Year 10 Subject Information

Transcription

1 Year 10 Subject Information To Parents/Carers, The information below has been provided by individual faculties to give you an insight regarding your son/daughter s GCSE options. The examination process for this cohort of students has changed slightly within the majority of subject areas. I felt it would be beneficial to share this document enabling you to gain a further understanding of the options that your son/daughter has chosen. Sarah Hebb Performance Director: Year 10 Key Dates Parental Communication: GCSE Parents Information evening part 1 (2 nd Oct) Report 1 Issued (20 th Nov) Learning Review Day (26/27 th Nov) Report 2 Issued (19 th March) Parent Teacher Consultation (23 rd March) GCSE Parents Information evening part 2 (31 st March) * by invitation Report 3 Issued (16 th July) Key Dates Other Important Dates: Exams week (21 st to 24 th April) Languages Oral exams (28 th April) Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award Practice (8 th /9 th May) Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award Qualifying (12 th /13 th June) Work Experience (15 th /19 th June) Geography Field Trip (8 th to 10 th July) Prize Giving (13 th July) Page 1

2 Art/ Textiles/ Photography Students will work on a portfolio of coursework until the end of the Autumn term in Year 11. The best work from this will be submitted for assessment. The deadline is the first day of the Spring term in Year 11. This is worth 60% of the GCSE grade. Exam papers will be issued in January 2015 in Year 11 and students choose from a number of given starting points. They have 10 weeks to produce preparatory work based on this chosen theme. They will produce visual recording, experimentation, development work and ideas for their exam which takes place at the beginning of April A final piece of work is produced under exam conditions over two school days (10 hours). This final piece is marked together with the preparatory work and is worth 40% of the GCSE grade. Business & Economics / BTEC Business For the GCSE in Business and Economics, the Controlled Assessment will take place during the second half of the Summer term in Year 10. This is completed over a three week period. Students choose a question set by the exam board and conduct their own primary and secondary research relating to this. There will be regular unit tests to track progress of all students, but there is no major exam in Year 10. Unit 1: Introduction to Small Business 45min Exam; 25% Unit 2: Investigating Small Business Controlled Assessment; 25% Unit 5: Introduction to Economic Understanding 90min Exam; 50% We also offer a BTEC in Business, which encourages students to develop their enterprise skills and develop an understanding of the business world. There is one externally assessed exam, while the rest of the units are assessed through coursework. Much of the content is the same as the GCSE, but there is a greater emphasis on independent research and applying your learning to particular scenarios. Unit 1: Investigating the Business Environment Unit 3: Promoting a Brand Unit 2: Finance Exam Unit 4: Principles of Customer Service For both options, I would encourage students to watch the news, read business articles in newspapers and watch programmes (e.g. The Apprentice) to look at enterprise skills and creativity. Page 2

3 Computer Science Computer Science is an exciting and challenging development from ICT, where students are expected to demonstrate a detailed understanding of computer hardware and software. While there is an emphasis on the practical skills of programming, students will have a written theory exam of 1.5 hours in May/June 2016 in Year 11 worth 40% of the final marks. The remaining 60% is divided into two controlled assessments of 20 hours each, conducted during lesson time. Both emphasise research and written English skills as well as computer programming expertise. A451: Computer systems and programming. 40% of final grade, 1.5hr exam in May/June 2016 A452: Practical Investigation. 30% of final grade, January 2015 March hr controlled assessment investigative task A453: Programming project. 30% of final grade, September 2015 December hr controlled assessment task to design, programme and test a solution to a given scenario. There is an extra-curricular Games Design club on Wednesdays and a Computer Programming club on Thursdays after school. Students are encouraged to develop their programming skills at home and will need access to a computer and the Internet. Dance In Year 10 there are no exams within Dance, however the students will prepare and be assessed in the following for examination in Year 11. Unit 1 Critical Appreciation of Dance Students will develop their critical, evaluative and reflective skills in response to their own work and the work of other professionals. Students will answer a short and concise written paper in Year 11. (20%) Unit 2 Set Dance (assessed in Year 10) All students will learn the Set Dance and perform the piece as a solo. There are a total of 30 marks and it is worth 20% of the GCSE. Students will have the opportunity to repeat their performances in Year 11 to get a higher mark. Unit 4a Choreography Students have to prepare a solo performance based around motifs from the professional work Dance Tek Warriors. Students will repeat their performances in Year 11 to get a higher mark. (15%) All students are advised to attend the weekly extra-curricular dance club on Thursdays. All home learning information and deadlines are updated on Show my Homework and GoogleDrive Page 3

4 Drama Students will complete the majority of their final assessments throughout Year 11. However, in Year 10 we focus on building a strong foundation of the skills that they will need as they move through the course. Students begin with first Missing Dan Nolan (Unit 2), a powerful and thought-provoking script. Students have started this assessed unit, which will be complete by 15th November. Students are assessed practically in lessons and will write notes discussing their practical explorations; fine tuning their writing skills in preparation for their assessed coursework later in the specification. As previously mentioned, the deadline for their written work is the 15th November. Students will then create a Theatre in Education piece, in which they explore different theatre practitioners and performance styles. This cumulates in a tour of their original work to local primary schools in the area. Students will be given a mock grade for this process. This helps with target setting as they move towards the Devised unit in Year 11. The proposed timing for this tour is the week beginning 2nd February After February half-term, students will study Blood Brothers and will complete a 1000 word documentary response which is typed under controlled conditions. They will repeat this unit in Year 11 and the stronger work will be submitted towards their final grade. Finally, in the summer term, students embark on a mock unit 3 exam rehearsing and performing a play text of their choice in groups. This is to prepare them for their Unit 3 practical exam which will take place in Year 11 and is worth 40% of their final grade. At this point, students will also complete their Live Theatre Evaluation; a 2000 word theatre review. This coursework will be in response to a piece of theatre that they have seen and will be submitted towards their final GCSE grade. All students have been given a booklet outlining course information and assessment information. There is also guidance in there for their written work which will be very helpful for both students and parents. Page 4

5 English GCSEs (Language and Literature): These courses are assessed through controlled assessment rather than coursework and follow the AQA syllabus. The courses now lead towards terminal exams at the end of Year 11 so there will be no public examinations in Year 10. All classes begin as double entry - English Language and English Literature. Decisions are made in Year 11 as to which students should drop Literature to concentrate on single entry English. Speaking and Listening has now been removed from the GCSE qualification. Nevertheless, it is still an important activity and time is dedicated to it. A separate result, a number between 1 and 5, will be issued with the GCSE English grades in August Revision will be vital from the outset for all, as the content covered for the end of Year 11 exams starts early on. GCSE English Examinations and Controlled Assessments The following will be taught in English lessons in the next two years, to prepare for Controlled Assessment tasks and examinations. Topic Proposed date of assessment Creative Writing 1 End of September 2014 Spoken Language Study November 2014 Comparison of Macbeth and heritage poetry January 2015 Creative Writing 2 Beginning of April 2015 Of Mice and Men Extended Reading Essay End of April 2015 Speaking and Listening Throughout Year 10 Literature Exam: Of Mice and Men and a modern play (Inspector Calls or Crucible) Literature Exam: Comparison of cluster poetry and unseen poetry response Language Exam: Understanding and Producing Non-Fiction Texts May 2016 May 2016 June 2016 Page 5

6 Food and Nutrition Unit 1-40% of total mark. 1½ hour written paper May 2016 Unit 2 - Controlled assessment. 60% of total mark. Research task 15%: April - May 2015 Individual investigation 45%: June December 2015 Geography We follow the AQA A specification. In Year 10 we study four physical and human topics: the coastal zone, population change, the living world and globalisation. These are in preparation for the Unit 1 and 2 exams. There is a residential field trip to Dorset during the Summer term. In Year 11 we work on the controlled assessment, this is worth 25% of the GCSE. We then study the two remaining topics: Restless earth and tourism and sit the Unit 1 and 2 exams, which are worth 37.5% each. Course outlines are in student books. There will be regular exam practice and tests at the end of each unit. History In Year 10 there are no more controlled assessments or exams. Students are currently working through Paper 1 content which is the USA and International relations. All course outlines are now in student books. This paper is worth 45% and they have an exam booklet. There will be regular exam questions set every three weeks. Page 6

7 Mathematics The GCSE Mathematics course is split up into two tiers Higher and Foundation. The EDEXCEL syllabus is followed. From 2010 there is a new specification in Mathematics. The course promotes functional mathematics and problem solving in addition to solving more straight forward questions. There will be two parallel examination papers each counting for 50% of the final mark. Each paper has 100 marks. There will be no GCSE Mathematics coursework or controlled assessment. Mathematics Examinations: Tier Paper Equipment Timings Functional Elements Foundation Paper 1 Non-Calculator 1 hour 45 minutes 30-40% (G-C) Foundation Paper 2 With Calculator 1 hour 45 minutes 30-40% (G- C) Higher Tier Paper 1 Non-Calculator 1 hour 45 minutes 20-30% (D - A*) Higher Tier Paper 2 With Calculator 1 hour 45 minutes 20-30% (D - A*) Page 7

8 Media Your guide to Year 10 Media GCSE Assessment Criteria Students are assessed using the criteria supplied with the OCR Media Studies GCSE course. Controlled assessment criteria is specified in the specification but the exam criteria changes every 3 years. If you scan this QR code with a QR reader then it will take you to a website which has past papers, mark schemes, the exam board specification and exemplar work. Year 10 Topic Title What students will be learning How you can help your child Half Term Introduction to 1a key concepts Half Term 1b Half Term 2a Half Term 2b Controlled Assessment 1 Representation of Britishness Controlled Assessment Representation of Britishness Media Theories Controlled Assessment Students will get an introduction to the main key concepts that underpin the subject. These are Media language, representation, institution, audience, genre and ideology. Students will also learn some key narrative theories as well as audience theories. Students will learn how to analyse a range of media texts with detailed connotations. Assessment is an analytical essay which will be prepared in class and written at home. Students will be learning about what they think it means to be British, how British people are stereotyped and what values underpin British society. This unit will form 30% of the GCSE. They will study 2 British Romantic Comedies and write an analytical essay looking at how Britishness is represented in the two films. This will be prepared for and completed in controlled and timed conditions in class. Students will be creating 2 film posters for their own British Romantic comedy, one for a female audience and one for a male audience. They will have to produce a pre- production folder showing they have looked at similar film posters and drafted their designs. Students will use what they have learnt about Britishness to influence their designs. They will be using Adobe Photoshop to do this. Students will then produce an evaluation of their work. Students will re visit media theories as well as learning new ones. Students will look at narrative theories of Todorov and Propp and how to apply them to media texts. Students will begin their next piece of controlled assessment worth another 30% of the GCSE. Students will pick to either create their own magazine or an opening to a crime drama. Students will produce a detailed pre- production folder including extensive research into similar media products and target audience feedback. Asking your students to explain how a newspaper or magazine is representing a celebrity would be helpful. Also asking students to explain what uses and gratifications an audience gain from any TV programme or film that is on is a great way of embedding knowledge. Getting students to watch different media texts than they would usually do is also beneficial. If you have newspapers around the house encourage your child to read any articles that are relevant to Britain. The more knowledge they have about their country the better. If you are watching a programme as a family that is set in Britain ask your child how they think this represent Britain? Is it positive or negative? Ask your child about their ideas, get them to explain to you what they think a female and a male audience may like about their idea. The better understanding your child has of their idea the better they will be able to communicate that in their work. Help your child by watching different Crime dramas so they can gain a better understanding of the genre. For example, looking at the differences between US crimes dramas like CSI and British ones like Midsummer Murders. If you have a budding journalist who makes to create a magazine then getting them to read a range of magazines to explore different ideas is useful. Page 8

9 Half Term 3a Half Term 3b Controlled Assessment Magazine or Crime Drama Controlled Assessment- Magazine or Crime Drama Students will plan their media product through detailed storyboarding and mock ups. Students will have tutorials on how to use Adobe Premier and refresher lessons on Adobe Photoshop. Students will need to film footage and take photos for their project over half term. Students will spend this half term creating their products. All editing must be done in class under controlled conditions. Students will receive regular group and one to one production meetings. The deadline for the productions is the end of this half term. Ask your child about their project; get them to explain what stage they are at. Ask to see storyboards or mock- ups. You never know you may be asked to star in their productions! Ask your child to show you their raw footage and then to see their final product. If they have made a TV opening have a premier at home! MFL: French, German and Spanish The four skills have different weightings. The important dates are provided below. Listening 20% Exam at end of Year 11 - Higher or Foundation Reading 20% Exam at end of Year 11 - Higher or Foundation Writing 30% 2 pieces to be submitted by April of Year 11 Speaking 30% 2 recordings to be submitted by April of Year 11 Skill Date Writing June Year 10 October Year 11 February Year 11 Speaking April Year 10 December Year 11 March Year 11 Music GCSE Music is comprised of four units. Units 1 and 2 are completed in Year 11 and Units 3 and 4 in Year 10. Unit 1 20% This is the listening exam and is sat at the end of Year 11. Unit 2 20% Unit 2 is a composing and appraising unit which we begin in Year 11 Unit 3 40% All students have to prepare a solo and group performance for their performance exams in the Summer term of Year 10. Some students will repeat their performances in Year 11 to get a higher mark. Unit 4 20% In Year 10 students complete their composition. This work starts in the Spring term All students are required to attend a weekly instrumental or vocal lesson and an extracurricular music activity. All home learning information and deadlines are updated on Show My Homework. Page 9

10 Physical Education GCSE PE is split into two sections. The course is 60% practical and 40% theoretical. The students will be assessed in Year 11 by an external examiner on their four sports. As part of this examination they do not just have to perform; they could also referee or coach as part of their assessment across their sports. The exam will take place in Year 11 in the Summer term and is 1 hour 30 minutes. BTEC is 75% coursework based and 25% is an online assessment. The students need to complete four different units in order to achieve their pass, merit or distinction grade. Students can use Realsmart to access help sheets and grading grades to aid them with the coursework. Product Design Unit Controlled Assessment Unit A551 portfolio Time Frame Mar 15 Dec 15 Completion In Lesson June 2016 In Lesson April 15 Jan 16 Work completed in lessons Jan 15 to July 15 Exam in June 2016 Students complete portfolio (1 lesson per week = 20hrs in total) Innovation Challenge Unit A552 6hr practical exam taken in Year 11 Students complete booklet and model (1 lesson per week) Practice carried out in Year 11 Controlled Assessment Unit A553 Practical Students complete practical project (1 lesson per week) Practice run carried out in Sept 2014 to Jan 2015 Design Influences Unit A554 theory exam Students taught content in lessons throughout Year 10 and 11. Page 10 Revision in lessons from March 2016

11 Religious Studies There is no coursework and short course students will sit an exam in May All full course students will sit their two exams at the end of Year 11, so the information below is for everyone but the full course group. There is a 1hr mock exam in December on three sections of the exam; Believing in God; Community Cohesion and; Matters of Life and Death. There are five after school revision sessions which will be run in the lead up to their exams on each of the four topics with an extra one on exam technique. Past papers with mark schemes and examiners reports are available in C4 on display from March. Students will also have ELD4 dedicated to RS revision. All students have a copy of the textbooks - parents can help by testing on key words and starting discussions about any of the topics that we cover or that are relevant in the news, e.g. Euthanasia Spelling, punctuation and grammar are awarded marks on the exam, so any practice of this done at home would be advantageous. Page 11

12 Science Students will take one of the following courses: Double Science Triple Science or Entry Level Science Double Science This course comprises elements of Biology, Chemistry and Physics and a piece of controlled assessment called an ISA. Double Scientists will sit all exams (Biology 1, Chemistry 1, Physics 1, Biology 2, Chemistry 2, Physics 2) at the end of year 11. It will result in 2 GCSEs; one in Core science and 1 in Additional Science. The ISA will be completed in lesson time. Triple Science This course results in three separate Science GCSEs, one each for Biology, Chemistry and Physics The main assessment method is through examinations and this is supplemented by practical ISA work in each of the Sciences. This course is more intensive than Double Science. The triple science students will sit all nine of their examinations at the end of the course in June Entry Level Science Students in 10A4 and 10B4 are completing the Entry Level course where students are studying towards a bronze, silver or gold certificate. Certificates are awarded throughout the year. For each certificate, students complete a series of assessments ranging from practical Can do tasks, short end of topic exams and finally planning, conducting and evaluating a number of experiments. Each assessment is conducted under examination conditions. Once students have successfully completed the course, they will move on to study for the Core Science GCSE in year 11. This involves sitting three 1hour exams at the end of year 11 as well as completing a minimum of 2 ISAs during lesson time (the best mark will be submitted). Page 12