Working Together for Success

The Key Stage 4 Manager

My aim is to help solve any issues that may arise concerning the curriculum.

• Concerns in lessons• Falling behind with work• Underachievement• Advice on revision strategies• Provide support to individuals

Positive Partnerships

“Research indicates that family involvement in schools increases student achievement”

(Henderson & Berla, 1994; Ballen & Moles, 1994; Epstein, 1995).

It is important to work in partnership to 'get it right for every child'.

Changes to GCSEs

• All terminal assessment

• Revision becomes very important

• Good notes to look back on will be key

• Mock exam revision much more important

• Controlled assessment grades crucial

• Learning/ revising homeworks normal

• More in class tests

What is Controlled Assessment?

Controlled assessment is the internal assessment component of the GCSE courses that is completed in school.

It is completed in the classroom so it is supervised, so students are not able to work on it at home.

It replaces coursework.

What are the advantages?

• It allows students to demonstrate their skills in class. A percentage of a GCSE is awarded for controlled assessment.

• Controlled assessment is carried out IN THE CLASSROOM, so time outside school can be spent preparing for vital examinations and class tests.

Is it for all subjects?

No…Maths and Religious Studies GCSEs are courses that are based on examinations only.

They include no controlled assessment.

Is it for all subjects?No… BTECs are different:

• BTEC courses have no examinations, assessment is carried out using a range of assignments, case studies and practical activities.

• Students complete a portfolio of evidence that shows the work they have completed.

• Students may work on this outside the classroom.

My Expectations

• Continue to foster positive relationships.

• Show resilience – don’t give up!

• Ask for help.

• Be punctual and improve attendance.

• Be prepared – equipment / homework

• Meet deadlines – seek help and don’t fall behind.

Students should take responsibility…

Some subjects have as much as 60% of their course as controlled assessment, others have only 25%, so attendance is important.

Catching up can prove difficult as it must be done in school, extended after school sessions are necessary to facilitate this.

(Prep@thepatch)

Attendance & Punctuality

Punctuality is also important as it an mean missing •registration or •assembly, two of the most important parts of the week in making sure you are prepared for learning/ getting the key messages

Journey So far…

• Progress was judged as good against Key Stage 3 targets.

• Yr 9 GCSE courses - Philosophy and Ethics 17% A*-A and 51% A* to C grade; But also 24% F-U. Revision skills need to improve for some.

• In general the attendance could have been much better in Yr9 (90.9%). This is an average of around one day a fortnight off for each student. At KS4, this means missed controlled assessment; missed topics for exams.

Attendance & Punctuality

• The government says that 95% attendance should be a target for all students.

• Two days off a month is a 10% learning loss.

• One day off per week is a 20% learning loss.

Working with the School

• Check your child is aware of deadlines and is meeting them. Make sure that they are using their planner regularly.

• Check your child knows when exams, tests or controlled assessments are and that they revise

• Check they are fully equipped for school • Communicate with school if you need to:

ring teachers or use the planner• Make sure your child is attending fully

Top tips for supporting revising

HydratioHydrationn

OxygenatioOxygenationn

SleepSleep

Brain gymBrain gym

NutritionNutrition

MusicMusic

Brain Boosters

Helping with revision

Learning is Emotional

•Students should make learning colourful, exciting,

musical

•Give students a reason for learning.

•Set students goals for learning & reward their efforts

•Revising with music, breaks, food is good!

Some statistics to consider

• We Remember:• 5% of what we read once• 20% of what we read a few times• 30% of what we hear• 40% of what we see• 50% of what we say• 60% of what we do• 90% of what we see, hear, say and do

Record Record it!it!

Tape the key points, or Tape the key points, or make a podcast!make a podcast!

Use different people’s Use different people’s voicesvoices

Play it last thing at Play it last thing at night - your night - your subconscious will subconscious will process it whilst you are process it whilst you are asleepasleep

Most MP3s have a Most MP3s have a microphonemicrophone

Flash Flash CardsCardsPosterPosterssRevision wallsRevision walls

Lists and Lists and NotesNotesFact Fact SheetsSheets

A variety of approaches to writing

and remembering

•One of the most effective ways of learning is to teach someone else – let students explain things to you

•Test your child – you could build in a testing period each day in the run up to exams

•Use on-line tests

Study BuddyStudy Buddy

100

50

0

% recall

Time (days)

1 5 15

Long Term Long Term MemoryMemory

To Make Learning stick

• Learn a topic

• Repeat in 24 hours

• Repeat for ten minutes at the end of a week

• Repeat again for 10 minutes a week later

• etc

• English and Maths Key