Welcome to Ralph Thoresby School GCSE Core Subjects

Welcome to Ralph Thoresby School GCSE Core Subjects Launch For Year 10 students

GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE The context - 2 GCSE English qualifications: - English Language - English literature - Year-on-year increases in expectations, particularly to achieve a grade C

2014 Band Approximate grade 0 U 1 G 2 F 3 E 4 D C 5 B A A* 2011 Band Approximate grade 0 U 1 G 2 F E 3 D 4 C B 5 A A*

GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE – EDEXCEL Overview of the Qualification: EXAM – 60% CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT (CA) – 40% Unit 1 - English Today 20% (CA / June 2014 entry) 1 A – Reading - compare 2 non-fiction texts (social networking) - CA/ 10% 1 B Writing for Purpose & Audience (social networking) - CA/ 10% Unit 3 - The Spoken Language 20 % (CA / June 2014 entry) 3 B – Spoken Language Study - CA/ 10% 3 C – Writing for the Spoken Voice - CA/ 10% Unit 2 - The Writer’s Voice 60 %( Exam / Jun 2014 entry) 2 A – Novel - Exam/ 40% 2 B – Writing - Exam/ 20%

GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE – EDEXCEL Overview of the Qualification: EXAM – 70% CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT (CA) – 25% Unit 3 – Drama 25% 3 A – Comparison of play & film version of The Merchant of Venice – 19% 3 B – Study of a contemporary drama text – 6% Unit 1 - Prose 50% 1 A Study of Animal Farm by George Orwell - Exam/ 25% 1 B Study of Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck - Exam/ 25% Unit 2 – Poetry 25% 2 B – Response to unseen poetry (written by one of 15 named poets) – 10% 2 C – Comparison of 2 poems from the anthology – 15%

Controlled Assessments • • • Replaced coursework 4 years ago Completed in school / without support / exam conditions Approximately 2 hours each In school • • 3 -4 weeks preparation Study & prepare notes At home • • Prepare Practice Discuss Work on notes

2014 -15 Sum 2 (Year 9) Y 10 Unseen poetry (English literature exam) Aut 1 (8) Sum 1 (5) Drama (English literature CA) English language U 2 writing practice Novel (English literature exam) English language U 2 writing practice U 1 reading CA English language U 2 writing practice exam writing practice U 1 writing Drama (English literature CA) Sum 2 (7) U 3 spoken language study CA Aut 2 (7) Spr 1 (6) Spr 2 (6)

Revision strategies for reading: • Read the novels. We strongly recommend that you buy the novels Of Mice & Men and Animal Farm You can order these from us today • Use websites http: //www. bbc. co. uk/schools/gcsebitesize http: //www. sparknotes. com • Practise annotating extracts • Make notes on key characters & themes • Practise writing about key characters and themes • Revision guides We strongly recommend that you buy a revision guide. In school - £ 2

Revision strategies for writing (will also help for CA preparation) • Read different types of texts & make notes on HOW they are written (for example newspaper & magazine articles, leaflets, formal letters and websites) • Revise the features of different types of texts (e. g. writing persuade, argue, advise, inform, explain, comment and review) • Practise writing for different purposes and audiences • Practise difficult spellings • Revise punctuation rules and practise applying them • Use the websites below www. bbc. co. uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english/writing/ www. bbc. co. uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english/creativewriting/ (only the section on commissioned writing) www. spelling. hemscott. net www. gcse. com/english/punctuation. htm • Revision guides We strongly recommend that you buy a revision guide. In school - £ 2. 50

Thank you for your support. If you have any further enquiries please contact Ruth Chuck (Leader of Learning in English at Ralph Thoresby) on chuckr 02@leedslearning. net or Lucy Henderson (Key Stage 4 co-ordinator) on henderl 04@leedslearning. net or call 0113 397 9911

GCSE Mathematics No coursework or controlled assessment. Entirely assessed by examinations Paper 1 – Non Calculator (100 marks) Paper 2 – Calculator (100 marks) Increased difficulty and more functionality

Two tiers: Higher – Grades A* - D Foundation – Grades C - G

Functionality and problem solving: Students need to choose and use the most appropriate strategies to solve problems, e. g.

Revising for Maths: -Little and often (throughout Years 10 and 11) - Practise questions -Attend after school support (Mondays) -Ask teachers for support or for additional work on specific topics -Repeat class work and homework activities that you have found difficult -- Ensure notes are accurate -- Use revision guides, mymaths, GCSE bitesize, justmaths

Thank you for your support. If you have any further enquiries please contact Avril Mc. Leer(Leader of Learning in Maths at Ralph Thoresby) on amcleer@ralphthoresby. com or Stewart Mc. Gill(Key Stage 4 co-ordinator) on smcgill@ralphthoresby. com or call 0113 397 9911

GCSE Sciences The context

The combinations

GCSE SCIENCEs – OCR 21 st CENTURY SCIENCE Overview of the Qualifications: EXAM – 75% CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT (CA) – 25%

GCSE CORE SCIENCE – OCR 21 st CENTURY SCIENCE Overview of the Qualification: EXAM – 75% CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT (CA) – 25% Biology – 25% You and Your Genes, Keeping Healthy, Life on Earth Chemistry - 25% Air Quality, Material Choices, Chemicals in Our Lives Physics – 25% The Earth in the Universe, Radiation and Life, Sustainable Energy Controlled Assessment – 25% Practical data analysis and Case Study of a controversial issue

GCSE ADDITIONAL SCIENCE – OCR 21 st CENTURY SCIENCE Overview of the Qualification: EXAM – 75% CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT (CA) – 25% Biology – 25% The Processes of Life, Growth and Development, Brain and Mind Chemistry - 25% Chemical Patterns, Chemicals of the Natural Environment, Chemical Synthesis Physics – 25% Explaining Motion, Electric Circuits, Radioactive Materials Controlled Assessment – 25% Practical Investigation

GCSE TRIPLE SCIENCE – OCR 21 st CENTURY SCIENCE Overview of the Qualification: Same model as previous qualifications. EXAM – 75% CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT (CA) – 25% Students sit all the Core and Additional examinations for each of the Sciences PLUS and extra unit – Further Biology, Further Chemistry, Further Physics. Controlled assessment – no PDA or CS but a Practical investigation

Controlled Assessments • • • Replaced coursework 3 years ago Completed in school / initially with support (collecting data, carrying out investigations etc. ) then written up in class without support / exam conditions Approximately 8 - 12 hours each although they are not time limited.

Thank you for your support. If you have any further enquiries please contact Jane Morrell (Leader of Learning in Science at Ralph Thoresby) on jmorrell@ralphthoresby. com or Richard Smith (Key Stage 4 co-ordinator) on rsmith@ralphthoresby. com or call 0113 397 9911