Ponteland High SchoolPonteland High School

Welcome to the Year 11 Parents’Welcome to the Year 11 Parents’

Information EveningInformation EveningKieran McGraneKieran McGrane

HeadteacherHeadteacher

Monday 14 October 2013 Monday 14 October 2013

GCSEs are getting harder GCSEs are getting harder (Ofqual statement on 2013 (Ofqual statement on 2013 results)results)‘‘Results in science, additional science and Results in science, additional science and the separate sciences cannot easily be the separate sciences cannot easily be compared with 2012, for a number of compared with 2012, for a number of reasons.reasons.

First, the assessments are designed to be First, the assessments are designed to be more challenging – we have made it clear more challenging – we have made it clear that students this summer would have to that students this summer would have to perform at a higher level than in previous perform at a higher level than in previous years to get the same grades.’years to get the same grades.’

Move from modular to linearMove from modular to linear

• All GCSEs from Sept 2012 are linear All GCSEs from Sept 2012 are linear examsexams

• Terminal examTerminal exam

• High stakes end of course examHigh stakes end of course exam

Summer exams onlySummer exams only

• With the move to linear papers all With the move to linear papers all exams take place in May-June exams take place in May-June

• No opportunities to sit papers, for the No opportunities to sit papers, for the first time, in Nov-Jan as previouslyfirst time, in Nov-Jan as previously

• The only GCSE exams in November The only GCSE exams in November are re-sit opportunities in English are re-sit opportunities in English Language and MathsLanguage and Maths

CourseworkCoursework

• According to Michael Gove this has led According to Michael Gove this has led to/is ‘cheating’to/is ‘cheating’

• Removal of coursework from maths Removal of coursework from maths GCSE (previously worth 30% of final GCSE (previously worth 30% of final grade)grade)

• Replaced with controlled assessment – Replaced with controlled assessment – this is coursework under exam this is coursework under exam conditionsconditions

English LanguageEnglish Language

• Currently the final grade is Currently the final grade is accounted for through:accounted for through:– Exam: Exam: 40%40%– Reading & writing CA: Reading & writing CA: 40%40%– Speaking & listening CA: Speaking & listening CA: 20%20%

• Speaking and listening has been Speaking and listening has been removed from counting towards final removed from counting towards final grade (for summer 2014)grade (for summer 2014)

GCSE early entryGCSE early entry

• Due to the importance of achieving a C Due to the importance of achieving a C grade or better in English Language and grade or better in English Language and maths many schools allow students to sit maths many schools allow students to sit these exams more than oncethese exams more than once

• Examples include:Examples include:– Sit it in summer of year 9, Nov of year 10, Sit it in summer of year 9, Nov of year 10,

summer of year 10, Nov of year 11, summer summer of year 10, Nov of year 11, summer of year 11of year 11

– Sit in summer of year 10, Nov of year 11, Sit in summer of year 10, Nov of year 11, summer of year 11summer of year 11

GCSE early entryGCSE early entry

• 29 Sept 2013 announcement via 29 Sept 2013 announcement via Sunday Telegraph:Sunday Telegraph:

– First time entry for English, maths, First time entry for English, maths, science, MFL, Geography and History science, MFL, Geography and History counts in Performance Tables and used counts in Performance Tables and used by Ofsted when judging the by Ofsted when judging the effectiveness of a schooleffectiveness of a school

– Change starts with immediate effectChange starts with immediate effect

GCSE early entry loop holeGCSE early entry loop hole

• Schools could enter a student for 2-3 Schools could enter a student for 2-3 exam boards, e.g. maths in AQA, exam boards, e.g. maths in AQA, OCR, EdexcelOCR, Edexcel

• All exams are on the same dayAll exams are on the same day

• Best grade would countBest grade would count

• This loophole is likely to be closed by This loophole is likely to be closed by the summerthe summer

PHS approachPHS approach

• Summer of year 10 entry for selected Summer of year 10 entry for selected students working at Foundation level students working at Foundation level (maths)(maths)

• If successful in achieving a grade C they If successful in achieving a grade C they move on to Higher level maths and sit move on to Higher level maths and sit their exam in summer of year 11their exam in summer of year 11

• If unsuccessful in achieving a grade C If unsuccessful in achieving a grade C they re-sit in Nov, and June if necessarythey re-sit in Nov, and June if necessary

Y11 InformationY11 Information

Jim BalkwillJim BalkwillAssistant HeadteacherAssistant Headteacher

• Linear ExamsLinear Exams• Mock ExamsMock Exams• GCSE Preparation: Revision and HomeworkGCSE Preparation: Revision and Homework• AttendanceAttendance• Planning Ahead: Key Dates and The PlannerPlanning Ahead: Key Dates and The Planner

Linear ExamsLinear Exams

What this means for Y11 studentsWhat this means for Y11 students• Linear exams, not modular examsLinear exams, not modular exams

• Final exams at end of Year 11 that test the Final exams at end of Year 11 that test the full 2 year course contentfull 2 year course content

However …However …• Controlled Assessments exist in most courses Controlled Assessments exist in most courses

e.g.e.g.– MFLsMFLs: 60% CAs / 40% final exams: 60% CAs / 40% final exams– Eng LangEng Lang: 40% CAs / 60% final exams: 40% CAs / 60% final exams– HumanitiesHumanities: 25% CAs / 75% final exams: 25% CAs / 75% final exams– SciencesSciences: 25% CAs / 75% final exams : 25% CAs / 75% final exams

Controlled AssessmentsLevels of ControlThe exam boards set different levels of control for different

subjects

• High Control – Exam conditions apply. Students are not allowed to communicate with other students or to bring new work in to the session (e.g. MFLs, Art and Design)

• Medium Control – Students can communicate with each other but they are not allowed to collaborate with each other during the controlled assessment itself (e.g Media Studies, Graphics).

• Low Control – Generally means students can work together and take resources to and from sessions to work on at home (most subjects are low control during the preparatory phase)

Switch to only linear examinations • Changes required in study strategies:

– Internal assessments, tests and especially mock exams will take on even greater significance

– Students to summarise topics to aid revision

– How to revise and use homework time independently

Revision and ReviewRevision and ReviewWe are We are ‘‘designeddesigned’’ to forget to forget

•It’s quite normal to forget things, It’s quite normal to forget things, it’s how our brains have evolved – it’s how our brains have evolved – but repetition overcomes thisbut repetition overcomes this

•Evolution did not prepare our Evolution did not prepare our brains to remember much of the brains to remember much of the information we see once only – information we see once only – review and revision are vitalreview and revision are vital

Improving MemoryImproving MemoryLearn to rememberLearn to remember

• Building understandingBuilding understanding– Takes timeTakes time– Confusion often precedes Confusion often precedes

understandingunderstanding– The The ‘‘pitpit’’ is good for you, is good for you,

dondon’’t fear itt fear it

• Review and reviseReview and revise– Improves recallImproves recall– Find ways to make Find ways to make

repetition interestingrepetition interesting

The pit

Understanding

Unaware

Rec

all

Time

HomeworkHomeworkAt Key Stage 4 students always have homework:At Key Stage 4 students always have homework:

– LearningLearning– Reinforcement Reinforcement Purpose?Purpose? Preparation Preparation– ResearchResearch

If no If no formalformal homework is set in a subject: homework is set in a subject:– 10 minutes per examined subject per evening10 minutes per examined subject per evening– past papers [exam board website] / Mymaths / past papers [exam board website] / Mymaths /

class notes / mind mapping / file organisationclass notes / mind mapping / file organisation

How to Revise EffectivelyHow to Revise Effectively- BE ACTIVE & FOCUSED, i.e:- BE ACTIVE & FOCUSED, i.e: - BE PASSIVE & VAGUE. i.e:- BE PASSIVE & VAGUE. i.e:

Do Do … … Do not Do not … …- use mind maps- use mind maps - just read through- just read through

- paraphrase / note-take- paraphrase / note-take - simply copy out- simply copy out

- have parents test you- have parents test you - suffer alone- suffer alone

- find a revision-buddy- find a revision-buddy - find a PS4 buddy- find a PS4 buddy

- plan your time- plan your time - fail to plan- fail to plan

- stick to your plan- stick to your plan - seek excuses not to - seek excuses not to reviserevise

- practise past papers- practise past papers - internet-surf- internet-surf

- record key points on MP3/ipod- record key points on MP3/ipod

- test yourself / have your friends test you- test yourself / have your friends test you

Attendance Matters

Planning AheadPlanning Ahead1.1.The Planner The Planner – an effective home-school – an effective home-school

communication tool, and great for:communication tool, and great for:

• Organising the following school day/weekOrganising the following school day/week• Seeing what work/prep needs to be doneSeeing what work/prep needs to be done• Passwords for e-learningPasswords for e-learning• Checking what lessons students have hadChecking what lessons students have had• Checking what homework needs doingChecking what homework needs doing

2. Key Dates2. Key Dates - in information booklet- in information booklet• Organising upcoming events and datesOrganising upcoming events and dates• Seeing what work/prep needs to be done and when forSeeing what work/prep needs to be done and when for• Information will be sent home via pupil post/SIMS Information will be sent home via pupil post/SIMS

Intouch and on the websiteIntouch and on the website