This document provides information about a Year 9 Core Subject Curriculum Information Evening held at St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy. It includes an agenda for the evening with presentations on the Flight Path model used in all subjects, as well as information sessions on GCSE subjects including English, Maths, Science, and RE. The document outlines changes to the new GCSE specifications and assessment formats. It provides course overviews and homework examples for each subject. Presenters are listed to answer specific subject queries during the question portion of the evening.

1. St Benet Biscop
Catholic Academy
Year 9 Core Subject Curriculum Information Evening
Wednesday 23rd
September 2015

2. Programme
Information about the Flight Path
model which will be used in all subjects
Mr R. Smailes (Assistant Headteacher)
Information relating to GCSE English Mr J. Floyd (Subject Leader for English)
Information relating to GCSE Maths Mr D. Watson (Subject Leader for Maths)
Information relating to GCSE Science Mrs A. Burn (Subject Leader for Science)
Information relating to GCSE RE Mr A. Taylor (Acting Subject Leader for RE)
Opportunity to speak to Subject Leaders with specific queries

3. What is a Flight Path?
• A Flight Path is designed to allow both
students and teachers to see if a student is
making progress in-line with their target.
• Each student will have a Flight Path for every
subject.
• The Flight Path will be displayed in the book
or folder within each lesson.

4. How Will the Flight Path Work?
• Students will be given a Flight Path sticker in
each lesson. In order to complete it they will
use 2 pieces of information:
– Their KS2 Average Level for English and Maths. This
will be the same for every subject.
– Their subject specific Target. This may differ from one
subject to another.

5. An Example of a Flight Path
Name: A Student
Subject: Geography
KS2 English Level: 5c
KS2 Maths Level: 4b
KS2 Average: 4a
Target: B2 (Found by using the KS2 Av)

7. Title

8. Title

9. How Will the Flight Path Work?
• When students get their termly report they
will be able to plot the grade on their Flight
Path to see if they are on track to achieve
their target.
• The next slide shows an example of the
termly grades for Year 9 plotted on the Flight
Path.

10. Title

11. GCSE English
Mr J Floyd (Subject Leader)

12. New Specification GCSE in English

13. DfE policy intention:
• To increase the challenge of the GCSE
qualification in line with high performing
jurisdictions.

14. So, What’s Changed?
Old Specification GCSE New Specification GCSE
Modular Linear
40% Controlled Assessment 100% Examination
Open book examinations Closed book examinations
Prose/Poetry/Drama taken from a
range of different cultures
Prose/Poetry/Drama taken from
English Literary Heritage
Graded G- A* Graded 1-9(A**)
English Literature/Language taught
separately
English Literature/Language taught
simultaneously across two years
Speaking and Listening forms 20% of
the final GCSE grade in English
Speaking and Listening graded and
certificated separately from GCSE
English (5-1)

15. Breakdown of Assessment
English Language English Literature
Paper 1: Explorations in Creative
Writing
Reading questions based on an extract
from a novel
A writing task: A choice of either a
description or a narrative
Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th
Century novel
Macbeth-Extract and whole-text
question
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr
Hyde- Extract and whole-text question
Paper 2: Writers’ viewpoints and
perspectives
Reading two linked sources from
different time periods and genres -how
each presents a perspective or viewpoint
to influence the reader
Writing to present a viewpoint
Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry
An Inspector Calls- Extract and whole-
text question
A comparison of two poems from the
‘Power and Conflict’
A comparison of two ‘Unseen’ poems

16. GCSE English: a Long-term Plan
Autumn 1 Spring 1 Summer 1
Paper 2: Literature,
Section B
Poetry Anthology: Power
and Conflict
Paper 2: Literature,
Section A
Drama Study: An
Inspector Calls
Paper 1: Literature,
Section B
19th
Century Prose Study:
Jekyll and Hyde
Autumn 2 Spring 2 Summer 2
Paper 1: Literature,
Section A
Shakespeare Study:
Macbeth
Paper 1: Language Section
B
English Paper 1: Exploring
Creative Fiction
Paper 2: Language Section
B
English Paper 2: Non
Fiction Texts (Viewpoints
and Perspectives)

17. Year 9: Preparing for Success in GCSE English
- Enhanced rigour and frequency of
assessments
- Independent creative writing exercises
- Ability setting
- Closed-book assessments
- 19th
Century texts
- Increased focus on extended responses

18. GCSE Maths
Mr D Watson (Subject Leader)

19. GCSE Maths Course Information
-The KS4 GCSE course has started
-You will have seen/heard that students are beginning a new,
more rigorous course and more time is needed to cover content
-Exam in Year 11, OCR J560 specification or AQA 8300.
3 papers, 1hr 30 each 2 calc and 1 non calc
-No more A*-G.
-Grades 1-5 (Foundation) or 4-9 (Higher), there is an overlap.
-Students in sets 1-2 will do higher other sets will be entered for
foundation

20. ~We don’t just teach Maths, we develop Mathematic~We don’t just teach Maths, we develop Mathematicians~

21. Students will be completing internal
assessments and receiving feedback,
topic analysis and revision tips over
the coming months until Year 11, it
will be useful to talk to them about
this and help them to revise topics
they are performing poorly in or feel
uncomfortable with. Your child’s
Maths teacher will be able to help
with this if needed.
~We don’t just teach Maths, we develop Mathematicians~

22. ~We don’t just teach Maths, we develop Mathematicians~
What can you do at home?
-Support with homework
-Revision sites such as MyMaths
www.mymaths.co.uk
and Bitesize
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/mat
MyMaths login: Benet
MyMaths password: percentage
All students have their own logins

23. ~We don’t just teach Maths, we develop Mathematicians~
CGP, GCSE Maths revision, workbooks
and Mathswatch CDs are available,
for more information please contact me
or ask your
Son/daughter to speak to their Maths
teacher.
-Calculators are available for £6
-Revision Guide are available for £2.50
-MathsWatch are available for £4

24. ~We don’t just teach Maths, we develop Mathematicians~
For more information don’t
hesitate to contact me via email:
David Watson, Head of Maths
watsond@st-benetbiscop.org.uk

25. GCSE Science
Mrs A Burn (Subject Leader)

26. Science groups
• Year 9 is sorted into two ability bands upper
and lower based on KS2 performance.
• However, the Science groups within the bands
are in mixed ability groups.
• Groups 1 and 2 in both BISH and COPT
comprise the upper ability range and are
equal in ability (group one is no different from
group 2). Groups 3 and 4 are also no different
in ability.

27. GCSE has changed
• There is no longer a coursework component; the
practical skills will be examined within the
written component of the examination papers
alongside other content.
• The course is now linear - all examinations will
take place in the summer of year 11.
• There is an increased concentration on
mathematical skills.
• There is an increased focus on learning content.
• There is an emphasis on quality of written
communication e.g. spelling, punctuation and
grammar.
• Grades will be replaced by numbers.

28. Year 9 is GCSE
• In year 9 all students will start a three year
GCSE course that will be examined in the
summer of their year 11, 2018.
• The majority of students will study for a
double award combined science from AQA
called the Trilogy (8464). This will result in the
award of two Science GCSE’s at grades 1 to 9.
Students achieving the higher grades will be
able to study Science at A level.

29. Triple Science
We will be offering a maximum of 28 students
from Groups 1 and 2 in each of the BISH and
COPT populations the opportunity to study for
separate GCSE’s in Biology, Chemistry and
Physics.

30. What do these changes mean?
It is essential that all students in Year 9 realise that
they have already started their GCSE courses.
The importance of the application of Literacy and
Maths skills to Science cannot be over emphasised.
We need them to take their studies seriously and to
constantly revisit and revise the topics taught.
Students must take pride in their work and keep all
notebooks, homework and worksheets for the full
three years of the course.

31. Assessment
There will be half termly assessments to track
student progress. At the end of year 9 there will be
an end of year exam that will be used to help place
students in sets for year 10 and choose the
students for separate sciences.
As a Science department, we consider it a priority
to ensure that each individual student reaches their
full potential and as such we will choose the course
most suited to each student to enable them to
achieve the highest level possible.

32. GCSE RE
Mr A Taylor (Assistant Subject Leader)

33. RE from Year 9 to GCSE

34. Course Overview
• Justice

35. Course Overview
• Jesus as a Rebel and Marks Gospel

36. Course Overview
• War

37. Course Overview
• Death

38. Course Overview
• Suffering

39. • Preparing students for GCSE course
• Embedding skills necessary for GCSE
success
• Providing background
information/content
Leading to GCSE

40. Homework Tasks.
You will need to complete these tasks when your RE teacher tells you to.
Once you have done them please ask your parent/carer to sign in the box
to say that you have completed them to the best of your ability.
Task Activity Parent/carer
1
Research Homework
Research what Christians mean when they talk about
justice. Use examples to illustrate your answer
2
“The world is an unfair place” Do you agree? Give
two reasons for your opinion
Success Criteria
Try to write two, well explained paragraphs
Make reference to what is just/unjust in your answer
3
Explain why Christians work to bring about justice in
the world
Success Criteria
Try to write four, well explained paragraphs, and try
to include some of Jesus’ teaching
Aim to use the Word “Because” in each of the 4
paragraphs you write
You will be marked on the quality of your literacy in
this answer
4
“If everyone treated others as they would like to be
treated, we would not need laws” Do you agree?
Give three reasons for your opinion, and three why
someone would disagree with you
Success Criteria
Try to write two paragraphs, with three reasons in
each, and refer to Christianity in your answers
Make sure to state your opinion in your answers
5
Revise and prepare for your assessment

41. Questions
Mr R Smailes (Assistant Headteacher)
Mr S Plumb (Head of Progress for Year 9)
Mr J Floyd (Subject Leader for English)
Mr D Watson (Subject Leader for Maths)
Mrs A Burn (Subject Leader for Science)
Mr A Taylor (Assistant Subject Leader for RE)