Whitchurch High School Year 10 Parents Information Evening

YEAR 10PARENTS INFORMATION EVENING Thursday 12th September 2013

Y10 Information EveningIntroduction Mr J W Davies (Assistant Head teacher 14 -19)

Core subjects presentationsMaths Mrs C GarlantEnglish Mrs K PriceScience Mr E Coombes

Welsh Baccalaureate Presentation Mrs C Davies / Miss H Davies(KS4 WBq Assistant Co-ordinators) Examination Success 2013

GCSE 5A* to C 69%

GCSE 5A* to G96% Figures for Mainstream entry only

3Art Double Award. A*A* 7STUDENTS/AA 5 Students. 6 A*A* WERE in top 10 in Britain Planning to SucceedInformation Booklet

Individual Subject course outlines with notes for students and parents

Controlled Assessment and Coursework Deadlines

Exam course information

Academic Student Support Study Skills

Study skills covered in PSHE lessons

Form Tutor / Mentors

Subject Teachers

5Mentoring scheme- Cant mentor everyone. Try to identify students who need helpUse Staff and UWIC students. Cover Maths/English/SciencePupils can go to subject teachers any time.Problems- can organise facilities in school at end of dayAssessments this yearOn going assessments Controlled assessments

Monitoring throughout the year

Parents Evening

Full written report6Study Leave is to study NOT do Christmas shoppingExams. Be on time. Wear correct school uniformBring appropriate equipment including maths instruments and english booksAssessments this yearGCSE Exams Science and Maths

Individual Exam timetables given early to check for clashes

Exam rules and regulations given to each student

Start the middle of May and go on till end of June

TIER OF ENTRY

7Study Leave is to study NOT do Christmas shoppingExams. Be on time. Wear correct school uniformBring appropriate equipment including maths instruments and english booksStudent Planner Useful Information

Diary to record homework / controlled assessment / Own learning / Exams / achievements / Awards / Targets

Study Skills / Revision information

Student Planner Moodle / Useful Academic Websites

Record of Attendance

Record Worthy of Praise details

Record Community Work

Communication with parents

Communication with school

AttendanceSuccess Starts by being in SchoolLEA expects returns of 95% per weekOne day off every fortnight results in four whole weeks of school being missed!Pupils Progress is BADLY AFFECTED if their attendance drops below 90%References requested for colleges and employers are written honestlyIn School Attendance Officer Mr. MilesAttendanceIf your child is ill, please ring the school that morning to inform us.

Then provide a note explaining the absence on the first day they return to school

If your child is late to school, ie arrives after registration, he/she should always report to the main office before going to 1st lesson.

Truancy calls11Truancy calls are made automatically if your child is not in school before the end of first lesson Lunchtime ArrangementsAll pupils to remain on the Upper School Site

Use canteen facilities or bring packed lunch

Those in Lower School period 3 must be on the Upper School site 15 minutes after the lunch bell sounds

Those in Lower School period 4 are to leave 15 minutes prior to the start of P4

Lunchtime activities on Lower School Site -pupils will need a lunchtime pass from the department concerned

Uniform A smart image creates a good impression!

Acceptable uniform outlined in the planner / on our website

Trainers only in PE and Drama lessons

Dark waterproof coat [fits over the blazer]

Jewellery one pair discreet stud earrings / a watch

No facial piercingsPastoral Student SupportTutorial Tutors / MentorsSubject TeachersLearning Leader and Pastoral AssistantPupil Support UnitOutside AgenciesAssistant Head Teacher 14 - 19

14Problem Areas. Identify asap.Notify school. Tell YEAR TUTORMaths, English and Science PresentationsMaths Mrs C. GarlantEnglish Mrs K. PriceScience Mr E. Coombes

MATHS IN YEAR 10

Pupils are placed in one of three parallel blocks and then in one of four (or sometimes five) classes depending on their ability.

This is based on their test results in year 9, but more importantly on how their year 9 teacher thinks they can cope with the course.

16LESSONSPupils will be given a wide variety of learning experiences:

Individual, pair and group workInvestigative workGames and activitiesUse of ICTUse of mental arithmetic

17EQUIPMENTWe expect pupils to attend lessons with all necessary equipment:

Pens, pencils, rulers and calculators at all times. At certain times, compasses and protractors.

Higher tier pupils will need a scientific calculator.

We have scientific calculators and geometry sets for sale.

18OUR COURSEWe follow the WJEC unitised course which consists of three units.

Pupils are entered for either the Higher or Foundation tier for each unit.

Higher tier units lead to grades A* - E.Foundation tier units lead to grades C G. 19WHICH TIER?A pupil does not have to sit all three units at the same tier, although this is generally the case.

Parents can rest assured that we look at each individual pupil when deciding which tier they should be entered for in each unit, in order to produce the most favourable result.

20EXAM SITTINGSPupils sit one unit in June of year 10, one in January of year 11 and one in June of year 11.

If a pupil misses an exam, they cannot sit it the next day they are in as it is an external exam they will be re-entered for it at a later exam sitting.

21RE-SITSUnits can be re-sat once (although parents will incur the cost of this).

Your childs teacher will advise pupils whether they should re-sit a unit.22TEXTBOOKSWe do not use a specific textbook, but if you want to buy a textbook to support your childs studies, we recommend:

WJEC GCSE MATHEMATICS published by Hodder Education,ISBN: 978 1 444 11483 6 Higher 978 1 444 11482 9 Foundation.

23WHAT YOU CAN DOAsk your child what Maths homework they have there should be at least one per week and check they have completed it.

Encourage them to use mental maths techniques regularly e.g. times tables, estimating answers, money calculations.

Check that they are accessing revision opportunities e.g. Moodle, mymaths.co.uk (login whitchurch, password rhombus).

24TIME GUIDEYear 10 pupils should be aiming to spend the equivalent of 15 minutes per day on Maths outside of the classroom.

As this is a core subject, we think that this is important as it will help with Maths in Everyday Life.

25PAST PAPERSThe best way to check on progress is to attempt a past paper.

All these can be found on Moodle - GCSE MATHEMATICS 2 - together with answers and other useful resources.

26WE WILL CONTACT YOU:If your child changes tier during the year.

If your child underperforms in classwork or homework.

If we are concerned about anything else.

27PEOPLE YOU CAN CONTACTMrs. Garlant Head of Department

Mrs. Robinson KS4 coordinator

28English in Year 10Overview and expectations29Tiers and SettingPupils are set in Year 10;There are 3 bands (X, Y or Z) and students are split into 4 or 5 sets per band;There are two tiers of entry for English Higher (Grades A*-D) and Foundation (Grades C-G).We decide which tier pupils sit in Y11, once controlled assessments are complete and after mock exams;Pupils tier entries DO NOT depend on their set they depend on individual student performance and are decided by the English teacher after careful consideration of what is best for them.

30Controlled AssessmentsControlled assessments are essays and writing pieces that all count towards both final GCSE marks.Topics are studied in class and then students complete an assessment on it.These assessments are completed in class under exam conditions.31Year 10 EnglishOverview of the courseTHREE written controlled assessments- Reading: Analysis of either instructional, explanatory or persuasive material (10% Language)- Writing: one assignment based on one of the activities given by the WJEC exam board (10% Language)- Shakespeare and linked poetry (25% of Literature)FOUR exams (two for English Language; two for English Literature)TWO speaking and listening activities (20% - Lang)

In total, controlled assessments count towards 25% of the final English Literature grade and 40% of the final English Language grade.

Pupils achieve TWO GCSEs at the end of Year 11.32So what do the students do in Y11?Revising the other cultures set text (part of Eng Lit exam 1)Reading and working on the Literature paper 2 set texts (novel and play)Preparing for the English Language examsStudying previously unseen poetry in preparation for the exams.33Exams (Year 11)English LanguageExam 1 (1hr 45 mins):Section A (15%) Reading of unseen prose by a major writer (comprehension)Section B (15%) One imaginative writing task.Exam 2 (1 hr 45 mins):Section A (15%) reading: Instructional / explanatory / persuasive / media text analysis (comprehension) Section B writing (15%): One explanatory / persuasive writing task.The English Literature exams (next section) are TWO hours each.English LiteratureExam 1: Poetry and ProseSection A: Different Cultures Prose (21%)A question from the different cultures set text (novel) studied in class (linked to your controlled assessment)Section B: Contemporary poetry (14%)Unseen poetry comparisonExam 2: Drama and ProseSection A: Questions based on the set text (play)Section B: Questions based on the set text (prose)34How can I support my childs learning?Encourage them to read through their work regularly;Continue to encourage them to read frequently and widely;Try and have a copy of their set texts at home;Encourage them to use the library for set text support books;Moodle;Online resources;Talk to them about their learning.35SCIENCE YEAR10 3 POSSIBLE COURSES. (BTEC APPLIED, CORE + TRIPLE SCIENCE.

ALL STUDY BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY + PHYSICS.

ALL PUPILS STUDY SCIENCE IN Y10 AND Y11.

BTEC APPLIED SCIENCECOURSE WORK BASED 100%.

NO EXAMINATION.

LEVEL 2 AWARDED AT END OF YEAR 11.

NOT SUITABLE FOR ADVANCED LEVEL. SCIENCE (CORE)25% BIOLOGY B1 EXAMINATION.

25% CHEMISTRY C1 EXAMINATION.

25% PHYSICS P1 EXAMINATION.

25% CONTROLLED ASSESSMENTS. ( 192 / 320 = C GRADE)TRIPLE SCIENCE (FAST TRACK)25% BIOLOGY B1 EXAMINATION.

25% BIOLOGY B2 EXAMINATION.

25% BIOLOGY B3 EXAMINATION.

25% CONTROLLED ASSESSMENTS. ( 192 / 320 = C GRADE)

SCIENCE WISH LIST ATTEND ALL LESSONS.

ATTEND ALL LESSONS.

SCIENTIFIC CALCULATOR/ PEN + RULER.

PAST PAPERS.

REVISE BEFORE EXAMINATIONS.

EXTRA REVISION CLASSES.

CONTACT MR ERIC COOMBES PHYSICS/SCIENCE

MR STEVE JAMES CHEMISTRY

MS CERI TAYLOR BIOLOGY

MR STEVE JAMES/MR ALUN SMITH BTEC

KS4 Welsh Baccalaureate QualificationMiss H. Davies & Mrs C. Davies

KS4 Welsh Baccalaureate Assistant Co-ordinators CORE PROGRAMME

Key skillsWorking with an employer (WRE)Team enterprise activity (WRE)Individual investigationWales, Europe and the WorldLanguage modulePSECommunity participation

GCSEsOPTIONSAS/A LevelsBTECNVQsMENTORINGTUTORIAL SUPPORTGUIDANCE

Armed with the Welsh Baccalaureate diploma pupils will: Be a far more attractive prospect to employers, colleges and universities. Have more to talk about in interviews. Write better quality application forms. Be more aware of issues within their local community, their country, their continent and the world. Become more aware of their individual skills and qualities. Have more experience of the world of work and make more informed decisions. Understand more about topics that interest them.

At Key Stage 4 pupils will be working towards achieving the Foundation or Intermediate diploma depending on their target level of attainment.If pupils achieve the intermediate qualification at Key Stage 4 they will look to progress to the advanced level qualification at Key Stage 5 which is recognised as the equivalent of an A grade at A2 level.Level of QualificationWHERE NEXT WITH YOUR WBQ QUALIFICATION?FURTHER STUDIES (A-LEVELS) KEY STAGE 5?

Opportunity to boost WBQ qualification to Advanced level A GRADE AT A-LEVEL. Complete understanding of the structure of the WBQ qualification and its components. Elements of the WBQ at Advanced level already covered at KS4 reduced workload. Increased Confidence, higher level skills, more aware. Better prepared for challenges that lie aheadWHERE NEXT WITH YOUR WBQ QUALIFICATION?APPRENTICESHIP/EMPLOYMENT?

More qualifications to add to CV More to talk about on letter of application and at interview Increased confidence at interview Evidence of abilities in a range of key skills Better prepared for challenges that lie ahead More aware of chosen career path KS4 Welsh Baccalaureate QualificationIan Venn: WBQ Co-ordinator KS4 & 5Carla Davies: Assistant WBQ co-ordinator KS4Paul Hughes: Assistant WBQ co-ordinator PSE and CitizenshipHayley Davies:Assistant WBQ co-ordinator Wales, Europe and the WorldThank You For ListeningWe will be available to answer any questions you may have.

For all other information please look at our website:

www.Whitchurchhs.com

49Problem Areas. Identify asap.Notify school. Tell YEAR TUTOR