Welcome to Key Stage 4

Aims

• To be aware of the changes in GCSEs

• To be aware of key information related to English, maths, science, raising aspirations and well-being

Changes at KS4

• The content of GCSEs has changed

• The style of assessment of GCSEs has changed

• The grades awarded have changed

Y11 StudentCharlie Preston

Head of Year

Mrs Harrison

angharad.harrison@priory.herts.sch.uk

Miss Duric

Alex.duric@priory.Herts.sch.uk

English at KS4Miss Dolling

katie.dolling@priory.herts.sch.uk

• Your son/daughter will have been placed in to an English ‘group’

• Every group will study English and Literature over the 2 year course

• Every student will obtain 2 GCSE’s: 1 for English Language and one for Literature

English at GCSE

No coursework/controlled assessment- 100% exam

Focus on key reading and writing skills needed for the exams

S&L (now known as ‘Spoken Language’) separately endorsed using a ‘Distinction, Merit and Pass’ system

How is the course structured?

ENGLISH LANGUAGE (50% Reading 50% Writing)

• 2 x Exam papers both 1 hour 45 minutes in length

Students are expected to read a range of 19th/20th/21st texts for their exam (spread across the 2 papers)- extracts of usually 1 side of A4

Students are expected to write for different purposes and audiences and the quality of their written communication makes up 40% of their total mark for writing

Course weightings

ENGLISH LITERATURE

2 x Exam papers

Paper 1: 1 hour 45 minutes (40%)

Shakespeare (Romeo & Juliet/Macbeth)

The 19th-century novel (The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde)

Paper 2: 2 hours and 15 minutes (60%)

Modern texts (Animal Farm/Lord of the Flies/An Inspector Calls)

Poetry (Power and Conflict)

Unseen poetry

Course weightings

• Speaking and Listening skills• Encourage them to speak to you!

• Presenting homework

• Make them present a detailed and coherent argument about why they should be allowed to stay out a bit later

• Writing• SPPaG is more important than ever- not just in English

• Encouraging proof reading

• Read more widely to improve their understanding of good writing

• Reading• Reading anything is better than nothing

• Encourage them to think about the effect of what they’ve read

How you can help

Online resources that can really help

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/

Maths at KS4Mr Greenwood

alex.greenwood@priory.herts.sch.uk

Mathematics GCSE 9-1 Exam Papers

GCSE 9-1 Curriculum Changes

GCSE 9-1 Curriculum Changes

Edexcel Level 3 Algebra Award

This is a stand alone qualification which will support students who are aiming to achieve a

grade 8/9 in their GCSE

95% of the course content is the same topics as the grade 7/8/9 GCSE Algebra topics. This

will allow for more practice and opportunities for all misconceptions to be covered on these

topics. Revision for this course will directly support their revision for their GCSE.

66% of the A level course is algebra based, the Level 3 algebra course will help bridge the gap

between the GCSE and A-level syllabus and will ensure that students will have been

introduced to a significant part of the start of the A Level course. Even if students are not

intending to study A-level mathematics, it will give them a deeper understanding of the

higher GCSE algebra topics and provide them with an extra qualification.

The award is worth 7 UCAS points which would support any further education application.

Past Performance & Timetable

• Results- 2017: 69% of students Grades 9-4 (nationally 69%)

- 2017: 50% of students Grades 9-5 (nationally 48%)

- 2017: 22% of students Grades 9-7 (nationally 19%)

• Key exam dates• 2018

• June: end of Year 10 Examination• Nov: 1st Pre-Public Exam

• 2019• March: 2nd Pre-Public Exam• May: Start of the Public Examinations

Support• Revision lessons in 2019

• Independent study• MathsWatch VLE & app

• PiXL Maths App

• Maths Genie

http://www.mathsgenie.co.uk/gcse.html

Science at KS4Dr Richard Blackford

richard.blackford@priory.herts.sch.uk

GCSE Science - Key questions

• What is the difference between Double and Triple Science?

• Can students progress to A-level Biology, Chemistry and Physics if they do Double Science?

GCSE Science Routes

KS3 Science

GCSE BiologyGCSE Chemistry

GCSE Physics

GCSE Science(Double award)

T1 D1 D2 D3D4 D5 D6

A-level Biology, Chemistry or Physics

GCSE Science - Key questions

• What is the difference between Double and Triple Science?

• Can students progress to A-level Biology, Chemistry and Physics if they do Double Science?

• What is entry level certificate?

• What resources are available to support students and parents?

Resources

• www.aqa.org.uk (specifications, practise papers and mark schemes)

• www.kerboodle.com (worksheets and interactive activities)

• AQA revision guide (will be available to purchase)

Raising AspirationsMrs Emler

sally.emler@priory.herts.sch.uk