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Year 10Information Guide

SENIOR SCHOOL

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IMPORTANT DATES FOR YEAR 10 2016-17

TERM 1

Date Event Sunday 4th September Induction day for new pupils (10:00am

- 12:00 noon)Monday 5th September School starts for all pupils (9:00am)Tuesday 6th September Year 10 information meeting (2:30pm -

3:30pm)*Tuesday 13th September to School closes for Eid al-Adha.

Thursday 15th September * Dates subject to change in line with official holidays in Qatar

Sunday 18th September School re opensWednesday 5th October Meet the Tutor Day (12:00 noon

-5:00pm)Wednesday 9th November Parents Meeting (3:00pm-6:00pm)Thursday 8th December Progress Reports publishedThursday 15th December Winter Term Ends (12:00 noon)

TERM 2

Tuesday 3rd January (2017) Spring Term starts (9:00am)Thursday 19th January Sports DaySunday 29th January to

Thursday 2nd February Half Term breakTuesday 14th February Qatar National Sports DayTuesday 14th March Full Reports publishedThursday 6th April Spring Term Finished (12:00 noon)

TERM 3

Sunday 23rd April Summer Term Starts (9:00am)Thursday 15th June Progress Report publishedThursday 29th June Summer Term Ends (12:00 noon)

CHANGES TO ASSESSMENT IN GCSEs.As you are probably aware the UK government announced radical changes to the structure and assessment of GCSEs. As a British school that follows the British based curriculum wherever possible, we are moving away from the familiar system of A*-G grades to a new system of grading with numbers, although this is a phased plan and some subjects will remain as grades until all courses change.In addition to the changes to the structure of the GCSEs, the government is also raising the expectation of the standard of GCSE that will be considered as ‘good pass’ from a C to a new grade 5. This booklet is intended to explain what the new grades mean so that you can better understand the changes.

What do the new numbers mean? Because the content in the new GCSEs is so different there is no simple and direct way to convert between the old GCSE A*-G grades and the new num-ber grades. However, to ensure that the new system is fair to those students taking the new exams the government has fixed the percentages of students gaining particular grades against the old system. So for example, the same proportion of students that gained an ‘A’ and above in the old GCSEs will now gain a grade 7 and above in the new GCSEs. However, this does not mean that a grade 7 is equal to an A grade as the content is so different. We have included a grid below that provides further information concerning the proportions of students that receive each grade compared with the old system.Year Group GCSEs to be graded 9-1 Current Year 10 and below English Language, English Literature (September 2016) Art & Design, Biology, Chemistry, Computer

Science, Co-ordinated Science, Drama, French, Spanish, Music, Physical Education, Physics.

IGCSEs still graded as letters:Maths, History, Geography, Business Studies, ICTCurrent Year 9 and below (When they begin their GCSEs in Year 10 September 2017) All GCSEs to be graded 9-1 (IGCSEs included)Focusing on ensuring that our pupils are aiming for the best level, all students will be required to reach a ‘minimum expected level’. As always departments will be regularly marking books, setting tests and extended tasks to track student progress. Students will receive regular feedback to ensure they know the next steps that they must take to progress.

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HOW CAN I SUPPORT MY CHILD IN YEAR 10?Year 10 is a transitional year in the education of your child, as they move from the Key stage 3 to the Key stage 4 curriculum. As they embark on their GCSE courses, it is vital that we all do everything we can to support them through the academic year. Your involvement as a parent can make all the difference. Listed below are some of the things you can do to help, encourage and support your child through Year 10:

• Ensure that your child is on time and attends school every day if possible. This way they know that they are not going to miss important information.

• Provide a suitable place for your child to study and ensure that they have the equipment needed.

• Sign their planners every week.• Know important dates and display them in your house so you can

support your child.• Make sure that your child has a balance between study, physical

activity and socialising.

What is the role of the Form Tutor?The role of the Tutor is essential to your child’s well-being. The Tutor is the person that you as a parent or your child should go to with any concerns. Tutors are responsible for each child’s pastoral well-being and academic monitoring. Tutor groups meet twice a day and in this time, they can help support your child with any issues they may have. Your child will also have a termly interview with the Tutor to discuss their achievements and concerns. Tutors’ contact details are listed below:• Ahmed Mrs Lucy Williams lwilliams@sherborneqatar.org• Cook Ms Rgizlaine Khayari rkhayari@sherborneqatar.org• Copeland Mr Graeme Tracey gtracey@sherborneqatar.org• Cutler Mrs Louisa Rudling lrudling@sherborneqatar.org• Hamad Mr Kashif Ali sali@sherborneqatar.org• Moza Mr Barnaby McKendry bmckendry@sherborneqatar.org

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What is the role of the Head of Year?The pastoral system is the backbone of life at Sherborne. The Head of Year has overall responsibility for the pastoral welfare of the year group. They will monitor the academic tracking of their year group, implementing strategies to support pupils’ progression. The Head of Year will set the tone for their year group in terms of behaviour and conduct in and around school. They will also ensure that pupils are fully engaging in life at Sherborne. Your Head of Year’s contact details are:• Mrs Emma Welch ewelch@sherborneqatar.org• Mrs Lucy Williams lwilliams@sherborneqatar.org

(Head of Year for Winter Term when Mrs Welch is on maternity leave)

What is the role of the Head of House?The House system is pivotal in developing a pupils’ sense of belong-ing at Sherborne. Heads of House are responsible for leading the school’s House System and encouraging participation in a wide variety of activities. They will get to know the strengths of the pupils in their House and will be able to provide feedback with regards to a pupil’s contribution to wider aspects of school life. The Heads of House are:• Ahmed Mrs Jaime Outram joutram@sherborneqatar.org• Cook Ms Rgizlaine Khayari rkhayari@sherborneqatar.org• Copeland Miss Donna Ketteringham dketteringham@sherborneqatar.org• Cutler Mr Graham Robey grobey@sherborneqatar.org• Hamad Miss Angela Nightingale-Smith ansmith@sherborneqatar.org• Moza Mr Ibrahim Adam iadam@sherborneqatar.org

PARENTS’ GUIDE TO REPORTSAt Sherborne Qatar we ensure that pupils are tracked by their academic progress throughout the year. We use a variety of assessment methods in conjunction with teacher judgement to ensure we monitor progress carefully. Here at Sherborne Qatar we produce the following types of report:

Progress report:This report is given in the Winter Term and gives the following information from each subject teacher based upon the evidence to date and the professional judgement of that member of staff.

• Current working at grade • Minimum expected grade • Aspirational grade• Attitude to learning at school• Attitude to learning at home (based upon homework submitted)• On track to achieve the minimum expected grade

Full report:This report is issued in the Spring Term and is a formal written report encompassing subject reports from subject staff alongside the criteria of the Progress Report.

Minimum Expected Grade:The minimum expected grade is based upon the initial aptitude tests undertaken in the early stages of the Autumn Term in Year 10 in addition to the previous year’s attainment.

Aspirational Grade:The aspirational levels are taken from subject teachers’ knowledge of the pupil, tests and the work undertaken to date. This grade can be modified throughout the year and exam course.

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YEAR 10 PSHE SHERBORNE QATAR 2016-17

MONTH TOPIC

September The Year Ahead: Expectations & Target Setting

October Post 16 pathways/Preparing for life after School

November Employment Aspirations

December Employment Aspirations

January Mental Health and Mindfulness

February Preparing for the world of work

March Preparing for work experience

April Preparing for exams

May Ramadan Charity Projects (in association with ROTA)

• This curriculum is subject to change