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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 7 students currently receive 5 hours of timetabled English lessons per week.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
These are the units covered during Year 7
• Writing Skills
• Genre Study – Quests
• Henry V or A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
• Exploring Poetic Form and Technique
• Genre Study – Film – Monster Movies
• Prose Study – Holes by Louis Sachar
Assessment:
Students are formally assessed every half term using the revised A.P.P. (Assessing Pupils’ Progress) criteria. This ensures a specific focus is given to each assessment task and allows students to understand how to become high achievers. The A.P.P. criteria also allow the students to identify their strengths and target specific areas of weakness.
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 undertake group and individual projects throughout Year 7 which they should research for at home.
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 the 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 7 cohort, have four, 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 7 are:-
Number and Algebra including –
- Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division
- Percentages, Decimals and Fractions
- Coordinates and Graphs
- Algebra
Shape and Space including –
- Symmetry and Transformations
- 2D and 3D Shape
- Perimeter, Area and Volume
Data Handling including –
- Tally tables and Frequency tables
- Pictograms and Bar charts
- 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 the topics they have learnt that year and will help to set them for the following year.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
As a department we use the New Mathematics Frameworking books as our main textbooks, however we do have access to many other resources. We use ICT extensively and all Mathematics classrooms have an interactive whiteboard as well as an ordinary one. We recommend several websites to students , which include:-
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. |
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 7: 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 Years 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 9 the same process is used however the end of year exam takes place in February as to assess students for their Key Stage 4 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 Key Stage 3 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: Self/Identity – The study of Andy Warhol and Renaissance portraits.
Unit 2: Aboriginal Art.
Unit 3: What is in a building? – Looking at Hundertwasser, Gaudi and Rizzi.
They work through these to develop on these skills:
- Basic contextual and historical reference (Other Artists’ Work).
- Perspective.
- Visual and tactile elements.
- The basic manipulation of materials and techniques.
- Colour theory (Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Colour).
- Drawing from direct observation.
Assessment:
Formative: Single, pair and group discussions throughout and at the end of lessons.
Summative: At the end of each unit students are assessed or they are assessed using a skill based activity.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
Here is a useful websites for your child to visit:
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/
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 portrait collage, playing card and mobile phone holder.
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.
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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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Information Technology
Information Technology is taught as a part of all other curriculums during Year 7, there are no dedicated Information Technology lessons.
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Music
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, 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. |
Contact Teacher: Ms C. Viner (Senior Teacher Key Stage 3)
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Students are taught in mixed ability Tutor Groups five hours per week.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
TOPS is an integrated cross-curricular course incorporating the learning to learn skills of speaking and listening, groupwork and understanding different learning styles. And emotional intelligences in the first ½ Term, followed by the P.S.E. curriculum and then Project based Geography, History and religious Education work.
Assessment:
Students are assessed by Geography, History and Religious Education Project Work.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc:
Visits to local places of worship and the River Thames.
Homework:
Each ½ Term students are set a mixed activity piece of project work.
How parents can help:
Talk to your child to find out what they’ve been doing on a daily basis. Support them with on-going homework, join and encourage your child to visit your local library. |
Contact Teacher: Ms J. Lewis (Head of Physical Education)
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Tutor Groups are split in to gender groups, each group keeps the same Physical Education teacher throughout the year.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
Developing the key skills from Primary School Physical Education. Offering a wide range of curriculum based sports to provide every child with an experience they enjoy. Sports range from climbing to basketball with students groups changing their sport each ½ Term.
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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Curriculum 
