Welcome to our Year 9 Guided Curriculum Evening

After the Headteacher’s talk you will have the opportunity to attend up to 3 subject presentations.

Please check the information sheet that you have been given and take a few minutes to plan which sessions you would like to see.

Welcome to Y9 Guided Curriculum

Evening 2020

Opening Prayer (Archdiocese of Southwark Commission for Schools and Colleges)

Heavenly FatherBe with us as we meet.Guide us as we talk.Stay with us as we plan. Open our ears as we listen.Open our eyes to your vision.We ask this in Jesus’ name.Amen

This evening we will cover:

❏ the way in which GCSEs have been reformed nationally

❏ the core subjects that your daughter will be taking

❏ the subject choices available to your daughter

❏ the options process and what happens next.

Outstanding GCSE results 2019

○ 90% of students achieved Grade 4 and above Maths and English (National Average: 64%)

○ 69% achieved Grade 5 and above in Maths and English (National Average: 43%)

○ Attainment 8 is 60.33 compared to National Average 46.55%

○ Progress 8 is +1.13 compared to National Average of -0.03

PROGRESS 8❏ Our Progress 8 score for 2019 was +1.13

which is outstanding❏ The progress made by our students across

their best 8 subjects, places Holy Cross in the top 0.3% of all schools nationally and in 20th place out of 6336 secondary institutions (source: DfE Compare Schools website)

○ High expectations...high aspirations...outstanding progress

○ What will your daughter achieve in 2022?

GCSE REFORMS

❏ A new grading system at GCSE has been introduced with a new 9 to 1 scale. This is to allow for greater differentiation between students and raise the academic bar of GCSEs.

❏ The volume of content in all subjects has increased – many subjects now have some A’ Level content.

What does this mean for your daughter?❏ GCSEs become more academically rigorous bringing

them in line with other high-performing countries.❏ New content in the syllabi (set by government and

examinations boards).❏ GCSEs will be linear with a final examination at the end

of Year 11.❏ A reduction in coursework, tiered papers and no more

modules.

Grading system

○ The ‘ Standard Benchmark pass’ at GCSE is a grade 4○ A 'Good pass’ – which used to be a C grade - has become a

grade 5 under the new system and should be comparable to a high C or low B under the old system.

○ The highest grades (7 - 9) are now more difficult to achieve with only a small percentage of grade 9s likely to be awarded

○ At HX 42% of all entries were at 9-7

Implications

If a student does not achieve a

benchmark grade 4 in Maths or English

Must continue to study these

and resit again in KS5 or

college

English Baccalaureate

We expect the majority of our students to take the key English Baccalaureate

subjects: (Please refer to leaflet from the Department for Education):

EnglishMathematics

Science Modern Foreign Language

Geography or History

This will ensure that pupils get the rigorous academic education they need to succeed - whether that is

getting a place at university, starting an apprenticeship, or finding their first job.

Subject Choices

○ All students choose 2 subjects

○ You will be asked to select a third as a reserve subject

○ We highly recommend that one of these 2 choices is History or Geography

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02Text TitlePlace your own text here

03Text TitlePlace your own text here

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The Core Subjects

English Language

English Literature Maths

Science Combined or

SeparateReligious

Education

Options

Option 1 Option 2

Non Exam

Core PE PSHCE

Frenchor

Spanish

What about Science?

Separate Sciences:

3 GCSEs: Biology,

Chemistry and Physics

Combined Sciences:

2 GCSEs - a mix of all 3

sciences

Every student

will study Science

Your daughter’s science teacher will advise you as to which Science course your daughter should follow.

This can be discussed at Parents Evening 25th February

Wide range of subjects

GCSE FrenchGCSE Spanish GCSE Geography GCSE HistoryGCSE ArtGCSE Computer Science GCSE Drama (subject to audition)GCSE Electronics (after school, 3rd option)GCSE Astronomy (after school, 3rd option) GCSE Music GCSE PE (an extra sport is required)

Technical Awards:▪ Dance ▪ Health and Social Care▪ Hospitality, Food and Catering

Advice for Year 9s

Which subjects do I really enjoy?

Which subjects will help me develop my career after GCSEs?

What are my best skills?

Date Action4th February Options Presentations by Heads of Department

25th February Parents Evening - a chance to ask teachers’ advice and guidance

5th March Online form opens to submit choices

19th March Deadline for submission of choices

Advice and support

MS CAPALDI – DIRECTOR OF YEAR 9MS SULLIVAN – SENCOMRS YOUNG - CAREERS OFFICER

Tutors:9 CHARITY Mrs Wheeler9 FAITH Mr Taylor9 HOPE Mrs Mehta9 MERCY Mrs Small9 PEACE Mrs Ogden/Mrs Harris

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