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Contact Teacher:
Ms T. Allen (Teacher in charge of Years 7 and 8 English)
Miss K. Hillier (Head of English)
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Students are grouped by ability in English lessons. Year 8 students currently receive 4 hours of timetabled English lessons per week.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
These are the units covered during Year 8
• Genre Study – Ghost Stories
• “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
• Diary Writing – extended writing
• Developing Poetic Form and Technique
• Genre Study – Media – Newspapers
• Prose Study – Various class novels according to set
• Genre Study – Science Fiction
Assessment:
Students are formally assessed every half term by their classroom teacher. The assessment information is made available to parents and tutors through the Tracker system. Parents receive feedback during I.E.A.P. days. Personalised targets are set for each student after assessment and progress is monitored regularly.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/english
www.kidsknowit.com
Homework:
Homework is set by the classroom teacher and will be linked to units studied during lessons. Homework will generally be set weekly.
Students will also receive spellings to learn for a weekly test.
How parents can help:
Encourage your child to read regularly at home. If possible, listen to them reading to develop their confidence and ability.
Check homework is completed to a high standard. Ensure your child is aware of and able to use your local public library.
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Contact Teacher:
Ms G. Thomas (Teacher in charge of Year 7 & 8 Mathematics)
Ms S. Goodden (Head of Mathematics)
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
We set students in to ability groups which we believe helps with their learning. The year group is split in to the North and South sides and on each side there are sets 1 (higher) to 5 (foundation). The Year 8 cohort, have three one hour lessons per week. There is a Year 7 & 8 Mathematics Club that runs every Friday after school, which all students are invited to attend.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
The units covered during Year 8 are:
Number and Algebra including:
• Rounding and Estimation
• Percentages, Decimals and Fractions
• Ratio
• Coordinates and Graphs
• Algebra
Shape and Space including:
• Symmetry and Transformations
• Angles and Construction
• Perimeter, Area and Volume
Data Handling including:
• Bar charts and Pie charts
• Averages
• Probability
Assessment:
The students have an assessment every Term, at this point they have the opportunity to move sets depending on their achieved levels. After each assessment they have a ‘target setting’ session so they can assess their own progress. The end of year exam covers all of the topics that students have learnt during the year and the results will be used to help ‘set’ them for the following year. As a department we are in the progress of implementing APP (Assessing Pupil Progress) for our Year 7 cohort with a view to expanding the concept across all year groups.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
As a department we use the New Mathematics Framework book, however we do have access to many other resources. We us ICT extensively and all Mathematics classrooms have an interactive whiteboard as well as an ordinary one. We recommend several websites to students, which include:
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/maths
www.learningplanet.com/sam/ff
www.samlearning.com
We are also incorporating enrichment tasks in to our lessons which involve activities that will enhance their learning and feed in to the functional skills aspects that are being introduced in to the curriculum.
Homework:
We set homework at least once a week, and we contact parents to inform them if any homework is missed.
We are also investigating a computer package called MLE (Managed Learning Environment) which will enable all students to be able to access lessons and homework online.
How parents can help:
As a parent you are the most important ally we have in terms of supporting and encouraging the students. Working together we can provide the best environment for them achieve their full potential. Our expectations are that homework’s should be completed on time and behaviour should be appropriate for the classroom to ensure a positive working atmosphere for all. As a parent you can help make sure these goals are achieved.
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Contact Teacher:
Ms M. McIntosh (Head of Science)
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Based on a formal assessment in year 7, students are placed in ability groups and are continually assessed throughout key stage 3 to allow movement between sets as and when students show a higher aptitude or need more support. Teaching time: Year 8: 3 hours a week
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
Intro:
Pupils learn how knowledge and understanding in science are rooted in evidence. They discover how scientific ideas contribute to technological change- affecting industry, business and medicine and improving quality of life. They trace the development of science worldwide and recognise its cultural significance. They learn to question and discuss issues that may affect their own lives, the directions of societies and the future of the world.
Key concepts:
1. Scientific thinking - Learning the use of scientific ideas and models to explain phenomena and developing them creatively to generate and test theories.
2. Applications and implications of science -Exploring the ethical and moral implications of using and applying science as well as understanding that new technological developments have consequences in the way people think and behave.
3. Cultural understanding - Recognising that modern science has its roots in many different cultures and societies.
4. Collaboration- Sharing developments and common understanding across the curriculum.
Range and content:
The study of science includes the following topics which are taught throughout key stage 3
a. Energy, electricity and forces.
b. Chemical and material behaviour
c. Organisms, behaviour and health.
Over the three years students will be developing essential skills which will enable them to learn and make good progress, these are:
1. Practical and enquiry skills
2. Critical understanding of evidence
3. Communication
Assessment:
In year 7 and 8 assessment is based on assessing pupils’ progress continually by completing assessed pieces of work for each topic. Understanding and knowledge is assessed by end of topic tests and end of year exam.
In year nine the same process is used however the end of year exam takes place in February as to assess students for their KS4 options.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
Text books used are:
Eureka (Publishers: Heinemann)
Spotlight (Publishers: Stanley and Thornes)
Exploring science (Publishers: Longman
Homework:
Is set once a week, and is usually based on research or consolidation of class work.
How parents can help:
Parents can help by ensuring homework is checked for completion and that your child revises science on a weekly basis using a KS3 revision guide which can be purchased from any good bookshop or from the school at a subsidised price.
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Contact Teacher:
Mrs R. Ward (Head of Art & Design)
The Aims of Key Stage 3 Art & Design:
• To stimulate creativity and imagination
• To provide visual, tactile and sensory experience
• To use the visual and tactile elements (line, tone, texture, shape, pattern, space, form and colour) to communicate what they feel and see.
• Through art, craft and design activities students learn to make informed and valuable judgements and aesthetic, practical, decisions involving their environment.
• To learn about the roles of and functions of art, craft and design in contemporary life, historical periods and differing cultures.
• An understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts have the power to enrich all of our lives at all levels.
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Students are taught in tutor groups for one hour per week.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
The students are taught three units of work during Year 7:
Unit 1: (Bottles) Objects and Viewpoints.
Unit 2: Animating Art – Lichtenstein and Pollock.
Unit 3: (Exploring Natural Form) Seaside – botanical illustrations.
They work through these to develop on these skills:
• Development of visual and tactile element
• More complex use of materials + techniques (able to select appropriately)
• Mixing of colours
• More sustained and detailed observational drawing
Explaining the work of other artists
Assessment:
Single, pair and group discussions at key points in lessons/at the end of lessons, also through homework. Work is given a National Curriculum Level at the end of every unit.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
Here is a useful websites for your child to visit:
www.artcyclopedia.com
Also your child can visit artists’ podcasts at the Tate and National Portrait Gallery websites.
Homework:
A5 and A6 sketchbooks are issued to students in Year 7 and there is a list of homework tasks on the inside of the front cover.
How parents can help:
Encourage your child to practice observational drawing. Take your child to art and design galleries, museums and events.
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Contact Teacher:
Ms M. Richards (Head of Vocational Technology)
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Students are grouped in mixed ability sets. They attend 1 hour per week. The Design & Technology sessions rotate on a termly basis.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
Students complete a range of projects across the years within each focus area that include a bag, wrapping paper and night light.
Assessment:
All students are assessed against the National curriculum levels for Design & Technology.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
We would recommend the Key Stage 3 Design and Technology Guide by Richard Parsons.
Homework:
Students are set homework on a fortnightly basis.
How parents can help:
Parents can help support students by ensuring that homework is completed. Encourage further practice of skills at home. |
Contact Teacher:
Ms S. Earthrowl (Head of Geography).
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Students are taught in mixed ability Tutor Groups for 2 hours per week.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
Natural hazards, the environment, the United Kingdom, China, "Rocking Rivers," "Cool Coasts" and "Happy Holidays."
Assessment:
End of unit assessments are carried out through a variety of assessment methods – project work, extended writing tasks and display work.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
Homework:
Weekly homework is mostly set from Homework booklets, these homework tasks support the ½ Termly unit of work.
How parents can help:
Watch the news with your child, read newspapers together, discuss current affairs and look up the location of places.
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Contact Teacher:
Mr J. Boulton (Head of History).
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Students are taught in mixed ability Tutor Groups for 2 hours per week.
Course
Content/Skills Learnt:
Historical Enquiry and interpretation.
Students study Black Peoples of the Americas, Tudors and Stuarts and
The French Revolution.
Assessment:
Assessment is carried out ½ Termly according to National Curriculum Levels.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
Black History Month trips & Theatre Performances.
Homework:
Homework is set weekly. Students are given a homework booklet to
complete over a six week cycle. The booklets are available on the
Students area of the College website.
How parents can help:
Take an interest in your child’s History homework and in historical
documentaries on television. Discuss current and historical events
with your child. |
Contact Teacher:
Mr S. Sousa (Head of Drama and Performing Arts), Mr D. Whitfield or Ms F. Dixie.
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Students are taught in tutor groups 1 hour per week. There is no setting by ability.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
Schemes of work look at a combination of theatre skills and issue based drama (often cross curricular with History and PSE that encourage students to use and develop basic communication and presentation skills. Our schemes of work foster empathy, imagination, confidence, cooperation and thinking/problem solving skills. Students will study topics such as Asylum Seeking, WW2 Evacuees, Dangers of Drink Driving and Homosexuality. As well as this the students wil;l learn progressively specific performance skills such as Mime, Mask, Theatre in Education and Commedia dell'Arte. Some schemes of work look at specific published texts/plays such as Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Coraline and Mogadishu.
Assessment:
Assessment is based on internally devised criteria that mark in six different areas: Participation, Imagination, Body, Voice, Script and Staging. This enables development of all round skills that are required fro Key Stage 4 Drama/Performing Arts.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
Theatre trips are occassionally arranged for Key Stage 3 students. The Key Stage 3 Drama Club offers keen or Gifted and Talented students to extend skills and take part in performances and external acting exams/Arts Award.
Homework:
Not set unless students are learning lines for a performance.
How parents can help:
Encourage and accompany students to take an interest in current affairs, general reading and theatre visits.
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Contact Teacher:
Mr M. Stanley (Head of Information Technology)
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
In Year 8 students study seven topics:-
Functional Skills:
• Students are reminded of basic skills required by the National Curriculum and Functional Skills exams (first examined Summer 2010), letter writing, formatting in word processing programs, the creation of tables, the creation of spreadsheets, how to e-mail and add attachments to e-mails.
Control and Programming:
• Students are introduced to Computer Programming using the program “Scratch.” Students are taught to create simple and complex instructions. Students will be the first in Wandsworth to pilot this dynamic new programming and Games design software package, it has been designed, expressly, to make programming more interesting. The students will be part of a report on the program’s benefits to the Local Authority upon the pilot’s completion.
Cross-Curricular Website Development with Geography:
• Students are introduced to Websites, their main features and their tools. Students learn how to evaluate Websites and their content. Students develop two to four page Geography Websites in Microsoft Front Page based upon their learning in Geography about ‘natural disasters.’
Spreadsheet Software:
• The students develop a spreadsheet and learn spreadsheet functions such as formulae, formula charts and how to create ‘models.’
Database Software:
• Students learn how to use database software, they learn about fields, records, tables, queries, reports and forms.
Finding things out/Public Information Systems:
• Students learn how to use the Internet to conduct simple and complex searches.
Functional Skills:
Students learn how to use a computer to perform specified tasks.
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Contact Teacher:
Mr C. Pinder (Head of Music) and Mr F. Quadraruopolo.
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Students are taught in tutor groups 1 hour per week. There is no setting by ability. During lessons Tutor Groups work as a class, individually (solo) or in Ensembles (duet, trio, quartet, quintet, sextet and peer groups).
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
• 18 modules based on developing knowledge, skills and understanding through the integration of performing, composing and listening to “World Music”.
• Focus on developing keyboard technique and vocal skills.
• Understanding key music features: Texture, Rhythm, Pitch, Timbre, Dynamics and Tempo.
• Self confidence and sensitivity toward others.
• Communication skills, working with others and leadership skills.
• Listening skills, numeracy, and literacy, cultural understanding, critical understanding, creativity and communication.
Assessment:
Students are assessed based on the National Curriculum Programme of study for Key Stage 3 and the students’ attainment levels.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
OCR Key Stage 3 and 4 guides, www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3/bitesize and www.youtube.com
Homework:
Students are encouraged to rehearse practical class work. Tasks related to class work.
How parents can help:
Buy your child a keyboard, listen to their instrumental practice and encourage your child to listen to a wide range of differing music styles.
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Contact Teacher:
Ms J. Lewis (Head of Physical Education)
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Groups remain single sex but some groups are divided further to maximise teaching and learning.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
In Year 8 key skills have already been established from year 7 lessons and now these skills are being developed and tactics are put in to game situations. Stronger students become leaders in lessons and begin to develop the skills of a Year 9.
Assessment:
Using the National Curriculum levels students are assessed at the end of each ½ Term giving them a grade for the individual sport.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
The Internet is a useful place for your child to research various sports / sports clubs as are the local library and newspapers.
Homework:
Research about the sports that the students are participating in, the rules of the sport, its country of origin and useful tactics to employ.
How parents can help:
Provide your child with the correct College Physical Education kit and make sure that they bring it to all Physical Education lessons.
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| Personal & Social Education |
Contact Teacher:
Miss K. Hill and Ms A. Hine (Heads of Social Sciences)
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Taught in mixed ability tutor groups for 1 hour per week.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
Units covered include: Learning to Learn, puberty, alcohol, discrimination, fair trade, crime and the media and child rights.
Skills learnt include:
Speaking, listening, communication, group work, cooperation, participation, thinking skills, emotional intelligence and respect.
Assessment:
Half termly assessment where the students are awarded effort grades.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
External speakers, worksheets, video, internet, role play, posters, booklets, circle time.
Homework:
Watch the news and/or read a newspaper every week.
How parents can help:
Encourage students to watch the news and read a newspaper every week.
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Contact Teacher:
Ms S. Koumi (Head of International Languages), Miss A. Marquez (Advanced Skills Teacher Modern Languages), Miss A. Cook, Ms J. Stephens or Mrs S. Farrell
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Year 8 students are taught in sets according to ability. This is decided from end module assessments and end of year test results in Year 7.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
4 modules throughout the year taking students up to a level 4. This means that they will be able to understand, say and write longer texts and paragraphs in Spanish that will include detailed descriptions , more complex grammar structures such as adjectival agreements and making references to the immediate future as well as stating their opinions and why.
Modules
1. Describing your town/city
2. What you do in your free time.
3. Talking about others
4. Food and drink.
Assessment:
4 end of module assessments which are used to monitor students’ progress throughout the year.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
Listos 1 textbook
Listos 2 textbook
Bilingual Spanish dictionaries
http://www.espanol-extra.co.uk/
www.bbc.co.uk/languages/
Linguascope.
Homework:
Set on a weekly basis and can range from spelling revision to mini projects.
How parents can help:
Helping students to revise vocabulary and providing a bilingual dictionary that students’ can use at home to help with homework.
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Contact Teacher:
Miss K. Clark (Head of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics)
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Students are taught in their mixed ability Tutor Groups with a view from Year 9 onwards of setting students according to their ability. At Key Stage 3 students have one lesson per week and this will increase to two per week at Key Stage 4.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
Year 8 students have an eclectic programme of study which includes units on Buddhism, Afro-Caribbean religions, Islam, Jesus ‘man of mystery’ and Sikhism. The department is currently in the process of ensuring that all lessons are taught with a focus on philosophy for children.
Assessment:
Assessments in Religious Education are both summative and formative, formal assessments are carried out at the end of each unit studied. Year 8s are awarded a level after each assessment and they will also be set targets to assist them with progression.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs and www.religiousstudies.co.uk & the R.E. pages of the M.L.E.
Homework:
Homework is set on a fortnightly basis.
How parents can help:
Encourage your child to approach all religious issues with a questioning and analytical approach. Discuss some of life’s bigger questions with your child – such as “what happens when we die?,” “What is the meaning of life?” etc.
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Curriculum 
