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CONTENTS

Page Content2-3 The Year Ahead

Preparing for GCSEs:4 Parental roles

Controlled assessments5 Making a start to revision

Good revision techniques6 Revision ideas

7-8 Top ten memory improvement tips9-10 GCSE subject specifications

Subject Information11 1. Art12 2. Business Studies13 3. Business Applied14 4. Drama

15-16 5. Engineering17 6. English Language / English Literature

18-19 7. Food & Nutrition20 8. Geography21 9. Health & Social Care22 10. History23 11. ICT

24-25 12. Maths26-27 13. Media Studies

28 14. Modern Foreign Languages (Fr/De/Sp)29 15. Music30 16. Religious Education

31-32 17. Science (Additional and Separate Sciences)33 18. Sports Studies

34-35 19. Technology: Graphics36 20. Technology: Textiles

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YEAR 10 – THE YEAR AHEAD

2015 - 2016

SEPTEMBER 2015 Wednesday 23 Y10 parents’ information evening (6.00 – 7.00pm)Friday 25 European day of languages

OCTOBER 2015Thursday 8 i) National poetry dayThursday 9 ii) DofE information evening for parents (6.30 – 7.30pm)Monday 19 Inter-house sports week (provisional)Thursday 22 i) Grade cards home

ii) School closes for half term (3.25pm)

NOVEMBER 2015 Monday 2 School re-opensWednesday 11 Y10 remembrance day assembly

DECEMBER 2015Thursday 3 German trip parents’ evening (6.30pm)Monday 7 Ski trip parents’ evening (6.00pm)Tuesday 8 Textiles/art clothes show visit (tba)Monday 14 -18 Y10 geography fieldworkFriday 18 i) Y10 celebration of achievements and Christmas assembly

ii) Concert (tutor time)iii) Grade cards homeiv) School closes for Christmas holidays (1.30pm)

JANUARY 2016Monday 4 Staff training day (no students in school)Tuesday 5 School re-opens for spring termWednesday 27 Holocaust memorial day

FEBRUARY 2016Friday 5 Y10 controlled assessment day (MFLs)Friday 12 i) Grade cards home

ii) School closes for half term (3.25pm)Monday 22 School re-opensFriday 26 Non-uniform day for the school production

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MARCH 2016Wednesday 2 i) Y10 netball tournament (12.00 – 4.00pm)

ii)Y10 parents’ evening: (for tutor groups: ARC, ASU, DBA, JDO, KMU)

Thursday 3 World book day Wednesday 9 Y10 parents’ evening:

(for tutor groups: MTI, MWA, NGA, NJA, NTU)Monday 21 School Production of “We Will Rock You” (7.00pm)Tuesday 22 School Production of “We Will Rock You” (7.00pm)Wednesday 23 School Production of “We Will Rock You” (Matinée +7.00pm)Thursday 24 i) School Production of “We Will Rock You” (Matinée + 7.00pm)

ii) Grade cards homeiii) School closes for Easter holidays (3.25pm)

APRIL 2016Monday 11 School re-opens for summer term

MAY 2016Monday 2 May day bank holidayFriday 27 i) Grade cards home

ii) School closes for half term (3.25pm)

JUNE 2016Monday 6 School re-opens Wednesday 15 Y10 reports homeTuesday 21 Y10 English controlled assessment dayMonday 27 Y10 Mock Exams (English and maths)Tuesday 28 Summer concertThursday 30 Sports award evening (7.00pm)

JULY 2016Friday 1 Staff training day (students not in school) Tuesday 5 – 9 French trip to ParisMonday 11 – 15 Activity week Wednesday 13 Y10 end of year celebration of achievement assemblyMonday 18 Y10 reports go home (date tbc)Wednesday 20 School closes for summer holidays (1.30pm)

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PREPARING FOR GCSEs

WHAT ROLES CAN A PARENT FULFIL?Your parent can play many roles in helping you succeed at GCSE – he or she is not just the “bank of mum and/or dad” (see point 4, however). Your parent can be all of the below:

1. ATTENDANCE OFFICER – making sure children attend school

2. PARTNERSHIP – going to parents’ evenings / information meetings

3. PROVIDER – tools for revision and homework – a quiet space, a supply of pens, paper and other necessities

4. BANKER – paying for the tools, files and revision guides

5. “STUDY BUDDY” – showing an interest in the subject, helping with homework, and testing when asked

6. ENTERTAINMENT OFFICER – finding out about TV programmes, theatre productions, films, exhibitions relevant to your learning

7. ADVISER – helping to break down tasks so that they are manageable

8. PROJECT MANAGER – negotiating with you the rules for homework and revision, devising a realistic timetable

9. GO-BETWEEN – between home and school

10. INFORMATION OFFICER – finding copies of past exam papers, searching out websites, exam structures, content, contacting school for advice on any of the above

CONTROLLED ASSESSMENTS

(i) KNOWLEDGE

It is important that all students know, in relation to all their subjects:-

- Percentage of final grade?- Key dates?- Resources?- “Rules”?

(ii) CALENDAR- Put key dates / deadlines in the family calendar so they aren’t forgotten

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

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MAKING A START TO REVISION

Create an area to revise – no distractions.

Pens / papers / hole punch / rulers / felt-tips pens etc at the ready – so much time is wasted “getting down to revision” or looking for appropriate materials.

Make sure the specification content is available.Examiners can only ask questions on what is on the syllabus – see your subject teachers and please

refer to the list of specifications in this booklet (p11).

Make sure you have seen some past papers so you know the style of the exam / how long it lasts, etc.Your teachers will provide past papers throughout the course, and past papers are available on the exam board websites (please refer to p11).

GOOD REVISION TECHNIQUES

… will always include:-

An aim for the session, e.g. “By the end of this session I will understand and be able to answer past exam questions on theories of memory.”

Think about what you already know and identify the bits you need to spend more time on – self testing.

Breaking down each subject / topic into manageable chunks, e.g. GCSE maths module can be able to be broken down into (i) percentages; (ii) formulas; (iii) quadratic equations; (iv) linear equations; (v) simultaneous equations; (vi) trigonometry, etc, etc. (It would make sense to study the specification to discover exactly what the examiner is entitled to ask you).

Doing something active with the notes you have been given, not just reading them. I would advise producing notes (shorter each time you revise a particular topic), noting key points, phrases or words.

Testing yourself to see what you have learnt.

Ticking off the topics / subjects on your overall list so you can see that you are making progress

Revisiting your notes briefly after 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, as well as just before the exam

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

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REVISION IDEAS

1. Draw ‘spider maps’ / ‘mind maps’ on large pieces of paper to show how different parts of a subject link together

2. Use pictures and big flip charts and colour to make posters with key points – display these on walls so you see them regularly.

3. Put revision aids up around the house – particularly for ‘rote learning’ such as chemical or mathematical formulae or French vocabulary – in the loo / eating breakfast, where ever.

4. Watch revision DVDs but don’t just sit passively – make notes / test yourself.

5. Make a revision timetable – be realistic – and stick to it. Please see the examples offered overleaf.

6. Memory Techniques:-

(i) Acronyms – use the 1st letter of each word to prompt your memory

(ii) Picture Stories – think of a strong visual image to associate with each key word and link them together into an unlikely and memorable story

(iii) Mnemonics – make a sentence in order to remember something – e.g. the oft quoted “Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain” to help you remember the colours of the rainbow

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

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Top 10 Memory Improvement TipsBefore you study for your next exam, you might want to use a few strategies to boost your memory of important information. There are a number of tried and tested techniques for improving memory. These strategies have been established within cognitive psychology literature and offer a number of ways to improve memory, enhance recall, and increase retention of information.

1. Focus your attention on the materials you are studying. Attention is one of the major components of memory. In order for information to move from short-term memory into long-term memory, you need to actively attend to this information. Try to study in a place free of distractions such as television, music, and other diversions.

2. Avoid cramming by establishing regular study sessions. According to Bjork (2001), studying materials over a number of sessions gives you the time you need to adequately process the information. Research has shown that students who study regularly remember the material far better than those who did all of their studying in one marathon session.

3. Structure and organize the information you are studying. Researchers have found that information is organized in memory in related clusters. You can take advantage of this by structuring and organizing the materials you are studying. Try grouping similar concepts and terms together, or make an outline of your notes and textbook readings to help group related concepts.

4. Utilize mnemonic devices to remember information.Mnemonic devices are a technique often used by students to aid in recall. A mnemonic is simply a way to remember information. For example, you might associate a term you need to remember with a common item that you are very familiar with. The best mnemonics are those that utilize positive imagery, humour, or novelty. You might come up with a rhyme, song, or joke to help remember a specific segment of information.

5. Elaborate and rehearse the information you are studying.In order to recall information, you need to encode what you are studying into long-term memory. One of the most effective encoding techniques is known as elaborative rehearsal. An example of this technique would be to read the definition of a key term, study the definition of that term, and then read a more detailed description of what that term means. After repeating this process a few times, your recall of the information will be far better.

6. Relate new information to things you already know.When you are studying unfamiliar material, take the time to think about how this information relates to things that you already know. By establishing relationships between new ideas and previously existing memories, you can dramatically increase the likelihood of recalling the recently learned information.

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7. Visualize concepts to improve memory and recall.Many people benefit greatly from visualizing the information they study. Pay attention to the photographs, charts, and other graphics in your textbooks. If you don’t have visual cues to help, try creating your own. Draw charts or figures in the margins of your notes or use highlighters or pens in different colours to group related ideas in your written study materials.

8. Teach new concepts to another person.Research suggests that reading materials out loud significantly improves memory of the material. Educators and psychologists have also discovered that having students actually teach new concepts to others enhances understanding and recall. You can use this approach in your own study by teaching new concepts and information to a friend or study partner.

9. Pay extra attention to difficult information.Have you ever noticed how it's sometimes easier to remember information at the beginning or end of a chapter? Researchers have found that the position of information can play a role in recall, which is known as the serial position effect. While recalling middle information can be difficult, you can overcomethis problem by spending extra time rehearsing this information or try restructuring the information so it will be easier to remember. When you come across an especially difficult concept, devote some extra time to memorizing the information.

10. Vary your study routine.Another great way to increase your recall is to occasionally change your study routine. If you are accustomed to studying in one specific location, try moving to a different spot to study. If you study in the evening, try to spend a few minutes each morning reviewing the information you studied the previous night. By adding an element of novelty to your study sessions, you can increase the effectiveness of your efforts and significantly improve your long-term recall.

(Lao-Tzu, Chinese philosopher, 604-531BC)

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” Pace yourself.

Review and revise step by step. Starting now.

You cannot cram your revision into 4 weeks in April 2017.Just as you cannot walk a thousand miles in one day.Ponteland High School GCSE Specifications

Year 10, September 2015

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The table below lists the examination boards and specifications used at Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) from September 2015.

Further details about courses can be obtained from the GCSE Options booklet issued in Year 9.

Subject Exam board and Specification

Exam Board website

Art and Design GCSE

AQA Art 3202 www.aqa.org.uk

Business Studies GCSE

OCR J253 www.ocr.org.uk

Business AppliedGCSE

Pearson/Edexcel www.edexcel.org.uk

Drama GCSE


Engineering GCSE (single award)

OCR www.ocr.org.uk

English LanguageGCSE

Pearson/Edexcel 1EN0 www.edexcel.org.uk

English LiteratureGCSE

Pearson/Edexcel 1ET0 www.edexcel.org.uk

Food And Nutrition GCSE

WJEC 4300 www.wjec.co.uk

Geography GCSE

Pearson/Edexcel Specification A

www.edexcel.org.uk

Health & Social Care GCSE (single award)

Pearson/Edexcel 5HSOUnits 1 & 2

www.edexcel.org.uk

History GCSE

OCR History B: Modern World J417

www.ocr.org.uk

ICT GCSE

Pearson/Edexcel 2IT01Units 1 & 2

www.edexcel.org.uk

MathematicsGCSE

AQA Mathematics Specification 8300

www.aqa.org.uk

Media Studies GCSE AQA Media StudiesDouble Award

www.aqa.org.uk

MFL: FrenchGCSE

AQA French 4655Specification A

www.aqa.org.uk

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http://www.aqa.org.uk/



http://www.edexcel.org.uk/

http://www.ocr.org.uk/



http://www.wjec.co.uk/








MFL: German GCSE

AQA German 4668Specification A

www.aqa.org.uk

MFL: Spanish GCSE

AQA Spanish 4695 Specification A

www.aqa.org.uk

Music GCSE

Pearson/ Edexcel 5MU01 www.edexcel.org.uk

Religious Education GCSE

AQA Religious Studies B 4055Ethics, Philosophy and Religion in Society

www.aqa.org.uk

Science AGCSE

OCR Science A J241 (21st Century Science)

www.ocr.org.uk

Science Additional GCSE

OCR Science A J242(21st Century Science)

www.ocr.org.uk

Science: Biology GCSE

OCR Biology A J243 (21st Century Science)

www.ocr.org.uk

Science: Chemistry GCSE

OCR Chemistry A J244 (21st Century Science)

www.ocr.org.uk

Science:Physics GCSE

OCR Physics A J245 (21st Century Science)

www.ocr.org.uk

Sports Studies GCSE

AQA Physical Education 4892 www.aqa.org.uk

Technology:Graphics GCSE

AQA GraphicsSpecification 3543

www.aqa.org.uk

Technology:Textiles GCSE


1. ART10













1. CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT

COURSE% OF FINAL

GRADEDETAILS OF CONTROLLED

ASSESSMENTSKEY DATES

GCSEART & DESIGN

60%

40%

Coursework involves the completion of the following 5 units of work:

Unit 1(A) - Illustrated alphabet Unit 1(B) - Natural Forms Unit 1(C) - Black & white illustration Unit 1(D) - Me, Myself and I. Unit 1(E) mock exam

Each unit of work comprises of a sketch book or development boards and one or more final outcome.

The externally set paper is released in February of Y11 and students have approximately 8 weeks’ preparation time to complete a sketch book that consists of research, planning and development into their chosen theme. The Controlled Test then takes place; (10 hours, completed over 2 days)

The final portfolio improvement time is typically 3 - 5 weeks after Christmas.

Deadline:

Week starting1A – 03.11.15 (y10)1B – 29.02.15 (y10)1C – 04.07.15 (y10)1E – 31.10.16 (y11)

Controlled Test Week: 20.03.17

Coursework deadline; 01.05.17

2. EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS IN YEAR 10?No

3. SETTING?Mixed Ability

4. KEY DATESPlease refer to table above

5. HOMEWORKHomework is set on a weekly basis but it must be stressed that students are expected to be able to organise their workload, as often a single unit of art might stretch across several home work sessions. Please also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-exposure homework information.

2. BUSINESS STUDIES11


COURSE% OF FINAL



BUSINESS STUDIES

ControlledAssessment 25%

Students will be required to produce an investigation into a new business opportunity in an area which they know. The report is to be written up to include both primary and secondary research. The writing up of the research completed as a high level controlled assessment.

To start at beginning of year 11.

2. EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS

Students will have two examinations at the end of year 11 worth 75% of the overall GCSE Mark.

3. SETTING?

Classes are taught in mixed ability groups.

4. KEY DATES

Please refer to ‘controlled assessment’ information.

5. HOMEWORK

Regular homework is set. Please also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-exposure homework information.

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3. APPLIED BUSINESS


COURSE% OF FINAL



Applied Business

ControlledAssessment 60%

Students will be required to choose a local and national business to research. They will then produce three separate reports completed under controlled conditions comparing and contrasting key criteria from each. Deadlines for completing each part will be spread over the year.

Individual deadlines will be set throughout year 10.

2. EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONSStudents will be externally assessed in Unit 2: Financial documents.

3. SETTING?Classes are taught in mixed ability groups

4. KEY DATESPlease refer to ‘controlled assessment’ information. The examination will be in June of year 11. Students will have a detailed revision programme in advance of this to help them be as successful as possible.

5. HOMEWORKRegular homework is set.Please also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-exposure homework information.

6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?This course requires students to carry out research at home. As the Applied course is designed to replicate and develop key employability skills it is very important that students stay organised, communicate any problems with staff and meet deadlines.

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4. DRAMA


COURSE% OF FINAL

GRADEDETAILS OF CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT KEY DATES

DRAMA GCSE

30%

30%

In Year 10 students complete practical and written controlled assignments which make up 30% of the final grade.The emphasis in this year is on text in performance and students explore how the strategies, medium and elements can be used to deepen their understanding of a play.

In Year 11 students complete practical and written controlled assignments which make up 30% of the coursework marks. In addition to writing about workshop outcomes they are asked to evaluate the A2 production as evidence of their understanding of how the strategies, medium and elements can be employed to engage an audience.

Deadline:February 2016

December 2015

2. EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONSThere is one practical exam at end of Year 11 (40%)

3. SETTING?There is no setting in this subjectThere is only one entry level

4. KEY DATESPlease see above table

5. HOMEWORK On average students will receive one hour of homework per week. This will be a continuation of work done in class or individual research and script writing.Please also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-exposure homework information.

6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONStudents are expected to make full use of school time and will benefit greatly by attending break- time, lunch hour and after school rehearsals.Although this is a group based subject, students will always be asked to work independently preparing material in order to accelerate the learning in the class-room.

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5. ENGINEERING – GCSE Single Award (OCR)

1. COURSEWORK / CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT

COURSE% OF FINAL

GRADEDETAILS OF COURSEWORK KEY INFO

ENGINEERINGGCSE Single Award GCSE

Controlled AssessmentGCSE Units start in Year 10After Easter 2015-Spring 2016

Examined unit

60%

40%

Years 10 Foundation Skills & Tasks: Health & Safety Graphical Communication –

isometric, orthographic projection, rendering, colouring and shading.

Computer Aided Design – 3D & 2D (Pro-desktop & 2D Design)

Metal Tool Box Project Tool Making tasks

Unit A621A: Study of an Engineered Product6 hours/30 marksB: Engineering a Product14 hours/60 marks

Unit A622Engineering Processes1 hour/60 marks40% of the single award Mandatory

Over the course of the two years students will complete a range of projects where the work completed will be used to create a portfolio of revision material for Unit A622 and a manufactured product for section B of Unit A621.

Deconstructing and analysing a product of choice. Identifying modifications and developments from products from the past.

Manufacturing a product using an Engineered Drawing.

Knowledge of Engineering Materials and properties. Industrial practices, mass production and quality control.

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There is one externally assessed unit in Year 11 for 1 Hour. Unit A622 will be assessed, standardised and moderated in the summer of Year 11.

3. SETTING?

There is no setting by ability unless the demands of the group indicate it would be beneficial. Effort and commitment are valued as much as ability

‘Setting’ and its impact on the level of entry at GCSE?

With the current Year 10 we are targeting all students to achieve the Single Award The GCSE can be achieved at A* - G grades

4. KEY DATESThese will be confirmed and communicated to students after the start of the course.

5. HOMEWORKHomework will consist of practice papers and questions towards revision for the externally assessed units. All other material towards the controlled assessment GCSE material must be completed at school under supervised conditions.Please also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-exposure homework information.

6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?

All tasks are on the school’s Frog drive with Unit pro forma and assessment resources to complete.

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6. ENGLISH LANGUAGE & ENGLISH LITERATURE

1. CONTROLLED ASSESSMENTNone - the GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature are externally assessed.

2. EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS IN YEAR 10?No. The GCSE exams for both English Language and English Literature take place at the end of Year 11.

• Exam board: Edexcel• All students will take a GCSE in both English Language and English Literature.• It is an untiered qualification.• The assessment consists of four externally examined papers (2 for English Language; 2 for

English Literature), plus a separate endorsement of Spoken Language which is internally assessed.• It is a linear qualification so all examination papers must be taken at the end of the course (in the

summer of Y11).• The qualification will be graded and certificated on a nine grade scale from 9 to 1, where 9 is the

highest grade

3. SETTING?English does set by ability and using a combination of data from Y9 teacher assessment and KS2, students are placed into either:-

Aiming for an A* group A/B/C group C/D borderline group D or below group – support provided by Classroom Support Assistants

4. KEY DATES At the end of each 6 week unit, students will complete an exam-style assessment. June of Y10 mock exams in English Language Paper 1 and Paper 2

5. HOMEWORKIt is expected that students in Year 10 should spend between 1 and 2 hours a week on English homework. The tasks range from research tasks to responding to teacher feedback to exam practice.Please also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-exposure homework information.

6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? Much material (including revision material and sample papers) is available on Frog Online sources for individual novels, plays and collections of poems are available from

publishers such as York notes and Spark notes. Revision guides are available to buy at discount prices in the Autumn term. Intervention programmes are put in place for any students falling below expectations.

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7. FOOD & NUTRITION


COURSE% OF FINAL

GRADEDETAILS OF ASSESSMENTS KEY DATES

FOOD & NUTRITION(WJEC)

20%

40%

40%

Year 10Students to complete a controlled assessment task set by the examination board in the summer term, which tests nutritional knowledge as well as practical skills.

Year 11 A similar but longer controlled assessment in year 11 is required; this consists of a practical investigation plus a supporting portfolio of evidence.

Year 11 Written examination paper

May – June 2016

Jan – March 2016

May – June 2016

In Year 10 the controlled assessment is 10 hours of lesson time. The task will have 3 distinct sections:-

Investigation and Planning Production Evaluation

Pupils will receive detailed guidance and marking criteria.The task is internally assessed and externally moderated.

2. EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS IN YEAR 10?

No written examination, only the portfolio component of the controlled assessment.

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3. SETTING?

Teaching is in mixed ability groups

4. KEY DATES

May - June 2015 Controlled Assessment 1 Jan - March 2016 Controlled Assessment 2May - June 2016 Written examination

5. HOMEWORK

Homework is set every week, it will take the form of research, question and answer, data analysis, costing, revision or examination preparation.Please also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-exposure homework information.


All parents will receive a letter outlining the importance of the practical element of the course.

The examination board is WJEC

Practical lessons are EVERY WEDNESDAY (week 1) TUESDAY (week 2)

Being involved in food preparation at home can help to build confidence and skills in this subject area

Access to ICT for research, nutritional analysis and presentation of work is recommended

An awareness of current dietary guidelines and topical food issues will help pupils to access higher marks

Any queries please contact Mrs Gray

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8. GEOGRAPHY


COURSE% OF FINAL


ASSESSMENTKEY DATES

GEOGRAPHY 25% Controlled Assessment – titles are provided by the exam board. One day of fieldwork will be undertaken to collect the data. Twenty hours of class time to write up the assignment.

Introductory work, fieldwork and low control elements to be completed by September of Y11. High Control elements undertaken at end of September and October of Y11.

Coursework has been replaced by a ‘controlled assignment’. The exam board (EDEXCEL), will provide the titles to be studied. The classroom teacher will supervise the completion of the 20 hours of ‘write-up’ time.


It is now a linear subject so all exams to take place in June of Year 11

3. SETTING?

There is no setting in Geography

4. KEY DATES

September / October, 2016 – controlled assessment (25% of final grade) June 2017 Paper 1(Skills etc) – (25% of final grade) June 2017 Paper 2 (The Physical Environment) – (25% of final grade) June, 2017 Paper 3 (The Human Environment) – (25% of final grade)

5. HOMEWORK

Typically there will be 1 hour of homework per week but this may vary according to what is being taught at the time.Please also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-exposure homework information.

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9. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Single Award Units 1 & 2


COURSE % OF FINAL GRADE

DETAILS OF ASSESSMENT

KEY DATES

Health & Social Care

Single Award

40%

60%

Unit 1 – Understanding Personal Development & Relationships

Unit 2 – Exploring Health, Social Care & Early Years Provision(Internally Assessed, externally moderated)

External, written examination – June 2017

Controlled Assessment- April 2016 –Dec 2016


Final examinations in the Summer Term of Year 11 (Units 1)

3. SETTING?

There is no setting in this subject, classes are all mixed ability.

4. KEY DATES

Unit 2 – Controlled Assessment runs throughout Year 10 and Year 11

5. HOMEWORK

One piece of homework will be set every week. The content will vary and may involve questions and answers, case studies, exam preparation, revision, research, presentations.Please also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-exposure homework information.


Edexcel is the examination board.

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10. HISTORY


COURSE% OF FINAL

GRADEDETAILS OF CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT KEY DATES

HISTORY 25% Controlled assessment topic: Russia 1905–1941.

3 tasks will be set by the exam board for each examination series. The centre will select one of these & candidates will write a 2000 word essay on the selected question. The centre will be required to receive confirmation from OCR regarding the suitability of the sources selected through the use of a sources checking form.

Main teaching for the Controlled Assessment will begin in the Spring term of Year 10.

2. EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONSBoth GCSE exams, Paper One & Paper Two, are sat in June at the end of Year 11.

3. SETTING?There is no setting in history. The current timetable, in some cases, does allow for movement between classes if it is in the best interests of the student or the dynamics of the class. Nationally, all pupils taking the same course will sit the same History exams; there are no tiered papers.

4. KEY DATESYear 10 students will sit an internal mock exam; this is for practice purposes only and will not count towards the final GCSE awardAny key dates will be provided to students at relevant points during the course All GCSE exams are sat in June at the end of Year 11

5. HOMEWORKThe aim is to set one piece of homework per week – lasting about one hour. Typically homework involves the following activities:-

Practice GCSE exam questions Summary test revision Historical skills work, e.g. source analysis Independent research to develop research skills and consolidate / develop historical knowledge Consolidation tasks, e.g. completion of newspaper front page

6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? Relevant support material is provided for exam technique and content prior to the internal exam.

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11. GCSE ICT (Optional)


COURSE% OF FINAL



GCSE ICT

60% There is one controlled assessment task for GCSE ICT. All of the work, apart from research and preparation, must be completed in the classroom.

The coursework consists of 4 parts:1. Gathering information and developing

digital products [22marks]2. Modelling and Digital Publishing [24

marks]3. Design and Digital Publishing [22 marks]4. Evaluation [12 marks]

Students have 40 hours to complete this task.

There will be a succession of deadlines throughout the course to complete each part of the coursework:

Part 1 - December Y10Part 2 - June Y10Part 3 - October Y11Part 4 - December Y11

2. EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONSThere is one external examination worth 40% of the overall grade.

3. SETTING?Classes are taught in mixed ability groups.

4. KEY DATESThe completion date for the controlled assessment is December of Year 11.

5. HOMEWORKHomework is based on the main project and will involve research tasks and preparation work that does not have to be completed under controlled assessment conditionsPlease also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-exposure homework information.

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12. MATHEMATICS


COURSE% OF FINAL

GRADEDETAILS OF CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT KEY

DATES

MATHEMATICS

(AQA, 8300)

There is no coursework or controlled assessment in GCSE Mathematics.

2015 saw the introduction of a new, tougher specification – a compulsory, national change for all students. Students now in Year 10 will be the first year group that sit this new style of GCSE.

Students will no longer receive a letter grade but they will receive a number with 9 being the highest, down to 1 for a pass. 5 will be considered a good pass. Using numbers will make it clear to future employers that they have taken the new, tougher GCSE.

See below

2. SETTING?

Year 10 students are taught in ability groups. These groups are organised on the basis of prior attainment in Y9, data such as KS2 performance, target grade and teacher assessment.

The set a student is placed in impacts on the level of entry at GCSE.

3. KEY DATES & EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS

There will be no external examinations until the summer of 2017.

At the end of year 10 there will be a mock examination to check that students are on target, find their weaknesses and give them practice of performing in exam conditions.

There will also be mock exams in the winter of 2016/2017. The result of which will determine which tier of entry students will be entered for.

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4. HOMEWORK

Fortnightly work set in the pupil’s book or on a worksheet. Alternating fortnightly with homework set on mymaths (students know their logins). If pupils do not have

access to the internet at home, please let their class teacher aware of this and alternative provision will be made.

Students will be given an extended piece of homework at least once every term which will review the topics that they have studied up to that point.

In the run up to exams, part of pupils’ homework will be to complete past exam papers. To minimise the huge costs of providing all pupils with these papers we ask that pupils either print these papers from Frog or they purchase the papers from school for a small cost.

Please also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-exposure homework information.


All students will have access to the MyMaths website for use at home. This features interactive lessons, exercises and booster packs.

Prior to examinations revision material will be released via Frog and students will have the opportunity to purchase revision guidebooks and work books

The department will provide revision opportunities for all students within lessons. There will also be some revision classes after school targeted at specific cohorts of students.

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13. MEDIA STUDIES


COURSE% OF FINAL


ASSESSMENTKEY DATES

MEDIA STUDIES

30%

30%

In year 10 you will produce; 3 assignments which make up 30%

of your final grade.

In year 11 you will produce; 1 major assignment that combines

a practical production with a formal presentation and extensive research and planning portfolio which makes up 30% of your final grade.

The practical work and presentation will be in response to a brief relating to the contemporary media world e.g. the pros and cons of social networking sites like ‘Twitter’ and ‘Face Book’.

Assignment deadlines:

UNIT 2: 1 – October 2 – February3 – July

UNIT 4:

Easter of Yr 11

The above are all controlled assessments. The majority of the work will be completed in lessons under close teacher supervision. Students who fail to complete the work in the designated class time will complete it after school in compulsory supervised sessions.

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Unit 1 – Investigating the Media (20% of final mark)

Test on one topic which you will have studied in detail – topic changes every year – exam topic for 2017 – TV Game Shows.

Students will be given a pre-release brief 4 weeks before the exam. The exam will be in June of Year 11.

Unit 3 – Exploring Media Industries (20% of final mark)

Test on two local media organisations you will have studied in detail as well as changing patterns in media consumption.

The exam will be in June of Year 11.

3. SETTING?

There is no setting in this subject There is only one entry level

4. KEY DATES

Please see above table

5. HOMEWORK

On average students will receive one hour of homework per week. This will be a continuation of work done in class or individual research and planning in relation to a piece of coursework.

Students may need to do some of their practical work in their own time if they don’t complete it in class and H01 is available every break, lunch time and after school for this

Students will be expected to do far more than an hour’s revision / preparation in the run up to the summer exams.

Please also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-exposure homework information.

6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Supporting material, assignment guidelines, sample exam papers, mark schemes and examiners’ will soon be available on FROG.

Students will be involved in visits to local media organisations as required by Unit 3 – “Exploring Media Industries”.

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14. MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

1. CONTROLLED ASSESSMENTS

COURSE% OF FINAL



FRENCH

GERMAN

SPANISH

30%Writing

30% Speaking

Students complete two pieces of controlled written assessment over the two year course. These will be conducted under exam conditions in class. There will be some preparation time in class. (E.g. a task could be to write about an ideal holiday)

Students will also complete two controlled speaking assessments as part of the course. Preparation is carried out in school and at home and there is an opportunity to prepare a planning sheet which can be taken into the exam.

Throughout Year 10/11

Throughout Year 10/11

2. EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS IN YEAR 10?None in Year 10. Students sit a Listening (20%) and Reading (20%) paper at the end of Year 11.

3. SETTING?In French, German and Spanish students are set by ability.The ‘set’ a student is placed in is determined by their year 9 exam result as well as their progress in lessons throughout the year.All students will do GCSE and the tier of entry depends on their individual progress throughout the 2 years.

4. KEY DATESControlled written and speaking assessments will take place throughout the year. Dates may vary from class to class. There will be further opportunities to complete speaking and written assessments in Y11.

5. HOMEWORKStudents should receive 2 homeworks a week, one vocabulary learning homework and one written, spoken or reading task. There are also pre-exposure homeworks set each term


There are revision materials on several websites recommended by the class teacher for all languages to assist with consolidation and homework tasks.

There are opportunities to go on visits to Germany in 2015 and France in 2016. All students are encouraged to buy revision/vocabulary books in order to consolidate work done in

class and help achieve their full potential www.memrise.com is a particularly useful website for learning vocabulary in all languages.

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http://www.memrise.com/

15. MUSIC


COURSE % OF FINAL GRADE

DETAILS OF CONTROLLED ASSESSMENTS

KEY DATES

MUSIC 60% Performance: Record 2 live performances. Recordings can be made at any point during the course.

Composition: 2 compositions or 2 arrangements, or 1 composition and 1 arrangement; realised and recorded in2 ten hour controlled tests.

June 2016November 2016March 2017

Controlled Assessment

Performance: - students have unlimited preparation time but they have a maximum of 10 hours to record their performances.

Composition: - once again, unlimited preparation time – when writing their final score and making their final recording, they are limited to 10 hours for each piece.

2. EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS IN YEAR 10?None. The final 40% of the course will be a final exam at the end of Y11 in May 2017

3. SETTING?Teaching is in a mixed ability group.

4. KEY DATES

Composition: - Composition 1 takes place in the summer term of Y10 and Composition 2 during November 2016

Performance: - Students have recording sessions in each half term. Listening: - Regular tests and revision, leading to final exam in May 2016.

5. HOMEWORK

Composing and performance involve lots of long term work, and regular practice. The listening work breaks down into shorter units. Please also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-exposure homework information.

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16. Religious Education

All pupils at Ponteland High School have one timetabled hour of RE per week and study for their GCSE qualification over three years from year 9 through to year 11. Pupils sit their final examinations at the end of Year 11 and will be awarded a full GCSE grade.

There is no coursework in GCSE RE

1. EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONSThere are no external exams for RE in Year 9 or Year 10. This is largely to enable course content to be covered in sufficient depth and detail, and for examination technique to be developedBoth of the GCSE examinations are sat at the end of Year 11 during the summer exam season.Each exam is worth 50% of the final mark:

Paper 1 – Religion and Life Issues Paper 2 – Religion and Morality.

2. SETTING?RE classes are set alongside English groups and are set according to ability.However, nationally all pupils take the same exams at the same time.

3. KEY DATESYear 10 pupils will sit an internal mock exam; this is for practice purposes only and this does not count towards the final GCSE awardAny key dates will be provided to students at relevant points during the course; All GCSE exams are currently sat in June at the end of Year 11

4. HOMEWORKThe aim is to set one piece of homework per fortnight – lasting about one hour. Typically homework involves the following activities:-

Practice GCSE exam questions Summary test revision Independent research to develop research skills and consolidate / develop subject specific

knowledge. Consolidation tasks, e.g. completion of work from RE lessons Extension activities to enhance the learning of some pupils.

5. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? Towards the end of Year 10, pupils will be given an extended research project to enhance our

coverage of one of the GCSE units. This will be launched in the summer term and completed over the summer holidays and during the autumn term of Year 11. Pupils will submit their research for assessment and evaluation in February of Y11.

Prior to the Year 10 internal examination, all relevant support material will be provided with regard to exam technique and content.

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17. SCIENCE


COURSE% OF FINAL


ASSESMENTSKEY DATES

Dual Award Science

CORESCIENCE

25% Data Analysis and Case Study each worth 12.5% of the final mark.Students will complete the research and collection of evidence during lessons and homework. For both tasks a written report will be produced under exam conditions in school.

Controlled Assessment tasks to start week beginning 16/11/15.

ADDITIONALSCIENCE

25% An investigation controlled assessment will be completed in Year 11. Students will plan, carry out, analyse and evaluate a practical which answers a science related problem set by the exam board. Students produce a written report of the experiment under exam conditions.

Students will complete the investigation controlled assessment during the spring term of Year 11 (2016).

Separate Sciences

BIOLOGY 25% An investigation will be completed in Year 11. Students will plan, carry out, analyse and evaluate a practical which answers a particular biological problem set by the exam board. Students produce a written report of the experiment under exam conditions.

Students will complete the biology investigation controlled assessment during the spring term of Year 11 (2016).

CHEMISTRY 25% Same format as Biology Spring term of Year 11 (2016).

PHYSICS 25% Same format as Biology Autumn term of Year 11 (2015).

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2. EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS DURING YEAR 10

Separate Science students have no exams in Year 10. All units will be assessed in June 2017 of Year 11.

Dual Award Science students will sit their Core Science qualification at the end of Year 10. Students will therefore gain a GCSE at the end of Year 10. They will then take their Additional Science qualification at the end of Year 11.

Science Unit 1 (B1,B2,B3) - 17 May 2016 Science Unit 2 (C1,C2,C3) - 19 May 2016 Science Unit 3 (P1,P2,P3) – 25 May 2016

3. SETTING

There is no difference in ability between the four separate science classes. For the Dual Award course students are in sets based on their prior performance in Year 9. Sets 1 & 2 are taught the higher tier material (A*-E), whereas set 10bSc3 is only taught the foundation tier material (C-G). 10aSc3 study Entry Level Science in Year 10 and then Core Science in Year 11 so only take one GCSE.

4. HOMEWORK

Homework will be set on a regular basis and can include research of a topic, answering long answer questions, revision, answering a series of short answer questions, completing online homework tasks and collecting evidence from different sources. Homework should be recorded in the student planner and always submitted by the due date. Pre-exposure homework as stated on the curriculum overviews should be completed at the start of each half-term.


OCR revision guides can be purchased for £5 from school. Students should bring a cheque or cash to the science prep room.

A full timetable of revision classes will be run for all modules before the summer exams. Students are strongly urged to attend.

During the autumn term students will have the opportunity to enrol for sixth form mentoring. Any student who would like science mentoring from a sixth form student should see Mr Warland.

During the spring term the science department will be running early morning support sessions for those students that require extra tuition. Students should see Mr Warland if they would like to attend these sessions.

All students have been given login details for the GCSE Science online homework website (www.kerboodle.com). On this site students will find a large number of practice questions for all GCSE modules as well as ebooks for Biology, Chemistry & Physics.

Paper copies of the course textbook for Science and Additional Science (dual award science) or Biology, Chemistry and Physics (separate sciences) can be purchased from the publisher (http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/) or other bookshops.

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http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/

http://www.kerboodle.com/

18. SPORTS STUDIES


COURSE% OF FINAL



Physical Education

60% The practical is marked out of 90 with

10 marks coming from the evaluation and analysis of performance, the rest from the practical performances in the 4 best practical areas.

All practical assessment to be completed by Easter Holidays 2017

Controlled assessmentAll practical lessons are deemed controlled assessments. Pupils are assessed on their ability to perform skills in a variety of games/activities both in isolation and in a competitive situation. A selection of games is taught in lessons but some can be assessed externally using DVD evidence, for example, swimming, karate, squash. Pupils are encouraged to take on a variety of roles in which they can also be assessed. All assessment is carried out by the subject teacher, standardised internally and moderated externally.


None. There is an exam at the end of Y11 worth 40% of the final GCSE grade.

3. SETTING?

There are no sets based upon ability in Physical Education. Theory lessons are mixed boys and girls. The practical activities are taught separately when necessary for safety.

4. HOMEWORK

Homework will be given once a week during the theory lessons. Pupils will be expected to carry out planning for practical lessons to aid coaching or refereeing tasks.

Please also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-release homework information.

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19. TECHNOLOGY: GRAPHICS


COURSE% OF FINAL



GRAPHICS

60%

Year 10 Focused Practical Tasks

Personal promotion (7 weeks) Planometric interior design drawing

project (10 weeks) Car badge design (8 weeks) Street Art design (8 weeks) Research and Design Tasks for Year 11’s

Unit 2 Project (8 weeks)

Year 11 Unit 2:

‘Design & Make’ project with a 40 page folder and a manufactured piece.

Year 10

Deadlines will be set by individual teachers.

Year 11

To be completed by March 2017.

The ‘design and make’ activity completed by each candidate must be chosen from the list of Controlled Assessment tasks provided by the examination board.

Controlled Assessment is the new GCSE Design and Technology form of internal assessment. The Controlled Assessment process has three stages:

• task setting • task taking• task marking.

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Each stage has a control level (High, Medium or Low), which has been defined by QCA for all awarding bodies.

For more information on GCSE Design and Technology see aqa.org.uk/dt

The main coursework element of the course is set at ‘medium control’ level. The school must be able to confirm that the work submitted by each candidate is their own unaided work. To ensure this can be done, all work, with exception of research, must be completed under informal supervision. Informal supervision means you must ensure that:

• in cases of collaborative work, the contributions of individual candidates are recorded accurately• plagiarism does not take place• work can be authenticated as the candidate’s own• sources used by candidates are clearly recorded and acknowledged.

Candidates do not need to be under the direct supervision of teaching staff at all times. It is, however, expected that the majority of work submitted for assessment will be carried out in the classroom/ workshop.


TBC

3. SETTING?

There is no setting by ability in this subject

4. KEY DATES

Major Controlled Assessment starts Jan 2016 - marks are worth 60% of the final grade. R 11 Mock Exam to be timetabled Jan 2017

5. HOMEWORK

One task a week to complete – Controlled Assessment Preparation to take up to 2 hours and one examination question.

Please also refer to the Homework Code of Practice and the termly pre-release homework information.


Resources and Homework are to be found on FROG.

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20. TEXTILES TECHNOLOGY


COURSE% OF FINAL


ASSESSMENTKEY DATES

Design & Technology:Textiles Technology(EDEXCEL)

60%

40%

Unit 1Creative design and make activities (folder & made product)

Unit 2Knowledge and understanding of Textiles

Controlled Assessment – Year 10 summer term (2016) > Year 11 March (2017)

External written examination – 1 hour 30 minutes – June 2017


Final examination in the Summer Term of Year 11

3. SETTING?

There is no setting in this subject

4. KEY DATES

Unit 1 – Controlled Assessment from Year 10 (June 2016) > Year 11 (March 2017)

5. HOMEWORK

One piece of homework will be set every week, by Mrs Gray. The content will vary and may involve questions and answers, research, sketching, exam preparation, revision, presentations.


At times, students will be required to take part in external visits to aid their learning and understanding of the topic being covered.

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