THINKING ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S FUTURE STARTS NOW!
In September 2018 students will be in Year 9
Students will start GCSE courses and Technical Awards
These are three year courses
All will have exams in Year 11 – Summer 2021!
In September 2021 –Sixth Form; College; Apprenticeship
September 2023 – University; Work
WHY START KS4 IN YEAR 9?
Allows three years of study
Best chance of exam success
Complete teaching by Christmas 2020 – then revision until May 2021
Allows system supplies plenty of time for Maths, English and Science (‘Core’ subjects)
It allows 4 options
It allows the best selections of both worlds – academic and technical courses
TIMELINE
Year 8 KS4 assembly 6th March
Subject reports released 22nd March
KS4 Booklets handed out on Parents’ evening – 22nd March
Year 8 careers assembly 27th March
KS4 curriculum evening (Parents meet with subject teachers) 27th March
Deadline for return of Preference Forms – 25th April
There is plenty of time to think, ask and decide
CHANGES IN EDUCATION
• New specification GCSEs
have been introduced. They
are more difficult!
• GCSEs are becoming more
exam focused
• New KS4 grading system 1-9
Legacy GCSENew
GCSETechnical Award
A*+
A*
9
8Distinction*
A 7 Distinction
B
C
6
5
4
Merit
Pass
D 3 Level 1 Pass
E 2
F
G
1
U 0
AT KS4 EVERYONE WILL STUDY…
English Language and Literature
Maths
Trilogy (study three sciences, gain two qualifications) unless you are guided to study Separate Sciences on your preference form (study three sciences and gain three separate qualifications – Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
PE
Cultural Literacy
History or Geography
Most students will take 10 GCSEs
A STUDENT CAN CHOOSE TO STUDY…
History or Geography
Another 3 choices including:
GCSE Mandarin
Separate Sciences
Design Technology
Art
Computer Science
Engineering
Music
Health and Social Care
Food preparation
GCSE PE
VCert Health and Fitness
ROUTES To support your child to make the best choices we have devised three routes to maximise every students chances of success.
options
EBACC Open TEaMs
The EBACC guided route selects an academic pathway to success.
English, Maths, Science, plus PE and Cultural Literacy. 3 Separate
Sciences, a Humanities subject , a Modern
Foreign Language and one other subject.
The Open guided route selects an academic and
technical pathway to success.
English, Maths, PE, Cultural Literacy and
Trilogy Science, aHumanities subject and
then a selection of 3 other academic and technical subjects.
The TEaMs guided route selects a supported pathway to success.
English, Maths, PE, Cultural Literacy and
Trilogy Science, TEaMSand then 3 other
academic and technical subjects
Preferences form
Block 1 Pref
1 and 2Block 2 Pref
1-4Block 3 Pref
1-4Block 4 Pref
1-4
History MandarinSeparate
Sciences
Product
Design
GeographyHealth and
Social CareMandarin Music
Engineering
Food
Preparation
and Nutrition
Health and
Fitness
Art GCSE PEComputer
Science
TEaMS (if
allocated
above)
Please complete this form with your parents/ carers and return it to Reception no later than
Wednesday 25th April 2018.
A guided route has been designed for you to best fit your academic profile and to ensure the
highest probability for successful outcomes in 2021 and beyond.
When considering which subjects you want to study, remember to choose a broad range of
subjects that interest you, and remember any future career you may have in mind can be accessed
by any subject route at KS4. We will work to allocate the most appropriate subjects for you based
your academic profile and your preferences.
DISCUSS THE REASONS FOR CHOICES
Good reasons to choose
Enjoy the subject
Good at the subject
Relevant to your future
Bad reasons to choose
Your friends are doing it
Just because it is new
Favourite teacher
NEXT STEPS – TAKE YOUR TIME
There is a lot to take in:
Read the KS4 Curriculum Booklet
carefully
Discuss with your parents/carers
Discuss with your tutor
Look at your grades and discuss
with your teachers
English Literature and Language
These are all 100% linear exams –no coursework or controlled assessments.
The exams will be takenat the end of Year 11.
These are all 100% linear exams – no coursework or
controlled assessments.
The exams will be taken
at the end of Year 11.
AQA English Language GCSE
All texts in the examinations will be unseen
Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing - written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes. 80 marks 50% of GCSE
Section A: Reading - one literature fiction text (40 marks)
Section B: Writing - descriptive or narrative writing (40 marks)
Paper 2: Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives - written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes. 80 marks 50% of GCSE
Section A: Reading - one non-fiction text and one literary non- fiction text (40 marks)
Section B: Writing - writing to present a viewpoint (40 marks)
Non-examination Assessment: Spoken Language separate endorsement (0% weighting of GCSE)
AQA English Literature GCSE
All assessments are closed book: any stimulus materials will be provided as part of the assessment.
Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th century novel
How it's assessed - written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes - 64 marks 40% of GCSE
Section A: Shakespeare: students will answer one question on their play of choice. They will be required to
write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole.
Section B: The 19th century novel: students will answer one question on their novel of choice.
They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write
about the novel as a whole.
AQA English Literature GCSEAll assessments are closed book: any stimulus materials will be provided as part of the assessment.
Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry
How it's assessed - written exam: 2 hour 15 minutes - 96 marks 60% of GCSE
Section A: Modern texts. Students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on their studied
modern prose or drama text.
Section B: Poetry. Students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper
and one other poem from their chosen anthology cluster.
Section C: Unseen poetry. Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question
comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.
Maths
Maths is 100% exam based. There are 3 papers, and two tiers of entry.
Students are required to learn all the key formulae
AQA Separate sciencesBiology, Chemistry and
Physics
Two choices
Equivalent to 2 GCSEsSix One hour 15 minute exams.
Equivalent to 3 GCSEsTwo 1 hour 45 minute exams for each subject
AQA combined scienceTrilogy
The content of the two courses is initially similar so there is some possibility of movement between them in year 9.
Six lessons a week Four lessons a week
No coursework but each exam has 15% of the marks based on practical experiments
that students have completed.
By
recommendation
only
Science
TIMELINE –A REMINDER
•Year 8 KS4 assembly 6th March
•Subject reports released 22nd March
•KS4 Booklets and Preference Forms handed out on Parents evening – 22nd March
•Year 8 careers assembly 27th March
•KS4 curriculum evening (Parents meet with subject teachers) 27th March
•Deadline for return of Preference Forms – 25th April
•There is plenty of time to think, ask and decide