Supporting Success Evening Year 11

Programme for EveningWelcome Catherine Fisher, Head Teacher

Expectations and Key Events

Sam Richardson and Matt Page, Learning Managers

English Angela Lancini, Head of EnglishScience Raj Sangar, Head of Science

MathsRE

David Curson, Head of MathsTony Pagkalis, Head of RE

Parental Monitoring Tim Gartside, Vice Principal

Supporting Success Evening Year 11

Learning Managers Sam Richardson and Matt Page

Academic Progress• There will be 5 assessment data inputs September,

November, January, February and March.

• Subject teachers record progress against target and motivation

• Students will then discuss their progress with their Assertive Mentor and will agree targets

• The data will be available via the MyChildAtSchool.com after each input.

Monitoring Your Child’s Progress You will get information for each subject:• Target grade• Current working at grade• Projected grade• Motivational score

Grade Description9 Excellent... is always cooperative, enthusiastic and hardworking. Always do their best at school8 Between excellent and good7 Good... is usually cooperative, enthusiastic and hardworking. Usually do their best in school without

undue pressure6 Between good and below expectations5 Below expectations... is usually cooperative, but generally does little more than required4 Between below expectations and poor3 Poor... needs constant pressure and attention to ensure they do some work2 Between poor and very poor1 Very poor... is uncooperative and indifferent for much of the time. Makes very little effort in their

school work

Key Dates for your diary• Sixth Form Open Evening: Tuesday 3rd November 2015

(Other Open Days/Evenings will be publicised for students)

• Parents’ Evening (6-8pm) Thursday 26th November 2015

• Parents’ Evening (4-6pm) Thursday 3rd December 2015

• Applications for 16+/FE: December 2015

• Mocks begin Monday 7th December 2015

• Mock results day – Friday 15th January 2016

• Sixth Form Interviews: February 2016

Examinations• The examinations officer – Janette Hare telephone 0116 277 1555 or e-mail on: jhare@countesthorpe.cc

• GCSE entries will be finalised by departments in March, when tiers are decided (if appropriate)

• Examination entry statements will be given to students before the Easter Holidays and individual seating plans after Easter Holidays

• Our Exams policy can be found on the College website

          

Exams • The official start of the summer

examination period is Monday 16th May 2016 but practical exams will be taking place before this date in Music, Drama, Art, Languages and PE – some will be in April

• Exam slips will be issued

• Results will be available to students on: Thursday 25th August 2016

Good Habits• Planners – please ensure your child is using it

and you are checking it and signing it

• Equipment – this will be checked by tutors and students are aware of the requirements

• Attendance – please ensure any absence is reported to our attendance officer at the earliest opportunity, texts will be sent for absences

• Details – please ensure details are updated especially emergency contact numbers

New Initiatives • Dress code for Year 11.

• Site Security and punctuality … Students will need their ID cards and lanyards at all times.

• Cashless payments – The ID card will allow students to book out resources from the library, purchase credits on PaperCut and pay for school meals … but the cards must be kept topped up!

• Financial transactions will now take place using ParentPay. Details are in the Parent Handbook on the website.

What is Show My Homework?This year, we are introducing an online homework calendar.

It will show homework information and deadlines.

It will be accessible to parents, teachers and students.

More detailed information will be available as part of the launching process during this term.

Benefits for Students

• See all homework at the click of a button• Access to

description and resources wherever they are• A personalised

experience to help stay organised• Automatic

notifications to remind them in advance

• Visibility on exactly what homework has been set, across subjects• Easily take part in

home learning• Direct engagement

with teachers• Translation into 50+

languages• Better

communication through school announcements

Benefits for Parents

English in Year 11

WJEC

In English…• Most students take both English Language and

English Literature, so gain 2 GCSE qualifications

• Assessment is by Controlled Assessment and external examination

• Support is used to address underachievement and ensure that students fulfil their potential

• Parental support is vital

Year 11 Controlled Assessment

All Controlled Assessments have been completed in Year 10. These are

worth:

40% of the English Language GCSE25% of the English Literature GCSE

In Year 11 we will also look to re-do any assessments that can be improved.

Year 11 Exams

These are worth:

60% of the English Language GCSE

75% of the English Literature GCSE

Year 11 Exams (provisional dates)

Monday 23rd May 2016 am• English Literature Unit 1 – 2 hours, 35%• Of Mice and Men / Unseen Poetry

Friday 27th May 2016 am• English Literature Unit 2 – 2 hours, 40%• About a Boy or Never Let Me Go / An

Inspector Calls

Monday 6th June 2016 am• English Language Unit 1: Reading – 1 hour,

30%• English Language Unit 2: Writing – 1 hour,

30%

How you can help with English• Talk about progress and target grades, and ask what

they are working on in English

• Check homework is of a sufficient length (usually at least a side of A4)

• Ensure that they have proof-read written work carefully and corrected any spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors

• Buy copies of the set texts for your son/daughter so they can highlight key quotations and annotate them; this will really help with revision and exam preparation

• Read their set texts too so you can discuss what their texts are about, what the characters are like and what the key themes are etc.

How you can help with English• Make sure they attend catch-up or

extension sessions

• Remind them to use the College’s virtual learning platform when researching and revising

• Please, please encourage them to read at home, especially fiction books and newspapers

GCSE Maths

How Students Excel• Take responsibility – review learning, plan revision• Know what to revise• Use appropriate resources:• Analysis of previous tests/APP• Revision Guides and Work Books• Past papers• www.mymaths.co.uk (User: Countesthorpe, Password: triangle)

• College learning platform - Fronter• Access support from teachers, parents and friends

Homework• Pre-planned for the year, set weekly• Advanced notice• On Fronter and as a booklet• Teachers will check that homework is

completed and provide answers• Specific pieces of work will be

marked in greater detail

We will support all students to achieve their best

• We identify students who are underachieving and intervene to boost their performance. This is particularly the case for those on grade borderlines

• As the final exam approaches we will provide additional revision opportunities. Sessions after school run every week on a Tuesday and a Thursday – the late bus runs on these days

GCSE Maths Assessments• GCSE Maths is assessed by 2 exams both at the

end of Year 11 in June 2016.• Some students in the top set will do a GCSE in

Further Mathematics at the end of Year 11, if they excel.

• We use different exam boards depending on students ability and needs.

We offer:• WJEC Higher to students likely to gain at least a B

grade.• EDEXCEL Higher to student who are C/B

borderline.• WJEC Foundation to students who are working

towards a C grade.• AQA Level 2 Further Mathematics.

GCSE MathsStudents will then take the linear exam in the June assessment series:

Provisional Examination Dates: WJEC

26th May 20169th June 2016

Edexcel 9th June 2016

14th June 2016AQA

15th June 201619th June 2016

Science in Year 11

Year 11 Science CoursesCore and Additional Science – Students gain 2 GCSEs• GCSE Core Science (content already been covered in

year 10 - Biology B1, Chemistry C1 and Physics P1)• Exams at end of year 11 (May/June 2016) – 3 exams• Investigative skills assessment (coursework) completed

for core science grade in summer 2015• GCSE Additional Science (content currently being

covered in year 11 – Biology B2, Chemistry C2 and Physics P2)

• Exams at end of year 11 (May/June 2016) – 3 exams

• Investigative Skills Assessment (coursework) for Additional to complete in Autumn 2015

Triple ScienceSame as Additional Science Curriculum except:

• Extra content taught in option lesson as in Year 10/11 (Chemistry C3, Biology B3 and Physics P3)

• Triple science students do three ISAs in Year 11

• 9 exam papers taken in May/June 2016

Support• Key issue – retention of knowledge

from Years 10 and 11• Drip feed revision in lessons• Exam practice questions in lessons• Revision Guide – bring into class and

use with the teacher• Encourage independent study

Revision Guides

Support• Revision Guide • Learning Link (Fronter) has links to

other sites• Websites e.g. BBC Bitesize• Past Paper practise• Apps• Mentor• Interventions during or after-school

Religious StudiesGCSE

Course Outline

Y10– Medical Ethics– Religion & Science

Y11– Good & Evil– Relationships

Year 11 OutlineRELATIONSHIPS• Gender Roles

• Marriage and ceremonies

• Divorce

• Sexual relationships and contraception

RELIGION & SCIENCE

• Origins of the world and life – Science vs.

Teachings • Attitudes to animals vs

Teachings• Environmental issues

– Secular vs Religious responses

Course Progress

• Progress will be assessed by:– Regular homework– Common Assessment Points– End of topic tests

• We will address underachievement• Parental support is vital to making

progress

Course Assessment

• External examination only -100% of final grade

• Examined on Year 10 and Year 11 work

• 2 exam papers • 1 hour long each

How You Can Help - Homework

• Homework will involve research– Ask your child what facts they have

discovered–What have they found interesting– Set them a challenge – say you would

like to know more about a particular topic or issue

How You Can Help – Tests, Revision

• End of Topic tests/exams require revision– Try to ensure your child is not simply reading

their existing notes– Advise them to make revision cards and

volunteer to help them memorise the information– Be a sounding board for them to explain an issue

to you– Ask for more than one point of view and/or

evidence/examples

MyChildAtSchool.com

MyChildAtSchool.com• Online way to share attendance,

behaviour and progress information to parents.

• The website is live and shows lesson by lesson attendance and punctuality.

• Through this password protected website we provide parents with reports.