S

Getting Ahead

How to prepare your child for excellence in the new GCSEs

At Wilmslow High School

How are the new GCSEs different?

Harder content

Terminal exams – more to remember and exam-based

No re-sits – students need to get it right first time

New grading: 9-1 with 9 as a harder grade to achieve than A*

Focus on literacy

No separate KS3/ KS4 – students are on a flight path to GCSE from Year 7

A recommended Baccalaureate route

Core E Baccalaureat

e subjects

Any 3 subjects

Whole Curriculum

Facilitating Subjects For breadth

MathematicsEnglish

LanguageEnglish

Literature

Any 3 from the following options:PhysicsBiology

ChemistryCore Science

Additional Science

Computer ScienceHistory

GeographyFrench

GermanSpanish

Any 3 subjectss from the E Bacc. list

or other options

PEPHSCE

RE

What does excellence in the new GCSEs require?

Practice hours: hard work in lessons and for homework

Struggle: 80% learning

Literacy skills: reading and extended writing

Ability to memorise content

Ability to apply knowledge to new contexts and abstract thinking

Tenacity

How will we keep you informed?

Your child’s work:

i. Assessments to prepare students for GCSE

ii. Clear feedback from teachers

Contact through your child’s planner

Progress based reporting

Appropriate grouping to ensure that your child is getting the right level of support and challenge

Find out more

Telegraph article GCSE reforms: explained

5 Parenting Strategies to Develop a Growth Mindset This is aimed at primary level but has some useful tips that can be applied to teenagers

A scholarly article on the link between learning knowledge and expertise: Inflexible Knowledge: The First Step to Expertise

How will English GCSE be different?

No coursework – exams in Language and Literature after 2 years

Literature exams will be ‘closed book’ – this means that students will not be allowed to have the texts with them

There will be no tiered entry – all students will sit the same exams

Language exams involve responding to sources including C19th texts and varied writing tasks

What does excellence look like in English?

Accuracy/precision in written work Increased focus on extended writing tasks –

exploring ideas in detail Increased importance of spelling, punctuation and

grammar Reading: all students should have an extra-

curricular reading book on them at all times At least 2-3 hours independent reading per week Organisation: ensuring that the correct

equipment/books are brought to lessons

KS3 Assessment

Working towards ‘Mastery’ in different skills key to excellence at GCSE

Reading skills: Writing skills:

1)Understanding 1)Writer’s craft

2)Inference 2) Organisation

3)Language analysis 3)Vocabulary

4) Contextual considerations 4) Structure

How you can help...

Support your child’s reading: all students must develop the tenacity to complete longer texts

Spelling: we will put lists of frequently misspelt words on the VLE. Feel free to conduct spelling tests at home!

Literacy activities are available on the VLE

Students will have a literacy booklet to revise from in school – feel free to test their knowledge at home!

Encourage your child to take pride in their work.

Find out more

WHS recommended reading list: available to students from the LRC and to all on the VLE

BBC bitesize website

Curriculum Digest

IGE – free app for phones to help with grammar

How will Maths GCSE be different?

It will be more demanding: Increased volume Increased demand Increased exam time Fewer marks for lower grades, more marks for

higher grades Greater emphasis on problem solving & reasoning Fewer formulae given

How will Maths GCSE be different?

Current GCSE G F E D C B A A*

Current Foundatio

n

Current Higher

New Foundatio

n

New Higher

1 4 5 9New grades

Set 4 Grades

50%

25%

25%

50%

50%

50%

50%

35%

40%

25%

What does excellence look like in Maths?

Entering the maths classroom mentally and physically ‘prepared to work’

Being confident and competent in basic maths skills.

Completing homework to the best of their ability and handing it in ‘on time’.

Asking questions.

Practise, Practise, Practise!

Find out more

www.edexcel.com/maths

Many differing resources on the VLE

www.mymaths.co.uk

Nrich.maths.org

Revision guide

Ask your teacher

Mr Hughes & Mrs Mackintosh available each lunchtime in the maths atrium.

How will Science GCSE be different?

Terminal examinations: at the end of Year 11

Grades will change from letters to numbers, ranging from 9-1

No controlled assessment (coursework)

More challenging, demanding content

Practical work is placed at the heart of learning

What does excellence look like in Science?

The expectation by all that you work hard in lessons and at home

You expect to be challenged by scientific concepts

You are able to apply those scientific concepts

Your written work shows care, thought, insight and dialogue!

Concepts and theories are tested through practical experiences in lessons

How will you know if Triple Science is the right option?

If you relish the idea of spending 9 periods a week in science lessons

If you get out of bed and think ‘great, I have science today’

If you want to discuss such phenomena as why ice floats on water when it’s a solid?

If you are consistently producing work that is at or beyond a projected GCSE B grade

Find out more

Speak with Mr G Jones initially

Speak with your science teacher

Read the KS4 Course Choice booklet carefully when it is published

Talk as a family about your choices

Visit our LRC to read our wide variety of periodicals

Preparing for Excellence

‘Whole Education’

PE – healthy body….healthy mind

PHSCE – personal development

Responsibility and community: leadership and volunteering

Challenge: D of E

Friendships/skills….‘X-tra’

Enrich and experience: educational visits

Wellbeing: The Hub

Work and life ready…stepping stone

How do you achieve excellence?

Everyone is different

Do your best

Make the most of your opportunities

Take risks

Aspirations: aim high

Passion and drive

Don’t give up

Listen to advice/feedback

Learn from role models

Believe in yourself

Do you have a ‘can do’ mindset?

Mindset matters

Fixed mindset – intelligence can’t improve

Growth mindset – intelligence is a quality that can be developed

Brain is a muscle….make it stronger

3 steps to developing a growth mindset:

1. Learn, learn and learn

2. Understand hard work is key

3. Accept setbacks

Fixed vs Growth…which are you?

Year 12 reflections: ‘top tips’

Option process:

“Think ahead”

“Don’t choose based on teachers”

“Choose a good mixture”

“Don’t choose with your mates”

“Find out what’s involved”

“Talk about it……don’t do it on your own”

More student ‘top tips’

“Don’t wait until Year 11”

“Get a routine”

“Put the phone away!”

“Worth working hard….but have a life”

“Get organised!”

“You need sleep”

“Don’t be scared to ask for help”

“Don’t look back with regret….can’t do it again”

“Get involved in other stuff….more to school than exams”

Find out more

Mindset: how you can fulfil your potential (Carol Dweck)

Outliers: the science of success (Malcolm Gladwell)

The genius in us all: why everything you’ve been told aout genetics, talent and IQ is wrong (David Shenk)

Drive: the surprising truth about what motivates us (Daniel Pink TED Talk)

Bounce: the myth of talent and the power of practice (Matthew Syed)

What can you do to help your child?

Practice hours: Ensure that your child is putting in the homework hours

Struggle: Check that your child is in the ‘struggle zone’ with their work and encourage them to do it for themselves

Literacy skills: reading and extended writing: the more reading, writing and vocabulary work your child is doing the better

Ability to memorise content: Attend our Parental Learning Evening on developing memory capacity

Ability to apply knowledge to new contexts and abstract thinking: Encourage your child to use a Thinking Journal to connect learning

Tenacity: Encourage your child to keep going – organisation is vital – they need to be punctual and prepared for learning

What if you have any concerns about your

child’s progress

Speak to the appropriate person tonight Contact us at the school:

i. Form tutor

ii. Head of House

iii. Subject Teacher

iv. Subject CTL

v. SENCO

vi. Deputy Headteacher

What next?

Parent Voice: What else do you need from us?

Aspirations Programme

Parent Learning Evening on building memory capacity

Options Process will begin…

High Notes