The Key Stage 4
Curriculum
Paul Miller, Deputy Headteacher
The Key Stage 4 Curriculum Offer
Subject
Hours per fortnight
No. of GCSEs or BTECs
6
2
6 or 8
1
10 or 12
2 or 3
Religion and Life
4
1
PE
2
Option 1
5
1
Option 2
5
1
Option 3
5
1
Option 4
5
1
English (Lang. and Lit.)
Maths
Science (double or triple)
Some students have additional English & Maths lessons in place of one of their 4 options
New GCSEs and BTECs
Year 10 are studying new, ‘reformed’ GCSEs in
English and Maths
• These are more demanding academically, and with more content
• There is an increased emphasis on Spelling, Punctuation and
grammar (SPaG) in all qualifications.
The Key Stage 4 Curriculum Offer
Preparing students for the new GCSEs and BTECs:
• Teachers will be ensuring their marking focuses on SPaG
• For most subjects, teachers will be providing weekly feedback
to students
The new GCSE grading scale
Old GCSE
grade
New GCSE
grade
9
A*
8
A
7
B
New grade 9 will be a
higher standard than
current A* grade
6
5
C
D
4
3
E
2
F
G
1
Expected standard
will be higher than
current grade C
Assessment and
measuring progress
New Performance Measures
English & Maths
(grades 5-9)
English
Baccalaureate
Attainment 8
Progress 8
English & Maths
Expectations for most students:
• A grade 5-9 in both English and Maths is the expected national
standard
• These grades will be required to progress on to A Level courses
in the Sixth Form
English Baccalaureate
Expectations for most students:
• The ‘Ebacc’ is a package of subjects that most students are
expected to study:
• English, Maths, Science, a Language and History / Geography
• A grade 5-9 or A*-C in all these subjects is desirable.
Attainment 8
This is a measure of overall attainment of a student:
• The average grade of a student’s best 8 subjects
• English and Maths are ‘double weighted’
• This may become a measure used by Sixth Forms and colleges
when considering post-16 courses
x2
x2
Progress 8
A measure of the overall progress of a student:
• A student’s best 8 GCSE grades are compared with the national
average for students with a similar performance in the Year 6
SATS
• For example: a Progress 8 score of +1 means that a student
has achieved 1 GCSE grade higher (on average) than the
national average for students of similar ability – i.e. made more
progress than the national average.
• Predicted Progress 8 (P8) scores will appear on Student
Profiles:
P8 = positive
P8 = 0
P8 = negative
– better progress than expected
– expected progress
– underachievement
You will receive a Student Profile 4 times a year:
Student: Lucy Lurnerr,
Attendance: 97.8%
Authorised Absences: 9
Unauthorised Absences: 1
Form: CAM S8, Year: 10
Progress 8: +0.5
SUBJECT
End of
End of KS4
KS4
Target
Challenge
Grade
Grade
Jul- Oct
Effort
ENGLISH
g6
g7
E
MATHS
g6
g7
SCIENCE
B
GEOGRAPHY
…
Colour
Effort
Excellent
Very good
Good
Requires
improvement
Unsatisfactory
WaG
Nov-Dec
PG
g6c g7c
Effort
PG
Effort
WaG
Apr-Jun
PG
Effort
WaG
Achievemen
t & Targets
PG
Set: date
g6b g7c
 Comment
 Target
G g5c g6b
G g5b g6b
 Comment
 Target
A
V
B3 A3
E
B2 A3
 Comment
 Target
B
A
R
D1 C1
U
D1 C2
 Comment
 Target
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
E
WaG
Jan-Mar
…
…
Working at Step (WaG)
Working significantly above age expectation.
GCSE indicator: g8 / A* or better
Working above age expectation.
GCSE indicator: g6 / B or better
Working at age expectation.
GCSE indicator: g5 / C or better
Working below age expectation.
GCSE indicator: g4 / D or better
Working significantly below age expectation.
GCSE indicator: g3 / E or better
…
…
…
…
…
Predicted Step (PG)
Excellent progress: on track to achieve
Challenge Grade
Very good progress: on track to exceed
Target Grade
Good progress: on track to achieve
Target Grade
Progress towards Target Grade requires
improvement
Progress towards Target Grade is
unsatisfactory
Controlled Assessments
Controlled Assessments are a key part of the GCSE
assessment process, and can represent a significant
proportion of the marks awarded for a GCSE
qualification.
• Controlled Assessments are usually completed in class under ‘exam
conditions’ (or in the words of the examination boards, “a high level
of supervision”), but may involve some preparation work at home. It
is vital that students go into controlled assessment lessons properly
prepared having revised the appropriate skills and knowledge or
having conducted the necessary research, practice or pre-drafting. It
is obviously essential that students are in school for all the
controlled assessment lessons.
• Make sure you take a Controlled Assessment booklet!