Year 11 Parents Information Evening Booklet 2019-2020

Year 11 Parents’ Information Evening th

Thursday 12 September Schedule of Assessment and Reporting 2019-20

Tarleton Academy is at the centre of a community of inspirational partnerships which nurtures respectful, independent, lifelong learners working together to shape a better future for all.

Our motto states that ‘we make our future’ (Facimus Nostrae Futurae) and to this end as a school within Endeavour Learning Trust our overall aims are to provide:  A world class education for all our students, regardless of ability or background, which builds resilience, confidence and drive, in an ever-changing world  A workforce of the highest calibre, with a winning combination of teamwork, skill, experience, passion and an unwavering commitment to excellence  A relentless focus on individual and collective improvement and personal and professional development, in an ethos of high expectations and personal ambition  The moral imperative to ensure that no child is left behind and no individual is overlooked in their uniqueness and distinctive potential  A nurturing environment, where everyone feels safe and valued and where we get the balance right between encouragement and support and stretch and challenge, so that all of us can aim high and work together to make those aspirations a reality  A genuine commitment to foster partnerships, across our family of schools, with our parents, other strategic partners and our wider communities  The expertise to efficiently and effectively deploy and maximise our resources across the Multi Academy Trust (MAT)

Frequently Asked Questions for Parents GCSE Grading in 2020

1. Why have GCSE grades changed?

GCSEs in England have been reformed to keep pace with universities’ and employers’ demands.

They are based on new and more demanding subject content but are still suitable for the same wide range of abilities. The new grade scale makes it clear to everyone that students have studied the new GCSEs. It also has more higher grades compared to the old A* to G grades, to give sixth forms, colleges, universities and employers the opportunity to better distinguish between students of different abilities.

2. If the exams are harder, will students get worse grades?

Although the exams will have to cover a wider, more challenging range of content, the independent exam regulator Ofqual has made it clear that students sitting these examinations will not be disadvantaged. Whilst students may come out of the exams feeling that they have done less well, Ofqual has said that the same proportion of students who previously achieved a C and above will achieve a grade 4 and above in the new GCSEs (see Q4). The exam boards will base standards on results of 16 year-olds who took previous GCSE qualifications, so that it does not disadvantage future students.

3. How does the new grading system match the old one?

Ofqual have designed the grading so that there are comparable points at key grades. The bottom of a grade 7 is comparable to the bottom of the old grade A, the bottom of a new grade 4 is comparable to the bottom of the old grade C, and the bottom of the new grade 1 is comparable to the bottom of the old grade G. Ofqual have been clear to employers, universities and others that if they previously set entry requirements of at least a grade C, then the equivalent now would be to require at least grade 4:  broadly the same proportion of pupils will achieve a grade 7 and above as currently achieve a grade A and above  broadly the same proportion of pupils will achieve a grade 4 and above as currently achieve a grade C and above  broadly the same proportion of pupils will achieve a grade 1 and above as currently achieve a grade G and above It is important to realise that the new GCSEs have more grades.

While it is true to say that the same proportion of candidates will get a 4 and above as currently get a C and above, it is not true to say a grade 4 is directly equivalent to a grade C. This is because of the expanded number of grades above a 4. So, a grade 4 represents the bottom two thirds of a grade C, while a grade 5 is the equivalent of the top third of grade C and the bottom third of grade B.

4. As the top grade is grade 9, will there be similar numbers of 9s awarded to A*s currently?

There is more differentiation in the reformed (new) qualifications, as there are three top grades (7, 8 and 9), compared to two in the unreformed (old) qualifications (A and A*), so you would expect5that fewer students will get a grade 9 than previously got an A*.

5. I have heard there will be a ‘standard’ pass and a ‘strong pass’, what does this mean?

The government will publish schools’ results not just at the ‘standard pass’ (grade 4 and above), but also at the ‘strong pass’ (at grade 5 and above) in school performance tables only. The number of pupils achieving a ‘strong pass’ will be one of the measures by which schools are judged.

6. Will employers and colleges be asking for a 4 or a 5 as part of their entry criteria?

Employers, colleges and universities will continue to decide the level of GCSE grades needed to meet their individual employment or study requirements. The DfE is encouraging employers, colleges and universities to have realistic expectations of pupils in the first cohorts to sit the new, tougher GCSEs when setting their entry requirements for work or further study. Employers and colleges will also need to recruit the same number of students as previously, so are likely to set their criteria in terms of the equivalence of C and above and 4 and above.

7. Will A levels be changing their grades too?

No, A levels will retain their A*-E grades and AS qualifications their A-E grades.

8. What is Combined Science?

Students taking science will take one or more separate sciences – biology, chemistry and physics – or combined science. Combined science is really two GCSEs rolled into one qualification. Students will study biology, chemistry and physics but they won’t cover as much content as those students sitting separate sciences.

Combined science students will get an award consisting of two equal or adjacent grades from 9 to 1 (eg 9-9, 9-8, 8-8 through to 1-1), and it will count as two GCSEs when students apply for jobs, sixth form, or to university.

Key Dates

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Friday 18 October 2019 th

Thursday 28 November 2019 th

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9 December – 19 December 2019 st

Friday 31 January 2020 th

Thursday 5 March 2020 rd

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23 March – 27 March 2020 st

Year 11 Data Reports to Parents Year 11 Parents’ Evening st

1 Practice Examinations Full Report to Parents Year 11 Subject Consultation Evening 2

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Practice Year 11 Examinations

Friday 1 May 2020

Year 11 Data Reports to Parents

May 2020

Summer Exam Series th

Thursday 20 August 2020

GCSE Results Day

Academic queries please contact the appropriate House Progress Lead; Daley – Mrs C Leathard c.leathard@tarletonacademy.org Ennis – Mr Fletcher j.fletcher@tarletonacademy.org Farah – Mrs Lowe j.lowe@tarletonacademy.org Wiggins – Mr Taylor j.taylor@tarletonacademy.org Pastoral queries please contact the Personal & Behaviour Manager; Mrs M Feeney m.feeney@tarletonacademy.org To report a student absence please contact the Academy answerphone 01772 812644 (option 1) or alternatively you can email attendance@tarletonacademy.org giving the student’s name, tutor group, reason for absence and estimated date of return to school.

Reporting to Parents

Over the course of the academic year you will receive 3 reports on your child’s progress. There will be 2 data reports and a tutor comment report containing specific targets. There will also be 2 subject consultation evenings.

Reporting on Progress Progress judgements will be given in each data report and they will state if your child is:  Making more than expected progress  Making expected progress  Not making expected progress Reporting on Engagement Engagement in Learning reflects the ‘big picture’ including behaviour, attitude to classwork and homework, motivation, organisation etc. and is be judged in one of the following categories: 

  

Excellent – A highly motivated student with an outstanding attitude to learning. They consistently display resilience, independence and are committed. They clearly have a thirst for learning.

Positive - A committed student who has a positive attitude to learning. They regularly display resilience, independence and a thirst for learning.

Inconsistent – A student who generally has a positive attitude to learning. Occasionally they may be off task, engage in low level distractions or fail to meet deadlines.

Disappointing – A student who shows an unsatisfactory attitude to classwork and homework. They are too often off task or engaging in behaviour that results in warnings or removals.

College Open Days 2019 - 2020

21st September 2019 11am – 3pm 10th October 2019 4pm- 8pm 19th November 2019 4pm – 8pm 4th March 2020 4pm – 8pm www.runshaw.ac.uk 01772 622677 9th October 2019 5pm – 8pm 25th November 2019 5pm – 8pm 4th March 2020 5pm – 8pm 1st June 2020 5pm – 8pm www.southport-college.ac.uk 01704 500606 15th October 2019 5pm – 8pm 13th November 2019 5pm – 8pm www.kgv.ac.uk 01704 530601

12th October 2019 10am – 1pm 16th November 2019 10am – 1pm 1st February 2019 10am – 1pm www.cardinalnewman.ac.uk 01772 460181

WITTON PARK CAMPUS 7th September 2019 9.45am – 12.30pm 5TH October 2019 9.45am – 12.30pm 9th November 2019 9.45am – 12.30pm 7th December 2019 9.45am – 12.30pm 8th February 2020 9.45am – 12.30pm www.myserscough.ac.uk 01995 642222 CROXTETH & PRESTON MAIN CAMPUS 7th September 2019 10am – 12.30pm 5TH October 2019 10am – 12.30pm 9th November 2019 10am – 12.30pm 7th December 2019 10am – 12.30pm 8th February 2020 10am – 12.30pm

1st October 2019 4pm -7.30pm 2nd November 2019 10am – 2pm 11th March 2019 4pm – 7.30pm www.preston.ac.uk 01772 225522

17th October 2019 – 6pm Onwards www.huttonsixthform.co.uk 01772 613112 4th November 2019 4.30pm – 7pm 18th November 2019 4.30pm – 7pm 10th February 2010 4.30pm – 7pm 8th June 2020 4.30pm- 7pm th 9 March 2020 – CAREERS & PROGRESSION FAIR 8.45am – 4pm www.westlancs.ac.uk 01695 52300 Thursday 3rd October 2019 Tuesday 13th October 2019 4.30pm – 7.30pm Saturday 9th November 2019 10am - 2pm Wednesday 13th February 2019 Thursday 17th June 2019 4.30pm – 7.30pm www.blackburn.ac.uk 01254 292929

Wellbeing, Prevention and Early Help Service Leyland Youth Zone, West Paddock, PR25 1HR Tel: 01772 426850 - 426858 Talk Zone: The Line Freephone Service 0800 511 111 2pm – 10pm 365 days a year Text: 07786511111 Webtalk/Q2A: or visit our website www.lancashire.gov.uk/yps