Year 10 GCSE Overview: Tips for Success

1. Welcome to Year 10

2. Violin PerformanceEl Choclo A Tango composed by Angel Villoldo arranged by Birtel PERFORMED BY SOPHIA BELL

3. GCSE 2019 Result Highlights Grade 4 in English and Maths 70.3% - above national average Students achieving grade 4 or above: Art 96% Biology 97% Chemistry 100% English Language 74% English Literature 80% Maths 74% Physics 93% French 91%

4. Qualifications • GCSE English Language • GCSE English Literature • GCSE Mathematics • GCSE Science(s) • GCSE RE • GCSE Geography, GCSE History • GCSE French • GCSEs in option subjects: • Music, Art, PE, Drama, Computer Science, DT, HS, Food, Creative imedia, Business Studies

5. GCSE Grading Structure • Students who fail to achieve a standard pass in Maths or English will have to resit at college Most of the colleges and sixth forms are asking for a ‘Good pass’ in English and Maths Visiting Colleges and Sixth Forms have conveyed a clear message to students: ‘Your best chance to achieve a grade 4 is at school!

6. English AQA

7. Please be aware... There are no Foundation or Higher tiers on the new GCSE – everyone sits the same exam Exams are closed book - students are not allowed to have any of the books, plays or poems they have studied with them in the exam Students will be sitting both exams GCSE Language and GCSE Literature at the end of Y11.

8. Mathematics AQA 8300 Linear Course Three terminal exam papers Paper 1 (Non-Calculator) 1 ½ Hours, 80 marks Paper 2 (Calculator) 1 ½ Hours, 80 Paper 3 (Calculator) 1 ½ Hours, 80 marks Higher (9-4) or Foundation (5-1) Tiers

9. Triple Science Exam Board –EDEXCEL 3 GCSEs – Biology, Physics and Chemistry. How is this course assessed? 100% Examination – June 2018 Each separate GCSE in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, contain a wide variety of topics which will be assessed through 2 x 1 hour 45 min external exam per GCSE and also include a number of core practical’s which will be completed in class.

10. Combined Science Exam Board –EDEXCEL 2 GCSEs How is this course assessed? 100% Examination – July 2018 Combined Science consists of six externally examined papers which cover units in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The course also includes core practical’s . Students must carry out all 17 compulsory core practical’sin order to complete the course.

11. RE Congratulations to those students who sat their RE GCSE at the end of Year 10 in 2018 4+ 64% 7+ 20% With 3 students gaining grade 9’s.

12. Every student in Year 10 sits the Religious Studies GCSE. This boosts their Progress 8 score and gives them an additional GCSE to help them with further education. It is also a useful practise for Year 11 so they understand what it takes to be successful in a GCSE, but of course in Year 11 they will have many to do and not just one. Why is Religious Studies useful? Develops literacy skills Develops oracy and debate and discussion The topics are relevant to the world they live and the community they are part of Gives them a greater understanding of people, beliefs and practises of 2 world religions: Christianity and Islam.

13. What is studied and examined in the RS GCSE? Paper 1: Moral issues in the Modern World (2 Hours) Relationships Human Rights Life and Death Good and Evil Paper 2: Christian Beliefs and Practices (1 hour) Paper 3: Islamic Beliefs and Practices (1 hour) All students will be given 2 Revision guides to support their learning. They will be given other resources closer to the exams such as past papers. These are bespoke guides created by Miss Morrissey. If they lose it they will have to pay £1 for each replacement. Revision opportunities: Voluntary Period 6 on Monday and Wednesday from January onwards Intervention Form. Last year 60% of students who attended made outstanding progress.

14. The will to succeed is important, but what's more important is the will to prepare. Bobby Knight (top American basketball coach) Exams are not passed in the exam hall. Exams are passed at the revision desk at home.

15. How to help your child Ensure excellent attendance Keep well equipped – pen, pencil, ruler Ensure they have plenty of lined paper, highlighter pens, flashcards, notebooks Arrange any family holidays so that they do not affect attendance in term time and keep the school ‘holidays’ at Easter and Whitsun totally free for revision (and February half-term?) Keep track of deadlines and support your child in meeting them Check Show My Homework and support the completion of tasks Ensure your child has all of the relevant revision guides

16. Attendance Attendance = Achievement

17. How to help your child Ensure your child prepares for Jan Winter Exams and Summer PPE’s as though it were the real thing Ensure your child attends the full programme of revision sessions run during school ‘holidays’ Support your child in creating and sticking to revision timetables Talk to them about their subjects and revision Make sure they are revising effectively – active revision No Phones/PC’s in room when revising Ensure they understand that sacrifices are necessary Get in touch when there are challenges – no quitting!

18. How to help your child… List of recommended GCSE revision guides. These will be published on ParentPay and students will be notified when they can collect from the library.

19. Revision Sessions Form time (music, MFL, RE, DT, science) Year 11: Period 6 (Mon-Wed) Half-term and ‘holiday’ revision sessions Evenings, weekends and ‘holidays’ at home!

20. Many of our students will already have signed up to Seneca in school • Free sign up @ www.senecalearning.com • Quick and easy to join • Learning resources for most GCSE subjects are provided • Highly engaging – instant review of answers • Teachers can use it to set assignments for their classes • Allows teachers to track time spent and monitor questions completed

21. How to revise… Condense what you revise into notes and flash cards that you can return to

22. How can I help my child to revise… • Prepare a quiet revision space with no distractions • Devise an achievable timetable – start with activities and events your child enjoys (clubs, sport, TV shows etc) and then plan revision around it • Allow for homework time • Plan for short focused bursts of work (15-30 minutes) with regular breaks • Create lists of topics in each subject to study – tick them off when complete • Produce flashcards and notes that they can return to • Reward effort and hard work

23. Exam and revision practice

24. Reviews Year 10 Report: Jan 2020 Parents Evening: 12th March 2020

25. Pastoral Team Mrs Varley is the Head of Year 10 Mr Williams is the Head of Year 11

26. Next Steps

27. Open Days

28. Careers Advice and Guidance Grainne McGuigan Sept – Dec All students will have a careers meeting Wednesdays or Thursdays in Year 11(parents can attend) Colleges will have open days Colleges will come into school and give talks

29. Looking after your Wellbeing Work without stress? • Talk to supportive people • Take regular exercise • Spend time outside • Schedule in enjoyable activities • Plan your work /write ‘to do’ lists • Practise a positive mental attitude

30. Qualifications A good pass in English and Maths will be a Grade 5 A-levels requirements - Minimum of 3Bs & 3Cs (including Maths and English number 4 or 5) BTEC Level 3 requirements – 5Cs (including Maths and English) Grammar School 6th Forms requirements will be much higher It is compulsory to resit Maths and English at college if a Grade 4is not achieved