Step Up to GCSE
As a GCSE student at Smithdon High School, your Key Stage 4 curriculum will begin in Year 10 and build on the prior foundations of a Knowledge Rich Curriculum begun in Key Stage 3.
Year 10 will end with a series of examinations to check where you are in relation to your academic potential. This is the first of three series of examinations that take place to inform and guide you leading up to your final GCSE exams. The feedback from each of these will allow your subject teachers to personalise your Year 11 curriculum. This means we will be able to use tutor time better to meet the needs of each and every one of you in preparation for your final GCSE examinations.
Included below are a range of resources that will support your revision during Years 10 and 11.
Timeline for the final year
This includes key dates for health checks, examination, reports and parents’ evenings. Please be aware that this document is subject to change.
| Autumn Term |
Year 11 Information Evening (September) Mock Interview Day (October) Pre Public Exams (October/ November) Analysis of student performance used to generate bespoke support and intervention Visits from Post 16 providers Help You Choose; supporting application for Post 16 study (December) |
|---|---|
| Spring Term |
Pre Public Exam (February) Analysis of student performance used to generate second round of support and intervention Year 11 Parents’ Evening (March) Subject specific conferences Reward Trip |
| Summer Term |
GCSE Exams supported by Revision Year 11 Celebration Assembly/ Prom (June/ July) |
Subject Information
Please click here to view
50 Facts Booklet
The 50-fact booklet below will support your preparation for these exams. Each subject page includes the core knowledge that pupils need to know in order to be successful.
Please click here to view
Knowledge Organisers
The resources below are Knowledge Organisers which Year 10 pupils can use to support your preparation for your exams. The Knowledge Organisers include the core knowledge that all students need to know in order to be successful in the Year 10 examinations.
The Learning Scientist
All of these strategies have supporting evidence from cognitive psychology. For each strategy, we explain how to do it, some points to consider, and where to find more information.
- Spaced Practice
- Retrieval Practice
- Elaboration
- Interleaving
- Concrete Examples
- Dual Coding
Please find user guides below for each of these strategies.
Year 11 Intervention Clubs Programme
Please click on the link below:
Additional Information
Please click on the links below to view: