Curriculum Information

Note: If you are not sure who your child’s teacher is for English and Maths or what option subjects your child is studying then please contact your child's form tutor for more information.

Maths

Teacher: Mr Stephen
This term we will begin by looking at enlargement and similarity before progressing onto ratio and proportion. In the latter part of term we will focus on rates and how they change as well as probability.

English
Teachers: Adler - Mrs Margarita, Orwell - Miss McGhee, Mozart - Mr Sullivan

This term, classes in Year 9 will study one of two books, Animal Farm or Purple Hibiscus. Learners will read the novel as a class, working through the novel on a chapter to chapter basis. Throughout this unit, we will work on skills needed for English Literature such as selecting quotes and analysing language features used by the author. 

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Science

Teachers: Mrs McCran, Mrs Chagger, Mr Doza
This term we will finish off the first few topics in the GCSE syllabuses in physics, chemistry and biology working in rotation so that we have plenty of opportunities for experimentation. 

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Concepts of biology will cover cells and specialisation, the use of microscopes, nutrition and food testing, enzymes and transporting substances. These topics contain four core practicals.

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States of matter and separating and purifying substances are the first chemistry topics. These look at gases, liquids and solid behaviour, filtration, crystallisation, chromatography and distillation. 

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Physics starts with an appreciation of scalar and vector quantities, after which speed/time graphs and velocity/time graphs are compared. Newton's three laws of motion are studied with an understanding of weight and mass, crashes, reaction times and stopping distances.

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PSHE

Teacher: Dr Heathcote
In this term, Year 9 learners shall explore the Five Tenant Values in being a British Citizen. These being Tolerance, the Rule of Law, Democracy, Mutual Respect and Individual Liberty. 

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History

In History this term, we will start by examining the main events of the Second World War and how the Nazis implemented the Final Solution that led to the Holocaust or Shoah. After half term, we will be looking at how the Second World War ended with the dropping of atomic bombs in Japan and investigate the major events of the Cold War and the rivalry between the USA and the USSR.

PE

Learners will be undertaking an introduction into athletics, where they will be learning different techniques across throws, jumps, sprints and long distance running. They will demonstrate the chin knee toe, fosbury flop, sprint start and learn how to pace. Alongside this learners will demonstrate the olympic values including teamwork, perseverance and inclusivity.

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Careers
Learners will engage in conversations around adulthood and independent living, including conversations on household tasks and responsibilities, maintaining friendships into adulthood and other learner-led topics. Each learner will give their own point of view to show their understanding of each topic.

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Option Subjects

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Year 9 History GCSE Option
In History this term, we will be finding out about the changing definitions of crime in the 20th century, how law enforcement has changed and become more specialised, the abolition of the death penalty and the execution of Derek Bentley in 1953. We will also be investigating changes to the prison system in the 20th century and changes to the law in relation to ‘Conscientious Objectors’ brought about by the First and Second World Wars. After half-term, we will start to look at how the Metropolitan Police had problems policing the streets of Whitechapel in the East End of London between c.1870 and c.1900 and how investigative methods changed as a result of the failure to identify or apprehend Jack the Ripper in 1888.

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Creative Digital Media
Learners will be developing skills using audio recording equipment and using Adobe Audition as editing software. They will create an audio product such as a podcast or short story including dialogue, sound effects and music.

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Art

Learners are continuing with their perspective room projects and then progressing onto the perspective street project.

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BTEC Music
Learners will be continuing to develop the skills and knowledge to pass the unit 1 exam. We will be doing lots of practice questions so we are fully comfortable with the content. We will also be continuing our work on composition and performance skills.

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BTEC Sport
Learners are working on completing unit 3 which involves creating a gym programme. Within this unit, learners will review their gym programme and think about the functions of the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system and the functions of the skeleton. Alongside this they will be completing unit 6, which is to plan, deliver and review a session. 

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Computer Science
Initially we will focus on using HTML to build very simple web pages, including images. We will then return to python coding, refreshing what we learnt in previous terms and pushing onto new learning including using logic to control program flow.

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Design Technology
This term, learners will design and make a Tangram puzzle. They will consider how they can make their puzzle accessible to more than one group of people and use research to inform how their puzzle can be used.

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Psychology 
This term we will be focusing on debates in psychology, specifically the free will and determinism discussion.We will then look at neuropsychology; this will include the structure and function of the brain and the nervous system. The learners will also look at neurons and Hebb's theory of neuronal growth. We will apply this information to human behaviour and the flight or fight reaction.

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Food Technology

During this term learners will be making various sweet and savoury dishes that they will be able to make again at home with limited help and support. As part of the lessons, learners will complete an evaluation of what they have made in preparation for Year 10 when they will take the assessment for their BTEC Level 1.