Year 8 & 9 Curriculum
In many areas of the curriculum, students will begin studying the GCSE curriculum in Years 8 & 9. If they then chose this subject as a GCSE option in Years 10 & 11 they go into greater depth, in line with the GCSE specification. The exception to this is Maths where numeracy skills are built up over the years.
Studying towards their GCSE’s from Year 8 allows students more time to explore areas of interest. In keeping with the school ethos of giving students responsibility over their learning, it also enables them to see the curriculum coverage expectations for obtaining each GCSE so they can plan their study schedules to meet this requirement.
The curriculum ouline below serves as a guide. An emphasis is placed on skill development and key learning principles in these years rather than simply content knowledge. Not all students will cover all of the outlined curriculum in Years 8 and 9 and some will explore topics to a greater depth. Others may start exploring the topic from a different angle and bring new content to the group. Studies in Year 8 and 9 aim to provide students with a broad and balanced curriculum, as well as a solid foundation for those wishing to then take the subject at GCSE. These academic studies are supplemented with the real life learning experiences provided in the farm work and student enterprise. Through those two important avenues a cross curricular and practical application to learning is developed.
Students in Year 8 and 9 must all attend lessons in the subjects of: Maths, English Language, English Literature, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, History, Ethics, PE and Business studies. (Exceptions may be made where it is deemed a student would struggle to manage the volume of work).
Students are also encouraged to take part in lessons for: Art & design and Drama, but these lessons are not compulsory. Music and Spanish lessons are optional.
Biology
Topics of study include:
Cells and movement across membranes
Respiration and the respiratory system in
humans
Plants and photosynthesis
Circulatory system in humans
(Kidneys and homeostasis)
Ecosystems, nutrient cycles and human impact on
the environment
Digestion and the digestive system in humans
Classification and biodiversity
Variation and evolution
Micro-organisms and their applications
Cell division and stem cells
DNA and inheritance
Kidneys and homeostasis
Response and regulation
Disease, defence and treatment
Physics
Topics of study include:
Electric circuits
Generating electricity
Making use of energy
Domestic electricity
Features of waves
The total internal reflection of waves
Seismic waves
Kinetic theory
Electromagnetism
Distance, speed and acceleration
Newton's laws
Work and energy
Further motion concepts
Stars and planets
The Universe
Types of radiation
Half-life
Nuclear decay and nuclear energy
Chemistry
Topics of study include:
The nature of substances and chemical
reactions
Atomic structure and the Periodic Table
Water
The ever-changing Earth
Rate of chemical change
Limestone
Bonding, structure and properties
Acids, bases and salts
Metals and their extraction
Chemical reactions and energy
Crude oil, fuels and organic chemistry
Reversible reactions, industrial processes and
important chemicals
Maths
Please ask for details of topics
Ethics
Topics may vary depending on the needs of the group. Themes are explored giving views of the main world religions as well as non-religious
beliefs. Below is an example outline:
Peace and War
Reasons for war
Protests- peaceful & violent
Arms trade and gun laws
Life and Death
The World
The origin and value of human life
Beliefs about death and the afterlife
Drugs and Alcohol
Steroids and performance enhancing drugs
Addiction & Alcoholism
Smoking
Legalisation of drugs / prohibition
Human Rights
Human Rights and Social Justice
Prejudice and discrimination
Issues of wealth and poverty
Good and Evil
Crime and punishment
Forgiveness
Good, evil and suffering
Relationships
Relationships
Issues of equality: gender prejudice and
discrimination
History
Topics of study include:
Global history:
A timeline of history across the world
History with a European / world focus:
Changes in South Africa, 1948-1994
Thematic studies from a broad historical
perspective:
● Changes in Crime and Punishment, c.1500
to the present day
● Changes in Health and Medicine, c.1340
to the present day
● The Development of Warfare, c.1250 to
the present day
● Changes in Patterns of Migration, c.1500
to the present day
Austerity, Affluence and Discontent,
1951-1979
Geography
Topics of study include:
Landscapes and Physical Processes
Distinctive landscapes in Wales
Landform process and change in two
different and distinctive landscapes of
Wales or the wider UK
Drainage basins of Wales and the UK
Rural-Urban Links
The urban-rural continuum in Wales
Population and urban change in the UK
Urban issues in contrasting global cities
Tectonic Landscapes and Hazards
Tectonic processes and landforms
Vulnerability and hazard reduction
Coastal Hazards and their Management
Vulnerable coastlines
Managing coastal hazards
Weather, Climate and Ecosystems
Climate change during the Quaternary
period
Weather patterns and process
Processes and interactions within
ecosystems
Human activity and ecosystem processes
Development and Resource Issues
Measuring global inequalities
Water resources and their management
Regional economic development
Social Development Issues
Measuring social development
Contemporary issues
Environmental Challenges
Consumerism and its impact on the environment
Management of ecosystems
English
Topics of study include:
Writing:
Description, Narration and Exposition
Argumentation, Persuasion and Instructional
Reading Continuous and non-continuous texts:
Analysis of writer's technique and
evaluation/reflection
Multiple choice questions, summary and editing
Synthesis and comparison
Oracy skills
Studying a variety of literature texts
Business Studies
In year 8 and 9 topics studied will vary depending on the business needs of the student enterprise. The topics below therefore are provided as a guide only:
Business activity
The nature of business activity
Business planning
Business aims and objectives
Business enterprise
Revenue, costs and profit
Providing goods and services
Influences on business and marketing
Identifying and understanding customers
Market research
Product
Pricing
Promotion
Marketing
Ethical influences on business activity
Environmental influences on business activity
Finance
Sources of finance
Revenue and costs
Cash flow
Profit and loss accounts (income statements)
Financial performance
The interdependent nature of business