YEAR 10
PARENTS’ INFORMATION
EVENING
Thursday 12th September 2013
Y10 Information Evening
Introduction
Mr J W Davies (Assistant Head teacher 14 -19)
Core subjects presentations
Maths – Mrs C Garlant
English – Mrs K Price
Science – 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 G 96%
Figures for Mainstream entry only
Planning to Succeed
Information 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
Assessments this year
• On going assessments
• Controlled assessments
• Monitoring throughout the year
• Parents’ Evening
• Full written report
Assessments this year
GCSE 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
Student 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
Attendance
Success Starts by being in School
• LEA expects returns of 95% per week
• One 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 honestly
• In School Attendance Officer – Mr. Miles
Attendance
• If 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 calls
Lunchtime Arrangements
• All 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 piercings
Pastoral Student Support
• Tutorial Tutors / Mentors
• Subject Teachers
• Learning Leader and Pastoral Assistant
• Pupil Support Unit
• Outside Agencies
• Assistant Head Teacher 14 - 19
Maths, English and
Science
Presentations
Maths – Mrs C. Garlant
English – Mrs K. Price
Science – 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.
LESSONS
• Pupils will be given a wide variety of
learning experiences:
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•
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Individual, pair and group work
Investigative work
Games and activities
Use of ICT
Use of mental arithmetic
EQUIPMENT
• We 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.
OUR COURSE
• We 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.
WHICH 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.
EXAM SITTINGS
• Pupils 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.
RE-SITS
• Units can be re-sat once (although
parents will incur the cost of this).
• Your child’s teacher will advise pupils
whether they should re-sit a unit.
TEXTBOOKS
• We do not use a specific textbook, but
if you want to buy a textbook to support
your child’s studies, we recommend:
• ‘WJEC GCSE MATHEMATICS’ –
published by Hodder Education,
• ISBN: 978 1 444 11483 6 Higher
978 1 444 11482 9 Foundation.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Ask 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).
TIME GUIDE
• Year 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.
PAST PAPERS
• The 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.
WE 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.
PEOPLE YOU CAN CONTACT
• Mrs. Garlant – Head of Department
• Mrs. Robinson – KS4 coordinator
English in Year 10
Overview and expectations
Tiers and Setting
 Pupils 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.
Controlled Assessments
Controlled 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.
Year 10 English
 Overview of the course
 THREE 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.
So 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 exams
Studying previously unseen poetry in
preparation for the exams.
Exams (Year 11)
 English Language
 Exam 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 Literature
 Exam 1: Poetry and Prose
 Section 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 comparison
 Exam 2: Drama and Prose
 Section A: Questions based on
the set text (play)
 Section B: Questions based on
the set text (prose)
How can I support my child’s 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.
 3 POSSIBLE COURSES.
(BTEC APPLIED, CORE + TRIPLE SCIENCE.
 ALL STUDY BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY + PHYSICS.
 ALL PUPILS STUDY SCIENCE IN Y10 AND Y11.
BTEC APPLIED SCIENCE
 COURSE 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
 MR STEVE JAMES
PHYSICS/SCIENCE
CHEMISTRY
 MS CERI TAYLOR
 MR STEVE JAMES/MR ALUN SMITH
BIOLOGY
BTEC
KS4 WELSH BACCALAUREATE QUALIFICATION
Miss H. Davies & Mrs C. Davies
KS4 – Welsh Baccalaureate
Assistant Co-ordinators
TUTORIAL SUPPORT
OPTIONS
NVQs
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CORE PROGRAMME
GCSEs
Key skills
Working with an employer (WRE)
Team enterprise activity (WRE)
Individual investigation
Wales, Europe and the World
Language module
PSE
Community participation
BTEC
AS/A
Levels
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.
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 ahead
APPRENTICESHIP/EMPLOYMENT?
 More aware of chosen career path
 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
KS4 WELSH BACCALAUREATE QUALIFICATION
Ian Venn:
WBQ Co-ordinator KS4 & 5
Carla Davies:
Assistant WBQ co-ordinator – KS4
Paul Hughes:
Assistant WBQ co-ordinator – PSE
and Citizenship
Hayley Davies:
Assistant WBQ co-ordinator –
Wales, Europe and the World
Thank You For Listening
We will be available to answer
any questions you may have.
For all other information
please look at our website:
www.Whitchurchhs.com