Year 9: Key Dates

INSET Days (school closed for students):

-Friday 22nd November 2019

-Monday 25th November 2019

-Monday 20th January 2020

Year 9 Parents’ Evening:

Thursday 27th February 2020 4pm – 7pm

Y9 Options Evening:

Thursday 12th March 2020

Welcome to our

Year 9 Information

Evening 2019

Year 9 Information Evening

Introductions

Mr C Burns

Headteacher

Frog Learning Platform - Mr. Clarey

Curriculum, Assessment & Options–

Mr. Clarey

English – Ms Condron

Mathematics – Mr Jefferson

Science – Mrs Young

Design Technology- Mr Thurstan

Tonight’s Event

Year 9 Information Evening 2019

Tonight’s slides will be published on the school’s website

Frog: Priestnall’s Learning

platform

Mr T Clarey

Deputy Headteacher

Timetable,

Calendar and

Homework; all in

one place: the

Frog App

Available on Apple

and Android

devices

‘How to’ Frog App

On the App Start-up screen,

enter the school’s Frog website

address:

vle.priestnall.stockport.sch.uk

This provides access to

Priestnall’s Frog site

‘How to’ Frog App

Log in using your

personal credentials (single log in per family)

If you have forgotten

these, please contact

the school office

Homework

and

notifications

via the App

Student name

Homework

and

notifications

via the App

Homework

and

notifications

via the App

View homework

by due date

Student name

Student name’s

Curriculum, Assessment & Options

Mr T Clarey

Deputy Headteacher

Year 9: What lies ahead?

Year 9

Year 8

A foundation year for

GCSEs

Academic organisation

• X and Y- halves: necessary to make the timetable work

• Equal range of abilities on both halves

• ‘Blocks’ for Languages, Humanities & Computing together

with the Arts and Beliefs & Values

Academic organisation

Expressive

Arts/ B&V

block:

Mixed ability

(x1-x5 & y1-

y5

Humanities/MFL

block:

Top sets (x1/y1);

supported sets

(x5/y5) +

3 mixed-ability

classes in each

year half (x2-x4, y2-

y4)

Setting via

collaboration

between all 4

subject leaders (&

monitored) Note: These subject are taught in mixed-ability Option classes in years 10 & 11 (GCSE)

The Curriculum

• Design Technology: ‘mini-opt’ for Year 9 DT subjects

• Students have expressed preferences for three aspects of DT that they wish to study in Year 9

The Curriculum

• ‘Reformed’ GCSEs in all subjects since September 2017

• “The new GCSE sets higher expectations; it demands more from all students and provides further challenges for those aiming to achieve top grades” –DfE

• They’re harder!

• New GCSEs with points (9-1) not grades

• Targets and Assessments will use this ‘GCSE Language’

The Curriculum • Skills and knowledge are being developed for

GCSE and equivalent courses (still within a broad

curriculum)

• Key Stage 4 rigour across all subjects

• Subjects are working in ‘GCSE-speak’

– Grades, not KS3 levels

– Assessment criteria are from new GCSEs

– Y9: GCSE Foundation year for future study in that curriculum area

Targets & Aspirations

• Individual KS4 targets are set for all subject areas– based on prior attainment and other nationally-benchmarked factors.

• Provisional, but give indication of expected outcomes at the end of Y11

• [new GCSE outcomes are not yet stable, so these may be subject to refinement in Year 10]

• These will be shown as point grades (9-1)

Communications

• Website/ e-mail/Frog Learning platfrom/twitter

• Interim reports (Targets, WAGs, AtLs):

– Start of November 2019 & regularly thereafter

Interim reports

• Interim reports (Targets, WAGs, AtLs):

–November (first half-term)

–March (mid-year)

–July (end-of-year) • Interim reports will be published on the Frog

Learning Platform (VLE) and accessible via this

• Interim reports will contain Action Points for each subject – relating to the topics covered during the half-term

The Future: Options

• Options choices made during spring term

• Leading to Y10 & 11 courses

• College/ Sixth form (FTE until 18 is compulsory)

• Apprenticeships

• University/ Higher Education

• Options: popular courses- please note!

The Future: Options

The EBacc (English Baccalaureate)

Good Passes (grade 5) in:

• English

• Maths

• 2x Sciences

• Humanities (Geography or History)

• Modern Foreign Language (French)

• Students capable of achieving this will be required to opt accordingly

The Future: Options

PE/Sport/Dance

• Students are undertaking foundation work in Year 9 in these subjects.

• Actual GCSE and equivalent courses in these areas will be available via the Option choices

• Students will study 9 subjects to GCSE level

Pre-Opt

• For effective planning: 2020-21

• Pre-opt: to gauge numbers/suitability

• Same process as ‘real thing’ – via Frog

• Same choices available

The Future: Options

• Programme of supporting activities

– Online careers package (from January in LC time)

– Parents’ evening: progress in subjects

– Options Evening: discussion about suitable option choices

– ‘Taster’ sessions in option-only subjects (DLD)

– Post-16/ Careers advice

Options: pathways to success

Assessment & Achievement

• Reformed GCSEs are significantly more demanding and exam based

• Emphasis on knowledge & recall

• “Assess for Success”

• School assessments – vital!

• Year 9 is where the foundations of success are laid

English

Ms Condron English Teacher

English at Priestnall

Year 9

Language and Literature

Year 9 starts the GCSE preparation.

With the exception of the first unit on

‘Of Mice and Men’, the rest of the

course focuses on Literature GCSE

texts and some Language skills

required for the exams.

All students in all ability groups will be

taking English Language and English

Literature with AQA.

There are two exams for each GCSE...

English Literature Paper 1

1 hour 45 minutes

A) Romeo and Juliet

B) Frankenstein or A

Christmas Carol

For both sections of the exam,

students will be provided with a

key extract from the play/novel,

which they will be expected to

analyse.

They are then required to links

this to the rest of the novel.

There is no choice of questions

so they need to know the whole

texts.

Paper 2

2 hours 15 minutes

A) An Inspector Calls or Lord of the Flies

or Animal Farm

For this question there will be no extracts, but

there will be a choice of two questions and

students will answer one.

B) Poems from an Anthology (Power and

Conflict)

Students will have revised 15 poems from the

anthology. They will be given one of the

poems and a question to accompany it. They

will have to compare it to another poem they

have studied.

C) Responses to Unseen Poetry

Students will read an unseen poem and

analyse it. They will then read another poem

and compare the two.

English Language Paper 1

1 hour 45 minutes

A) READING

In this section students will

demonstrate their ability to read

and understand a substantial

text. They will answer 4

questions on the text.

B) WRITING

Students have a choice of two

questions to answer – one will

be a picture stimulus, one will

not. They will only answer one

question. They will be asked to

write a piece of narrative or

descriptive writing.

Paper 2

1 hour 45 minutes

A) READING

In this section students will

demonstrate their ability to read

and understand two passages

from non-fiction texts.

B) WRITING

Students will answer one question

that is thematically linked to the

texts in section A.

They will be asked to write to

present a viewpoint on a matter.

The final award will be a number between 1 and 9 (9 being the

highest) rather than A*-G.

There will be no tiers of entry.

Students will be expected to read more challenging unseen and

previously studied texts.

Students will, for both Language and Literature have to study

texts from the nineteenth century.

The duration of the examinations have been extended, the

longest being 2 hours 15 minutes.

The Literature exams are all ‘closed book’, which means they

will not be permitted to take a copy of the text into the exam.

The new GCSE – the main changes for

the Post-2017 exams:

Revision Guides for Literature

CGP Revision guides are available from the Library for Literature texts.

• Power and Conflict Poetry

• Romeo and Juliet

• A Christmas Carol

If you do want to purchase a guide it is often best to wait until we start that text in class.

Additionally there are Target 5 and Target 9 books for Language.

Each lesson is directed

towards a particular

Assessment Focus for

Reading or Writing.

Schemes of work alternate

each half term between a

reading focus and a writing

focus.

Within all schemes there are

opportunities for speaking

and listening activities such

as role play, discussion and

formal talks.

Thinking ahead: a skill based exam

What can you do to help at home?

Literature

At home students can:

Practise annotating texts

(newspapers, fliers, leaflets etc) for:

Writers’ argument and how they try to

convince us of their argument

Language features

Different emotions and feelings

How the same topic is dealt with in

different texts

Language exams a comparison of

texts on the same theme is required)

There are more ideas in the booklet

Language

At home students can:

Practise discursive and creative

writing styles.

Practise planning answers to

sample questions

Revise use of punctuation marks

Read non fiction texts

READ READ READ!!!!

Again, there are more ideas in the

booklet

Maths

Mr Jefferson Curriculum Leader: Maths

Students are all following the Edexcel Linear 9-1 GCSE Mathematics course

100% Examination Paper 1: 1 hour 30 minutes Non-Calculator Paper 2: 1 hour 30 minutes Calculator allowed Paper 3: 1 hour 30 minutes Calculator allowed Assessment in January 2020 (Non-Calc) End of Year Assessments June 2020 (Calc X2) UNIT ASSESSMENTS completed during year at

teacher’s discretion.

Approximate Grade Equivalence

A* A

9

B

C

D

E

F G

5

8 7

6

4

3

2

1

Top third of

C, bottom

third of B.

Bottom two

thirds of C.

Assessment

Higher (grades 4 to 9)

50% Targeted at Grades 7-9 (A/A*)

50% Targeted at Grades 4-6 (C/B)

Starts at Grade C (4ish) rather than Grade D.

Foundation (grades 1 to 5)

25% Targeted at Grades 3-5 (D/C)

25% Targeted at Grade 2 (E)

50% Targeted at Grade 1 (F/G)

Issues

• Most appropriate Tier of Entry for borderline students?

• Grade boundaries and how they might change each year as students ‘get used’ to the new exam?

• Access to ‘live’ scripts.

Y11 Summer GCSE Grade Boundaries

Grade Foundation Higher 2017 2018 2019 2017 2018 2019

9 190 202 198

8 157 170 167

7 124 139 137

6 96 109 108

5 158 169 184 68 79 80

4 122 136 149 41 50 52

3 90 101 111 27 35 38

2 58 66 73

1 26 31 36

Username: priest

Login: ddmmyyinitialsincaps

Password: ddmmyyinitialsincaps Website: www.methodmaths.com

Past Exam Papers

Homework and Revision

Spaced Repetition: each time you repeat information

you retain it longer.

Homework

Website: www.vle.mathswatch.co.uk

Username: ddmmyyinitialsinCAPS@priestnall Password: ddmmyyinitialsinCAPS

Homework tasks Homework deadline

When you score full marks on a question, it turns green.

Type your answer in the box given, then submit

If help is needed to answer the questions, use the video clips at the bottom of the page.

Using Mathswatch to revise/clarify class notes

Open videos

Choose the area of maths and the topic you want here

A selection of options will appear

ONE MINUTE clips are great for revision and retention

Other Resources

• Revision Guides available from the library. (new specification)

• MATHSWATCH revision schedules

• EXERCISE books if kept to a high standard of presentation

• Mark work in class and annotate

• Organise worksheets, assessments and feedback sheets

Feedback sheet

Science

Mr Cowen Curriculum Leader: Science

YEAR 9 GCSE FOUNDATION COURSE OVERVIEW

• A preparatory course designed for progression onto the Edexcel GCSE Science courses after the February Half Term Holiday:

– Combined Science (2 GCSEs)

– Separate Science (option – 3 GCSEs)

• All GCSE exams are taken at the end of Year 11

• There are no controlled assessments. The examinations cover the practical elements of the course

• This year is significant for the setting of students in Year 10, as well as confirming their eligibility for the Separate Science option

• We advise that students considering the Separate Science option are consistently working at a Grade 5 or above during Year 9 to successfully meet the demands of this course

YEAR 9 GCSE FOUNDATION COURSE STRUCTURE

• Broken up into three units of study:

– Biology

– Chemistry

– Physics

• Students will complete an assessment comprising of multiple choice and written questions before October Half Term in each unit of study.

YEAR 9 GCSE FOUNDATION COURSE STRUCTURE

• A formal examination will take place before February Half Term 2020 that will cover the topics they have studied so far in Year 9.

• Students will begin studying the first topics in the GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics course after the February half term holidays.

Parental Support

is a website for homework, revision & independent learning for Edexcel Science

• It is matched to the Edexcel specification so all material is relevant to your child’s Science course

• It includes a range of guided, interactive learning activities that include short and extended answer questions. It provides instant, automated marking and feedback as well as an online textbook

• There is also a tracking screen to show your child’s progress and attainment

Active Learn

www.pearsonactivelearn.com

Username = school log in (DOB and initials)

eg 100601AB

Password = Password01

www.pearsonactivelearn.com

An electronic, interactive version of the textbook accessible from the website

Coming soon, thanks to sponsorship from…

Frog Science Website Log on to your child's account and select all subjects

• Assessment/ Course Information

• Revision materials and

exercises

• Key word lists

• Links to other revision sites like

ActiveLearn and Bitesize.

Online Revision

Encourage the use of revision websites/revision material creation software/apps such as:

• www.pearsonactivelearn.com

• www.bbc.co.uk/revision

• www.savemyexams.co.uk

• www.gcsescience.com

• www.schoolscience.co.uk

• Until February Half Term students will

continue using their KS3 Revision Guide.

• After this point students may want to buy

the GCSE Revision Guides. Although they

may wait until they’ve made their options

choice of either Combined Science or

Separate Sciences.

• Available from the school library.

• Each Science teacher has set aside time each week advertised as “Office Hours”, when they will be available to provide some help and advice for students (these have been posted on the school website)

• These sessions are to help with classwork, homework, advice and guidance with exam questions/technique

Extra Support from School

Extra Support from School

Design Technology

Mr Thurstan

Curriculum Leader: Technology

Design & Technology

YEAR 9

During Year 9 all students study 2 preferred topics of

Design & Technology which are chosen from 5 key areas.

The topics last a full term each and are taught over the first

2 terms of Year 9. The 3rd term’s topic is dependent on the

student’s KS4 option choices.

The topics focus on the new Design & Technology GCSE,

the Art & Design Textiles Design & Graphic Communication

GCSEs and The Hospitality & Catering Technical Award.

The food topic also includes elements from the GCSE in

Food Preparation & Nutrition.

• Design & Technology (Woods/Polymers/Metals)

• Design & Technology (Prototype Modelling)

• Graphic Communication (Art & Design)

• Textile Design (Art & Design)

• Hospitality & Catering (Technical Award)

The 5 topics for Year 9 are:

Design & Technology (Woods/Polymers/Metals)

This topic gives an insight into

the knowledge, understanding

and skills required to

undertake the GCSE in

Design & Technology, which

focuses on the iterative design

process of exploring, creating

and evaluating. This topic

involves working to a design

brief & specification, using

Computer Aided Design

software, making a prototype

and evaluating work. The

project will focus on using

woods, metals and polymers

for the prototype and the

theory content will focus on

these material areas. The

making of the prototype will

also involve using a small

electronic circuit and a

recycled part during

manufacture.

Design & Technology (Prototype Modelling)

This topic gives an insight

into the knowledge,

understanding and skills

required to undertake the

GCSE in Art and Design

(Graphic Communication)

and focuses on four

objectives; investigating,

exploring ideas, recording

ideas and presenting a final

outcome. This topic will focus

on experimenting with

appropriate media, materials,

techniques and processes to

gain understanding of visual

language. The project will

involve the use of industry

standard Computer Aided

Design packages such as

Adobe Photoshop.

Graphic Communication (Art & Design)

This topic gives an insight

into the knowledge,

understanding and skills

required to undertake the

GCSE in Art and Design

(Graphic Communication)

and focuses on four

objectives; investigating,

exploring ideas, recording

ideas and presenting a final

outcome. This topic will

focus on experimenting with

appropriate media,

materials, techniques and

processes to gain

understanding of visual

language. The project will

involve the use of industry

standard Computer Aided

Design packages such as

Adobe Photoshop.

Textile Design (Art & Design)

This topic gives an insight

into the knowledge,

understanding and skills

required to undertake the

GCSE in Art and Design

(Textile Design) and focuses

on four objectives;

investigating, exploring ideas,

recording ideas and

presenting a final outcome.

This topic will focus on using

a wide range of materials,

fabrics and processes,

including how to set up and

use a sewing machine

independently. Students will

complete a project based on

recycling and manufacture a

product which will

demonstrate a range of skills

in the area of textile design.

Hospitality & Catering (Technical Award)

Hospitality & Catering

(Including Food & Nutrition):

This topic enables students to

gain a basic knowledge of the

hospitality and catering industry,

in particular the relevant

mandatory and other health and

safety requirements within the

food industry. Nutrition and an

understanding of the relationship

between diet and health will also

be a focus. Students will prepare,

make and evaluate a range of

dishes including flat bread, fajitas

and marble cake. Students will

be given the opportunity to

complete a Non Exam

Assessment style task to design

their own dishes and menu for a

new hospitality and catering

provision.

All students have

already taken the letter

home at the end of

Year 8, had it signed

and their preferences

were recorded.

Students have now

been given their

teaching groups, and

have been allocated

choices 1 and 2 where

possible, taking into

account maximum

group sizes and room

constraints (such as IT)

5

3

2

1 4

Options…

GCSE Graphic Communication

GCSE Textile Design

GCSE Design & Technology

Level 1/2 Technical Award in

Hospitality & Catering

GCSE Food & Nutrition

Post 16 qualifications &

careers

Careers…

• Aerospace engineer

• Architect

• Computer-aided design technician

• Quantity surveyor

• Secondary school teacher

• Set designer

• Sign Writer

• Telecommunications engineer

Apprenticeships

There is a range of apprenticeships that link to an

interest in design technology, including:

•Junior product designer

•Theatre set designer

•Civil engineering technician

•Design and draughting technician

•Engineering model maker

How parents / carers can help….

• Ensure the Design & Technology KS4 options are explored in full.

• Encourage your child to speak to the subject teachers.

• Ensure the homework is being completed.

• Ensure options evening is attended in early 2020.

• Be aware of careers & opportunities the subjects can lead to.

And finally…

Year 9 Information Evening 2019

Thank you

tonight’s slides will be published on the school’s website

Year 9: Key Dates

INSET Days (school closed for students):

-Friday 22nd November 2019

-Monday 25th November 2019

-Monday 20th January 2020

Year 9 Parents’ Evening:

Thursday 27th February 2020 4pm – 7pm

Y9 Options Evening:

Thursday 12th March 2020