5 6 7 8 9

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)Examination Board: Edexcel Contact: Ms Toprak

Mathematics - Syllabus: Edexcel (1-9) GCSE in mathematics. (Code 1MA1).

Mathematics at GCSE builds on the knowledge, skills and understanding developed in Key

Stage Three.

There are two tiers of entry: Foundation and Higher. The entry tier in Year 11 dictates the grades that are accessible. These are listed below:

The tier of entry is not decided until after they have sat their Mock examination in December of Year 11.

Edexcel (1-9) Mathematics 1MA1

Students all follow a linear course which is assessed by three terminal examinations at the end of Year 11;

1. One “non-calculator”

2. Two where a calculator is allowed.

3. Each paper is one and a half hours long and worth 33 1/3% of the overall qualification and the whole spectrum of topic areas within each tier, is to be expected across all three papers.

Higher Foundation

Algebra 30% 20%

Number 15% 20%

Ratio, proportion

and rates of change

20% 25%

Geometry and

measures

20% 15%

Statistics

Probability

15% 15%

The course consists of six disciplines within mathematics, each weighted with a different percentage:

• More information and the full syllabus can currently be found at http://qualifications.pearson.com/content/demo/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/mathematics-2015.html

• All students must possess a scientific calculator regardless of the course they are following. This is expected to be brought in for every lesson. The Casio FX83GTPlus or Casio FX85GTPlus are recommended.

Science at St. AloysiusExam Board: AQA

Science qualifications• Separate science• Combined science

Year 11 sets and science courses

Set Course

1 Separate science- 3 science qualifications in

physics; biology and chemistry

2, 3 and 4 Combined science - 2 science qualifications

All students will study physics, biology and chemistry but at different levels. There are no coursework components.

How are the qualifications weighted?Separate science – 3 science qualifications in Biology, Physics & Chemistry.

Paper 1 topics, no. of marks and exam duration Paper 2 topics, no. of marks and exam duration

Physics Energy; Electricity; Particle Model of Matter; Atomic structure

100 marks 1hr 45 mins

Forces; Waves; Magnetism & Electromagnetism; Space Physics

100 marks1hr 45 mins

Biology Cell biology; Organisation; Infection and Response; Bioenergetics

100 marks 1hr 45 mins

Homeostasis and Response; Inheritance, Variation & Evolution; Ecology

100 marks1hr 45 mins

Chemistry Atomic Structure & The Periodic Table; Bonding, Structure & The Properties of Matter; Quantitative

Chemistry; Chemical Changes; Energy Changes100 marks

1hr 45 mins

The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change; OrganicChemistry; Chemical Analysis; Chemistry of the

Atmosphere ; Using Resources100 marks

1hr 45 mins

Pupils will sit a total of 6 exams, each weighted at 50% of each qualification.Questions will include multiple choice; structured; closed short answer and open response.

How are the qualifications weighted?Combined science – equivalent to 2 Science GCSEs

Paper 1 topics, no. of marks and exam duration Paper 2 topics, no. of marks and exam duration

Physics Energy; Electricity; Particle Model of Matter; Atomic structure 70 marks

1hr 15 mins

Forces; Waves; Magnetism and Electromagnetism 70 marks

1hr 15 mins

Biology Cell biology; Organisation; Infection and Response; Bioenergetics

70 marks 1hr 15 mins

Homeostasis and Response; Inheritance, Variation & Evolution; Ecology

70 marks1hr 15 mins

Chemistry Atomic Structure & The Periodic Table; Bonding, Structure & The Properties of Matter; Quantitative

Chemistry; Chemical Changes; Energy Changes70 marks

1hr 15 mins

The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change; OrganicChemistry; Chemical Analysis; Chemistry of the

Atmosphere ; Using Resources70 marks

1hr 15 mins

Pupils will sit a total of 6 exams, each weighted ay 16.7% of the Combined Science Qualification. Questions will include multiple choice; structured; closed short answer and open response.

Religious EducationGCSE

•There are 3 exams:- Edexcel board

•Assessment will be using Levels 1-9.

Exam Weighting Timings

Catholic Christianity

50% 1 hour 45 minutes

Judaism 25% 50 minutesPhilosophy and Ethics through Catholic Christianity

25% 50 minutes

GCSE History Exam Board: AQA

Paper One: Pupils will study two topics for this paper (50% weighting)

a) America 1920-1973: Opportunity and Equalityb) Conflict and Tension in Asia 1950-1975 (Korea and Vietnam)This exam is 1 hour and 45 minutes

Paper Two: Pupils will study three topics for this paper (50% weighting)

a) Power and the People – Britain 1170 to the present dayb) British depth study – Edward I 1272-1307c) Historic Environment – Stokesay Castle ShropshireThis exam is 1 hour and 45 minutes

There is no coursework

GCSE GeographyChanges to the Specification (AQA Exam Board)

• Paper 1 - Physical 35%• Paper 2 - Human 35%• Paper 3 - Pre-release (made available in March) and Fieldwork questions 30%

Note: Controlled Assessment (coursework) is no longer a component of GCSE Geography and instead students will be examined on their fieldwork knowledge in paper 3.

This year we are travelling to Norfolk to complete the first of two compulsory field studies (13th-16th October).

Exam Format

Textbooks we use:

GCSE Geography AQA Oxford GCSE Geography AQA Hodder Education

GCSE EDEXCEL LINEAR EXAMMFL:

FRENCH and SPANISH

Start: September 2016First Examination: May 2018

•This is a 2 year course, it starts in year 10 and the final exam is in year 11.

Headline changes

• Linear assessment 100% ( all content examined at the end of the course).

• Skills weighting (25% each skill , Listening ,speaking, reading and writing).

• No dictionaries allowed at any stage.

• No mixed tier entry (all four skills are assessed at either Foundation

• Level or Higher Level).

• Some target language questions ( listening and reading).

Assessment objectives

Fine Art and Graphic Communication

GCSE Edexcel New Specification

Autumn Term

Component 1: Personal Portfolio assignment (including a period of sustained focus)

• Students given the opportunity to mimic the content of the Externally Set Assignment, using a previous ESA theme or the Sample Assessment Materials (SAMs) available on the Edexcel website, to include:

• developing and exploring ideas

• researching primary and contextual sources

• experimenting with media, materials, techniques and processes

• presenting personal response(s)

• Students given the opportunity to improve their personal project assignment in light of feedback from teacher

Spring Term

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment

• Paper released 2 January

• Preparatory period begins in January and students start work on their preparatory studies in response to the theme

• Enrichment opportunity: gallery visit, workshop or visit to a local area of interest to support students’ response to the ESA theme

• Students complete all preparatory studies before the start of the period of sustained focus

• The 10-hour period of sustained focus during which students produce their final response(s) to the theme

Summer Term

Component 1: Personal Portfolio projects (thematic response and mock exam assignment)

• Students to finalise unfinished work in light of feedback from teacher and their own experience of completing the Externally Set Assignment

• Students to select and present appropriate work for assessment of their Personal Portfolio

• External moderation window begins on 1 May

Psychology GCSE

• Two exam papers: Both 1.5 hours, equal weighting.

• UNIT 1: (5 topics) Memory, Non verbal communication, Development of Personality, Stereotype, prejudice and discrimination, and Research methods.

• UNIT 2: (5 topics) Learning, Social influence, Sex and Gender, Aggression and Research methods.

What you could do as an independent learniner to improve your grades…• Revisit and memorise studies (chunking topics)

• Learn key terms and definitions and then use them in answers

• Complete as many past exam papers as possible. If you know what they look like you wont be as worried before the exam!

• Look at mark schemes

• Practise writing full mark answers, not just half finished answers, looking at marks available!

• Look at examiner comments on past exams to see where students have gone wrong and try not to make the same mistakes!

• Re visit applications and implications of studies.

Assignment Percentage of Final Grade

Deadline

Assignment 1 - Magazines 10% Completed in Year 10

Assignment 2 – Moving Image(James Bond)

20% October Half Term (20th October)

Assignment 3 – Music Promotion

30% Research, Planning and Preparation –February Half Term (9th February)

Production – Easter Holidays (29th March)

Media Studies (AQA) – Unit 2 (Controlled Assessment)Controlled Assessment is worth a significant percentage of the final grade for the Media Studies GCSE (60%). Some controlled assessment has already been completed in Year 10, and the students will continue to work on their assignments for the first half of Year 11. Work will be done mainly in lessons, but as the deadlines draw closer some students may be required to attend after-school/Saturday sessions. The FINAL DEADLINE for all Controlled Assessment is the end of the spring term (29th March 2018).

Media Studies (AQA) - Unit 1 (The Exam)

Students take one written exam at the end of Year 11, worth 40% of the final grade. The topic for the exam changes every year - this year’s topic is ‘Serial Television Drama’. This could include costume/period drama (e.g. Downton Abbey), crime dramas (e.g. Luther) and medical dramas (e.g. Casualty), amongst many others. We will start studying the topic in detail after Christmas, although if you do watch these programmes at home it may be useful for the students to start making notes!

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGYGCSE Product Design

AQASubject Code: 4557 Exam Board:AQA

How the course fits together

Integration of designing& making

Written paper

2 hrs Written Exam

CA Coursework

Unit 1- 40%

Unit 2- 60%

GCSE Product Design

projectThis consists of a single design and make activity selected from a range of tasks set by the Exam Board.

Students are expected to answer all questions in the exam paper.

Pre-Release material issued in March by the exam board to aid exam preparation.

1. Materials and components used in product design.

2. Design and market influences affecting the design of products.

3. Processes and manufacture used to produce new products.

In this unit, students are learning about:

Unit 1 is the written exam

Students will be tested through a 2 hour written exam in May.

Unit 2 is the Controlled Assessment Coursework

•This unit will be tested through a design and make project lasting around 45 hours.

• Students will design and make a commercially viable product to meet the needs or wants of a specific group of consumers.

• Their products should be capable of being commercially manufactured in large volume.

Exam/Coursework Expectations

Things to do and books your son can read. Students to purchase the GCSE Essential: Product Design Student

workbook and Revision Guide. Create a revision time-table and revise exam topics regularly. Work hard, be organised and try to understand your learning style Have a good knowledge of the D&T coursework mark scheme. Attend revision/support sessions Practice past exam questions.

Useful Websites: These are important sites that will help with your coursework and exam preparation.www.technologystudent.com, www.incpen.org (packaging site), www.gadgetshow.five.tv, www.design-

technology.info, www.technologystudent.com, www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/designwww.technologypupil.com, www.google.com.images, www.google.sketchup.com

Brian Russell

Key dates:

10/2017 – 02/2018: Coursework support classes

(mornings & After school sessions)

26/01/2018: GCSE CA coursework Hand-in date –

students are expected to submit a complete A3

coursework folder and a completed 3D practical

outcome.

February 2018: Coursework grade improvement/Exam rep.

March – May 2018: Exam preparation and revision.

Students will sit a two hours exam in May.

GCSE - Computer Science (9-1) - J276

OCROutline of Exams:

Assessment of GCSE (9–1) in Computer Science (First assessment in 2018)

• The GCSE (9–1) in Computer Science is a linear qualification with a 100% terminal rule.

• There are three components, two externally examined components (01 and 02) weighted at 40% each and a non-exam assessment (03, 04) weighted at 20% that is assessed by the centre and externally moderated by OCR. • Each examined component consists of an exam paper with a duration of 1 hour 30

minutes. The non-exam assessment has a duration totalling 20 hours. • Learners must take all three components. • Learners answer all questions in both of the examined components. • Learners are not permitted to use a calculator in the examinations. • Some questions will require an extended response. Extended response assessment

will enable learners to demonstrate the ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning.

• Learners will have a choice of three non-exam assessment tasks to choose from. Learners will need to choose only one task (made up of three sub-tasks) to complete

Assessment Objective weightings in OCR GCSE (9–1) in Computer Science

Component Ao1 AO2 AO3 AO4

Computer systems (J276/01) 15 22 3 3

Computational thinking, algorithms and programming (J276/02)

14 14 12 12

Programming project (J276/03/04) 1 4 15 15

Total (%) 30% 40% 30% 30%

The relationship between the Assessment Objectives and the components

Parental Support

• As a parent the support you provide your child is almost incomparable to other contributing factors to exam success .

• It is, undoubtedly, the case that students who are fully supported by their family are more likely to tackle the challenges of this year with a greater degree of success.

The Crucial Difference

• Parental involvement during this crucial year can make an enormous difference:

• The crucial difference between ‘success’ and ‘failure’ or

• The crucial difference between a level 4 and a level 5 or a 9 and a 7

• The crucial difference between getting onto their course and college choice of at further education or not.

Ways for Parents to Help

Parents can help their children to achieve exam success by doing the following:

LIMITSOCIALISING

Limit the amount of time set aside for recreation and socialising. Encourage your son to spend an increasing amount of time dedicated to their studies.

SHOW INTEREST Enquire about what your son has been learning and what assignments he has to complete. Offer to give short tests or quizzes.

PROVIDE SPACE Ensure that your son has access to a space and environment suitable for quiet and focussed study.

MAKE A PLAN Help to make a schedule which plans for study time and goals in their revision. Incorporate time for study breaks.

PROVIDE A BALANCED DIET

Ensure that your son eats a healthy diet and drinks plenty of water.

ENCOURAGE DECENT REST

Try and ensure that your son gets plenty of sleep and rest and doesn’t stay up very late either watching TV, gaming or using social media (or studying too hard!).

Where homework is not evidently set by the teacher parents could suggest…• Revisiting the subject covered in a lesson that day

• Researching the topic further to gain a more in-depth understanding

• Checking for gaps in class notes and / or exercise books

• Making revision materials – revision cards, Mind Maps etc

• Visiting revision websites or practice exam questions with past papers.

• Developing work to be put in your coursework portfolio (especially for practical subjects)

• Documentaries and films (relevant films!)

• Learning Modern Foreign Language vocabulary

• Reading more – reread your set texts or read for pleasure

Holy Trinity of Education

1. Learner

2. Teacher

3. Parent

• We are all working towards the same goal.

• We are all pushing in the same direction.

Independent Learning • “The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and

the wings of independence.” Denis Waitley

• “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.”

Albert Einstein

• “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” Mark Twain

• “Real education must ultimately be limited to men who insist on knowing – the rest is mere sheep-herding.”

Ezra Loomis Pound

• “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” Jim Rohn

• Just as eating against one’s will is injurious to health, so studying without a liking for it spoils the memory, and it retains nothing it takes in.”

Leonardo Da Vinci