IDSALL SCHOOL

Effective Revision Strategies

A Partnership

The time is fast approaching when your son or daughter needs to be beginning a properly structured revision programme in preparation for the forthcoming GCSE examinations (I know some students have already begun to do this). In this letter, I will be setting out some of the main issues for you and your child to consider in setting up an effective revision system. Whilst I will be giving you some specific guidance, I would acknowledge at the outset that revision style is (to an extent at least) a personal preference and different things will work for individual students. However, this guidance is based upon recognised good practice which should be of benefit to everyone. Can I also point out at the start that productive revision depends upon the strength of the partnership between student, parents and the school. For this reason, if you have any questions or concerns during the next few weeks please contact the relevant subject teacher or your child’s Learning Manager

Time is short… The bulk of the examinations will be taken over a period of about a month beginning in mid May. When you receive this leaflet, there will be about 8 weeks until the examination season begins. This means that if your child has not begun a structured revision programme, it is time to start. It is worth investing a couple of hours in compiling a revision timetable. This will be time well spent as a good timetable will save you and your child a lot of time between now and the end of the examinations in June. Visit https://getrevising.co.uk/ together and create a bespoke revision timetable.

The benefits of proper revision A well organised revision timetable will help your child prepare effectively for their examinations. Put simply, the more topics children have revised properly, the better grades they are likely to achieve in their GCSEs. Perhaps less obviously, organised revision will also help them to reduce the pressure that inevitably accompanies this period in their lives. Revision becomes much more manageable if students can see it mapped out ahead of them in a logical way.

How much revision? As parents, your role will be crucial in helping manage your child’s workload. Some children will have a tendency to overwork if allowed. Others will find it difficult to get down to meaningful study. You must help your child if they tend towards either of these dispositions. However, the simple truth is that success at GCSE requires hard work and this means a lot of revision. As a guide, I suggest that from this point on your child should be doing about three hours of revision per evening on weekdays (this study time includes any home learning set). This should rise towards four hours from Easter. On one day at the weekend, students should be revising for perhaps four to six hours. The other day should be kept free for relaxation. Please be flexible about these guidelines. If your child has a regular commitment on a week night then keep it up and make up the time at the weekend. If you miss an occasional night then do not worry about it. In general, I suggest children should get on with their revision in the early evening. Ideally, you should look for them to be finished by 9.00pm (a little later after Easter). I know that some young people have a preference for working late but (at aged 15 or 16 certainly) I think this is to be discouraged. Your child should definitely not be revising after 10.00pm.

What is effective revision? Hours spent at a desk with a textbook and pencil do not equate to effective learning. Far too many students put in wasted hours whilst believing they are working hard. Good revision techniques require the student to think and to be an active learner. These are some productive ways of revising: • • • •

reading, then making notes from memory-memorising and recording key words on cards or ‘post its’ using bright colours to help memorise words and phrases – then practise timed examination questions and check over answers rehearsing answers verbally with family members provides useful variety answering questions on computerised revision packages like Bitesize or PiXL maths

The following revision activities may be tempting for children but are largely a waste of time: • •

reading from notes, textbooks or a computer screen making notes direct from textbooks

Research on Revision Techniques Effectiveness of the 10 most popular revision techniques.

Technique Elaborate interrogation Self-explanation Summarising Highlighting / underlining Keyword mnemonics Imagery Re-reading Practice testing Distributed practice Interleaved leaved practice

Explanation Being able to explain a point or fact How a problem was solved Writing summaries of texts whilst still accessing the texts Highlighting / underlining key words whilst still accessing the text Choosing a word to associate with information Forming mental pictures while reading or listening Self testing to check knowledge – especially using flash cards Spreading out study over time Switching between different kinds of problems

Effectiveness Moderate Moderate Low Low Low Low Low High High moderate

Professor Dunlovsky said ‘Students who can test themselves or try to retrieve material from their memory are going to learn that material better in the long run.’ ‘Start by reading the text book then make flash cards of the critical concepts and test yourself. A century of research has shown that repeated testing works. This is because the student is more engaged and it is harder for the mind to wander.’ ‘Testing itself when you get the correct answers appears to produce a more elaborative memory trace connected with your prior knowledge, so you’re building on what you know.’

How can parents help? Your support can make a real difference to your child’s chances of success. Practical help you can provide includes: Getting the revision space right You must find your child a quiet place to revise away from the distractions of TV and chatter. They need a well lit space with a table and chair. Make sure they are equipped with all of the resources they need for each session before they begin. Managing distractions For many children, the prospect of sitting down to concentrate for two or three hours of revision can be quite daunting. Parents can be a big help in gently insisting that their child gets started and then (whether they like it or not) popping into their revision room every 45 minutes or so to make sure they are getting on with it. In particular, if your child is using a computer then check they are on a revision website not a social one. Many parents fear that they may be seen as interfering. You are not. The most effective revision is a team effort. Do not allow your child to be interrupted during their revision. If friends call, then politely tell them to call back later. It is worth writing a few words about mobile phones as they can cause a lot of acrimony between children and their parents at this important time. My view is that your child should not need their phone during a revision session so there is no good reason for them to have it in the room with them. If they do, then the temptation to text or e-mail friends may just be too great. A child may argue that they need to contact friends to help with revision but I would be sceptical about this. On balance, it is far better to agree with your child that they leave their phone outside of their revision room. Breaks Make sure that your child takes regular breaks during longer revision sessions. Research shows that, in order to get some relaxation without breaking concentration too much, the optimum break time should be about five minutes per half hour of revision. Do allow your child to leave the room during breaks but do not let them sit down in front of the TV as five minutes becomes 15…

Wellbeing A lot of children will feel pressure as their examinations approach. Parents have a crucial role in helping manage any feelings of anxiety that may arise. Your starting point is the revision timetable. Make sure it is in place and stick to it (no less and no more). This creates a solid foundation to manage the revision period. Next, when they are not revising make sure your child gets some fresh air and does things which take their mind off their studies. Eating and drinking well are essential. Many children succumb to not eating properly and not taking on enough fluid. Support from parents is essential in ensuring that these things do not happen. Make sure your child gets enough sleep. It is impossible for children to revise productively when they are too tired. Do not underestimate your role as support, coach and confidante during the revision period. Children respond differently to support (not always with obvious enthusiasm) but they do benefit from it. I suggest that if in doubt intervene. A revision contract Some families set out a ‘contract’ for how everyone agrees to conduct themselves during revision time. This need not be too complex a document and it can be useful to have to hand when disagreement occurs. The contract can cover such things as managing interruptions, what is to be done with mobile phones and bedtime.

Some next steps A revision programme of after school sessions has already begun and further revision programmes will take place in the Easter and May half term breaks. Not all students will need to attend these sessions. We will write to you if your child needs to come along. Students not required to attend will usually be invited to come along to the sessions on a voluntary basis. It is important to remember that time spent in school with a teacher is the most effective revision of all. Please do not allow your child to try and convince you otherwise. As such an in-school revision and exam timetable has been posted to you. The revision sessions timetabled before exams are compulsory for all students, unless of course there is also an exam at the same time as the revision session. The exams obviously take precedence. As I wrote at the outset, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Best wishes for the next four months!

Year 11 GCSE English Language Examination Examination Board: AQA Date of Exam: Tuesday 7th June AM (2 hours 15 minutes) Paper to be sat: Understanding and producing non-fiction texts (Worth 60% of total marks) On the paper, 50% of the marks are for the responses to reading (Section A) and 50% for writing (Section B). (Please see the ‘Parents’ Leaflet’ given out at Parents’ Evening for more specific information.) Section A - Reading Students will be given three non-fiction texts to read and questions that will test their ability to extract information from texts (using quotations) as well as analyse the uses of language and presentational features. Reading newspapers, websites, persuasive leaflets or extracts from autobiographies all act as good practice for the types of texts pupils may encounter. Section B - Writing There are two questions: Q5 is worth 16 marks and Q6 is worth 24 marks. Due to this, we suggest that students answer Q6 before Q5. Students are marked on their ability to adapt their writing to the task, form, audience and purpose. When they first read the question they should FLAP at the task so that they note the question’s “Form, Language, Audience and Purpose”. It should be noted that 1/3 of the marks available in this section are for paragraphing – without paragraphs, it is highly unlikely that they will achieve higher than an E grade in this section. 14 of the 40 marks available are for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Often, the most common mistakes are when students forget capital letters which can be very costly. Practising how to use the more ambitious punctuation, such as semi-colons, dashes, colons and ellipsis, would be advisable. The mock feedback booklets contain guidance on this should students require it. Revision Websites and Twitter BBC Bitesize is a useful website with a variety of activities students can use. The English Department Twitter Feed, run by Mrs Barnett, can also be a useful resource for revision. Revision sessions These will run every Tuesday after school in E1. Wednesday lunchtimes are also available as a ‘drop-in’ session in E1 should students wish to attend. In the run up to the examination, students will also undergo a ‘Revision Carousel’ where different types of writing for Section B are taught. The booklet given to students contains more advice on what to revise as well as mark schemes, exemplar responses and practice questions. From this, classes are generally also given an examination question to complete each week.

Year 11 GCSE English/English Literature Examinations Examination Board: AQA Date of Examinations: Paper 1, Monday 23rd May (1 hour 30 minutes); Paper 2, Friday 27th May (1 hour 15 minutes). Papers to be sat: Paper 1 – Modern Texts (40% of total marks) Section A, 45 minutes Students will write an essay based on the text ‘An Inspector Calls’. They will have a choice of two questions and are marked on their ability to explore how the playwright presents his ideas. All responses will need to reference the writer (Priestley) and use quotations throughout the answer. N.B. 4 marks are also available for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Section B, 45 minutes This is a two-part response to the prose text studied (either ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ or ‘Of Mice and Men’). The first part will be a response to a printed passage; the second part will ask a more general question where students will be expected to refer to the rest of the text and the contexts. Students must revise the contexts that have influenced their text. Paper 2 – Poetry (35% of total marks) Section A, 45 minutes A comparative question where students will be asked to compare two of the poems in their set Anthology. They will need to revise each of the poems studied as any of them could be named in the examination. Section B, 30 minutes Unseen Poetry Response. Students will be given a poem that they have not seen before and will have to respond to a question that focuses on a given theme. In all questions, the basic skills being assessed are the same: students’ ability to explore how writers use language, form and structure to shape their readers’ responses. They should, therefore, refer to the writer often and use quotations throughout each response. Revising how to use FEEL paragraphs might be useful as well. Revision Websites BBC Bitesize is a useful website with a variety of activities students can use. Revision sessions Friday lunchtimes are available as a ‘drop-in’ session in E1 should students wish to attend.

Year 11 GCSE Maths Revision – Foundation Tier Exam Board: Edexcel Examinations:

Paper 1 (Non-Calculator) – Thu 26th May a.m. (worth 100 marks) Paper 2 (Calculator) – Thu 9th June a.m. (worth 100 marks)

PASSWORD: decimal

LOGIN: Idsall

Go to: www.mymaths.co.uk

Perimeter, area and volume 3-D shapes Real-life graphs Straight line graphs Compound measures Timetables and distance-time graphs Probability Formulae Angle properties of polygons Transformations Scatter graphs and correlation Averages and range Quadratic graphs Trial and improvement Circles Pythagoras' theorem

and www.hegartymaths.com

Integers and Decimals Coordinates Angles, lines and triangles Reading scales and converting units Collecting data Charts and graphs Symmetry, similarity and congruence Types of numbers Rules of algebra Constructions Patterns and sequences Quadrilaterals and parallel lines Pie charts Fractions, decimals and percentages Ratio and proportion Linear equations and inequalities

Maths Support on Internet:

Topics covered:

Go to: http://corbettmaths.com

Equipment required: Ruler graduated in centimetres and millimetres, protractor, pair of compasses, pen, HB pencil, eraser. Tracing paper may be requested. Scientific calculator for Paper 2 only.

1.)

You learn Maths by doing it, not by reading about it. Do not just look over old notes - answer questions.

2.)

Revise little and often throughout Year 11 - use something like www.corbettmaths.com’s 5-a-day to maintain fluency in a range of topics.

3.)

Practice papers are available from many websites such as www.hegartymaths.com. Work on these papers to ensure that you are familiar with the types of problems that you will be tackling in the exam.

4.)

If you are stuck there are plenty of video tutorials online to help you. Both of the websites mentioned so far have these.

5.)

Talk to people about Maths. If they have different ideas and strategies to solve problems you can only learn from that and, by explaining and being questioned on your ideas, you will be able to think more deeply about what you know.

6.)

Do not only revise topics that are ‘easy’! Make sure that you are working on something that you need to get better at. Use past papers to identify what you are not good at and work on that.

7.)

Make sure you know how to use your equipment. The calculator that you will use in your exam should be the one you use for practice.

8.)

It takes time to get better. Give yourself time to get it wrong. If you get the questions right first time every time then you are revising the wrong things.

9.) Supplement working on questions with Maths games such as those on www.studymaths.co.uk which will keep some Maths skills ticking over. Make sure that you do not just do these though! You need to have a fully rounded revision programme. Yes, it’s difficult and not always interesting but it’s worth it!

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Idsall Maths

Recommend: CGP Revision Guides

10.)

Year 11 GCSE Mathematics Revision – Higher Tier Exam Board: Edexcel Examinations:

Paper 1 (Non-Calculator) – Thu 26th May a.m. (worth 100 marks) Paper 2 (Calculator) – Thu 9th June a.m. (worth 100 marks)

PASSWORD: decimal

LOGIN: Idsall

Go to: www.mymaths.co.uk

Probability Ratio and scale Averages and range Pythagoras and trigonometry Trial and improvement Surface area and volume Compound measures Transformations Similarity and congruence Quadratic functions, equations and graphs Index notation and surds Circle theorems Sine and cosine rules Vectors Further graphs and functions Transformations of graphs

and www.hegartymaths.com

Integers and decimals Coordinates Fractions Algebra Shape and angle Collecting data Displaying data Construction and loci Types of numbers Patterns and sequences 2-D and 3-D shapes Perimeter and area Fractions, decimals and percentages Formulae and linear equations Linear graphs Simultaneous equations

Maths Support on Internet:

Topics covered:

Go to: http://corbettmaths.com

Equipment required: Ruler graduated in centimetres and millimetres, protractor, pair of compasses, pen, HB pencil, eraser. Tracing paper may be requested. Scientific calculator for Paper 2 only.

Science: Additional & Separate Sciences: Exam Board: Edexcel: Download the specification for the exam course & past papers: This goes through in detail the examinable content for the course – including details about exams and coursework. Additional Science: http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/science-2011mixed.html#tab-1 Separate Science: http://qualifications.pearson.com/content/demo/en/qualifications/edexcelgcses/science-2011-individual.html Past Papers available from the Edexcel website – direct links above, are especially useful – mark schemes are also available along with the examiner’s commentary giving specific examples of what is looked for in each paper and question.

Exam Dates: Additional Science: 3 Exams: B2: Biology: C2: Chemistry: P2: Physics: Triple Science: 9 Exams: Biology B1: B2: B3: Chemistry C1: C2: C3: Physics P1: P2: P3:

10th June 2016 AM 15th June 2016 PM 17th June 2016 AM 17th May 2016 PM 10th June 2016 AM 20th June 2016 AM 19th May 2016 AM 15th June 2016 PM 22nd June 2016 AM 25th May 2016 PM 17th June 2016 AM 24th June 2016 AM

Revision Guides – CGP have published ‘The Workbook’ this is a revision guide style question book that covers knowledge up to and including A* - Available for Additional Science and the separate Sciences (Biology, Chemistry & Physics). With every revision guide from CGP you can download a free revision app. iSchool – Provides access to the Science Boardworks Teaching PowerPoints – these are superb for revision. I am Learning: More fact knowledge but game based – useful for lerning the core lower mark knowledge. BBC BiteSize Resources – Revision Units, Edexcel is the exam Board used by Science for GCSE, pupils can then revise individual topics from the course, these include games and other downloadable resources. You Tube: Many excellent video’s explaining specific concepts, much better if linked to the specific exam board e.g. Edexcel B1. Examples are – Minute Physics, Fuse School, Doodle Science. Monday Revision Sessions – Science revision sessions will predominantly be on a Monday afterschool. These are drop in sessions for pupils to come with problems and or areas they do not understand or need help with. Apps: With every revision guide purchased from CGP free access is given to the CGP revision app. Gojimo is also an excellent Science revision app.

Edexcel Additional Science: Three Exams at the end of Year 11. Additional Scientists complete one GCSE in Year 11 covering all three sciences; Biology, Chemistry and Physics. This means students must complete three one hour examinations. Additional Scientists must revise everything in the Additional Science text book and/or revision guide. The text book is broken down into three main strands (B2, C2 and P2) which contain 34 separate sections (lessons). 1.

Additional Science Revision Guide

2.

Additional Science requires one revision guide. 3.

B2 – The Components of Life, Biology. a. Topic 1: The building blocks of cells – 14 sections. b. Topic 2: Organisms and energy – 10 sections. c. Topic 3: Common Systems – 10 sections. C2 – Discovering Chemistry, Chemistry. a. Topic 1: Atomic structure and the periodic table – 4 sections. b. Topic 2: Ionic compounds and analysis – 7 sections. c. Topic 3: Covalent compounds and separation techniques – 5 sections. d. Topic 4: Groups in the periodic table – 7 sections. e. Topic 5: Chemical reactions – 6 sections. f. Topic 6: Quantitative chemistry – 5 sections. P2 – Physics for your future, Physics. a. Topic1: Static and current electricity – 3 sections. b. Topic 2: Controlling and using electric currents – 4 sections. c. Topic 3: Motions and forces – 8 sections. d. Topic 4: Momentum, energy, work and power – 7 sections. e. Topic 5: Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion – 5 sections. f. Topic 6: Benefits and drawbacks of using radioactive materials – 7 sections.

Additional Science Text Book Additional Science requires one text book.

Edexcel Triple Science: Nine Exams at the end of Year 11.

Biology Revision Guide Triple Science requires three revision guides.

Triple Scientists are completing three separate GCSEs, one GCSE in Biology, one GCSE in Chemistry and one GCSE in Physics. Triple Scientist must revise everything from the core science, additional science and extension units text books and/or GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics Revision Guides. The core, additional and extension units text books are broken down into three main strands (B1, C1, P1, B2, C2, P2 and B3, C3 and P3 respectively). Strands B1 to P2 each have 34 separate sections and the B3, C3 and P3 strands have 27 sections each meaning a total of 285 separate sections or lessons. This is a lot to revise. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Chemistry Revision Guide

6. 7. 8. 9.

Physics Revision Guide

B1 – Influences on life, Biology (34). • Split into 3 topics. C1 – Chemistry in our world, Chemistry (34). • Split into 5 topics. P1 – Universal Physics, Physics (34). • Split into 6 topics. B2 – The components of life, Biology (34). • Split into 3 topics C2 – Discovering Chemistry, Chemistry (34). • Split into 6 topics. P2 – Physics for your future, Physics (34). • Split into 6 topics. B3 – Using Biology, Biology (27). • Split into 3 topics. C3 – Chemistry in action, Chemistry (27). • Split into 5 topics. P3 – Applications of Physics, Physics (27). • Split into 5 topics.

You should start revising now! This is two years worth of science work examined at the end of Year 11.

Core Science Text Book Triple Science requires three text books.

Additional Science Text Book

Extension Units Text Book

Year 11 GCSE Business Studies – Double Award Examination Board: AQA Date of Examinations: Paper 1, Wednesday 25th May (1 hour); Paper 2, Tuesday 7th June (1 hour). Papers to be sat: Paper 1 – Setting up a Business (20% of total marks) Duration: 60 minutes Marks: 60 It explores the activities of business and the reasons for success or failure. It encourages candidates to appreciate that businesses must operate within society and that this involves businesses engaging with a wide range of stakeholders who will hold differing perspectives. Areas examined: Starting a Business – Starting a Business Enterprise; Setting Aims and Objectives; Business Planning; Legal Structure; Choosing a Location Marketing – Conducting Market Research; Using the Marketing Mix; Finance – Finance and Support for a Small Business; Financial Terms and Calculations; Using Cash Flow People in Businesses – Recruiting; Motivating Staff; Protecting Staff through Legislation Operations Management – Production Methods; Customer Service Paper 2 – Business Finance (20% of total marks) Duration: 60 minutes Marks: 60 This exam introduces four key elements of business finance: sources of business finance, costs and break-even, financial statements and financial planning and forecasting. Areas examined: Costs and Break-Even – Business Costs; Using Break-Even to Make Decisions. Understanding and Using Financial Statements - Sources of Business Finance; Profit and Loss Accounts; Balance Sheet Financial Planning and Forecasting – Cash-Flow Forecasts; Financial Ratios In nearly every question across both exams, the basic skills being assessed are the same: students’ ability to recall and identify knowledge, before applying that knowledge to the business context given. Each exam paper is split into 3 sections, where students have a business case study per section. They should, therefore, refer to the context often, creating balanced arguments and using evidence from the case studies to support their responses. Students can also add marks by making calculations to support their answers, e.g. calculating breakeven, total costs etc. Websites http://www.bbc.co.uk/education www.tutor2u.net/business www.businessed.co.uk Revision sessions Monday session 6 is available as a ‘drop-in’ session in B6 should students wish to attend. Students have also been issued with 2 revision guides – 1 for each exam, to help them.

Year 11 GCSE Catering Revision Exam Board: WJEC Date of Exam: Monday 13th June Papers to be sat: Unit Two – Written Paper: Catering, food and the customer (Worth 40% of total marks) Topics covered: –fooak. • Types of establishments that provide food and drink. • Contract caterers. • The type of services available in different establishments to include self-service, fast food, cafeteria, takeaway, buffet, plate, waiting service, automatic vending, travel service. oooooaaa. Students should have knowledge of the roles, duties and training available for: • Management – Manager, Assistant Manager. • Chefs – Head, Second (Sous), Pastry, Larder, Sauce, Vegetable, Assistant (Commis). • Food and Drink Service – Restaurant Manager, Waiting Staff. • Be aware of career opportunities locally, nationally and internationally. aafa.  • Personal hygiene – hand washing, general body hygiene, reporting sickness, protective clothing. Food safety – cleanliness, temperature control, cooking, monitoring and storage. The main points of the Food Safety Act. Common causes of food contamination and types of food poisoning. Health and Safety – common health and safety signs, fire precautions, safe use of equipment. The main points of the Health and Safety at Work Act. • Simple first aid procedures. Risk Assessment – identification and control of hazards (HACCP). Health and Safety Executive five-point plan. Fire Regulations.

 ooaaoookaao. • The importance of colour, texture, flavour, shape, temperature and time. The customers' needs. A wide range of culinary skills. Appropriate methods of cooking. Appropriate methods of presentation. Nutrition and menu planning. Costing and portion control. Specialist equipment. Environmental considerations. • Culinary Terms eg. Flambe, Au Gratin, Crouton etc. • Students should have knowledge of the selection, storage, preparation and serving of: Meat, poultry ,Fish , Eggs, Dairy products, Cereals, flour, rice, pasta, Vegetables , Fruit, Convenience products, Sauces, Basic dough products, Basic pastry products, Cakes, sponges and scones. Noaa Functions and sources of the main nutrients. Current healthy eating guidelines. Vegetarian choices, nut allergies, wheat intolerance, lactose intolerance. Types of menu - table d'hôte, à la carte and themed. Menu planning. Coaoooo Costing raw materials for a range of food items using standard recipes. The appropriate methods of portion control and their significance. Saq Small and large scale catering equipment, hand equipment, powered equipment. Small and large scale food service equipment, hand equipment , powered equipment. The safe use, care and cleaning of food preparation and service equipment. Coaoaok The importance of sound communication. Types of communication used, e.g. verbal, written, telephones, fax, ICT (email, Internet). Which type of communication is appropriate to the circumstance. The need for accurate, appropriate record keeping. Different methods of record keeping used in – stock control, data logging and restaurant bookings. Eoaoao Conservation of energy and water, when preparing food. Reduce, re-use and recycle waste in the preparing and serving of meals. Sustainability Disposable products and materials used for packaging and assess their fitness for purpose Students should be using their class notes, materials and revision guides for revision. Other materials are available via “ischool”. Revision is an expected part of all homework between now and the examination in June. ischool- subjects/school departments/food technology/ks4/catering.

Year 11 GCSE Child Development Revision Exam Board: WJEC Date of Exam: Monday 13th June

Papers to be sat: Unit One – Written Paper (Worth 40% of total marks)

Topics covered: 1 – Family and Child – Types: Functions & Responsibilities: Roles: Relationships: Disability: Support for the Family & Child. 2 – Food and Health - Principles of a Healthy Diet: Dietary Aims and Goals: Special Dietary Needs: Food Safety. 3 – Pregnancy - Preparation for pregnancy: Foetal Development: Ante-natal Care: Birth of the Baby: Post-natal Care. 4 – Physical Development - Stages of Physical Development: Factors affecting Physical Development. 5 – Intellectual Development - Stages of Intellectual Development: Learning Aids: Learning Through Play: Types of Play: Factors affecting Learning. 6 – Social and Emotional Development- Stages of Social Development: Factors affecting Social Development: Stages of Emotional Development: Factors affecting Emotional Development.

Students should be using their class notes and materials for revision. Other materials are available via “ischool”. Revision is an expected part of all homework between now and the examination in June.

ischool- school departments/child development/KS4/Unit 1 Written Theory.

GCSE Computer Science Exam Board: OCR Date of Exam: Wednesday 8th June

All revision material for GCSE Computer Science can be accessed from home via iSchool: R:\COMPUTING\KS4\GCSE Comp Sci\revision material

Year 11 GCSE French Revision Exam Board: Edexcel Date of Exam: Tuesday 17th May Papers to be sat: Listening and Reading (Worth 40% of total marks) Topics covered: Out and About Visitor Information, Basic Weather, Local Amenities, Accommodation, Public Transport, Directions Customer Services and Transactions Cafes and Restaurants, Shops, Dealing with Problems Personal Information General Interest, Leisure Activities, Family and Friends, Lifestyle (healthy eating and exercise) Future Plans, Education and Work Basic Language of the Internet, Simple Job Advertisements, Simple Job Applications and CV, School and College, Work and Work Experience In addition to this, students need to be familiar with the common verbs in a variety of tenses (Present, perfect, imperfect, future and conditional). They should be able to recognise what tense a verb is in, in order to decode the meaning of written and spoken language. Students have a revision workbook to help them to practise listening and reading skills. They all have an individual log in to www.vocabexpress.com and should be spending at least 1 hour per week working through the vocabulary topics on there. (The vocabulary used here is taken directly from the Edexcel specification.)

Other useful websites: www.linguascope.com - Linguastars section (Username: idsall, Password: idsallmfl) www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/french/ www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/french www.gcse.com/french/

Every student has their own Revision Planning Booklet for French, which has been in place since January. They should be using this to plan and record all revision activities. This booklet is to be signed by the student each week and brought along to lessons for the teacher to sign. Revision is an expected part of all homework between now and the examination in June.

Year 11 GCSE Geography Revision Exam Board: Edexcel Specification B Papers to be sat:  Unit 1 Dynamic Planet: Tuesday 24th May  Unit 2 People and the Planet: Wednesday 8th June  Unit 3 Making Geographical Decisions (decision-making and skills): Friday 17th June Topics covered: Unit 1: Dynamic Planet

Unit 2: People and the Planet

Physical geography taught in Year 10 Restless Earth Climate and Change Battle for the Biosphere Waterworld Rivers processes and pressures Oceans on the Edge

Human geography taught in Year 11 Population Consuming Resources Globalisation Development UK settlements Challenges of a Rural World

Unit 3: Making Geographical Decisions Skills paper taught across both years This paper involves unseen resources from maps, flow diagrams, photographs and a wide range of graphs. Decision has to be made based on this information.

It is important that students use the Edexcel B specification revision guides and textbooks for the 2012 specification (there was a specification from 2009-12 but this is now out of date and the exam style has changed significantly), which were offered in September 2014 and 2015, not the more generic ones that are available on the market. Edexcel B is thematic whereas the generic revision guides, such as CGP, offer topic-based learning.

ISBN numbers: Revision Notes: Edexcel B GCSE Geography Second Edition (MRN) Paperback – 27 Sep 2013 978-1444193930 GCSE Geography Edexcel B Second Edition Student Book (Edexcel GCSE Paperback – 16 May 2013 978-0198392217

Revision Classes: Every student has their own case study revision booklets for Geography, which has been in place since the mock exams since November. They should be using this to plan and record all revision activities. Revision classes for Unit 1 (taught in Year 10) will be held on Wednesdays (H8). It is important to attend if you can because we will be re-teaching the entire Unit 1 course in addition to going through extra revision materials. Revision is an expected part of all homework between now and the examinations in May and June.

Year 11 GCSE German Revision Exam Board: Edexcel Date of Exam: Wednesday 8th June (am) Papers to be sat: Listening and Reading (Worth 40% of total marks) Topics covered: Out and About Visitor Information, Basic Weather, Local Amenities, Accommodation, Public Transport, Directions Customer Services and Transactions Cafes and Restaurants, Shops, Dealing with Problems Personal Information General Interest, Leisure Activities, Family and Friends, Lifestyle (healthy eating and exercise) Future Plans, Education and Work Basic Language of the Internet, Simple Job Advertisements, Simple Job Applications and CV, School and College, Work and Work Experience In addition to this, students need to be familiar with the common verbs in a variety of tenses (Present, perfect, imperfect, future and conditional). They should be able to recognise what tense a verb is in, in order to decode the meaning of written and spoken language. Students have a revision workbook to help them to practise listening and reading skills. They all have an individual log in to www.vocabexpress.com and should be spending at least 1 hour per week working through the vocabulary topics on there. (The vocabulary used here is taken directly from the Edexcel specification.)

Other useful websites: www.linguascope.com - Linguastars section (Username: idsall, Password: idsallmfl) www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/german/ www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/german www.gcse.com/german/

Every student has their own Revision Planning Booklet for German, which has been in place since January. They should be using this to plan and record all revision activities. This booklet is to be signed by the student each week and brought along to lessons for the teacher to sign. Revision is an expected part of all homework between now and the examination in June.

Year 11 GCSE History Exam Board: Edexcel Dates of Exam: Monday 6th June. Tuesday 14th June. Tuesday 21st June

Topics to revise and understand Germany Germany Before WW1 The impact of WW1 on Germany The Treaty of Versailles The Weimar Constitution The Spartakists The Kapp Putsch 3 Crises of 1923 Foundation of the Nazi Party The Munich Putsch Stresemann and the Golden Age The Nazis 1924-29 The Wall Street Crash The Rise of Hitler How did Hitler consolidate his power? Nazi methods of control – Fear - Terror Nazi methods of control - Propaganda Opposition to the Nazis after 1934 The Church in Nazi Germany Women in Nazi Germany The Youth in Nazi Germany – Youth groups The Youth in Nazi Germany – Education The Economy in Nazi Germany Nazis ideas on the Master Race Nazi treatment of undesirables and minorities Nazi treatment of the Jews 1933-38 Nazi Treatment of the Jews 1938-45 Germany during WW2

Medicine Ancient world – ideas about medicine Ancient world – Public Health Medieval Times – ideas about medicine Medieval Times – Hospitals Medieval times – Public health The Medical Renaissance - ideas about medicine Medical renaissance – Public health 19th Century Medicine – Ideas about medicine before Germ theory 19th Century Medicine – Prevention of disease 19th Century Medicine – Germ Theory 19th Century Medicine – Hospitals and treatment 19th Century Medicine – Public Health problems 19th Century Medicine – Public Health solutions 20th Century Medicine – ideas about medicine 20th Century Medicine – DNA 20th Century Medicine - Technology 20th Century Medicine – Public Health 20th Century Medicine – Hospitals and Treatment Factors, Women and continuity

Remaining History Revision Sessions 2016 Surgery April 12th - Surgery – Pain, shock and Anaesthetics April 19th – Surgery – Infection and Antiseptics April 26th – Surgery – Blood loss Last minute revision May 3rd – Germany Overview May 10th – Medicine Overview May 17th – Surgery Overview

GCSE MUSIC Exam board: Edexcel Date of Exam: Friday 10th June All students should now be regularly listening to all 12 set works for this year’s listening exam. I have recommended that they become their “homework playlist” so that they are listened to while completing work for other subjects as well. They are as follows and have been covered over 4 lessons at least once (we are currently revising the whole collection) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Handel- “And the glory of the Lord” from Messiah Mozart- Symphony no 40 in Gminor 1st Movement Chopin – “Raindrop” Prelude in D flat major. Schoenberg – “Peripetie” from 5 short Pieces Bernstein – “Something’s coming” from West Side Story Reich – Electric Counterpoint Davis – “ All Blues” from All Blues Buckley – “Grace” Moby- “ Why does my heart feel so bad?” Capercaille- “ Skye Waulking Song” Rag Desh- there are 3 different versions of this Rag Koko- Yiri

They should be able to recall basic Music information about each piece as well as be able to describe it in more detail. EG 1. Date of Composition and from which type of larger work 2. Time Signature 3. Key Signature 4. Form or structure The students know the “DRSMITH” break down of the elements of Music to describe the piece in further detail. D= Dynamics R= Rhythm and Tempo S= Structure I=Instruments T= Texture H= Harmony Revision suggestions • Listen to the set works one at a time while writing out exemplar “B” question answers ( this is essentially a detailed DRSMITH analysis, see above) • Have a friend play a set work at any given point and be able to identify where in the piece it is. ( 30 seconds should be enough for them to pinpoint where) • Have a friend play at random any of the set works and be able to recall basic info as well as 3 further facts about the MUSIC that is heard at that point. • Make flash cards of all the musical terminology ( colour coded to reflect which element of DRSMITH) and place out in a memorable order on a table/floor the ones which apply to the work as a whole. • Using flash cards test the student on the meaning of the word and which set works at applies to. • Listen, listen and listen.

Year 11 GCSE P.E Revision Exam Board: AQA

Date of Exam: Friday 20th May (PM) Papers to be sat: 1.30 minutes, 80 marks. (Worth 40% of total marks) Exam Title: Unit 3: Knowledge and Understanding for the Active Participant Revision Guide: AQA GCSE PE, Kirk Bizley , Hodder Education, ISBN: 978-1-4718-0651-3

Important dates: Practical Moderation: 21st April, 11am to 3pm at Idsall School Online Revision Workshop: Wednesday 20th April and Tuesday 26th April, 4pm to 6 pm. @ Idsall School in P2. Wednesday Revision Sessions: Every Wednesday Session 6 with B. Askin, 3 – 4 pm in P2. Useful websites: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/znyb4wx http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/pe Revision is an expected part of all homework between now and the examination in May. Please refer to attached Booklet for more information about the course specification and key topic areas.

Year 11 GCSE RE Revision Exam Board: AQA Date of Exam: Paper 2 Wednesday 18th May (50% of the marks); Paper 3 Monday 23rd May (50% of the marks)

Topics covered: Paper 2: Topic 1 Religion and Animal Rights: Religious beliefs about the status of animals; The extent to which animals are different from humans and their relative value; Religious views on animal rights and the means of protecting those rights; Religious responses to the preservation of species from extinction; The contemporary use and abuse of animals including: companionship, e.g. pets, guide dogs, animals in sport, transport and work, animal experiments, farming of animals (including free range and factory farming), zoos, hunting, bull fighting, the fur and ivory trade, genetic modification and cloning of animals, treatment of wildlife. Issues concerning the slaughter of animals, meat, vegetarian and vegan diets. Topic 3: Religion and Prejudice: Types of prejudice, including religion, race, colour, gender, age, disability, class, lifestyle, looks; The causes and origins of prejudice, including ignorance, stereotyping, scapegoating, influence of parents or media, victims of prejudice, experience; Concepts of tolerance, justice, harmony and the value of the individual; Religious attitudes to prejudice and discrimination; Effects of prejudice and discrimination (including the idea of positive discrimination); Religious responses to prejudice and discrimination by individuals, groups, society and the law; Religious believers who have fought against prejudice, e.g. Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu. Topic 4 Religion and Early Life: The concept of the sanctity of life in relation to its preservation; Children being seen as a blessing and gift and the miracle of life; The issues surrounding when life begins, including at conception, development of backbone, when heart starts beating, at viability, when the baby is born; The issues concerning the quality of life, including severe handicaps, unwanted children, poverty and suffering; Reasons used by religious believers for and against abortion; The Law and abortion, including the 1967 and 1990 Acts; The rights of those involved, e.g. mother, father and unborn child; Alternatives to abortion, e.g. keeping the child; adoption and fostering; Pro-Life and ProChoice arguments and pressure groups. Topic 5: Religion, War and Peace: The concepts of peace and justice and the sanctity of life in relation to war and peace; The causes of war; Conflict, including examples of recent wars; The reasons why religious believers might go to war, including the criteria for ‘Just War’ and ‘Holy War’; Religious believers and pacifism; Victims of war, including refugees, those maimed; Organisations which help victims of war, e.g. The Red Cross, The Red Crescent; The work of a religious believer who has worked for peace; Peacekeeping forces, e.g. United Nations, NATO; Issues such as terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and nuclear proliferation; Arguments for and against nuclear weapons, including proliferation; Religious beliefs and teachings and modern statements about war and peace.

Paper 3: Topic 2: Religious Attitudes to the Elderly and Death (Including the issue of the right to selfdetermination in relation to euthanasia; the distinction between active and passive euthanasia and the contemporary debate about euthanasia; the comfort given by religions to the dying and the mourning and beliefs about life after death). Topic 3: Religious Attitudes to Drug Abuse (Including the religious beliefs and teaching concerning the mind and body and rights and responsibilities; religious attitudes to the use of drugs, including medically prescribed, legal and illegal drugs; the reasons why illegal drugs may be taken; physical, mental, and social consequences of taking drugs for social and recreational purposes; issues concerning obtaining drugs and the effects on other people, e.g. stealing to pay for their habit, drinking or taking illegal drugs and driving, family problems). Topic 4: Religious Attitudes to Crime and Punishment (Including concepts of right and wrong, conscience, duty and responsibility; the debate about the causes of crime including social, environmental and psychological explanations; the different types of crimes, including against the person, property and the state and religious offences; the aims of punishment, defined as protection, retribution, deterrence, reformation, vindication and reparation; the appropriateness of different forms of punishment in achieving the aims of punishment). Topic 5: Religious Attitudes to Rich and Poor in British Society (Including religious attitudes towards the rich and the poor; religious attitudes towards the responsible use of money). A useful website: www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/re/ Every student has their own Revision Planning Booklet for RE. They should be using this to plan and record all revision activities. They also have a content revision booklet for each paper. Revision is an expected part of all homework between now and the examination in June.

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