CURRICULUM YEARBOOK

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Introducing Year 7 1

English 2

Maths 4

Science 6

History 8

Geography 10

Religious Education 12

MFL 14

ICT and Computer Science 16

Drama 18

Music 20

Design and Technology 22

Art 24

Although Year 7 pupils will be feeling a little apprehensive about being the youngest in the school and the different structure of the timetable, they will no doubt be feeling excited about the many opportunities that The Brittons Academy has to offer.

Each tutor group will have a Year 11 mentor attached to it. The mentors are fully trained and able to assist Year 7 pupils in the settling in process and adjusting to life at secondary school.

This booklet is designed to help you get an overview of what the year ahead

holds for Year 7 pupils. We have tried to give you a flavour of each subject in terms of what is taught and how pupils will be assessed. Staff mark work in green pen and we issue pupils with a red pen to make minor corrections and improvements to their work so that staff can easily see the responses pupils have made. Each department has its own assessment procedures,

but please contact the subject teacher or Head of

Department for further details.

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Year 7 Curriculum Overview Although English is a vital life skill that enables us all to communicate and articulate with the world around us, we also want students to have a love and appreciation of the subject - to understand that there are no limitations to their imagination and that discovering the written world beyond their own is empowering, enlightening and enriching.

In Year 7, students will embark on their journey through English language and literature curriculums, discovering themselves as readers and writers.

What we study In Year 7, our students will study a range of fiction and non – fiction texts and begin a journey of exploring and recreating ‘attitudes through time.’ Through novels, short stories and extract’s they will appreciate how reading can inform and enhance their own writing. They will consider different contexts through writer’s perspectives: from Shakespeare and Pre 19th century writers to Michael Morpurgo and his modern commentary on WW1. Alongside reading analysis, students will experience non-fiction journalism and prose fiction through which they will begin to harness their personal opinions of the world around them. They will incorporate and consider alternative genres and broaden their thinking to write with a voice of their own.

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What our students will learn By the end of the year, our aim is for students to move from understanding to effectively using the skills and knowledge built in Year 7. They will explore:

Elizabethan values Attitudes to war Pre-19th century Writers and Attitudes Expressing opinions through reading, using voice and the written word Using context to deepen their understanding and analysis of literature Using explorations in creative reading to enhance their creative voice

How this learning prepares for next year Having explored a wide range of genres and context through fiction and non-fiction texts in Year 7, students will build their contextual knowledge and their understanding of the written and spoken word through texts born in the 20th century: 1930’s American Literature; Conflict & War poetry; Gothic genre and Modern Controversy.

Homework In Year 7, we set weekly homework tasks designed to enrich classroom learning and to retain and enhance levels of literacy and grammar. These include: 

Spelling and application of keywords  Transformation tasks linking to classroom texts  Writing for effect  

SMSC opportunities Through the course of the Year 7 curriculum, students should discover a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them. Through the study of novels and plays, students should gain an understanding of the consequences of human behaviour and actions. Finally, students should gain an understanding and appreciation of different cultures as well as embrace their British values.

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Year 7 Curriculum Overview In Year 7, we aim to develop students’ positive attitude to mathematics as an interesting and valuable subject.

What we study To build on students’ primary knowledge, we revisit skills in number, problem solving and geometry and introduce them to the abstract concept of algebra to challenge their mathematical reasoning and thinking, preparing them for the journey ahead.

Over the year, students will develop their understanding of the difference between linear and non-linear terms. This is explored through sequences, graphs and expressions. They will also learn how to reason and conjecture mathematically, using the vocabulary of a mathematician. By the end of the year, they will be confident in using the language of probability and understanding its impact in the real world.

What our students will learn Through studying the Year 7 curriculum, our aim is for students to move from basic fluency to complex problem solving and mathematical reasoning by studying these topics, in a mastery style:

Algebraic Thinking Place, value and proportion Applications of number Directed number Fractional thinking Lines and angles Reasoning with number

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How this learning prepares for next year The study of sequences in Year 7 prepares students for learning about the Cartesian plane in Year 8. In addition, the study of algebraic notation will enable students to access formal algebraic techniques, such as expanding brackets, later in the key stage.

Homework In this core subject we set homework weekly through the online platform of Hegarty Maths. Hegarty Maths is an excellent platform for supporting students’ independent work because it provides them with video tutorials (to enhance classroom teaching) and gives students immediate feedback on their work to allow them to track their progress. Teachers will monitor test results and use common misconceptions to inform future planning of lessons.

SMSC opportunities In maths lessons, students have the opportunity to debate and discuss their ideas in an environment grounded in mutual respect. There are constantly

chances for pupils to reason and explain their thinking in a way which teaches them to deliberate

logically and respectfully. We want our students to understand the social and

historical implications of Maths which is why we look at real world

applications in topics such as probability (investigating bias) and statistics (looking a misrepresentation of data), as well as in geometry when we investigate constructions, which involve the same methods used by ancient Greek mathematicians

thousands of years ago

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Year 7 Curriculum Overview In Year 7, we aim to spark students love and curiosity, encouraging them to think, act and feel like a scientist by immersing them in a scientific environment.

What we study The Year 7 science curriculum provides our students with a base of scientific knowledge and essential skills that will support their learning of this practical subject over the key stage. To build on students’ primary knowledge of solids, liquids and gases, we explore the properties of the three states of matter and how they are related to uses of different materials. We challenge our students to investigate the effect of pressure on shapes and we analyse data collected from a range of experiments so they see the relevance of science to everyday life.

We also study energy and energy transfer to build on their key stage 2 knowledge of interdependence and adaptation. In addition, our students learn that cells are the basic unit of life and they are adapted for different functions in living organisms.

What our students will learn By the end of the year, our aim is for students to have deepened their understanding of:

How science works Solids, liquids and gases Forces and Space Variation and classification Energy and Energy transfer Cells and Reproduction

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Our curriculum is designed to develop students’ practical and analytical skills through:

The planning and carrying out of investigations The processing and recording of data Analysing results and drawing conclusions Evaluating the scientific experience

We also build and develop students’ maths skills in science, including the plotting of graphs, accurate measurement of variables and calculating mean.

How this learning prepares for next year The Year 7 curriculum provides the foundation knowledge for our students to develop a deeper understanding of scientific phenomenon. They will also have gained a sound knowledge of how to work safely in a laboratory including the names and uses of different laboratory equipment.

Homework In science, we set homework weekly. It is designed to: strengthen current knowledge; prepare students ahead of the new topic being studied and to research areas that can deepen their understanding of a topic, beyond what is taught in the classroom.

SMSC opportunities In science lessons, students have the opportunity to work

collaboratively, under strict provision, following guidance as a team. There are lots of opportunities to share

opinions when evaluating work and we also touch on the impact of science in the real world,

developing an awareness of the legal age for intercourse, the legality around drug and substance abuse including the moral viewpoints that exist in society.

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Year 7 Curriculum Overview In Year 7, we aim for our students to discover a love for history and engage in a diverse history that is knowledge rich, building their foundation skillset as a historian.

What we study In Year 7, our curriculum will develop an understanding of historical chronology and deepen the historical concepts of trade, archaeology, the challenges of ruling and the achievements of societies through the eyes of a critical thinker. Through the exploration of medieval England, students will be exposed to the role of Church in society and the barriers faced by gender, nobility and the system of taxation. In addition, through the study of other societies in the world, students will consider the impact of trade, religion and hierarchy and how they can affect the lives and experiences of different groups in society.

With a focus on British history, students learn about the significance of 1066 and the impact of medieval England on our world today, through the study of architecture, language and social attitudes.

What our students will learn By the end of the year, our aim is for students to have solid understanding of the key facts, event and consequences of:

The Silk Roads 1066 and the Norman Conquest The Islamic Civilisations and life in Medieval England Medieval Monarchs The Mali Empire

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In addition, we will develop students’ historical skills in:

Evidential thinking Cause and consequence Change and continuity Similarity and difference Significance Interpretations

How this learning prepares for next year The Year 7 curriculum provides students with a foundation knowledge on the key concepts of historical thinking that will be developed further in Year 8, through different content. In addition, the key themes of: challenges to ruling; importance of religion and the methods of trade, will be a foundation knowledge for deeper learning in future study.

Homework In History, we set homework fortnightly. Our homework tasks are designed to enrich classroom learning through research or project tasks, application of knowledge. We also set a creative project for students to build a Motte Bailey castle which is often a highlight of the year.

SMSC opportunities In history lessons, students are encouraged to develop their understanding of British values through the study of other societies and also to challenge stereotypes and create tolerance for other cultures.

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What we study In Year 7, our students will study a range of human, physical and cultural topics that connect their journey through our diverse world. Through a study of Fantastic Places students will appreciate spatial relationships between different geographic places at a variety of scales whilst introduced to place specific information across a range of continents from Antarctica to South America. They will develop their ability to apply Geographical skills through our ‘Making a Geographer’ unit where they will develop their geographical skills, including grid references, scale, relief and OS map symbols.

Students will broaden their knowledge of the interacting physical and human world through an appreciation of the pattern of extreme weather and climate, understanding the complex physical processes that occur within the Earth’s atmosphere, appreciating the locational factors that influence diversity and vulnerability. Their locational study of Incredible India will increase their locational knowledge of an Asian, developing country and increase their understanding of causality - the interconnected human and physical processes including the impact of the monsoon season, globalisation and conflict.

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What our students will learn By the end of the year our, aim is for students to move from understanding to effectively applying using the skills and knowledge built throughout Year 7.

UK Locational Knowledge Global Locational KnowledgeCartographic & Numerical Literacy Description and recognition of pattern Writing to explain causality (cause/effect) through the development of simple chains of reasoning How to use context to deepen their understanding spatial context Hypothesis setting and conclusion drawing

How this learning prepares for next year Having explored a wide range of locational contexts and developed and understanding of physical and human concepts, students will begin deepening their knowledge of the diverse world by addressing misconceptions through an understanding of global population challenges and extreme migration, as well as developing on the three core concepts of sustainability, vulnerability and capacity. These will be explored through units of work, including coastal and tectonic hazards & vulnerability.

Homework In Year 7, students are given homework every two weeks to enhance their learning of key geographical topics. Subject teachers also set research tasks which help to further broaden their geographical knowledge.

SMSC opportunities Geography Is linked to the study of real people in real places, meaning that it constantly links and develops students’ spirituality and morality. For example, when looking at the study of a population and fantastic places, students are given an appreciation of the world around of them. In particular, the study of Fantastic places allows them to reflect and share on their own experiences of the world around them.

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Year 7 Curriculum Overview Whether you consider yourself a religious person or not, or whether you think religion has played a positive or negative role in history, it is clear that religion and belief play an invaluable role in developing thoughtful, confident and considerate citizens, who will undoubtedly engage with members of different faiths throughout their lives.

What we study The aim of Year 7 is to develop an understanding of the differences between belief and factual knowledge so that students appreciate that they will encounter a range of differing theories and belief systems in their lifetimes. Through RE, students will learn that they should treat the range of belief theories with respect and tolerance.

By exploring religious stories, artwork and interpretations, students discover the importance of source authority and using religious and non-religious evidence to inform judgements. To build on students’ knowledge from Key Stage 2, Year 7 Religious Education covers an exploration of the life of Jesus, before being introduced to the core concepts of Islam where students will investigate similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam. Finally, students will spend a term considering different ethical theories and concepts and how these can inform an understanding of the role our actions play in our own values and in society.

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What our students will learn By the end of the year, our students will:

Be introduced to key beliefs within Christianity, Islam and Morality and Ethics Outline, explain and evaluate religious beliefs and practices using religious evidence Develop religious literacy through writing, discussion and debate Share and justify opinions and beliefs, and link these to how we live our lives Reflect spiritually and ethically

How this learning prepares for next year The introduction to the key beliefs of Christianity and Islam in Year 7 provides pupils with the foundational knowledge to delve deeper into Christianity and Islam in Year 8, tackling moral and ethical issues surrounding how these religious groups live their lives, how they are depicted in society and breaking down stereotypes which have been associated with Christianity and Islam.

Homework In RE, homework is set to further extend students' understanding of religious and non-religious issues and to prepare students for future RE lessons.

SMSC opportunities The Year 7 curriculum looks at key spiritual beliefs with a focus on morality. Throughout Religious Education, students will investigate how society impacts on religion and how religion impacts on society and cultural developments. Students will develop an understanding of their own personal belief system, why they have these beliefs, and demonstrate respect and tolerance of other belief systems.

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Year 7 Curriculum Overview Our mission as a department centres on languages providing an opening to and discovery of French speaking countries around the world. Through the exploration of other cultures, we foster children’s curiosity and enable them to express their ideas and thoughts in another language.

What we study In Year 7, our students will study a range of topics that allow them to communicate information about themselves, including key language they need to introduce themselves, talk about their friends and family and their own interests. We use rich topic material to support pupils in developing these language skills, alongside securing knowledge of French grammar, which in turn, deepens students’ knowledge of grammatical terminology and syntax, supporting students’ understanding of their own language. Our learners will piece together their vocabulary and ideas and engage in conversations about themselves. The diverse and wonderful sphere of French speaking countries is woven into our curriculum to broaden their horizons and allows students to see the world and what it has to offer.

What our students will learn By the end of the year, our students will have an understanding and grasp of grammar and vocabulary that allows them to:

Engage in conversations where they can communicate essential information about themselves Decode language and spot patterns Understand and communicate in all four skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing Acquire vocabulary from 6 different contexts, including friends/family, school, home life, hobbies and the local area

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How this learning prepares for next year Having acquired grammatical knowledge of the present and future tenses in first person address, students will have a sound linguistic base on which to build in Year 8. We have ensured that the Year 7 grammatical knowledge and vocabulary is deepened, re-visited and recycled throughout Year 8 so that it is memorised, practised, and applied by students. Students will learn how to build on their spoken and written responses by learning how to form and use the past tense, and will increase their repertoire of sequencing vocabulary, giving opinions and reasons and connecting their ideas using conjunctions.

Homework In Year 7 homework is set fortnightly. It is set to consolidate classroom learning and to provide opportunities for students to embed skills taught. Homework will also be used to develop students’ specific vocabulary through retrieval tasks like quizzes or vocabulary tests.

SMSC opportunities We will look at similarities and differences between France, French speaking countries and the UK and there are opportunities to consider healthy living through our authentic and real-life topic material. Additionally, we develop independent learning habits such as using reference materials successfully, reciprocity and resilience.

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Year 7 Curriculum Overview Like it or not, the digital world has well and truly embedded itself in our lives. How does it work? How do you use it to create? We aim to answer these questions and develop digital literacy skills for use in school, personal life and potential future pathways. It will be a full on year of skills, knowledge and creativity.

What we study In Year 7, our students will experience a broad curriculum that offers them a taste of media, ICT and Computer Science using computational, creative and real-life contexts. Students will be armed with a range of knowledge to be able to access school and home software to encourage independent learning. Our computer science units will enable students to develop the principals behind computational thinking, with a focus on logic, algorithms and use of binary. Our creative digital project will encourage students to think about solutions to problems, exploring marketing techniques and using professional software such as Photoshop to realise their ideas.

What our students will learn In Year 7, we aim to ignite an interest in the digital world. Our programming units will develop students’ skills in Scratch and Python, building on the KS2 prior knowledge. We will offer challenge by teaching programming constructs such as selection and iteration. They will be able to use graphic software in order to realise an idea. We will also develop students’ personal ICT skills including the ability to use email and Teams with competence, so they can access work from home during their school career.

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Homework In Year 7, homework is set to consolidate classroom learning and to provide opportunities for students to embed skills taught. Homework will also be used develop students’ subject specific vocabulary via retrieval practice quizzes.

How this learning prepares for next year By the end of the year, our aim is for students to be fully confident, digitally literate and fully independent in both creative and computer science topics in preparation for Year 8 where we will develop key knowledge at a higher level. For example, Year 7 units provide our students with the context for our Year 8 programme; learning binary in Year 7 will help students understand how images and sound are represented in Year 8.

SMSC opportunities Through real life case studies, students will consider issues surrounding the misuse and access right to personal data. In addition, as part of the computing curriculum students are taught to think and produce work that reflects the needs of diverse audiences within our community and the wider community.

As students develop their skills in a range of software they are challenged to work in groups to find solutions whilst developing respect for the ideas and opinions of others in their team. This is particularly prevalent in the design phase of tasks given. In addition, students are encouraged to develop their team working skills through collaborative work and research.

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Year 7 Curriculum Overview Creativity, collaboration and confidence are at the heart of drama at The Brittons Academy. We believe that drama is a fundamental subject for the development of reciprocity, oracy, imagination and creative thinking, whether students go on to careers in The Creative Arts or elsewhere. They will develop transferable skills which will be imperative to all aspects of their future success.

What we study The skills and knowledge covered in the Year 7 drama curriculum is for many students unique to secondary school, therefore, our aim is to equip students with fundamental skills that will underpin everything they discover in drama throughout KS3. Year 7 begins with developing essential dramatic building blocks including audience awareness, performance skills and working in collaborative group settings.

These building blocks open the doors to the world of diverse and dramatic stimuli. Students will explore body language, still images, facial expressions and explorative strategies through the historical works of Anne Frank, the fantasy play Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations, the genre of Physical Theatre and a devised project in the style of Theatre in Education.

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What our students will learn By the end of the year, our students will:

Know, recognise and deploy key essential dramatic skills, including narration, thought-tracking and cross-cutting Become expert performance critics, who are able to analyse the effectiveness of the core dramatic skills Be confident in performing to a live audience Develop self-evaluative skills to critique their own performance and improve future performances Use a range of stimuli to inspire and create performances Acquire written and spoken communicative skills in order to critique and describe performances

How this learning prepares for next year The building blocks introduced in Year 7 equip students with the core knowledge and skills required to look at the fundamental performance skills in greater depth, whilst tackling stimuli that is richer, more complex and pertinent to today’s society. Students will transfer their audience awareness skills and performance skills including body language, facial expressions and interaction with other performers to Year 8, where they will apply this knowledge to new stimuli including Shakespeare and Noughts and Crosses.

SMSC opportunities Students will explore how societies have treated other races, ethnicities and religions in the past and the current day. We explore different viewpoints and teach students how to respect other opinions through discussion and debate. We develop imagination through the creation and performing of dramatic pieces.

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Year 7 Curriculum Overview “The world has music for those who listen” (Shakespeare). We believe that studying music at The Brittons Academy allows students to experience the joy of creating, performing and exploring new possibilities within sound. All students have a natural ability to appreciate rhythmic and melodic aspects of music which we strive to refine and celebrate within our music lessons. Music is such a broad and diverse subject that makes links with almost all subjects in the curriculum which can only serve to enhance them both academically and creatively. The nature of our music education equips our students with vital transferable skills such as self-expression, confidence, creativity and collaboration, which help them to succeed.

What we study Underpinning everything that students learn and discover in Year 7, are our four integral musical concepts: performing, composing, listening and appraising, which are the skills students require to be competent and creative musicians. We develop these skills throughout our three Year 7 units of work.

Students begin Year 7 by utilising the one instrument that we all possess: our voice. We enhance students’ vocal, rhythmic and aural awareness through exciting collaborative performances, and through appraising, encountering and exploring diverse musical genres and music history. As students’ knowledge of reading and performing rhythmic notation develops, we introduce them to alternative musical instruments so that students encounter pitch notation to blend, improvise and compose using keyboards and later guitars. By the end of Year 7, students will be able to read standard notation (transferable to any instrument), tablature and chord diagrams.

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What our students will learn By the end of Year 7, students will:

Be able to improvise, compose and interpret written, notated music Understand and manipulate the elements of music Improve singing skills, and acquire keyboard and guitar skills Experience collaborative musical performances Listen to a wide variety of music and identify the musical features Appraise their own work and the work of other students

How this learning prepares for next year Year 7 provides students with the foundational practical skills in our four core strands (performing, composing, listening and appraising). This equips students with the ability to interpret notation, and thus allowing students to broaden their repertoire and curiosity of different musical genres. The knowledge, skills and understanding developed in Year 7 gives students access to a wider range of instruments including bass guitar and drums.

SMSC opportunities We develop students’ confidence, creativity,

individuality, self-expression and collaborative skills throughout our music

curriculum. Students explore other cultures and histories through varied listening stimuli and learn to appreciate the stories and experiences that have helped to shape these musical genres. Music at The Brittons Academy encourages students to connect with their emotional interpretations

of music and use personal expression when performing.

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Year 7 Curriculum Overview In Year 7, we aim for our students to be enthused, creative and to have experiences to equip them to solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts.

What we study In Year 7 our students complete a termly rotation between the subjects of food technology, resistant materials and textiles. In food technology, our course begins with a high emphasis on safety rules, the Eatwell guide, how to adapt meals to make them healthier and the benefits of having a balanced diet. In resistant materials, our students learn about the structure of the design process. This includes analysing the task, carrying out research and using this to create design ideas before making a final product. They learn about the properties of different materials, such as wood, metal and plastic, where they also gain experience in cutting and shaping these materials to make a personal product to take home. In textiles, they study the origins of fibres, and how fabrics are constructed. With this knowledge they creative a soft toy for a young child using basic sewing techniques which are the foundation skills future textiles learning.

What our students will learn By the end of the year, our aim is for students to have secure understanding of:

Working safely in a specialist room How to analyse the work of others

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In our projects, students will use a range of specialist tools including:

Computer aided design and manufacture (CAD) Standard workshop tools such as saws and chisels

They learn how to use the specialist equipment following health and safety guidance.

How this learning prepares for next year The Year 7 curriculum provides a foundation for learning specialist subjects in specialist workspaces. Our students will learn subject specific vocabulary for all technology disciplines which will prepare them for deeper learning and more independence in Year 8.

Homework In Technology, we set homework fortnightly. It is designed to test their understanding of new terminology and encourage them to research the meanings of these terms beyond the classroom and apply the words to their own sentences to embed their understanding.

SMSC opportunities In Technology lessons, students have the opportunity to work collaboratively and design for others to improve their social interactions. They are also encouraged to develop their creative and imagination skills through their personal designs. In addition, student are made to challenge their thinking of other cultures and are expected to show an understanding of diversity, respecting personal influences on the products they design.

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Year 7 Curriculum Overview We aim for our students to develop the capacity to risk take, synthesise and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art. This is done through the exploration of artist work, use of techniques and processes. We want our students to be inspired and challenged as well as ensuring they develop an appreciation of the subject’s history and diversity.

What we study In Year 7, our students will acquire a wide range of skills and knowledge that will allow them to develop their understanding of art elements and then apply these to their own studies. Students are introduced to line and linear drawing to allow them to record what they see; this, in turn affords them the opportunity to picture the world around them and represent this in a variety of media. Fundamentally, students will be able to observe and draw from primary and secondary sources. The Year 7 curriculum provides a key foundation for developing student confidence in drawing, painting, collage and papier-mâché use through both observation and more importantly imagination.

What our students will learn By the end of the year, our students will develop an understanding of the art elements these including line, tone, shape, colour texture, form and space; this will allow them to:

Develop the skills to undertake observational drawing Understand colour theory and apply this to their designs Develop and refine work for presentation

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How this learning prepares for next year Having acquired knowledge and skills in the art of observational drawing, students will learn how to use light and dark tone within their studies. Students will have developed a clear understanding of subject specific vocabulary and this will include contour, gestural drawing and continuous line. The Year 7 Art curriculum will enhance students’ line drawing skills and allow them to apply these to a range of projects.

Homework In Art, students are set homework on a fortnightly basis. All homework activities are designed to extend students’ knowledge, skills and understanding of the elements covered within lessons. There will also be opportunities for students to take part in both national and international projects that have explicit links to galleries; this provides a platform for students to showcase their artwork.

SMSC opportunities Students will look at the world around them with a focus on their own experiences and opportunities. Additionally, we support students with the development of and acquisition of independent learning habits. Contextual knowledge is developed through the study of various artist pieces which ultimately provides inspiration and opportunities for self-expression.

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