GCSEsGCSEsA Rough Guide

General Certificate of Secondary EducationGeneral Certificate of Secondary Education

• Most students take 9 GCSEs• 6 from the Option Columns• Maths, English, English Literature• Latin as an extra• Pass GCSE grades are considered

to be from A*-C• Grades D, E, F, G and U are

considered to be ‘fail’ grades

GCSE Results 2015GCSE Results 2015

• 90% A* - C• A*/A = 46% • B = 24%• C = 20%• 13 pupils (14% of cohort) clean

sweep of A*/A• Target for 2017!

Exam BoardsExam BoardsThe exam boards we use are:

AQA Edexcel

OCRCIE

Course TypesCourse Types• The Heads of Department do the

research and choose the courses they think are best for our students

• All courses are examined at the end• However, some courses include

controlled assessment or coursework• Four types of course to choose from:

Type 1: Final ExamType 1: Final Exam

• These courses have no coursework or controlled assessment

• Examined at the end of two years

Religious Studies (AQA)

Latin (OCR)

Type 2: IGCSEsType 2: IGCSEs• These courses have no

coursework or controlled assessment

• Examined at the end of two yearsChemistry (CIE)

History (Edexcel)Physics (CIE)

Mathematics (Edexcel) !!Biology (AQA)

Type 3: IGCSE EnglishType 3: IGCSE English

• Language and Literature (2 separate exams)

• 50% examined• 50% coursework• Letter grades, not number grades

Type 4: Exam / Controlled Assessment or Type 4: Exam / Controlled Assessment or CourseworkCoursework

• Art (Edexcel)• Geography (AQA)• ICT (AQA)• Modern Languages (Edexcel)• Music (Edexcel)• PE (OCR)• Design & Technology (OCR & AQA)

What is Controlled Assessment?What is Controlled Assessment?• It is a form of coursework with

greater controls • It is designed to measure subject

specific skills• Tasks are assigned different levels

of control by the exam boards

Levels of ControlLevels of Control• High = Students are supervised; must

work independently; must not communicate; must not be assisted.

• Medium = Students do not have to be directly supervised, but the teacher must be able to ensure the work is their own. Limited teacher input. Students may work together.

• Low= Work may be done outside of the classroom, students may receive teacher guidance, students may work together.

Most assessments are in Year 11Most assessments are in Year 11

• However, ICT has a form of controlled assessment in every timetabled double lesson

• PE practical lessons also form part of the controlled assessment process

Deadlines and AttendanceDeadlines and Attendance• Controlled Assessments are key

elements to the GCSEs • Deadlines must be met• High control assessments should

not be missed (mini-exams)• Departments co-ordinate their

own timetable and will inform pupils which lessons constitute controlled assessment and what level

AbsenceAbsence• If a pupil misses an element of

controlled assessment, the department will try to make alternative arrangements

• However, too many missed assessments may jeopardise the GCSE

• All absences therefore need to be kept to a minimum

• If there are planned absences it would be wise to ensure there are no controlled assessments taking place

Am I too late to change my Am I too late to change my options?options?

• The answer is ‘no’• But if you are having concerns

about your choices – speak to your tutor

• Any change MUST include either a telephone call with me or a note from home

PSHCEPSHCE• Personal, Social, Health,

Citizenship Education• The year group is split into groups

and for half of the year there is a rotation of:University choices/Careers/CVs

CookingManaging personal finances: credit

cards/bank accounts etc.

• The other half of the year includes a comprehensive course on issues related to health and personal development.

The WebsiteThe Website• Under the label ‘Academic’ the following

can be found:• Homework Timetable• The Option Columns• Examination Administration (!)• Controlled Assessments: timetable for

different subjects (!)• The Academic calendar which includes:

The Reporting ScheduleParents’ Evenings

School Exam dates

20172017

Provisional Results Day:Thursday 17th August!!