Art
The Art curriculum focuses first on pupil mastery of the skills and techniques required to create an accurate representation from observation. Once mastered, these skills allow pupils to convey ideas to an audience using a range of different media.
From Year 7 to Year 9, pupils follow a spiral curriculum focused on mastery of direct observation and portraiture skills, increasing in challenge each cycle. Alongside this, they are introduced to key artists and movements from prehistoric to contemporary art.
For pupils on the GCSE pathway from Year 10, pupils use the artistic vocabulary, awareness and skill-set honed in earlier years to explore and responding to a chosen starting point. They sit the Edexcel GCSE Art and Design qualification, which offers both a Fine Art or Photography endorsement.
Year 7
Autumn 1 Autumn 2 |
Observation skills. Pencil skills and Understanding tone. |
Spring 1 Spring 2 |
Colour theory and Painting skills |
Summer 1 Summer 2 |
Portraiture |
Year 8
Autumn 1 Autumn 2 |
Perspective techniques. |
Spring 1 Spring 2 |
Still life. |
Summer 1 Summer 2 |
Portraiture |
Year 9
Autumn 1 Autumn 2 |
Refining observation through still life and portraiture. |
Spring 1 Spring 2 |
Responding to an artist. |
Summer 1 Summer 2 |
Developing observation-Longer studies. |
Year 10
Autumn 1 |
Introduction to GCSE Art and Design. |
Autumn 2 Spring 1 Spring 2 |
Coursework Unit 1a: Starting points: Indulgence, Inside Outside, Distorted. |
Summer 1 Summer 2 |
Coursework Unit 1b: Starting points: Derelict, Cultures, In the news. |
Year 11
Autumn 1 Auutmn2 |
Coursework Unit 1b: Starting points: Derelict, Cultures, In the news. |
Spring 1 Spring 2 |
Coursework Unit 2: Starting points: Externally set. |
Summer 1 | Exam |
Summer 2 |
Physical Education
Physical education is a cornerstone in developing healthy, academic and well-rounded young people today and for life. The PE curriculum aims to develop the full potential of every pupil through high quality physical education within academic and sporting environments.
Between Year 7 and Year 9 pupils study a range of topics from basic health, fitness and wellbeing, through principles and methods of training, diet and nutrition to the structure and function of the skeletal, muscular and cardio-vascular systems. They will also participate in regular physical and sports activities such as football, basketball, hockey, netball and athletics.
Pupils can go on to study for Edexcel GCSE PE or OCR Cambridge National Sports studies from Year 10 onwards.
Year 7
Autumn 1 |
Health, Fitness and Wellbeing (inc. Warm Ups) |
Autumn 2 | Fitness Testing and Interpretation of Data |
Spring 1 | Structure and function of the Skeletal System, Feedback |
Spring 2 | Goal Setting |
Summer 1 | Factors affecting participation, Sportsmanship/ Gamesmanship |
Summer 2 | Types of movement, Types of Muscle and their roles |
Year 8
Autumn 1 |
Short and Long Term Effects of Exercise |
Autumn 2 | Principles and Methods of Training (inc. Warm Ups) |
Spring 1 | Muscular System, Guidance |
Spring 2 | Goal Setting |
Summer 1 | Commercialisation & advantages and disadvantages |
Summer 2 | Structure and function of the Cardio-vascular system, Planning training (using principles of training) |
Year 9
Autumn 1 Autumn 2 |
Health, Fitness and Wellbeing, Engagement Patterns |
Spring 1 | Injury and Drugs |
Spring 2 | Diet and Nutrition & Consequences of a Sedentary Lifestyle |
Summer 1 Summer 2 |
Cardio-respiratory system, Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise |
Year 10
Autumn 1 |
Muscular-Skeletal System |
Autumn 2 | Physical Training |
Spring 1 | Cardio-Respiratory System |
Spring 2 | Short and Long term effects of exercise |
Summer 1 | PEP |
Summer 2 | Health, Fitness and Welbeing |
Year 11
Autumn 1 |
Movement Analysis Sports Psychology |
Autumn 2 | Optimising Training and Preventing Injury |
Spring 1 | Socio-Cultural Influences |
Spring 2 | Practical Preparation |
Summer 1 Summer 2 |
Exam Preparation |
Performing Arts
The Performing Arts curriculum aims to ignite pupil creativity, imagination and interest in the arts.
Year 7 introduces pupils to the origins of Greek theatre, Commedia Dell'Arte and Shakespeare. In Year 8 pupils are introduced to key theatre practitioners, in both drama and dance, who have inspired generations of professional performers. Year 9 focuses on performance styles and physical practice. Throughout the curriculum, pupils return to core knowledge and skills, building mastery and spiralling up in challenge.
In Year 10 pupils begin to study for the Edexcel BTEC Performing Arts qualification, which has endorsements in both Dance and Drama. This allows them to explore professional work, looking at the inter-relationships between key features of performance material. Pupils will be able to interpret writers and performers intentions, performing as a professional theatre company through devising and creating performances.
Year 7
Autumn 1 Autumn 2 |
Greek Theatre and Staging |
Spring 1 Spring 2 |
Commedia Dell’Arte |
Summer 1 Summer 2 |
Shakespeare |
Year 8
Autumn 1 Autumn 2 |
Stanisalavski |
Spring 1 Spring 2 |
Brecht |
Summer 1 Summer 2 |
Physical Theatre |
Year 9
Autumn 1 Autumn 2 |
Rehearsal techniques and Monologues Component 2 |
Spring 1 Spring 2 |
Physical Practitioners Components 1, 2 and 3 |
Summer 1 Summer 2 |
Devising a Performance Component 3 |
Year 10
Autumn 1 Autumn 2 Spring 1 Sprnig 2 |
Exploring the Performing Arts Component 1 |
Summer 1 Summer 2 |
Developing Skills and techniques in Performing Arts Component 2 |
Year 11
Autumn 1 Autumn 2 |
Developing Skills and techniques in Performing Arts Component 2 |
Spring 1 Spring 2 Summer 1 |
Performing to a Brief Component 3 |
Summer 2 |
Music
The Music curriculum is designed to underpin key knowledge and core musical skills of performing, composing and listening. These skills are developed through varied units increasing in demand, context and breadth.
In Year 7 pupils focus on an introduction to listening, performing and composing skills via the elements of music. In Year 8 pupils develop these skills further whilst exploring a range of genres and their cultural context. In Year 9 they will further their independent use of the skills explored earlier in the curriculum - listening, composing and performing a diverse range of pieces and genres.
From Year 10, pupils can go on to study the Edexcel BTEC Tech Award Music.
Year 7
Autumn 1 |
Musical Ingredients Singing Skills |
Autumn 2 |
Musical Ingredients Graphic Score composition |
Spring 1 | I’ve got Rhythm |
Spring 2 |
‘Take 5’ Pentatonic Compositions |
Summer 1 | Perform it! |
Summer 2 | Compose it! |
Year 8
Autumn 1 |
Blues |
Autumn 2 Spring 1 |
Reggae |
Spring 2 | World Music |
Summer 1 | Theme and Variations |
Summer 2 | Live Lounge |
Year 9
Autumn 1 Autumn 2 |
Through the decades |
Spring 1 Spring 2 |
Film music & Video games |
Summer 1 Summer 2 |
Live Lounge |
Year 10
Autumn 1 Auumtn 2 |
Component 1 “Exploring Music Products and Styles” |
Spring 1 Spring 2 Summer 1 Summer 2 |
Component 2 “Music skills development” |
Year 11
Autumn 1 Autumn 2 |
Component 2 “Music skills development” |
Spring 1 Spring 2 Summer 1 |
Component 3 “Responding to a Commercial Brief” |
Summer 2 |