Watford Grammar School for Boys
Year 9 Handbook
2015-2016
CONTENTS:

Year 9 Calendar

What are you aiming to achieve in the next three years?

How are you going to achieve your aims in the next three years?

Study tips

Year 9 examinations

Examination conduct

E-safety

Subject by subject important work, coursework and exam dates

Park privileges

New school day structure
YEAR 9 CALENDAR 2015 - 2016
Yr.9
N.B. All dates are provisional.
Month
Event
September
October
Autumn 1 tracker
November
December
Autumn 2 tracker
January
20th- Parents evening
February
March
Spring tracker
April
May
June
6th-10th Year nine summer examinations
July
Summer tracker
WHAT ARE YOU AIMING TO ACHIEVE IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS?
It is important for you to realise that although you are about to start Year 9,
you are actually embarking on the start of your GCSE courses. The
foundations for success in the GCSE examinations at the end of Year 11 will
be laid in Year 9 and 10. The answer to the question above will also largely be
led by another question, “what are you planning to do at the end of Year 11?”
Although it may seem a long way off, you should be aware that your
compulsory schooling at Watford Boys will end at the end of Year 11 and you
will have to make an informed decision about what to do next. The main
options open to you are:




Apply to enter Watford GS 6th Form
Apply to go to another school’s 6th Form
To leave school and go to College
To leave school and get a job/apprenticeship with some form of training
First and foremost it is important for you to try to fulfil your own potential at
this important stage of your education. You should aim to achieve the highest
grades that you can across the complete range of GCSE subjects. Quite
simply, the better your grades, the wider your range of options at the end of
Year 11.
The minimum entry requirement for Watford Grammar School 6th Form is
currently 6 GCSE’s at grade B or above.
Knowing what you are aiming to achieve at the end of Year 11 can be a
significant motivational factor.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ACHIEVE YOUR AIMS IN THE NEXT THREE
YEARS?
It is most important that you take on board the message that GCSE courses
start in Year nine. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can fulfil your
potential by coasting in Year 9 and 10, and then playing catch up in Year 11.
Adhering to the following simple principles will stand you in very good stead:

It is important to be well organised if you are to keep on top of your
work. You need to use your planner to record impending deadlines for
homework and progress tests.

Establish a cooperative and positive working relationship with all
of your teachers.

Apply yourself consistently in all lessons.

Complete all homework conscientiously.

Prepare thoroughly for all progress tests and end of year exams.
The final point may seem obvious, but the process of ‘review’ is a very
important part of the learning process. As much as 80% of newly learned
material can be forgotten within 24 hours. If you keep on reviewing
information (by completing homework thoroughly, revising for progress tests
and end of year exams) it will go deeper into your long term memory – and be
easier to recall in the final examinations.
STUDY TIPS

Organise your working environment

Establish an area where you feel comfortable to settle down to work,
away from distractions such as television, computers and mobile
phones.

Use your school planner on a daily basis and ensure that all homework
and deadlines are recorded clearly.

When you have a lot of work to do make a list in order of priority and
work through it methodically. Don’t put off work that you don’t enjoy,
get it over and done with first.

Don’t work for too long a stretch without a break.

Build time into your timetable to do things that you enjoy and which will
help you to take your mind off work for a while and relax.

Check work thoroughly before you hand it in.

Make the most of any feedback. Look at work which has been marked,
for example and, if you did not get a good mark, identify where you
went wrong.

Remember that you must take responsibility for your own learning.
YEAR 9 EXAMINATIONS
Year nine examinations are scheduled to take place in June and will cover all
the work covered during the academic year. During these exams students will
be expected to be at school during normal school hours. These exams will be
used by some subjects to place boys into sets for year ten.
EXAMINATION CONDUCT
During the Year 9 summer examinations, it is essential that all candidates
conduct themselves in accordance with school and exam board regulations in
exactly the same way as these will apply to the final papers in the summer of
Year 11. The end of year examinations are a good practice run for the real
thing and it is important to get into good habits and to learn from any
mistakes.
E SAFETY
There will be a whole school focus on e –safety this year. Students should all
be aware of the following rules:




Phones should be switched off during lessons or they will be
confiscated.
No pictures should be taken in school.
Using any social media or messaging to make another person feel
uncomfortable is unacceptable and will be dealt with.
Remember that all material on messaging sites and the internet is
potentially public.
PARK PRIVILEGES
Students in year nine are authorised to use a defined area of Cassiobury Park
at lunchtime. The boundaries and regulations for this privilege will be made
clear in an assembly at the start of term. Staff will be on duty in the park each
day but it will primarily be the student’s responsibility to ensure that they
adhere to the rules and are back in time for afternoon registration.
NEW SCHOOL DAY STRUCTURE
The structure of the school day has changed from consisting of eight thirtyfive minute lessons to five one hour lessons. The day will finish at a later time
of 3:15.
08:30
08:55
09:55
10:55
11:15
12:15
13:15
14:05
14:15
15:15
16:20
Am Reg
Period 1
Period 2
Break
Period 3
Period 4
Lunch
Pm reg
Period 5
End Yr7-11
KS5 Tue & Thur
Subject: Art and Design
Examination Board: Edexcel
Assessment:
Topics to be covered and Assessment
Sept
Oct
October half-term : interim assessment - print-making
Nov
Dec
End of Autumn term : interim assessment - collage
Jan
Feb
February half-term : interim assessment – 3D – part one
Mar
End of Spring term : interim assessment – 3D – part two
Apr
May
Jun
May half-term : interim assessment – drawing
Start full GCSE course – Unit one coursework (30% of final GCSE grade)
Subject: Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Examination Board: N/A
Assessment: Trackers as per the remainder of the school
Topics to be covered and Assessment
Sept
The three sciences, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, are taught separately.
They begin Year 9 by rounding off their Key Stage 3 courses.
Either one or two examinations will take place during the Autumn Term on
the whole content of KS3. Further information will follow in due course.
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Work at the GCSE level begins in November or December for each of the three
subjects. The GCSE work that is carried out in Year 9 forms a springboard for
the remaining GCSE work, whether it be Double or Triple Science.
Trackers will take place during the year as with other subjects, whilst the
boys’ results in the summer examination will determine their sets in Year 10.
Subject: Classical Civilisation
Examination Board: OCR
Assessment: The Rome, The Odyssey and Pompeii module exams (75% of the GCSE)
will take place in June 2018. The Controlled Assessment (25%) will take place during
2017
Topics to be covered and Assessment
Sept
Regular assessments will be conducted throughout the course helping to
develop the OCR Assessment Objective skills as well as helping to perfect
exam technique. Further information can be found on the Classics folders on
Moodle or at the OCR website www.ocr.org.uk
Oct
Nov
Dec
Ancient Egypt assessment (Assessment Objectives 1, 2 and 3) testing factual
knowledge, understanding and evaluation of Ancient Egyptian civilisation.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Roman Religion assessment (Assessment Objectives 1, 2 and 3) testing factual
knowledge, understanding and evaluation of the gods of Ancient Rome using
past OCR exam questions.
Apr
May
Jun
Roman life assessment (OCR GCSE past paper) testing factual knowledge,
understanding and evaluation of life in Ancient Rome.
Subject: GCSE Computing
Examination Board: OCR J276 (From 2016)
Assessment: Exam (80% - 2 written exams) Coursework (20% - 1 module)
Important work/coursework/controlled assessment/exam
dates
Sept
This new GCSE specification is currently in the draft stages. Details are
available the OCR webpage here
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-computer-science-j276-from-2016/
Oct
The draft outline for the first exam includes the following topics
Computer systems
Nov
mory
Dec
Jan
The draft outline for the second exam includes…
Algorithms
ming techniques
Feb
Mar
The draft outline for coursework module involves the completion of 3 small
programming tasks set by the board. At present we will most likely be
undertaking the coursework module using Python programming language.
Apr
The year 9 precursor to the GCSE course will be spent undertaking the
following areas of study…
Python and JavaScript coding
May Tkinter Python
Number bases and character sets
Study of Development of Computer Science and Internet History
PyGame
Jun MIT App Inventor
For further information please contact ictdept@watfordboys.org
Subject: English Language and English Literature
Examination Board: AQA
Assessment:
Literature: 100% exam
Language: 100% exam
Topics to be covered and Assessment
Lang 1A assessment
Y9 Autumn 1
Of Mice and Men
Y9 Autumn 2
Study of Shakespeare text for Unit
1A: The Merchant of Venice
Lit 1A assessment
Speaking and Listening
Y9 Spring 1
Independent reading project
Lang qu3 and4 test
Y9 Spring 2
Non fiction anthology
Speeches competition
Lang 2A assessment
Y9 Summer 1
Animal Farm
Lang 2B assessment
Argue/Persuade writing
Y9 Summer 2
Animal Farm (2 weeks)
Lit2A assessment
Lang1B assessment
Paintings and Poetry writing
scheme
Subject: Food Preparation and Nutrition
Examination Board: waiting for final Specifications to be published.
Assessment: 50% Controlled Assessment, 50% Exam
Important work/coursework/controlled assessment/exam
dates
Sept
Oct
Written test on Carbohydrates.
Nov
Dec
1st Practical Assessment
Written test on Nutrition.
Jan
Feb
Written test – tackling exam style questions.
Mar
2nd Practical Assessment
Apr
May
Jun
End of Year Exam
Subject: French
Examination Board: AQA
Assessment: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking exams at end of year 11
Topics to be covered and Assessment
Sept
Subject: German
Examination Board: AQA
Assessment: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking exams at end of year 11
Topics to be covered and Assessment
Sept
Where I live, Town vs. countryside
Oct
End of half term assessments; selection of L/R/W/S
Nov
Environment and future tense
Dec
End of half term assessments; selection of L/R/W/S
Jan
Healthy Living
Feb
End of half term assessments; selection of L/R/W/S
Jobs and Holidays Future tense
Mar
Apr
End of half term assessments; selection of L/R/W/S
Festivals and Celebrations
May
Jun
End of half term assessments; selection of L/R/W/S
Start first unit of GCSE course
Subject: Geography
Examination Board:
Assessment:
Topics to be covered and Assessment
Sept
Pending publication and choice of new GCSE specifications in the autumn
term, the students will begin Y9 by studying a variety of enrichment topics
and activities: global development and health; natural hazards.
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Possible start to new GCSE course.
Subject: History
Examination Board: TBC (awaiting final accredited specifications)
Assessment: 100% Exam
Topics to be covered and Assessment
Sept
20th Century History enrichment course begins (to prepare students for the
GCSE course) – Industrial Revolution, WW1, Inter-War Years, WW2
Oct
Autumn 1 Tracker – Industrial Revolution research project
Nov
Dec
Autumn 2 Tracker – WW1 sources
Jan
Feb
We anticipate the GCSE courses to be accredited for the Spring term – once
they are we will choose the most suitable course and begin the GCSE studies
this term (TBC)
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Mock exam – to test GCSE content and skills so far
Subject: ICT
Examination Board: Edexcel
Assessment: 60% Controlled Assessment, 40% Written Exam
Topics to be covered and Assessment
Sept
Start theory work & continue throughout year including end of topic tests
each half term
Oct
Autumn & Spring terms:
Practice tasks using multimedia, spreadsheet & database software
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Start controlled assessment project in summer term
May
Jun
End of year theory exam
Subject: Latin
Examination Board: WJEC/OCR (to be decided)
Assessment:
Topics to be covered and Assessment
Sept
Start on book 2 of Cambridge Course. Roman Britain is the setting for Stages
13-16.
Oct
Nov
Dec
Exams
Jan
Egypt is the setting for Stages 17-20.
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Exams
Jun
Book 3 of Cambridge Course: Roman Bath, the army.
Subject: Mathematics
Examination Board: Edexcel (linear)
Assessment: Examination: 100%.
Topics to be covered and Assessment
Sept
Oct
Progress test
Nov
Dec
Progress test
Jan
Feb
Progress test
Mar
Progress test
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
End of year examination
Subject: MUSIC
Examination Board: EDEXCEL
Assessment: Coursework: Performing 30%, Composing 30%.
Examination: Listening 40% in the Summer of 2018
Topics to be covered and Assessment
Sept
UNIT 1. Studying the BLUES. Lessons will focus on performing blues pieces,
listening to and analysing blues pieces. This leads to the individual
composition of a blues piece.
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Autumn performance Assessment. (P1) within the first few weeks after halfterm. Students prepare one solo piece with their instrumental teachers to play
to the rest of the class. This piece can be in any style, but there should be an
emphasis on performing accurately and stylishly.
UNIT 2. Writing SOUNDTRACKS for films. Lessons will focus on listening to
different sound tracks by composers such as John Williams and analysing
their music and performing some film music. This leads to an individual
composition written to a film trailer.
UNIT 3. MINIMALISM. Studying the music of minimalist composers such as
Steve Reich, John Adams and Philip Glass. Listening to and analysing their
music and performing a minimalist composition. This leads to an individual
composition in a minimalist style.
Feb
Mar
Apr
Spring performance Assessment. (P2) within the first few weeks after halfterm. Students prepare another solo piece with their instrumental teachers to
play to the rest of the class. This piece can be in any style, but there should be
an emphasis on performing accurately and stylishly.
UNIT 4. POPULAR SONG. Studying the music of popular composers and
learning how to write music to words in a popular style. There will be a
chance to perform some popular pieces and time to write a piece in a popular
style.
UNIT 5. SAMBA. Looking at samba rhythms and melodies and analysing
pieces in this style. Performance of a piece of samba.
May
Jun
UNIT 6. VARIATIONS. Looking at how composers write their variations
from early times to more modern ones. Students will be writing their own
variations
Summer Listening Examination. A variety of pieces to listen to and to
comment on all related to the Units of work studied during the year. There
will also be some related pieces that are new to students.
Summer Performance Assessment. (P3) to take place during the Year 9 EOY
exams. Students prepare another solo piece with their instrumental teachers to
play to the rest of the class. This piece can be in any style, but there should be
an emphasis on performing accurately and stylishly.
Subject: GCSE Physical Education
Examination Board: Edexcel
Assessment: Coursework: Performance 20%, Controlled Assessment 10%.
Examination: 70%
Pupils will be examined in two exams in the summer of 2018 equating to 70% of their
total mark
Practical scores will be collected from three sports/ activities in the role of player/
performer. This coupled with a controlled assessment will account for the remaining
30% of the total GCSE.
Topics to be covered and Assessment
Sept
Oct
The majority of Yr 9 study will involve practical teaching and pupils gaining a
basic understanding of human physiology and the effects of exercise on the
body. This will be coupled with a knowledge and understanding of the
components of fitness and principles of training.
Progress test just before half term
Nov
Dec
Progress test just before end of term
Jan
Feb
Mar
Progress test just before end of term
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Summer examination
Subject: PHILOSOPHY RELIGION AND ETHICS
Examination Board: PRESENTLY AQA (BUT MAY CHANGE)
Assessment: EXAM
Topics to be covered and Assessment
Sept
RELIGION VS SCIENCE
Oct
ASSESSMENT ON RELIGION VS SCIENCE
Nov
ARGUMENTS FOR GOD
Dec
ARGUMENTS FOR GOD ASSESSMENT
Jan
THE HOLOCAUST
TRIP TO WATFORD SYNAGOGUE
VISIT BY HARRY BIBRING
Feb
HOLOCAUST ASSESSMENT
MINOR WORLD FAITHS PROJECT
Mar
PROJECT ON MINOR WORLD FAITHS COMPLETED
Apr
BRITISH VALUES
May
Jun
START GCSE
END OF YEAR EXAM
Subject: Spanish
Examination Board: AQA
Assessment: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking exams at end of year 11
Important work/coursework/controlled assessment/exam
dates
Sept
Holidays – using the Past and Conditional Tenses
Oct
End of half term assessments; selection of L/R/W/S
Nov
Food and drink, Healthy Eating
Dec
End of half term assessments; selection of L/R/W/S
Jan
Free time – using future tense
Feb
End of half term assessments; selection of L/R/W/S
Health and Healthy Lifestyle
Mar
Apr
End of half term assessments; selection of L/R/W/S
Shopping, Clothes and School Uniform
May End of half term assessments; selection of L/R/W/S
Start first unit of GCSE course
Jun