Introduction to KS4 at Highgate Wood School

1. Introduction to KS4 at Highgate Wood School • What do we need / what can we expect from students, the school and parents? • Advice to parents • Timeline • Q&A

2. National Context • GCSEs are getting more difficult and the goal posts are changing • This puts stress on students teachers and parents • The government want fewer high level grades • The only answer to this is to work harder and work smarter

3. Latest Results The last two years results across the country have decreased

4. Results Needed for Sixth Form

5. Results Needed for Sixth Form

6. Results Needed for Sixth Form

7. Timeline

8. Timeline

9. Homework and Private Study • Homework will be set regularly following the homework timetable • Homework will be assessed in a variety of ways • If your child says they don’t have homework this is likely to be incorrect – ask to see it if they say it is done, contact the teacher if they say it is not set

10. Homework and Private Study • If the homework is not understood this is a good thing – students must not give up. Ask for help before the due date. • Tests are all very important. By doing well on them your child will do well in the year 10 exams / GCSE and better in the year 11 mocks and even better still at GCSE.

11. Who to go to with concerns • Any concerns that can’t be addressed by the teacher… • Contact the Head of Department if the matter is specific to a subject • Contact your child’s tutor if your concern is more general • Communication between home and school is vital. It needs to be just right – not too much and not too little.

12. How to Revise • Regularly • 30 minute blocks (5 minutes going over the previous work in that subject, 20 minutes revising new material, 5 minutes reviewing the 20 minutes) • A 5 minute break after the 30 minutes • After two revision sessions at least a 15 minute break after another two sessions a good one hour break • Build in relaxation with friends & family

13. Excuses and Answers • 10 ways to avoid revision

14. Excuses and Answers • 10 ways to avoid revision • E: I do better if I don’t revise • A: That is never true! • E: I revised at school / my friend’s place • A: Excellent, show me your revision notes. After dinner you can do some more!

15. Excuses and Answers • E: I can learn by reading my text book • A: This is never true. Revision must be active and always produces paperwork • Top ten tips

16. What are Controlled Assessments and when are they? • Most subjects have controlled assessments • They are internally assessed and have replaced coursework • They take place throughout the next year and a half depending on subject and teacher • They take place in school and so they do not cause bottlenecks of work

17. Attendance above 95%... • …means that no grades should be reduced due to absence • 90% attendance (one day off per fortnight) will mean everyGCSE is one grade lower than it should be • 92/93% - on average half of your child’s GCSEs will be a grade lower than they should be

18. Additional Support in Year 10 • In year 10 we use the concerns screen in October and the termly data to support students who are underachieving by: • Monitoring & report by tutors • House teams putting in place an individualised program

19. Additional Support in Year 11 • Students who are underachieving (especially in English and Maths) are supported by the ‘Aspire and Achieve’ Programme. Each students: • Has a staff mentor • Has a 6th form tutor • Has a bespoke set of interventions specific to their needs

20. Final Thoughts • Keep your child focussed on their success at school • Support us in supporting your child • Regularly speak to your child about their education • Rewards and sanctions at home to support good grades attendance and conduct really do help

21. Questions?