A copy of this presentation will be available on school website.

Welcome Year 11 Information

Evening

EXPECTATIONS

• Year 10 was a great year!!

• Majority delivered against a tough set of expectations, many excelled.

• They matured & took increased responsibility for their own learning.

• Those that didn’t may have had a disappointment or two (hopefully to positive effect this year).

• Very mature start to Year 11 – stepping up to their GCSE’s.

• Want them to feel like young adults this year – which means taking more responsibility.

• More of the same • Timeliness

• Uniform

• Behaviour – Role models – Prefects

• Effort – Outstanding

• Results

Attendance impact.

Percentage School Days School Weeks Lesson time missed

99.4% 1 5 hours

97.3% 5 1 25 hours

94.7% 10 2 50 hours

92.1% 15 3 75 hours

89.4% 20 4 100 hours

86.8% 25 5 125 hours

84.2% 30 6 150 hours

81.5% 35 7 175 hours

78.9% 40 8 200 hours

Staff changes

There are no changes to Tutors.

Mr Bruce appointed as Deputy Head of Year 11

Timetable Change

The year group have now completed their RS short course and have half a GCSE.

This year they will use that time either for enrichment (Photography) or for supervised additional study time.

TERM DATES

Link to term dates for this academic year on school website:

http://www.farmors.gloucs.sch.uk/Calendar-term-dates-and-school-day

INSET DAYS

• Friday 5th October

• Monday 7th January (end of Xmas holiday)

OPEN EVENING

• Thursday 27th September

• Early closure at 1.30pm.

• Prefect/student helpers.

GCSE exam dates:

Mock exams: w/c 14th January 2019

First exam: 14th May 2019

Last exam: 20th June 2019

Contingency day: 26th June 2019 (students should be available for this date)

Results: Thursday 22nd August 2019

Exams Info • Students receive "statement of entry" - by 15th February (before half term). Shows

legal name that will appear on their final certificates and they will be asked to check it is correct.

• Personal final exam timetable (start times, seat numbers & rooms) - by 5th April (before the Easter break).

• GCSE Spanish and French speaking assessments will be completed between 23rd April and 24th May - teachers will confirm exact dates.

• Set 1 Level 3 Algebra Mathematics exam 10th January 2019 (am)

• Exam timetable will be on the website in October.

• Monday afternoon exam students will need to arrange transport - Sociology, Health & Social Care and Media students.

Year 11 Subject specification codes (on website under Exams section)

GCSE Subject Exam board

Y11 18/19

Specification code

Art & Design (Fine Art) AQA 8202

Business Studies Edexcel 1BS0

Drama AQA 8261

Design & Technology Edexcel 1DT0

English Literature AQA 8702

English Language AQA 8700

Food and Catering WJEC Educas 5569 Level 1 / 2 Technical Award

French Edexcel 1FR0

Geography AQA 8035

Health & Social Care OCR J811 Cambridge Nationals Certificate

History Edexcel 1HI0

Horticulture Edexcel BTEC Level 2 Certificate (PK300)

Digital Applications (ICT) Edexcel DA203 Level 2 technical award: Certificate in Digital Applications

Computer Science AQA 8520

Mathematics Edexcel 1MA1

Media Studies AQA 8572

Music Edexcel 1MU0

Photography Short Course AQA 8206 but some students enrichment only

Physical Education AQA 8582

Science Double (Trilogy) AQA 8464

Science Triple- Biology AQA 8461

Science Triple- Chemistry AQA 8462

Science Triple- Physics AQA 8463

Sociology AQA 8192

Spanish Edexcel 1SP0

Rewards & motivation • Clear expectations set for the year group last year will continue.

• We will be looking for opportunities to celebrate success throughout the year.

• Last year they were incentivised by Achievement Tracking system linked to Rewards Trip.

• Year 11 did Passport to Prom last year to earn their Prom ticket.

• Going to try and different approach this year.

• Prom is a reward for being part of the school community and contributing to it over the duration of their time at the school.

• Majority will meet expectations, work hard and succeed.

• Monitoring will run in the background.

• IF students are not meeting expectations then we will tailor targets to their needs and MAY make it conditional for Prom attendance if appropriate.

• Passport to Prom may still be used if we feel the year group need further incentivising.

Year 11 Prom

Date: TBC

- Aiming between 21st June & 28th June

- Worst case may have to slip into w/c 1st July

- Plan to confirm date later this month

Post 16 pathways and career’s support • Girls’ STEM day (10th October)

• Farmor’s Sixth Form Assembly – 30th October

• Pathway assemblies - November

• Vocational & Apprenticeship talks - November

• Career’s Fair day – (Morning of) 8th November

• Sixth form Information Open Evening - Thurs 15th Nov 6-8.30pm

• Farmor’s Sixth Form taster Day – Thurs 20th December

• Deadline for Application to Farmor’s Sixth Form – mid-January

Subject specific information

Maths

• Edexcel 1MA1 Curriculum with three 1.5 hour examinations. One non-calculator and two calculator papers.

• Students will need a scientific calculator and geometry kit.

• We recommend the Casio fx 83 or 83Plus. They will hopefully be available from Maths via Parent pay (cost to be confirmed). Alternatively available from Amazon for £9.99.

• Revision guides and workbooks are available from the Maths department via parent pay at £2.50 each.

• Websites for revision

• Corbett Maths – 5 a day

• MyMaths GCSE Booster packs targeting specific grades

English

• Exams only: 2 Language, 2 Literature next summer

• Students have copies of their set texts for Literature. (please pay via Parentpay if not already)

• Option to purchase a set of Snap Revision guides covering the set texts + the English Language papers (£6.50)

• Please pay via Parentpay

• Books will be available from student's English teacher

• Bring photo of payment screen as proof of payment

• Next assessment is English Literature: Jekyll and Hyde or A Christmas Carol – 1st week back after half term.

Science • Separate Sciences: (3 GCSEs) students sit 6 exams (2 Biology, 2

Chemistry, 2 Physics) each lasting 1hr 45 minutes per exam paper.

• Trilogy award: (2 GCSEs) students sit 6 exams (2 Biology, 2 Chemistry, 2 Physics) each lasting 1hr 15 minutes per exam paper.

• Two tiers:- Higher (Level 4 - 9) and Foundation (Level 1 - 5)

• Teachers will liaise with students to indicate the most appropriate entry tier.

Science • Students are given an online Kerboodle login to

access to www.kerboodle to assist in learning.

• No coursework: 100% terminal examinations but there are compulsory practical tasks which pupils must experience in class. These may feature in the final exam.

• Purchase of CPG Revision guides and workbooks is highly recommended if this was not done last year.

French and Spanish

• At the end of Year 11, students will be taking end-of course exams in the 4 Language Skills areas: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing.

• Each one constitutes 25% (a quarter) of the GCSE qualification and has its own separate exam in the form of an end-of-course paper.

• GCSE Spanish and French speaking assessments will be completed between 23rd April and 24th May - teachers will confirm exact dates.

GCSE - Computer Science

• It is anticipated students will start their NEA (Non-Exam Assessment) at the start of Term 2 – January 2019

• All students are highly advised to keep developing their computational skills and knowledge outside lesson time – using Python

• www.Snakify.org/en/

• Learning how to use Python – white booklet

• Resources and extra learning material will be supplied by the department.

Certificate in Digital Applications - ICT • Students have recently started working on their Controlled

Assessment and it is anticipated this will last until February half term. • The Controlled Assessment is worth 80% of the overall grade.

• If they wish, students have the opportunity to retake their Unit 1 examination (worth 20% overall grade)

• this will take place around January 2019

• Students are encouraged to research and develop their skills outside lesson time. Links to free digital applications are available on Show My Homework.

• This is a level 2 course, students are required to achieve at least a grade “C” to pass the course.

Geography

• Letter went home last week regarding year ahead.

• Important Date change:

• Fieldtrip to Gloucester will now be on Thursday 18th October 2018.

• Trip will take place within the timings of the normal school day.

There are a number of GCSE revision guides. Make sure you order GCSE AQA syllabus versions for the new course 1 - 9.

History

• Superpowers and Weimar and Nazi Germany are the two units covered in mock

• Full Exams are on 1. Crime and Punishment 2. Superpowers and Normans 3. Weimar and Nazi Germany

• There are two good revision guide series available • We can get 50% off purple ones; you can find better discounts on

white • The department has a number of purple ones at the moment and will do another order before Xmas – contact Jspeake@farmors.gloucs.sch.uk if interested in former and the order will go On ParentPay after half term • We also publish links to revision web Resources via Show my Homework

Berlin Trip 19th-23rd October

• Information and Q&A evening:

• Thursday 4th October 7-8pm

Sociology

• The course will be externally examined with two 1hr 45min examinations in May 2019.

• Parents/students may wish to purchase a suggested revision guide to support learning and preparation for the mock and actual exams.

• AQA GCSE Revision Sociology, Pauline Wilson, 2017, Collins.

• ISBN 978-0-00-822745-6.

• An excellent resource that every Sociology student should have.

• Contains subject content, key features highlighted with valuable examiners comments and tips. There are practice questions with answers.

• RRP £10.99 but can certainly be purchased online for less than stated price.

Business • Two exams at the end of Y11:

• Paper 1 – Investigating Small Business (50%)

• Paper 2 – Building a Business (50%)

• Most students already have a revision guide but if not, this is very useful to have and can be purchased through the school.

• It can be very useful to discuss business issues at home: family business, businesses in the news, new adverts, etc. This will encourage students to apply what they have learnt to real business situations.

Music

• Students should have completed Composition 1 and are now starting Composition 2 in response to a brief set by the exam board last week.

• Please encourage your child to practice the pieces they wish to perform for their solo and ensemble performances (one of each).

• We encourage students to perform in the half termly lunchtime concerts to help improve performance skills.

• Revision of set works has begun and students will be given practice exam questions in order to understand the answers they are required to give. All students should spend as much time as possible listening to the set works.

• All coursework should be complete by the end of March 2019.

Drama The group will have two double lessons per week – one with Mr Newman and one with Miss Dundas.

Component Two: Devising Drama – 30%of the GCSE

• The practical exam will take place on Wednesday 17th October and the students will be off timetable all day.

• The performance is worth 20 marks.

• It will be assessed by Mr Newman and Miss Dundas and a video recording moderated by AQA.

• In order to prepare, students will use their lessons to rehearse and the Theatre and staff are available for extra rehearsals on Tuesday and Friday lunchtimes.

• Students are expected to keep detailed written notes of their rehearsal process and complete specific written tasks as homework. These notes will be used to write their Devising Log.

• The written Devising Log is worth 40 marks.

• The deadline for the first draft Devising Log is Friday 2nd November and the deadline for the final draft is Friday 30th November.

• Miss Dundas will work with students on the Devising Log in lessons and they will be expected to complete drafts for homework.

Drama Component One: Understanding Drama – 40%of the GCSE

• The written Mock Exam will take place the week beginning 14th January.

• The written exam is worth 80 marks.

• Mr Newman will prepare the students for Section B: Hansel & Gretel (44 marks)

• Miss Dundas will prepare the students for Section A: Knowledge &

Understanding (4 marks) and Section C: Live Theatre (32 marks)

• In order to prepare, students will be set written homework and revision tasks.

Component Three: Texts in Practice – 30%of the GCSE

• This is a purely practical exam. The students will perform two extracts from the same play for an external AQA Examiner.

• Each extract is worth 20 marks.

• The students will work on this with both teachers from January to March.

• Extra rehearsals will be available on Tuesday and Friday lunchtimes.

Design and Technology • Students are working in the same Design Contexts across all

specialisms. This is worth 50% of the overall grade. • Due to the nature of some research and analysis tasks, they will need

to be completed outside of lessons. • Please help support our expectation that students finish all tasks set

and encourage them to utilise all their opportunities in the DT department to maximise their potential grades.

NEA (Non Exam Assessment project key dates) • RESEARCH and DESIGN – 26th November 2018 • MAKE – 4th February 2019 • EVALUATE and HAND IN DATE – 25th February 2019

• Edexcel 9-1 text books ISBN 978 1 292 1 84586 – These books are

highly useful, however not a necessity. If students have purchased AQA versions these are still valid.

Physical Education

• Key Dates for practical footage:

• Deadline for summer sports was: 10th Sept

• Netball / Rugby: 10th Dec

• All other activities: 4th Feb

• Written coursework starts this term (supported in class)

• Practical moderation – towards end of Spring term – exact date TBA

• Revision Guide

• AQA GCSE (9-1) Kirk Bizley ISBN 978-1-5104-0523-3 (c.£9)

• AQA Revision smart cards – available from smartpe.co.uk (£18)

Art

• Separate communication has been sent regarding the course and this year’s activities.

Surviving this year….

My (not serious) tips

•Buy shares in Amazon and all major book publishers

• Employ a butler to prepare you 4 course meals to fit in all the tea-time conversations

Your role…

• Provider of the necessary tools – stationary, a quiet place to work, access to a computer.

• Banker – paying for the above!

• Study Buddy – showing an interest in homework and revision, helping where appropriate.

• Advisor and sounding board – keep an eye on progress, celebrate achievements and help to find a positive way forward when things go less well.

• Project manager – Agree the rules for homework and revision together and then revise as necessary.

• Go-between – contact us if you think there is an issue that your child can’t or won’t raise.

The academic year

May

Term 1 Term 2 Term 3

Oct Dec Feb Apr Sep

Internal Report (Meeting 1)

Report (Meeting 2)

Formal Assessments w/b 14th Jan

Parents Evening

Year 11

Academic timeline • Internal tests • Teachers’ judgements • Parental contact

Why test?

What have students actually learned?

What are the next steps?

Low- stakes

How do we test?

May

Term 1 Term 2 Term 3

Oct Dec Feb Apr Sep

Internal Report (Meeting 1)

Report (Meeting 2)

Formal Assessments w/b 14th Jan

Parents Evening

Year 11

Academic timeline • Internal tests • Teachers’ judgements – progress, effort + estimated grade • Parental contact

May

Term 1 Term 2 Term 3

Oct Dec Feb Apr Sep

Internal Report (Meeting 1)

Report (Meeting 2)

Formal Assessments w/b 14th Jan

Parents Evening

Year 11

Academic timeline • Internal tests • Teachers’ judgements • Parental contact – intervention meetings

If we have concerns over EFFORT or PROGRESS. Parental invitation to meet with the Tutor at two points during the year to work together on strategies to resolve issues.

What are the intervention meetings?

Test scores x 1

Teacher Judgement x 1 • Making ‘expected progress’? • Effort Parents’ Evening (all) Intervention meetings x 2 (some)

What information and contact will you have?

May

Term 1 Term 2 Term 3

Oct Dec Feb Apr Sep

Internal Report (Meeting 1)

Report (Meeting 2)

Formal Assessments w/b 14th Jan

Parents Evening 13th December

Year 11

Academic timeline • Internal tests • Teachers’ judgements • Parental contact – intervention meetings

Study Just doing your homework (really well and on time) isn’t enough! Great students study. Study means helping commit what you have learnt to long term memory. Studying little and often (every day) will mean GCSE exams are a less stressful experience, and you’ll get higher grades.

What is the best way to study?

You will forget most of what you are taught each day if you don’t do something to prevent this. Making yourself recall what you were taught in the lesson is the most powerful way of fixing knowledge in your memory.

Try this… 1. Get a blank piece of paper for each lesson you had that day 2. Write down everything you can recall about the topics taught 3. Look back at your notes, text book or revision guide and note down (in a different colour

pen) all the things you hadn’t been able to recall

Why does this work?

• When you look at your notes, or read about the topic, it feels familiar and this gives a false confidence that you have secured this knowledge in your memory. It feels comforting, but you are deceiving yourself.

• Forcing yourself to recall information is the best way we know to strengthen your memory of this knowledge further. It feels really hard – that’s good!

• This technique also forces you to realise how much you have already forgotten. This is annoying and frustrating – but it is good for you!

• By filling in the blanks, you are revisiting the areas you remembered least about.

What else can you do?

You need to come back to this knowledge a week later, a month later, and again before the exam. To do this you need a study routine. A routine could be: • Recall and check today’s learning • Recall and check what I learnt on this day last week Using flash cards, self-test questions and other techniques which force you to practice recalling information are really useful. Here is a great website that tells you more…

http://www.learningscientists.org/downloadable-materials/

Thank You