In our most recent parent feedback you told us that you wanted to know more about what they students are studying and when. So this post will become a half termly update that runs in addition to the information on the school website.
Thank you to anyone that took the time to reply to parent surveys. Your input is of the upmost importance to us.
| Subject | Year 9 Topics and focus | Year 10 Topics and focus | Year 11 Topics and focus | Year 12 Topics and focus | Year 13 Topics and focus |
| Drama | Blood Brothers by Willy Russell. The students will explore themes plot and character through performance and design. They will be building on their prior learning of vocal and physical skills. | Year 10 will be be preparing their Component 1 devised plays on the stimuli that was set in the Autumn Term. Alongside the performance piece, they will be developing their 2000 word written portfolio. | Year 11 are preparing their final draft of portfolio coursework as well as preparing their practical, scripted examination for the live examiner visit in March. | Year 12 are developing their Component 1 Devised pieces based on the play Lungs and the work of theatre practitioner, Bertolt Brecht. Alongside their performance they are developing their 3000 word written portfolio. | Year 13 are preparing their scripted performance exam for the live examiner visit in March. They are currently rehearsing their group pieces in lessons and working independently on their monologue performances. |
| History | Life in Nazi Germany and the causes of the Second World War. | The British Sector of the Western Front and Anglo-Saxon England, 1050 – 1066 | The rise of the Nazi Party and life in Nazi Germany | The Russian Civil War and the last years of Lenin | The Great Patriotic War and the last years of Stalin |
| BTEC Animal Care | Animal restraint and handling. Students will complete the externally moderated coursework component on this topic this term. | Animal behaviour. Students will complete the internally moderated coursework component on this topic which is worth 25% of their qualification | |||
| BTEC Applied Science | Students will be completing the chemistry component of the Unit 1 and will sit an external exam in this subject in May. They will then begin to work on two separate coursework components relating to laboratory skills and the digestive system | Students will sit their second external exam and then concentrate on coursework components. The two coursework components are: evaluation of laboratory skills and the musculoskeletal system | |||
| BTEC Forensic and Criminal Investigation | Students will start the Forensic Genetics topic and will begin to complete coursework on the structure and function of DNA. They will also visit a Crime scene house and write up how they collected and processed the evidence | Students will be completing the Forensic Genetics topic by completing coursework on the structure and function of DNA. They will also complete coursework on the legal framework regarding criminal prosecutions | |||
| Computing (year 9), Computer Science (year10-11) IT (y11) | For those students who had less lessons last half term we will be starting with Python programming and making a Magic 8 Ball program. If you have one of these lying around the house it would be a good experience to see if you can work out how they work before the lesson. For everyone else and going forward we will be starting the iDea certification working on the E-safety and safe online badges. With final lesson of the half term being on Logic Gates, focussing primarily on AND OR and NOT gates as these are the ones that carry through to GCSEs. For homeworks we will be focussing on reviewing last half terms work and filling gaps shown in the data capture. | As I’m sure the students could tell you Python programming skill is just that, a skill. With it needing to be practised and honed over time (much like learning a language or instrument) we consistently use our Friday lessons to practise programming. We are sticking with basic techniques of input, output, selection, iteration and lists for now. Tuesdays are our paper 1 lessons focussing on the theory topics. Our topics for this half term are a mix of continuing with data representation (binary shifts, representing sound, character sets) and the internal components of a computer (CPU architecture, CPU speed, memory and storage). Interleaving topics like this is crucial to them being stored in long term memory which in turn benefits each and every student. | Year 11 Computer Science will be focussing Thursdays lessons on Python programming. This is a very mixed ability class so is highly differentiated so that all students can access it to improve their coding skills. Some students will be becoming more secure in their understanding on inputs, outputs and loops, while others will be taking their first look at object orientated programming to prepare them for A-Level. In Tuesdays lesson we will be filling the learning gaps identified in the mock examinations and via the weekly homework task. It continues to be vital that all year 11 Computer Science complete their homework tasks, in turn allowing me to continually develop a bespoke set of lessons for each student. In year 11 IT they have Mondays and Fridays lesson for the first few weeks to concentrate on coursework. Once they are in a more secure place with that we will look at covering the gaps from the mock examinations. | N/A | N/A |
| Psychology | Research Methods and Attachment | Schizophrenia and Forensic Psychology | |||
| Child Development | Factors affecting growth and development (preparation for assignment next half term) | Individual needs for children to learn, play and develop and creating safe environments | |||
| Health & Social Care | Life events and sources of support | Single award: Unit 5: Supporting individual needs Triple award: Unit 5 plus unit 6: work experience in H&SC and unit 18: Children’s development | Single award: Unit 14: Physiological disorders Triple award: Unit 14 plus unit 6: work experience in H&SC and unit 18: Children’s development | ||
| Mathematics | Higher tier – Rounding, Perimeter & Area, Sequences. Foundation tier – Rounding, Perimeter &Area, Coordinates and Linear Graphs | Higher tier – Standard Form, Angles & Polygons, Simultaneous Equations. Foundation tier – Loci & Constructions, Algebra, Congruent & Similar Shapes | Higher tier – Vectors, Inequalities, Transforming Functions, Numerical Methods. Foundation tier – Quadratic Graphs, Growth & Decay, Vectors, Revision topics | Trigonometry, Vectors (2D), Quantities and Units in Mechanics, Kinematics | Probability, Normal Distribution, Moments, Forces & Friction |
| Further Mathematics | – | – | Sequences, Trigonometry | Roots of Polynomials, Momentum & Impulse, Work, Energy & Power | Complex Numbers, Differential Equations |
| English Language | Transactional writing: open letters and formal speeches. Focus on writers’ methods, including formal register, genre features, and discourse structure. | Paper 2 skills, particularly question 4 (identifying and interpreting language to indicate point of view) and question 5 (arguing an opinion, paragraphing and using rhetoric) | Paper 1 skills, particularly question 4 (evaluate), and structure of extended descriptive writing (both analysing and producing) | Language Diversity: region and gender, with a focus on P2 Q3 and Q4 (discourses and opinion pieces) | Diachronic change, with a focus on Paper 1 Section A Meanings and Representations; Child Language Acquisition (Literacy) for Paper 1 Section B. |
| English Literature | Modern play: “Our Day Out.” Focus on how writers use language to create characters, with ideas of stereotyping and (non) Standard English. | Power and Conflict poetry – studying the remainder of the poetry cluster and learning how to compare poems. | Revision of Power and Conflict poetry – refining exam technique and consolidating understanding of contextual and literary links. | Love and Relationships: Atonement and Anthology poetry; Othello. | “Journey’s End” and “A Long, Long Way.” Preparation for Paper 2. |
| PE | Boys- Fitness. Girls- Swimming. Mixed- Basketball | Boys- Fitness. Girls- Swimming. Mixed- Basketball | Boys- Fitness. Girls- Swimming. Mixed- Basketball | ||
| BTEC Sport | Coursework on Unit 2. (details on Teams) This will involve developing a deep understanding of the fitness requirements, rules, skills and coaching of competitive sport. | Revision for Unit 1 exam on 6th Feb. Students have revision resources in folder and on Teams. From Feb-May students will be completing practical course work on coaching and leadership. | Students are learning about Professional development in the sports industry and will be completing assignments on careers in sport. | Students are learning about Fitness testing and how to be a sports scientist. | |
| Business | Mrs Major – 1.2 Spotting a Business Opportunity: Customer Needs, Market Research, Market Segmentation. Mr Graham – 1.3 Finance: Cost, Revenue, Profit, Break Even, Sources of Finance. Mrs Hadfield – 1.4 Making the Business Effective: Location, Marketing Mix, Business Plans | Mrs Major – Finance: Gross and Net Profit, Profit Margins, Average Rate of Return, Analysing Business Performance. Mr Graham – Human Resources | Mr Graham – Unit 3 Marketing. Mrs Major – Unit 4 Operations | Unit 8 – Strategic Models: Ansoff’s Matrix, Porters Generic Strategies, Bowman Strategic Clock. Unit 9 – Strategic Methods: Growth, Economies of Scale, Mergers & Acquisitions | |
| RE | Life Issues (Theme F) | Medical Ethics (Abortion and Euthanasia) | Buddhist Beliefs and Practices | Ontological Argument | |
| Chemistry | The Chemistry of the Atmosphere | Chemical Analysis – | Chemical changes – reactions of metals, acids and bases | Enthalpy and Introduction the Organic Chemistry | Redox reactions and fuel cells |
| Design Technology, Food Preparation and Nutrition | Practical skills in the workshop, Use of Plastics, Health and Safety, Isometrix Sketching, Colour and Rendering, Healthy eating, Macro nutrients, Micro Nutrients, Raising Agents | Core theory work, design development, model making and Final design Ideas. | All Year 11s are currently working on NEA. | Product Moodboards, practical in workshop developing Lighting Project Ideas, CAD CAM. | All Year 13 are currently working on NEA. |
| FRENCH | L’avenir / The future – including free time, options and jobs | School life, then Free time (leisure, eating out, sports) | Future intentions, future relationships, technology | Strikes and campaigns, marginalisation, how criminals are treated | |
| Physics | Waves and Energy (Parts of Module 1-Energy and Module-6 Waves) | Energy and Heat (Most of Module-1 Energy and parts of Module 3-Particles covering Latent Heat) | Space and Magnetism (Module-8 Space and Module-7 Magnetism and Electromagnetism) | Waves and Energy (Sections 4.4 and 3.3 in the specification) | Medical Imaging and Electric Fields (Sections 6.2 and 6.5 in the specification) |
| Biology | Transport of substances into cells (active transport, diffusion and osmosis) and Organisation in organisms (including the digestive system)) | Homeostasis and the nervous system (including neurone structure, reflexes and eyes), the endocrine system (including the role of insulin and adrenaline, and the hormones of the menstrual cycle) and plant hormones. | Types of reproduction in organisms, genetic inheritance and genetic technologies. | More biological molecules including DNA, DNA replication and protein synthesis, immunity. Also exchange surfaces in organisms (lungs, gills) and transport systems in animals and plants. | Control of gene expression and genetic technologies, as well as responses in organisms (including receptors and the nervous system). |
| Art | Drawing, Designing, responding to Artists, Creative development using abstract inspiration in oil pastel | Observational drawing of related resources to individual unit theme of “The Sea.” Students will be experimenting with clay, drawing in a range of media and researching related artist contexts (relating to practical processes used in lesson) | Year 11 will be starting their component 2 exam unit where they will be investigating an exam question of their choosing following the resources and examples set out by staff as part their prep work in the run up to their final 10 hour exam at the end of April | Year 12 are concluding their prescriptive investigation (foundation studies in Art/Photography) and beginning planning, research and initial ideas for their personally determined component 1 investigation. | Year 13 will be concluding their coursework investigation (personal determined unit- component 1) for the February Deadline. Following which time all students will begin their component 2 exam unit where they will be investigating an exam question of their choosing following the resources and examples set out by staff as part their prep work in the run up to their final 15 hour exam at the start of May. |
| Geography | Hazards | Rivers | Hazards | Globalisation / Water | Carbon / Human Health and Intervention |
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