Year 8 Parents
Information Evening
Tuesday 15th September
Aims of this evening
• Summarise the main changes to qualifications
and the curriculum affecting our students
• Explain how Oriel will report achievement in
light of these changes
Context
• Most significant curriculum and qualification reform
since 1986 when GCSEs were first introduced
• Scale and pace of the changes have posed real
challenges for schools
• ………and have had implications regarding the way in
which we structure our curriculum
• ………but also give us opportunities to change what we
do to ensure we best prepare our students for their
futures in a changing society.
• Your involvement in these changes is crucial to us so that
we can all support our students.
Year 7-9
Year 10 & 11
Year 12 & 13
National
Curriculum
GCSEs
A Levels
National Curriculum
• New National Curriculum from
September 2014, which affects the skills
and content that are taught at KS3.
• New schemes of work in Y7, 8 and 9
reflect these changes
• National Curriculum Levels are being
removed from September 2015.
GCSEs
(General Certificate of Secondary Education)
• New GCSE English Language, Literature
and Maths exams from September 2015
(affects current Year 10 first)
• New GCSE exams in other subjects from
September 2016 (affects current Year 9
first).
• By September 2017 when our Y8 students
move into Y10 GCSEs in all subjects will
have been reformed
Changes to GCSEs
• The new GCSE examinations will be
more challenging for students.
• Exam as default method of assessment.
• All examinations at the end of Year 11.
• New grading system of 1 to 9.
GCSE Maths
• Much larger volume of content – the GCSE is approximately twice the
size of the previous maths GCSE
• Stretches the most able students, preparing them thoroughly for the
study of A level maths
• A greater emphasis on problem solving
GCSE English
• There will be greater emphasis on accurate use of spelling,
punctuation and grammar.
• No Controlled Assessment
• 100% Examination
Maths
8 Hours
Science
7 Hours
English
8 Hours
Humanities
Arts
(Art, Music and Drama)
6 Hours
Languages
6 Hours
Technology
2 Hours
Computing
2 Hours
PE & PDC
5 Hours
(Geography, History, RE)
6 Hours
Post 16
study
10
5
1
Key
Stage 2
OHS Assessment:
Key characteristics:
•
Graded 10 - 1. No sub levels or grades!
•
Sequential and progressive system.
•
Individual subjects define assessment objectives &
performance descriptors at each level.
•
Key reference points; 4 / 5 / 7 / 8 / 10
•
Singular system yr 7 to 11.
Progress:
•
Aiming for at least 1 grade of progress per year.
•
More regular home / school contact: mentor contact
/ parents evening / summary report.
Reporting
•
Real time reporting via GO4Schools. www.go4schools.com
•
Parental & student engagement is vital!
•
Interim reporting will show teacher perception on progress.
•
Students may take longer to show progress.
Underpinning beliefs:
•
Quality first teaching secures high quality progress.
•
Challenge for all.
•
Hard work & application makes it possible for all to
succeed.
•
Feedback imperative; receiving & response.
•
Home / school partnership secures student success.
Assessing starting positions
on the new system
Accepting that
enduring, secure
progress takes time to
achieve
Working with awarding bodies
as they finalise specifications