YEAR 7 INFORMATION EVENING

Welcome to….

EXAM RESULTS 2014

71% of students achieved the headline figure of 5 A*-C including English and Maths

81% of students achieved 5 A*-C grades

82% of students achieved a grade C or above in Maths

77% of students achieved a grade C or above in English

WELCOME TO SECONDARY SCHOOL…….

A time of change…..

Personalisation…….

Enrichment………….

Achievement………..

ORGANISATION OF THE CURRICULUM

There are two halves of year 7… A ‘four half’ Dmu, DM, KRo, SP A ‘three half’ AK, HB, CMa All tutor groups are mixed ability and

are all of similar overall ability. English, RS, History, Geography, ICT,

Drama, PDC, Music, Science, Art, French and German are taught in tutor groups.

OTHER SUBJECTS…….

Maths – 3 hrs. Pupils are set. Technology – 2 ½ hrs. Groups are

rearranged and are smaller than usual due to practical nature of subject. Groups rotate around activities on a half termly basis.

PE – each half of the year is split into 4 classes. Groupings are generally mixed ability and can be mixed sex or single sex depending on the activity,

KEY STAGE 3 – YEAR 7 AND 8

The organisation of year 8 is broadly similar to year 7.

There is a curriculum map for each half term in year 7 and 8

The terms have been planned to promote links between learning in subject areas

Term 6 is International term – activities in and out of class are planned.

OPTIONS

Pupils will choose a language and a humanities subject to study in Key Stage 4 in March of year 8.

A further two options from a wide choice will be chosen in February of year 9

Pupils will be able to choose another language or another humanities subject at this point (if they wish)

LANGUAGES….YEAR 8 OPTIONS

A choice of… Double Language (2 GCSE’s over 3

years) French GCSE German GCSE Spanish GCSE Foundation Learning

HUMANITIES…

Choice from… History GCSE Geography GCSE RS Foundation Learning

FOUNDATION LEARNING

Jamie Oliver Cooking Skills Accredited sports and fitness award Duke of Edinburgh skills Forest Schools

OPTION BLOCKS – OPEN CHOOSE 2 SUBJECTS AND A RESERVE OPTION

Art and Design ComputingDrama Information Technology MusicPhysical Education Religious StudiesFrench GeographyPerforming Arts: Dance (Btec)

(GCSE unless stated)

Child DevelopmentGerman HistoryGraphic ProductsResistant MaterialsFood TechnologyTextilesSpanishClassical Civilisations

GCSE

All GCSE’s will be ‘new style’ Terminal examinations Much less emphasis on coursework

(controlled assessment) Grades 1 9 rather than A*-G (9 will be

the highest)

NEW GCSE GRADES

The bottom of new grade 4 will be closely aligned to the bottom of current grade C.

The bottom of new grade 1 will be closely aligned to the bottom of current grade G.

The bottom of new grade 7 will be closely aligned with the bottom of current grade A.

For each exam subject and series, the top 20 per cent of those who get grade 7 or above will get a grade 9.

CHANGES TO HEADLINE MEASURES

5 A*-C is being replaced as the key accountability to schools by Progress 8

Attainment, Ebacc and attendance will also be reported on

Progress 8 measures student progress across 8 subject areas

Seen as a fairer system to judge schools

HOUSES

House points awarded for Sports day, Interform, Reward points, Departmental competitons e.g spelling challenges etc

House points update on the website

SOUTH DOWNS

WOLSTONBURY

BEACON

IMPORTANT DATES THIS TERM

September – CATS tests and Blacklands Farm 22nd September – PTA meeting 30th September – Learning Support Coffee

Morning (9.15am) 2nd October – Science Family Fun Evening 6th October – Downlands Forum (6pm) 10th October – INSET DAY 23rd October - Year 7 Settling In Evening 14th November – Children in Need – non

uniform day 16th December – Year 7 Xmas Disco