Transcript here - Highgate Wood School

Introduction to KS4 at
Highgate Wood School
• What do we need / what can we
expect from students, the school
and parents?
• Timeline
• Q&A
• Advice to parents
National Context
• GCSEs are getting more difficult and the
goal posts are changing (new reformed
GCSEs start this year for many subjects)
• This puts stress on students teachers
and parents
• The government want fewer high level
grades
• The only answer to this is to work
harder and work smarter
Reformed GCSEs (grades 9-1)
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English Language
English Literature
Maths
Art and Design
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Double Science
Drama
• Food Preparation and
Nutrition
• Geography
• History
• Languages
• Music
• Physical education
• Religious Studies
Reformed GCSEs (grades 9-1)
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More challenging
Grades 9-1 rather than A* – G
Grade 4 ‘equivalent’ to a C
Grade 5 is a ‘good pass’
Our Results
Year
National
5A*-C EM
56%
52.6%
53.8%
HWS
HWS
5A*-C EM 5A*/A
2013
68%
31%
2014
67%
29%
2015
64%
28%
2016
70%
31%
The last four years results across the country have
decreased except last year. We understand that
the percentage is likely to have fallen this year as
both English and Maths have decreased.
HWS v National GCSE Trend
80%
72%
70%
68%
70%
67%
64%
60%
50%
68%
59%
42%
46%
46%
47%
48%
51%
46%
50%
54%
46%
59%
59%
National
56%
56%
40%
2006 2007
2008 2009
2010 2011
2012 2013
2014 2015
2016
School
Previous Requirements for Sixth Form (best 8 - 5.6)
Art – Grade B in Art with C in Eng
Language
Mathematics – A at Maths
Biology – B at Biology or A from
additional science - B in Maths
Media Studies – B at English Language or
a C in English with a C+ in Media Studies.
BTEC Business Studies as a single,
double or triple award – 4 Cs at GCSE
including at least a D in English
Language.
Chemistry - B at Chemistry or A from
additional science - B in Maths
Music Technology – C at Music with the
ability to read music
Drama – B in Drama and C in English
Language
BTEC Sport – C GCSE PE with C in English
and an interest in Sport
Results Needed for Sixth Form (best 8 - 5.6)
Economics – B in Maths and C in English
Language
Photography – B in Art and C in English
Language. For those who did not take
GCSE Art a Portfolio can be submitted in
July to gain entry
English Language – B in English
Language
Philosophy – B at GCSE English Language
with an average GCSE point score of 6 or
over
English Literature – B in English
Literature and Language - plus reading
for pleasure
Physics - B at Physics or A from
additional science - B in Maths
Further Maths – A* at GCSE Maths
Psychology – B grade at English Language
and a B at Maths
Government and Politics – B in English
Language
Results Needed for Sixth Form (best 8 - 5.6)
Geography – B in Geography and C in
English Language
Sociology – B grade at GCSE English
Language
History – B in History and B in English
Language
Spanish - B at Spanish – native speakers
do not need to have taken GCSE
ICT – 4 Cs at GCSE with at least a D in
English Language
Textiles – B grade at Textiles or a B at Art
with a subject interview
GCSE Maths for those without a C+
GCSE English for those without a C+
Timeline
Date
WB 10th Oct
WB 21st Nov
WB 6th Mar
WB 27th Mar
25th April
WB 19th Jun
Event
Year 10 concerns screen
Progress check
Progress check
Underachievement information
Year 10 parent’s evening
Year 10 exams start
Timeline
Date
WB 11th Jul
WB 17th Jul
Dec 2017
Jan 2018
Mar 2018
May 2018
Event
Progress check
SLT meeting underachievers
Year 11 Mocks 1
Year 11 Parent’s evening
Year 11 Mocks 2
GCSEs start
Underachievement Information
• Currently this is based on a ‘progress score’
based on the best 8 GCSE predictions
• We aim for all our students to have a progress
score of +0.5. This means that on average 4
GCSEs are a grade above what they would get
in an average school
• If a student has a progress score of less than
+0.1 then we raise this with parents and
students and might ask for extra work to be
done
Homework and Private Study
• Homework will be set regularly in ‘Show My
Homework’, following the homework
timetable
• Homework will be assessed in a variety of
ways
• If your child says they don’t have homework
this is likely to be incorrect – ask to see it if
they say it is done, contact the teacher if they
say it is not set
Homework and Private Study
• If the homework is not understood this can be
a good thing – students must not give up. Ask
for help before the due date.
• All tests are very important. By doing well on
them your child will do well in the year 10
exams / GCSE and better in the year 11 mocks
and even better still at GCSE.
Who to go to with concerns
• Any concerns that can’t be addressed by the
teacher…
• Contact the Head of Department if the matter
is specific to a subject
• Contact your child’s tutor if your concern is
more general
• Communication between home and school is
vital. It needs to be just right – not too much
and not too little.
Excuses and Answers
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E: I do better if I don’t revise
A: That is never true!
E: I revised at school / my friend’s place
A: Excellent, show me your revision notes.
After dinner you can do some more!
Excuses and Answers
• E: I can learn by reading my text book
• A: This is never true. Revision must be active
and almost always produces paperwork
• E: Everyone learns differently!
• A: This is not really true! Whilst there is some
truth to it everyone learns by repetition and
example and checking their understanding
objectively
What are Controlled Assessments
and when are they?
• Very few subjects have controlled assessments
now (mostly the non-reformed GCSEs)
• They are internally assessed and replaced
coursework
• They take place throughout the next year and
a half depending on subject and teacher
• They take place in school and so they do not
cause bottlenecks of work
Attendance above 95%...
• …means that no grades should be reduced
due to absence
• 90% attendance (one day off per fortnight)
will mean every GCSE is one grade lower than
it should be
• 92/93% - on average half of your child’s GCSEs
will be a grade lower than they should be
Additional Support in Year 10
• In year 10 we use the concerns screen in
October and the termly data to support
students who are underachieving by:
• Monitoring & report by tutors
• House teams putting in place an individualised
program
• Asking students to catch up with extra work if
current progress is less than expected and
asking parents to check it is done before we do
• More information and help on the website
Additional Support in Year 11
• Students who are underachieving (especially
in English and Maths) are supported by the
‘Aspire and Achieve’ Programme. Each
students:
• ‘Cloud 9 Club’
• Has a staff mentor
• Has a 6th form tutor
• Has a bespoke set of interventions specific to
their needs
Final Thoughts
• Keep your child focussed on their success at
school
• Support us in supporting your child
• Regularly speak to your child about their
education
• Rewards and sanctions at home to support
good grades attendance and conduct really
do help