Year 9 Information EveningSeptember 2014

Changes to the GCSE exams

Changes to the KS3 curriculum

Changes to KS3 assessment

What’s new?

GCSE changes to Maths

• Final assessment will consist of 4.5 hours of exams, as opposed to the current 3.5 hours.

• A huge amount of new content at both Foundation and Higher Tiers, especially the Foundation Tier.

• Significantly harder content assuming fluent mental arithmetic skills.

• More formulae need to be memorised, with very few provided in the exam.

What’s new?

GCSE changes to Maths

In Y9 Maths, we are following a special transitional course developed by Edexcel to help better prepare pupils for the new GCSE course.

What’s new?

GCSE changes to English language:

• 100% exam - No coursework or Controlled Assessment. • 3 x 1.5 hr exams.• Much greater emphasis on spelling, punctuation & grammar.• Reading: 19th, 20th and 21st century must be represented.• Writing: descriptive or narrative and to present a viewpoint• Speaking and Listening: uncertainty at present but there will

be some testing and reporting.

What’s new?

GCSE changes to English literature:

• 100% exam - No coursework or Controlled Assessment. • 4 hours of exams.• Much greater emphasis on spelling, punctuation & grammar.• Will cover Shakespeare, a nineteenth century novel, a

modern text (drama or prose), and poetry. All will be complete texts.

• More emphasis on unseen texts.

What’s new?

In order to prepare pupils for demands the new GCSE English, and to improve pupils’ confidence, we have introduced a new literacy course in Y9.

Focus on spelling, sentence structure, broader vocabulary, correct use of words, punctuation, comprehension, and reading for enjoyment.

Selection for this course based on:• Observations made by modern language teachers.• Latin/Classics setting.• Membership of English stretch group.

What’s new?

Changes to exams

Maths Tier overlap

Top 3%

What’s new?

Changes to KS3 curriculum

New National Curriculum as of now

What’s new?

Changes to KS3 assessment

As of now, schools are no longer expected to use National Curriculum Levels to assess pupil progress.

However, in common with the majority of schools nationally, Loreto will continue to do so for the time-being.