Third Form Guide to GCSEs

2018

Sutton Valence Senior School

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Contents3 Introduction 4 Options5 The Core Curriculum 5 English 6 Mathematics 7 Biology 8 Chemistry 9 Physics10 Religious Studies 10 Games and PE11 Additional Options 11 Art and Design 11 Business Studies 12 Combined Cadet Force (CCF)12 CertificateofPersonalEffectiveness(CoPE)13 Design and Technology 14 Drama14 Food and Cookery 15 Geography 15 History 16 ICT17 Modern Languages: French and Spanish 18 Music 18 Physical Education 19 Activities19 Special Education Needs20 How can parents help?21 Monitoring

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IntroductionOurThirdFormpupilsexperienceabroadandbalancedcurriculumwhichgivesthemtheopportunitytostudysubjectsineverydisciplineleadingtoGCSEchoiceswhicharebespoketothem.

IntheMichaelmasTermpupilsenjoyaDiscoveryTerm.Thiswillenablethemtostudyexcitingaspectsofthedifferentsubjectsineachoftheirtimetabledlessons.TheteachershaveproducedacurriculumwhichwillnotonlypreparepupilsforGCSEstudybutalsoreallyinspireandengagethem.AspartofthisDiscoveryTerm;pupilswillalsocompletetheASDANCertificateofPersonalEffectiveness(CoPE),asexplainedlaterinthisbooklet.ThisistaughtthroughtheactivitiescompletedintheCombinedCadetForce,otheractivitiesandthroughsometimetabledlessons.PupilsarealsoencouragedtocompletetheirDukeofEdinburghBronzeawardthroughCCF.

FromthestartoftheLentTermoftheThirdForm,pupilsbeginmostoftheirGCSEcourses.ThiswillenableclassestocompletethecoursecontentwellbeforethestartoftheSummerTermofFifthFormandoffersplentyofopportunityforconsolidation,examtechniqueandrevision.BystartingsomeGCSEscoursesslightlyearly,pupilsareabletogainaverygoodtasteofthesubjectsonofferandthiswillhelpthemtodecidewhichtocontinue,alongsidethecoresubjects,intotheFourthForm.YouwillseefromthesubjectslistedinthisbookletthattheyarenotalltaughtaspartoftheThirdFormcurriculum.Whereapplicable,somesubjectswillbestartedinSeptember 2019.

MostpupilswillstudyfornineGCSEsubjects.Topsetmathematicianswillgainonemore(andsometakeadditionalGCSEsoutofthemaincurriculum).PupilswhoreceiveLearningSupportwithinthecurriculumworktowardseightGCSEs,whilstthosewhochooseCCFonaWednesdayafternoonwilltakeanadditionalLevel2(GCSEequivalent)leadershipqualification.SomeoftheGCSEsweofferareIGCSEqualificationsandthesehavebeenchosenverydeliberatelybyourHeadsofDepartmentbecauseofthecoursecontent.Theyhaveexactlythesameacademicvalueas GCSEs. WeprideourselvesonthebespokenatureofthecurriculumweofferourpupilsandyouandyourchildwillhavetheopportunitytotalktotheHeadsofDepartmentaboutacademicsubjectsattheendoftheMichaelmasTerm.Ouroptionblocksenableourpupilstospecialise,whilstalsohavingawiderangeofchoice.Wecanaccommodatethosewhowouldliketotakethreesciencesjustaseasilyasourlinguists;thosewhowantthreehumanities;ourcreativepupilsandthosewhomayneedaverybespokecurriculum.Thisindividualisedapproachallowsus,asexpertstosupporteachpupil,andhavehonestconversationsabouttheirstrengthsandweaknessestoenablethemtomakechoiceswhichwillresultinachievementandsuccess.

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The core (studied by all):• EnglishLanguageandEnglishLiterature;• Maths;• OneScience;• ReligiousStudies(shortcourse);• Games,PEandPSHE.

GCSE Blocks 2018-2019

*Invitationonly

Option 1

French Biology Geography Biology Biology CCF

Spanish Chemistry History Chemistry Spanish Art

Geography Physics French Art Geography

Music ICT ICT Drama Drama

History Physics

Learning Support

Learning Support

Physical Education

Physical Education

Design and Technology

Food and Cookery*

Design and Technology

Design and Technology

Business Studies*

English as a Second Language

Religious Studies/ Mathematics*

History

Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Option 5 Option 6

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The Core Curriculum

English

Board: Edexcel IGCSE

Englishisdividedintotwosubjects–LanguageandLiterature(twoseparateIGCSEgradesareawarded). Most pupils will take both subjects.

English Language AExamination: 60% Externallyassessedthroughone2hour15minexamination–Non-fictionandtransactionalwriting.

Coursework: 40%Poetryandprosetextsandimaginativewriting–twocourseworkassignmentstocomplete.Theseareinternallysetandassessed,thenmoderatedbyEdexcel.English LiteratureExamination: 60% Externallyassessedthroughonetwo-hourexamination–Poetryandmodernprose.

Coursework: 40%Moderndramaandliteraryheritagetexts–twocourseworkassignmentstocomplete.Theseareinternallysetandassessed,thenmoderatedbyEdexcel.

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Mathematics

Board: Edexcel IGCSE

AllpupilswilltaketheIGCSEEdexcelMathematicsqualification.Thereisnocourseworkorcontrolledassessmentcomponent.Itisapurelylinearcourse,assessedbyterminalexamination.

Therearetwoexaminationstobetaken.Bothofthesearetwohoursinlengthandbotharecalculatorpapers.Pupilswillbeexaminedonnumber,algebra,shapeanddatacontentandwilltakethehighertierpaper.Eachpaperisequallyweightedwitharangeoftopicsexamined.

PupilsintheAsetwillalsotaketheAQALevel2CertificateinFurtherMathematics.

Key datesTheIGCSEexaminationtakesplaceintheJanuaryofFifthFormforpupilsintheAset.ForallotherpupilsitwilltakeplaceintheSummerTermoftheFifthForm.

Pupilswillbeawardedwithgrades1-9with9beingthetopgradeavailable.Allpupilswillneedtosecureagrade5orabove.

TheFurtherMathematicspaperwillbetakenbypupilsintheAsetintheSummerTermoftheFifthForm.

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Biology

Board:WJEC

Examination: 100%

75% Component 1: Concepts in Biology written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes Amixofshortanswerquestions,structuredquestions,extendedwritinganddataresponsequestions,withsomesetinapracticalcontext.

25% Component 2: Applications in Biology written examination: 1 hour 15 minutes.

Section AAmixofshortanswerquestions,structuredquestions,extendedwritinganddataresponsequestions,allsetinapracticalcontext.

Section BAresourcebookletcontaininganunseenarticlewillprovidethebasisforamixofshortanswerquestions,structuredquestionsanddataresponsequestions.

The key topics that will be covered over the two-year course include: • Cellbiology;• Transportsystems;• Health,diseaseandthedevelopmentofmedicine;• Coordinationandcontrol;• Photosynthesis;• Ecosystems;• Inheritance;• Variation;• Evolution.

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Chemistry

Board: AQA

Therewillbenocontrolledassessment,buttherewillbeassessmentofpracticalworkattheendofthecourse.

Thespecificationwillsetouttheapparatuspupilsshoulduseandthetechniquestheyshoulddevelop.

Thereareeightrequiredpracticalsinthecourseandthewrittenexamswillincludequestionsthatdrawonpupils’practicalscienceexperience.Atleast15%ofthemarksfortheGCSEwillbeallocatedtopracticalsciencequestions.

Examinations:twopaperswhichareequallyweighted;bothpapersare1hourand45minutesinlength.

Paper1coverstopicsonetofive,Paper2coverstopicssixtoten. TherewillbebothFoundationandHigherTierpapersavailable.

There are ten topics in the specification:• Atomicstructureandtheperiodictable;• Bonding,structureandthepropertiesofmatter;• Quantitativechemistry;• Chemicalchanges;• Energychanges;• Therateandextentofchemicalchange;• Organicchemistry;• Chemicalanalysis;• Chemistryoftheatmosphere;• Usingresources.

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Physics

Board: Edexcel

Assessment:Twoexaminationpapersattheendofthecourse,eachworth50%,containingamixtureofdifferentquestionstyles,includingmultiple-choicequestions,shortanswerquestions,calculationsandextendedopen-responsequestions.

Practical work: There are eight mandatory core practicals that must be completed and the work mustberecorded,howeverthesearenotassessed.

Topics: • Keyconceptsofphysics;• Motionandforces;• Conservationofenergy;• Waves;• LightandtheEMspectrum;• Radioactivity;• Astronomy;• Energy;• Forcesandtheireffects;• Electricityandcircuits;• Staticelectricity;• Magnetismandthemotoreffect;• Electromagneticinduction;• Particlemodel;• Forceandmatter.

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Religious Studies

Board:WJEC:ShortCourseGCSE

Component 1:Religious,philosophicalandethicalstudiesinthemodernworld.Writtenexamination:1hour-50%ofqualification.Candidateswillstudythefollowingtwothemes: Theme 1-Issuesofrelationships,sexualrelationshipsandissuesofequality,genderprejudiceand discrimination.

Theme 2-Issuesoflifeanddeathandtheafterlifeandtheoriginandvalueofhumanlife.

Component 2:StudyofChristianityWrittenexamination:30minutes-25%ofqualification.CandidateswillstudythebeliefsandteachingsofChristianity.

Component 3:StudyofaworldfaithWrittenexamination:30minutes-25%ofqualification.Candidateswillstudythebeliefsandteachingsofoneworldfaith.

Games and PEAllpupilsareencouragedtobecomeproficientinarangeofsportingactivities,soPEandGamesfeaturestronglyinourcurriculum.Pupils,inthemiddleschool,havetwoGamessessionseveryweektogetherwithalessonofPE.PupilsarealsogiveneveryopportunityandencouragementtorepresenttheSchoolinfixtures,tournamentsandrepresentativesides.

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Additional Options

Art and DesignBoard: OCR

Course content Fine Art60%portfolio40%externallysettaskallowingpupilstoworkononeoffivethemes. ArtatGCSEisatwo-yearcoursethatcomprisesaunitofcourseworkandanexternallysetcontrolled test. Assessment is internally based with external moderation. The pupils are expected toshowevidenceofgooddrawingskillstosupportthedevelopmentoftheirideas.Researchintotheworkofotherartistsformsanimportantpartofthecourseasithelpstoinformandenrichideas.Candidatesneedtoshowclearevidenceofthedevelopmentofskillsandunderstandingastheyevolvetowardsafinalpiece.Therearenorestrictionsonscaleormedia.

Business StudiesBoard: Edexcel

Thissubjectisofferedonaninvitation-onlybasis.Pupilswillgainaninsightintothevarioussectorsofaneconomyandhowbusinessesfunctionwithrespecttothesesectors.

Assessment structure: Examination: 25%(Introductiontosmallbusiness)45minutes.Examination: 50% (Building a business) 90 minutes.Controlled Assessment: 25%(Investigatingsmallbusiness).

TheGCSEqualificationinBusinessStudiesenablespupilstoactivelyengageinthestudyofbusinessandeconomicstodevelopaseffectiveandindependentpupilsandascriticalandreflectivethinkerswithenquiringminds.

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Combined Cadet Force (CCF)

OurCCFoffersarangeofexcitingopportunitiesfopupils.Theseincludeshooting,whetherforenjoymentoruptoandincludingnationallevel,gliding,flyingandsailing.Cadetscanalsoattendcoursesinsignals,rockclimbing,kayakingandcanoeingandattendleadershipcourseswithallthreeservices.

BeingintheCCFalsomakesiteasiertoachievetheBronze,SilverandGoldDukeofEdinburghAwards;astheactivitiesandresidentialcoursesavailablelendthemselvestothescheme.

CadetswillfollowtheCoPE(CertificateofPersonalEffectiveness)AwardrunbyASDAN,whichisaGCSEGradeBequivalent.TheworkforthiswillallbecompletedduringtheCCFtime.

Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE)Board: ASDAN

Thisrequirespupilstogain12creditsfromtheASDANcourseinordertoachievetheCoPELevelTwoAward(GCSEBgradeequivalent).SixcreditsaretaughtaspartofCCFonaWednesdayafternoonandtheremainingsixcreditswillbetaughtinacademiclessonsduringtheDiscoveryTerm.TheThirdFormPortfoliowillalsoformonecreditthatpupilscanusetowardstheaward.

Coursework:100%-pupilsarerequiredtobuildaportfolioofevidencetoshowthattheyhaveachievedthe12creditsandmettherequirementsofsixunitsbasedaround:• Workingwithothers;• Improvingyourownlearningandperformance;• Oralpresentation;• Problemsolving;• Research;• Communicatingthroughdiscussion;• Planningandgivinganoralpresentation.

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Design and Technology

Board: AQA

DesignandTechnology:ProductDesignisachallengingsubjectwhichrequirespupilstohavegoodbackgroundknowledge,apassionfordesignandtheabilitytoworkindependently,consistentlyandmanagetheirtimewellwithingivendeadlines.

Examination: 40%Thetwo-hourpaperwilltesttheapplicationofknowledgeandunderstandingofmaterials,components,processes,techniques,technologiesandtheevaluationofcommercialpracticesandproducts.Questionswilllargelyaddressgeneralaspectsofproductdesign,whichcrossallmaterialareas,althoughsomequestionswillallowsubject-specificknowledgetobeshown.Thispapercontainsadesignquestionsotheabilitytosketchquicklyin3Disessential.

Theoryfortheexaminationistaughtweeklythroughoutbothyearsofthecourse.

Controlled Assessment: 60% Thecontrolledassessmentconsistsofaclient-basedproject.Candidatesarerequiredtosubmitathree-dimensionalproductoroutcomeandaconcisedesignfolderandtheappropriateICTevidence.Candidateswillbegivenadesignbrief,setbytheexamboard,andhavethefreedomtousethetypeandvarietyofmaterialsnecessarytosatisfythebrief,butneedtoshowevidenceofworkinginatleasttwomaterials,rangingfromresistantmaterialssuchaswood,metalandplastics,tographicproductmaterialssuchasstyrofoam,paper and card.

Manufacturingcountsforone-thirdofthemarksforthecontrolledassessment.Theremainingtwo-thirdswillbemadeupfromareassuchasresearch,designdevelopment,investigationandissuessuchasindustrialandcommercialpractices,andmoral,social,culturalandenvironmentalissues.

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Drama Board: Cambridge IGCSE Component1:Writtenexamusingpre-releasematerialandthreestimulipiecesandanextendedplayextract.(40%) Component2:Practicalcoursework:oneindividualpiece-threetofiveminutes.Twogrouppiecesof15minutes:oneperformanceofanextractfromaplayandonedevisedpiece.(60%) Throughpracticalandtheoreticalstudy,pupilswilldeveloptheirperformanceskills;understandtheroleofactor,directoranddesignerincreatingapieceoftheatre;considerthewaysinwhichideasandfeelingscanbecommunicatedtoanaudience;discovertheperformancepossibilitiesofplaysanddevisedramaticmaterialoftheirown.

Food and CookeryBoard:NCFELevel2certificate

Thissubjectisofferedonaninvitation-onlybasis.Overtwoyears,learnerswillberequiredtosuccessfullycompletefourmandatoryunits.

Unit 1 – Preparing to cook - 25%Portfolioofevidence;notes,diagrams,annotatedphotos,witnessstatements,reports.Internallyassessed and externally moderated.

Unit 2 – Understanding food sources - 25%Portfolioofevidence;notes,diagrams,annotatedphotos,witnessstatements,reports.Internallyassessed and externally moderated.

Unit 3 – Exploring balanced diets - 25% Writtenexternallyassessedexamination–2hours.

Unit 4 – Plan and produce dishes in response to a brief - 25%Portfolioofevidence:notes,diagrams,annotatedphotos,witnessstatements,reports.Internallyassessed and externally moderated.

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Geography Board: AQA GCSE

Examination 100%

Paper 1:Livingwiththephysicalenvironment.Paper 2:Challengesinthehumanenvironment.Paper 3: Geographical applications.

History

Board: OCR IGCSE

Thissyllabusofferstheopportunitytostudyworldhistorythroughoutthetwentiethcentury.Pupilswillexplorehistoryfromadiversityofperspectives,includingsocial,economic,culturalandpolitical.Pupilswillbeencouragedtoraisequestionsandtodevelopanddeployhistoricalskills,knowledgeandunderstandinginordertoprovidehistoricalexplanationsinawrittenessayformat. Paper 1: 40%(Recallofknowledgeandstrengthofexplanation)2hours• Werethepeacetreatiesof1919–23fair?• TowhatextentwastheLeagueofNationsasuccess?• Whyhadinternationalpeacecollapsedby1939?• WhowastoblamefortheColdWar?• HoweffectivelydidtheUSAcontainthespreadofCommunism?• HowsecurewastheUSSR’scontroloverEasternEurope,1948–c.1989?• WhydideventsintheGulfmatter,c.1970–2000?Plusanin-depthstudyontheUSA,1919–41.

Paper 2: 33% (Useofhistoricalskillsandinterpretation)2hoursSource-basedpaperonthesuccessoftheLeagueofNations.

Coursework: 27%EssayonanaspectoftheFirstWorldWarsuchasGeneralHaig’sreputationorwhythetriplealliancelosttheFirstWorldWar.

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ICT Board: CIE IGCSE

Thisisaskills-basedcoursecreatedaroundapplications.

Coursework: 60%

Two examinations each 30%,2hours30minuteseachcoveringpracticalskills.

Paper 1:Documentproduction,datamanipulationandpresentations.Paper 2: Data analysis and website authoring

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Modern Languages: GCSE French and GCSE Spanish

Board: AQA

Pupilscanoptforoneorbothlanguages.EachGCSEismadeupoffourexaminationswhichwillbetakenattheendofthetwo-yearcourse.

Speaking 25% (10to12minutes)Roleplay;picturestimulus;conversationtocovertwothemes(pupilsnominatefirsttopic).

Listening 25%(45minutes)QuestionsrequireamixtureofEnglish,FrenchorSpanishandnon-verbalanswers.

Reading 25%(1hour)QuestionsinEnglishandinFrenchorSpanish.Therewillalsobea50-wordtranslationfromFrenchorSpanishintoEnglish.

Writing 25% (1 hour 15 minutes) three sections:• Structuredwritingtaskwithfivecompulsorybulletpoints;• Openendedwritingtaskwithfourcompulsorybulletpoints;• 50wordtranslationfromEnglishintoFrenchorSpanish.

There are three main themes which will be covered in all four sections of the GCSE examination:• Identityandculture;• Local,national,internationalandglobalareasofinterest;• Currentandfuturestudyandemployment.

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Music Board: AQA

Consists of three components:

Listening paper: 40%dividedintotwosections:• Unfamiliarmusicbasedonmusicfromthewesternclassicaltradition,popularand worldmusic;• Studyofsetworks.

Music Performance 30%: • TwoperformancesrecordedontoaCD;• Bothpiecesmustbeofoveroneminutelong(togethermustbeoverfourminuteslong) andbeaboutgrade5standardorabove;• Solo;• Ensemble.

Composition 30%: Twocompositions.CompositiondonetoabriefissuedbytheboardinSeptemberoftheexaminationyearandfreecomposition.Bothcompositionsmusttotaloverthreeminuteslong.

Physical Education Board: AQA

60% theory and 40% non-exam assessment(30%practical,10%writtenperformanceanalysisassessment)

Paper 1:Thehumanbodyandmovementinphysicalactivityandsport

Paper 2:Socio-culturalinfluencesandwell-beinginphysicalactivityandsport.

Non-exam assessment:Practicalperformanceinphysicalactivityandsport.

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ActivitiesAcademicachievementisoftenseenasthemaintoolformeasuringanindividual’sworth.Itsimportanceisinnodoubt,butatSuttonValencewevaluetheholisticapproachtothechild.Inadditiontopublicexaminationsuccess,weseektodevelopthepupilbyexpectingparticipationinawiderangeofchallengesandleadershipopportunities.ThirdFormpupilshaveoneperiodofactivitiesonaMondayafternoon.

Activitiesofferedvaryfromtimetotime,butatypicalmenuincludesartclub,shooting,golf,soccer,dance,mindfulness,drama,craftclubandrunningclub,tonameafew.Thesearedistinctfromandinadditiontothesportsprogramme.Forsomeweusethewealthofexpertiseofourownstaffandforotherswehireinexpertsfromoutside.

Special Education NeedsForaverysmallnumberofpupilsitmightbeappropriatetodroponeoftheoptionalsubjectsinordertofreeupthetimeforspecialisttuitioninsmallgroups;againthisneedstobediscussedandagreedinadvance.

Someofourpupilsmayrequestone-to-onetuitionwhichcanbeprovided,withprioragreement.Thiswillincuranadditionalcostandbechargedasextratofees.

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How can parents help?• Bybeingawareoftheexpectationsoftheindividualdepartmentsoutlinedinthisbooklet andbytakinganinterestinextendedpiecesofworkastheyarise;

• Bymakingaquietworkareaavailableathomewhereworkcanbedonewithout interruptionsordisturbance.Computersandaccesstotheinternetcanbehelpfulat timesbuttherearealsofartoomanydistractionsthatweren’ttherewhenyoutookyour examinations;

• Byhelpingthemtoplantheirworksufficientlyinadvanceandbymonitoringtheirprogressin majortasks;thisisespeciallyimportantduringtheholidaysasexamsapproach;

• Bykeepinganeyeontheirworkloadandcommentingifyoufeelthereistoomuch,ortoo littlehomework.ThesettingofhomeworkcanbecheckedbyloggingintoSVEP,Sutton ValenceE-Portal;

• Onanaverageevening,pupilsshouldbespendinguptoanhourandahalfonhomework; thisalsoappliesonFridaynights;

• Bycontactingyourchild’stutorifyouhaveanyconcerns.

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MonitoringAsourpupilsworktowardstheirGCSEswetrytogiveyouanideaofthegradethatwefeeltheyarecapableof,theirTargetAgreedGrade(TAG),andthegradetheyarecurrentlyheadingfor.Iftheyareaheadoftheirtargetthentheyshouldbepraisedbutiftheyarelaggingbehindwewillwanttofindoutwhyandtakeremedialaction.Wealsogradetheeffortthattheyareputtingintotheirindividualsubjectsbothinclassandforprep.AtHalfTerm,youwillbesentagradecardwhichcontainsthesegrades,togetherwithadviceandtargetssetbyyourson’sordaughter’stutor.Attheendofterm,youwillreceiveafullreportthatwilladditionallyincludefullcommentsfromouracademicstaff,informationaboutyourchild’sinvolvementinthewiderlifeoftheSchoolandacommentfromtheHeadmaster.Parents’eveningsarescheduledduringtheyear,togiveyouanopportunitytohaveface-to-faceconversationswithyourchild’steachers. TofallinlinewiththenewGCSEgrading,theSchool’sacademicgradesrunfrom1to9.Grade9isdesignedtorecognisetheveryhighestperformingstudentsandagrade4isconsideredanacceptable pass.

Effortinboththeclassroomandinprepisgradedusingthefollowingcriteria:

Excellenteffort.Averyenthusiasticattitudetowardslearning,independent,individualandpositiveinalllessons.

Apositiveattitudeandcontributiontoalllessons.Capableofenterprise.Lookstogainclarificationwhenunsure.

Workingsatisfactorilywithagoodattitude.

Not doing enough work with regular lapses in concentration.

Havinganattitudeinclassthatisunhelpfultotheirownlearningorthatoftheirpeers.

Exceptionaleffortoverandabovewhat would normally be expected. Resourcefulandindependent.

Afullpreprecordandanymissedlessonseffectivelycaughtup.Evidenceofconsiderablecare.

Generally sound prep with no missing work.

Severalmissedprepsand/orperfunctoryattemptstocatchupwhenlessonshavebeenmissed.Poor presentation.

Manylate,incompleteormissingpreps.Sanctionshaveprovedineffective.

Excellent

Good

Acceptable

Below expectations

Unacceptable

Comment Effort in Lessons (E) Effort in Prep (P)

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Notes

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Notes