The Year 7 curriculum for 2020-21 will be as follows, delivered across a two week timetable:
English | Maths | Science | PE | MFL | Humanities | Computing | Technology | Art | Performing
Arts |
6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Each lesson will be either 90 or 100 minutes long. The curriculum above is the same curriculum that was praised by Ofsted for being broad, ambitious and demanding. More detail about what they will learn in each subject can be found on the Year 7 curriculum section of the school website. All teachers, in particular English and Maths teachers, will first address any gaps in essential knowledge and skills from the KS2 curriculum. Therefore, although the content described on the website will remain the same, the order in which it is taught might be different in 2020-21.
The Year 7 curriculum is designed to ensure that all students gain the necessary knowledge, experiences and skills to become curious, reflective and resilient learners who are ready to reach their potential in a complex, rapidly changing world. Through our curriculum we take pride in all that we do, respect the thoughts, beliefs and personal qualities of others and seek to be the best we can be both personally and academically.
What will all students learn in Year 7?
English
Stories, plays and novels chosen will vary according to your child’s set: Unit 1: Modern Short Stories (taken from AQA’s Telling Tales anthology) Unit 2: Shakespeare (Titus Andronicus, Othello or King Lear) Unit 3: Novel (Salt to the Sea, Mortal Engines or Revolver) Unit 4: War poetry Unit 5: Myths and monsters (Literary allusions) |
Maths
Half-term 1: All sets: Analysing and displaying data; Number skills and calculation methods. Half-term 2: All sets: Expressions, functions and formulae. Sets 1&2: Fractions. Sets 3&4: Decimals and measures Half-term 3: Sets 1&2: Angles and shapes; Decimals; Sets 3&4: Fractions; Probability. Half-term 4: Sets 1&2: Equations. Sets 3&4: Ratio and Proportion Half-term 5: Sets 1&2: Multiplicative Reasoning; Perimeter, Area and Volume. Sets 3&4: Lines and Angles; Sequences and Graphs Half-term 6: Sets 1&2: Sequences and Graphs. Sets 3&4 Transformations. |
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Science
Alongside these topics, students will also learn practical science skills including lab safety skills Unit 1: What makes up our universe? Unit 2: How does energy transfer between materials? Unit 3: What are cells and organs? Unit 4: What is everything made of? (Atoms, elements, compounds and mixtures) Unit 5: How do we inherit our features like eye and hair colour? Unit 6: How do we know chemical reactions are happening? Unit 7: What forces keep us on the ground and make objects change speed? Unit 8: How do animals and plants rely on each other through ecosystems, food chains and food webs? |
History
In all units, students will learn how to make chronological and thematic links, assess change and continuity, evaluate significance, and analyse and evaluate primary and secondary evidence, including different interpretations Unit 1: Why is Wallsend important? Unit 2: The Norman Conquest Unit 3: Medieval Britain Unit 4: World empires: Mongolian, Persian and African kingdoms Unit 5: Medicine through time Unit 6: The wars of the roses |
Geography
In all units, students will learn map skills (including OS maps and compass directions) numerical skills including data analysis, how to analyse graphs and how to use case studies and carry out investigations. Unit 1: Exploring the UK Unit 2: Rainforests Unit 3: Issues of human and physical geography affecting the world today Unit 4: Tectonic hazards Unit 5: Enquiry into the school’s microclimate |
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Religious Studies
Across these units, students will learn the key beliefs and practices of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism as well as considering their responses to philosophical and ethical dilemmas. Unit 1: What is God? Unit 2: Who makes the rules? Unit 3: How do we know what’s true? Unit 4: Who owns the world? Unit 5: How does religion give people a sense of belonging? Unit 6: War: what is it good for? |
Modern Foreign Languages
On a carousel basis, students will study the following topics in both French and Spanish across Year 7 and 8:
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Business and Computing
Unit 1: Google Drive and word processing Unit 2: Online safety Unit 3: Business Challenge Unit 4: Programming – Blockly – Appshed Unit 5: Algorithms – Pseudocode and Flowcharts Unit 6: Programming – Microbit |
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Art
Unit 1: The art of silliness (creativity and drawing skills) Unit 2: Colour theory, Hundertwasser and local landmarks (artist research and painting) Unit 3: Viewfinder (enlargement using the grid technique) Unit 4: Collage (use of mixed media) Unit 5: Great artists (major artistic movements in the history of art) |
Design and Technology
Resistant Materials
Art/Textiles
Food Technology
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PE
Table tennis Hockey Netball Badminton Volleyball Tag Rugby Basketball Handball Fitness Suite Gymnastics Netball Athletics Summer Games |
Music
Over the course of the year, students will develop their skills in musical theory, performance and composition.
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Literacy
In addition, students will have one Literacy lesson per week in which they will learn and practise the necessary skills in spelling, punctuation and grammar to access all other areas of the curriculum to the best of their ability. |