How to support your child through their GCSE's - Monday 26th November 2018 - Hall Park Academy
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How to support your child
through their GCSE’s
Monday 26th November 2018The Curriculum – What will your child study
each week?
Core Subjects :
Options Subjects :
• English 4 hrs
• Option A (2.5 hrs each wk)
• Maths 4 hrs
• Option B (2.5 hrs each wk)
• Science 4 hrs
• Option C (2.5 hrs each wk)
• Option D (2.5 hrs each wk)
• Religious Studies 1 hr (exam
taken in year 10)
• Physical Education 2 hrs in yr 9
(1 hr in yrs 10 & 11)
Total = 25 hrs a weekWhat different types of qualifications will they study? GCSE’s • Exams taken at the end of year 11 (apart from R.S) • Some practical subjects contain some coursework. Much less than in the past. • Some subjects have tiered exam papers (e.g. Maths, Science, Languages). • A Higher paper – students can access grades 5-9 • A Foundation paper - students can access grades 1-5.
What grades can my child achieve in GCSEs?
What different types of qualifications will they
study?
Vocational Qualification (linked more
closely to practical work and employment) Grade GCSE Equivalent
Level 2 Distinction * 8.5
• BTEC Tech Awards – Engineering Level 2 Distinction 7
Level 2 Merit 5.5
and Health and Social Care
Level 2 Pass 4
• Include a mixture of coursework Level 1 Distinction 3
and one external exam. Level 1 Merit 2
Level 1 Pass 1.25What is a M.A.G? • Your child will be given a target grade for each subject • This is calculated by an external national organisation using their Key Stage 2 SATs scores. • We use the most aspirational and challenging option available to us, in order to challenge all our students to achieve the best grades they possibly can. • We refer to their target as their MAG – minimum achievement grade. • ‘Minimum’ as we don’t place ceilings on achievement at HPA.
What is a ‘Data Check’ (D.C)? • Your child’s teachers will enter grades for them 3 times a year (usually once each term). • Year 9 DC1: 19th Nov, DC2 : 11th Feb 2019, DC3 : 10th June 2019. • The grade entered is what the teacher thinks they will achieve at the end of the 3 years studying their GCSE’s. • This is difficult to assess when students are just beginning qualifications, but as time goes on teachers are able to have a very clear idea of what grades students are likely to achieve.
What do the colours mean on a date check
report?
Above M.A.G (target)
Achieving M.A.G (target)
One grade below M.A.G (target)
More than one grade below M.A.G (target)What do the letters mean on a report? • Areas for Concern: • These are issues which your child’s teacher sees as hindering the progress being made in particular subject areas. For any further detail, do not hesitate to contact your son/daughter’s subject teacher. • • B – Behaviour for Learning. Displaying behaviour which hinders the learning environment. • H – Homework. Homework is often poorly attempted and/or not handed in at all. • L – Literacy. Gaps in basic literacy are preventing your son/daughter from making progress. • P – Participation. Active engagement in their learning is often missing. • R – Resilience. Too often your son/daughter is not taking the challenge that learning provides. • W – Work-rate. The quantity of work produced is often below the standard expected.
What homework will my child receive? • One piece of Homework from every subject each week. • Most homeworks will take between 30 minutes and an hour. • Homework will vary in its nature, but should always focus on extending, consolidating or applying learning from lessons. • All homework should be put on “Show My Homework” by teachers. • Parents can access their child’s hwk via the app and using their unique pin. • If children lose their pin they can easily re-set or go to the main HPA hwk calendar and find the hwk details. • Will normally get a week to complete the homework.
When and how will my child be assessed? • Assessed regularly throughout the 3 years. • Formal exam weeks in year 9 (24th June 2019) and 10. • These will be highlighted in the school calendar you received in September. Some spare ones are available tonight, if you didn’t receive yours. • Students will be expected to revise for these tests and will take part in revision skills workshops in preparation for the exams. • In year 9 they will sit some of their exams in the main hall like a ‘real’ GCSE exam to help them get use to the exam experience. • Also regular in class assessments to inform Data Checks. • In year 11 two sets of mock exam fortnights.
How to contact school and ask questions?
• Tutor = name (surname, then first initial e.g. John Smith = Smithj)
@hallparkacademy.org.uk
• Head of House
• Main reception – will email or call staff and leave a message
• Review week – w/c 10th December 2018
• Parents Evening – 20th Wednesday March 2019History
Name of subject? History
Type of Qualification? GCSE
Head of Subject? Mr Rochester
rochesterc@hallparkacademy.org.uk
Teachers of subject in year 9? Mr L Simpson
Mr C Rochester
Mrs Matthews – Not currently teaching Year 9 however will help with
revision.
Which exam board? Edexcel
Are there tiers? No
How many exams/papers? Paper 1 – Medicine and Western Front (30%)
Weightings? Paper 2 – American West and Richard and John (40%)
Paper 3 – Weimar and Nazi Germany (30%)
Any coursework? No
Any key assessment dates this year? N/A
Web address to see the exam https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-
specification? gcses/history-2016.html
Recommended text books or study Textbooks are available for all units
guides? Medicine through time and Western Front – Textbook - 978-
1292127378
Richard and John – Textbook - 978-1292127248
American West – Textbook - 978-1292127309
Weimar and Nazi Germany – Textbook - 978-1292127347
Revision Guides – School have their own revision guides and the
following are suggested to compliment them:
Medicine through time and Western Front - 978-1292169729
Richard and John - 978-1292176406
American West - 978-1292169774
Weimer and Nazi Germany - 978-1292169736
PLEASE NOTE – LETTERS WILL GO OUT ABOUT REVISION
GUIDES TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR
Recommended apps or websites that help BBC Bitesize
students? SMH Quizzes
YouTube
History Instagram
Any other information you want parents to Students will be able to access revision sessions nearer the time. SMH
know which might help them help their is regularly updated with quizzes that students can complete for
child in your subject? revision. History Instagram account with a range of revision tools –
hpa_history
(e.g. support sessions they can access, Trips
trips, homework guidance etc) Year 9 – Thackray Medical Museum
Year 10 – Lincoln Castle
Year 11 – Imperial War Museum
HWK Guidance
Students are advised to use SMH or teachers email to ask if there are
any HWK concerns. Students will be completing a lot of planning work
for HWK therefore bringing together their studies.Maths
Name of subject? Mathematics
Type of Qualification? GCSE
Head of Subject? Mrs Sharpe
sharpea@hallparkacademy.org.uk
Teachers of subject in year 9? Mr Hayes, Miss Powell, Mr Croasdale, Mrs Peglar, Miss Sharpe
Which exam board? AQA
Are there tiers? Yes
How many exams/papers? 3 exams
Weightings? 1 x Non-Calculator 2 x Calculator (equal weightings)
Any coursework? No
Any key assessment dates this W/C 04/02 and W/C 01/07
year?
Web address to see the exam https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/gcse/mathematics-
specification? 8300/specification-at-a-glance
Recommended text books or study CGP Revision Guide or Revision cards available through school for 5.50
guides? and 7.50 respectively
Recommended apps or websites Vle.mathswatch.co.uk
that help students? www.mathedup.co.uk
www.justmaths.co.uk
www.corbettmaths.co.uk
Any other information you want Core Clinic every Wednesday to support students with their homework take
parents to know which might help place 3.05-4.05 in the L- Hall.
them help their child in your
subject?
(e.g. support sessions they can
access, trips, homework guidance
etc)Science
Name of subject? Science (combined) Double Award
Type of Qualification? GCSE
Head of Subject? Mrs Cracknell
Teachers of subject in year 9? All Science staff
Which exam board? AQA
Are there tiers? Yes, Foundation in which you can achieve up to a 5, Higher in which
you can achieve a 3-9 grade
How many exams/papers? 6 papers (2 for each science discipline) all of which are equally
Weightings? weighted.
Any coursework? No
Any key assessment dates this year? No
Web address to see the exam https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-
specification? trilogy-8464
Recommended text books or study guides? CGP revision guides
Recommended apps or websites that help Seneca learning
students? Primrose Kitten (you tube)
Science with Hazel (you tube)
Free science lessons (you tube)
Any other information you want parents to We run a programme of mini mocks all the way through years 9, 10
know which might help them help their child and 11, students will be given these dates as and when they are
in your subject? arranged but will be given plenty of notice to revise.
(e.g. support sessions they can access,
trips, homework guidance etc)
Name of subject? Triple Science
Type of Qualification? GCSE
Head of Subject? Mrs Cracknell
Teachers of subject in year 9? All Science staff
Which exam board? AQA
Are there tiers? Yes, Foundation in which you can achieve up to a 5, Higher in
which you can achieve a 3-9 grade
How many exams/papers? 6 papers (2 for each science discipline) all of which are equally
Weightings? weighted.
Any coursework? No
Any key assessment dates this year? no
Web address to see the exam https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461
specification? https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463
Recommended text books or study guides? CGP revision guides and question cards
Recommended apps or websites that help Seneca learning
students? Primrose Kitten (you tube)
Science with Hazel (you tube)
Free science lessons (you tube)
Any other information you want parents to We run a programme of mini mocks all the way through years 9, 10
know which might help them help their child and 11, students will be given these dates as and when they are
in your subject? arranged but will be given plenty of notice to revise.
(e.g. support sessions they can access,
trips, homework guidance etc)PE
Name of subject? PE
Type of Qualification? GCSE
Head of Subject? Mrs Scott
scotti@hallparkacademy.org.uk
Teachers of subject in year 9? Mrs Scott and Mr Sherlock
Which exam board? OCR
Are there tiers? No
How many exams/papers? 2 papers
Weightings? 30% each paper = 60% exam overall
Any coursework? Yes – 3 sports ( 1 team, 1 individual, 1 of either team or
individual)
Any key assessment dates this year? Ongoing
Web address to see the exam specification? https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/physical-education-
j587-from-2016/
Recommended text books or study guides? OCR GCSE (9-1) PE Second Edition Honeybourne John
My Revision Notes: OCR GCSE (9-1) PE 2nd Edition
Revision guides can be brought through school and they are
slightly cheaper due to a discount we got.
Recommended apps or websites that help GCSE bite size
students?
Any other information you want parents to know All pupils have been sent a letter for compulsory clubs they
which might help them help their child in your need to attend weekly to help improve their coursework
subject? grades. (e.g. support sessions they can access, trips,
homework guidance etc)
(e.g. support sessions they can access, trips,
homework guidance etc)Drama
Name of subject? Drama
Type of Qualification? GCSE
Head of Subject? Miss Mason
masonk@hallparkacademy.org.uk
Teachers of subject in year 9? Miss Mason
Which exam board? Edexcel
Are there tiers? no
How many exams/papers? Comp 1 – Devising and portfolio 40%
Weightings? Comp 2 – Scripted performance x2 to an examiner – 20%
Comp 3 – Written exam (one set text and one live theatre – 40%
Any coursework? Yes – comp 1
Any key assessment dates this year? Ongoing
Web address to see the exam https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-
specification? gcses/drama-2016.html
Recommended text books or study guides? GCSE Drama Revision Guide - https://bit.ly/2B4uCKz
Recommended apps or websites that help Bitesize Drama - https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/zbckjxs
students?
Any other information you want parents to Monday lunch is a homework drop in session for year 9.
know which might help them help their child
in your subject?
(e.g. support sessions they can access,
trips, homework guidance etc)English
Name of subject? English Language and Literature
Type of Qualification? GCSE
Head of Subject?
Email address (optional) :
Teachers of subject in year 9?
Which exam board? AQA
Are there tiers? No
How many exams/papers? Language = x2 papers. 100% of grade.
Weightings?
Literature = x2 papers. 100% of grade.
Any coursework? No
Any key assessment dates this year? All assessments in Year 9 are marked against GCSE criteria.
Web address to see the exam specification? Lang: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-
language-8700
Lit: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-
literature-8702
Recommended text books or study guides? Copies of: A Christmas Carol, Romeo and Juliet
Study guides for the above too from Longman
Recommended apps or websites that help BBC Bitesize for Language and Literature – AQA resources
students? only.
Mr Bruff and Stacey Reay via YouTube – AQA material only.
Any other information you want parents to know
which might help them help their child in your
subject?
(e.g. support sessions they can access, trips,
homework guidance etc)Religious Studies
Name of subject? Religious Studies
Type of Qualification? GCSE Short course
Head of Subject? Mr Fenby
Teachers of subject in year 9? Mr Fenby, Mr Keogh, Mr Rochester
Which exam board? AQA
Are there tiers? No
How many exams/papers? 1 exam.
Weightings?
Any coursework? No
Any key assessment dates this year?
Web address to see the exam specification? https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/religious-
studies/gcse/religious-studies-short-course-8061
Recommended text books or study guides? Students will be given revision guides as appropriate to their
ability & need.
Recommended apps or websites that help
students?
Any other information you want parents to know The GCSE in Religious Studies is done over 2 years, with the
which might help them help their child in your exam taking place in May of Year 10. We believe that the
subject? process of getting ready for the exam in Year 10 is excellent
preparation for the experience of revision and exams in Year
(e.g. support sessions they can access, trips, 11. We think the study skills they learn here as just as
homework guidance etc) important as the subject itself.
The course is treated like any other GCSE, with regular
homework, Key Concepts to learn and mock exams in the hall
at intervals throughout the period of study. Optional revision
sessions are arranged after school so that students can begin
early and be confident for the exam.
Each half term there will be a set of Key Concepts that
students need to learn. Parents can help with this.MFL
Name of subject? French, German
Type of Qualification? GCSE
Head of Subject? Mrs George
Teachers of subject in year 9? Mrs George, Mrs Foster, Miss Savoye, Mr Illingworth
Which exam board? AQA
Are there tiers? Yes – foundation and higher
How many exams/papers? Four exams: listening, reading, writing, speaking. Each worth
Weightings? 25%.
Any coursework? No
Any key assessment dates this year? Year 9 exam week. Assessment is ongoing.
Web address to see the exam specification? https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/french-
8658/specification-at-a-glance
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/german-8668
Recommended text books or study guides? CGP GCSE AQA French For the Grade 9-1 Exams: Complete
Revision and Practice, CGP GCSE AQA German For the
Grade 9-1 Exams: Complete Revision and Practice. Available
from the Finance Office for £6.50 (£12.99 in shops).
Recommended apps or websites that help Quizlet (vocab practice) – some specific vocabulary in their
students? class groups, but students can also search for the language
and the topic to access thousands of other lists
BBC Bitesize (grammar and some online tasks)
www.revisionworld.com (vocab, grammar and past papers)
www.languageonline.org.uk (online tasks)
Any other information you want parents to know All students have a vocabulary booklet (blue for French, yellow
which might help them help their child in your for German). At certain points in the year they will be set
subject? specific lists of vocab from this to learn, but they should be
revising from it independently all year round. The words are
(e.g. support sessions they can access, trips, categorised by topic and in foundation / higher tiers.
homework guidance etc) The trip for this academic year (2018-19) is to Normandy,
France and this is open to Year 8, 9 and 10. Next year’s trip
(2019-20) will be to Boppard, Germany and this will also be
open to Year 8, 9 and 10.Business Studies
Name of subject? Business Studies
Type of Qualification? GCSE
Head of Subject? Mr K Eden
edenk@hallparkacademy.org.uk
Teachers of subject in year 9? Mr Eden
Which exam board? Edexcel
Are there tiers? No
How many exams/papers? 2 papers (50% weighting each)
Weightings?
Any coursework? No
Any key assessment dates this year? Regular Topic and Unit Tests, with Year 9 Exam at the end of
June 2019
Web address to see the exam specification? https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-
gcses/business-2017.html
Recommended text books or study guides? Text Book: Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Business, Second Edition
Student Book
Publisher: Hodder Education
Author: Ian Marcouse
ISBN: 9781471899355
Revision Guide: Revise Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Business
Revision Guide
Publisher: Pearson
ISBN: 9781292190716
Recommended apps or websites that help BBC Bitesize – GCSE Business
students? (https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/zpsvr82)
BusinessEd (https://www.businessed.co.uk/)
Any other information you want parents to know Revision based homework tasks need to be completed on pink
which might help them help their child in your paper in order to build up a bank of revision resources over the
subject? course of the year.
(e.g. support sessions they can access, trips, Students are encouraged to watch TV programmes like
homework guidance etc) ‘Dragon’s Den’ or ‘The Apprentice’ whenever possible to see
how business knowledge developed in the classroom can be
applied to real life situations, and to increase their exposure to
business terminology to enhance their subject specific
vocabulary.Computer Science
Name of subject? Computer Science
Type of Qualification? GCSE
Head of Subject? Mr Eden
Teachers of subject in year 9? Mr Martin
Mr Hassall
Which exam board? OCR
Are there tiers? No
How many exams/papers? 2 exam papers (50% weighting each)
Weightings?
Any coursework? 20 hour Programming Project
Any key assessment dates this year? No
Web address to see the exam specification? https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/225975-specification-
accredited-gcse-computer-science-j276.pdf
Recommended text books or study guides? CGP GCSE OCR Computer Science (9-1) – The Revision
Guide (Blue book).
Recommended apps or websites that help https://www.teach-ict.com
students? username: ng58gx
password: redhill
Under GCSE choose: ‘OCR 9-1 J276’
https://www.youtube.com/craigndave
Under Playlists choose: ‘GCSE: OCR Video’
Any other information you want parents to Homework will usually take the form of a pink sheet with
know which might help them help their child in spaces set out for students to create a revision fact-file based
your subject? on the topic covered in lesson. Additional links/resources will
be made available via Show My Homework. This sheet is then
(e.g. support sessions they can access, trips, used to revise at the start of the next lesson in preparation for
homework guidance etc) a short topic test.ICT
Name of subject? ICT
Type of Qualification? Creative iMedia Level 1/2 Certificate J817
Head of Subject? Mr Eden
Teachers of subject in year 9? Mr Hassall/Mr Martin
Which exam board? OCR
Are there tiers? No
How many exams/papers? 1 exam (25%)
Weightings?
Any coursework? 3 coursework units (75%)
Any key assessment dates this year? No
Web address to see the exam specification? https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/cambridge-
nationals/creative-imedia-level-1-2-award-certificate-j807-j817/
Recommended text books or study guides? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Revision-Notes-Cambridge-
Nationals-Pre-
production/dp/1471886689/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542622
765&sr=8-1&keywords=ocr+ict+gcse+imedia
Recommended apps or websites that help
students?
Any other information you want parents to The units students will study are as follows
know which might help them help their child in
your subject? R081: Pre-production skills (75 minute exam)
R082: Creating digital graphics
(e.g. support sessions they can access, trips, R084: Storytelling with a comic strip
homework guidance etc) R088: Creating a digital sound sequence*
The exam unit is based upon all the planning which students
would need to complete prior to creating a movie, sound file or
multimedia product.Design Technology
Name of subject? Product Design Engineering
Type of Qualification? GCSE L2 BTec Tech level
Head of Subject? Mr Mee Mr Mee
Teachers of subject in year 9? Mr Burdett Mr Burdett
Which exam board? AQA Pearson
Are there tiers? No No
How many exams/papers?
Weightings? 1 Exam paper 2 hours 1 NEA assessment
Any coursework? 50% coursework 3 components
Any key assessment dates this In class tests at the end of each In class tests at the end of each
year? learning cycle learning cycle
Web address to see the exam https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/desi https://qualifications.pearson.com/en
specification? gn-and-technology/gcse /qualifications/btec-tech-
awards/engineering.html
Recommended text books or CGP GCSE Design and Technology See Pearson website
study guides? revision guide
Hodder education design and
technology text book
Recommended apps or websites www.technologystudent.com
that help students? www.roymech.co.uk/
www.matweb.com
Any other information you want D7 technology room is open every day before and after school where a
parents to know which might help member of staff is on hand to give one to one support.
them help their child in your
subject? The department is open most break and lunchtimes to DT students for catch
up and project work.
(e.g. support sessions they can
access, trips, homework guidance All homework will appear on Show My Homework and repeated on the
etc) information screen in the DT corridor. Printed versions are available on
request.Art
Name of subject? Art
Type of Qualification? GCSE
Head of Subject? Mrs Morland
Teachers of subject in year 9? Mrs Murphy
Which exam board? AQA
Are there tiers? NO
How many exams/papers? Coursework 60%
Weightings? Exam 40%
Any coursework? yes
Any key assessment dates this year? Assessment of AO1,2,3,4 throughout the year for the Man-
made project
Web address to see the exam specification? https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/gcse/art-and-
design-8201-8206
Recommended text books or study guides? AQA GCSE art and design student handbook (amazon,
£14.85)
GCSE Bitesize Art & Design Complete Revision and Practice
(Bitesize GCSE) £7.46
Recommended apps or websites that help https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/z6hs34j
students? https://www.studentartguide.com/
Any other information you want parents to Art clubs available after school Monday & Wednesday and
know which might help them help their child in lunch time everyday
your subject?
(Desirable) to have basic art equipment to help students
(e.g. support sessions they can access, trips, complete homework tasks, if they can’t attend art clubs
homework guidance etc)Geography
Name of subject? Geography
Type of Qualification? GCSE
Head of Subject? Mr J Ford
Teachers of subject in year 9? Mr Ford and Miss Collins
Which exam board? AQA
Are there tiers? No
How many exams/papers? Paper 1 – 37.5%
Weightings? Paper 2 – 37.5%
Paper 3 – 25%
Any coursework? No
Any key assessment dates this year? No
Web address to see the exam specification? https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-
8035
Recommended text books or study guides? CGP GCSE revision guide 9-1
Oxford GCSE revision guide 9-1
Recommended apps or websites that help All students will be given access to Educake – a online revision
students? tool
BBC Bitesize
Cool Geography
Any other information you want parents to There are two fieldtrips for the Paper 3 fieldwork content.
know which might help them help their child in These will run at the end of Year 9 and the end of Year 10.
your subject?
The department will be running a homework club on
(e.g. support sessions they can access, trips, Wednesday lunchtime to support students with their
homework guidance etc) independent study.
Homework sessions run every week in Y11.You can also read
