Guernsey Grammar

THE YEAR 7 CURRICULUM – A SYNOPSIS

Art (National Curriculum)

Unit 4 is a large practical coursework project with sketchbooks showing a range of skills and ideas. Relevant research on artists and craftspeople is essential. Students then have a choice between Unit 5 which is an illustrated essay and Unit 6 which is a practical project based around a journal. Coursework must be finished by the end of February as the Examination Project begins in March.

  • 1 out of 25 lessons per week.

Design & Technology (National Curriculum)

In Design & Technology pupils combine practical & technological skills with creative thinking to design and make products and systems to meet human needs. During Year 7, all students working in mixed gender groups will experience three areas of Design & Technology; spending one third of the school year in each area.

They design and make:- a considerable number of projects in wood, metal, plastics, electronics and a selection of sweet and savoury food dishes.

They experience:- basic health and safety guidelines; manipulative skills; comparing and contrasting products; applying healthy eating guidelines; making informed evaluations; organisational skills; working as an individual and as a team; ‘Structures’ ;3D sketching; rendering; Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture.

  • 2 out of 25 lessons per week.

Drama

In Drama sessions tasks are set which require the students to listen, think, feel, concentrate, organise and move. They work alone, in pairs, in small groups and with the whole class. They use their imagination, their creative and reflective skills to discuss, comment, assess, present work, exercise self-discipline and negotiate with other students and with the teacher. The year's work is split into different topics looking at drama skills and conventions and the year seven performance in the first term, where each student has a speaking role. This is followed by work on topics of a cultural and diverse nature. All schemes of work offer students an opportunity to reflect and respond in a creative manner to the world in which they live.

  • 1 out of 25 lessons per week.

 English (National Curriculum)

The new Key Stage Three Frameworks provide the requirements for all years in this key stage. Building on the Literacy Hour, which is familiar to Year 6 students, tasks are designed to inspire, challenge and engage students. From this they should develop excellence in reading, writing and speaking and listening. Accuracy and confidence in the technical aspects of language are encouraged through both practical and creative work. Source materials are rich and varied and include poetry, prose and drama as well as material from the media. There are strong links with the ICT department, which facilitates the development of students’ word-processing skills.

  • 4 out of 25 lessons per week.

Geography (National Curriculum)

This introductory course to Geography develops an awareness of the local area and people’s relationship with the environment. Topics include the immediate school environment, the island of Guernsey, earthquakes, volcanoes and floods. Much of the first term is devoted to Ordnance Survey mapwork and the use of digimap. Fieldwork is an essential part of Geography and enables the students to work in groups to collect relevant data and to analyse it meaningfully. Fieldwork includes studies of a local stream, land use in the Footes Lane area and the geography of Herm. The latter is a daytrip on the 6th July 2010.

  • 1 out of 25 lessons per week.

History (National Curriculum)

Students explore the social cultural and political developments that characterised the Middle Ages (circa 1066-1485). They do this by investigating local, national and international aspects of history and engaging in historical enquiries such as: What mattered to ordinary people in the Middle Ages? What can paintings tell us about peoples changing lives and beliefs? How did William the Conqueror gain control in 1066? Who was the worst Medieval Monarch? What should people know about The Crusades? What made the city of Cordoba special?

  • 1 out of 25 lessons per week.

Information Communication Technology (National Curriculum)

Information and Communication Technology is taught in all years. The course covers all aspects of ICT using a wide variety of programs. The school system uses PCs with Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2007. Other areas taught include use of email, the internet and e safety, control technology, data logging, CAD, art packages and web page design.

  • 1 out of 25 lessons per week.

Mathematics (National Curriculum)

Our curriculum is designed specifically to build upon the Numeracy Strategy in primary schools and to match the pitch, pace and progression of the Framework for Teaching Mathematics at Key Stage 3. In particular it aims to stretch students who gained Level 5 or above at the end of Key Stage 2 through a variety of extension and enrichment activities such as the UK Maths Challenge and the Team Challenge during the school's 'Maths Week'. The development of sound fundamental numeracy and algebraic skills form particular, key themes of study. Investigational projects and half-term challenges supplement teacher-led classroom learning.

  • 3 out of 25 lessons per week.

Modern Languages (National Curriculum)

All students take French in Year 7. The key language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing are developed and topics include home, family, food, shopping and leisure. Basic grammar principles are incorporated throughout the course. Students learn a second foreign language in Year 9 - either German or Spanish.

  • 3 out of 25 lessons per week.

Music (National Curriculum)

The ability to compose, perform and appraise music is developed through a succession of topic-based themes, which include: Rhythm, African Music, Ostinati and Orchestral Colours. Students use a variety of instruments and develop their singing and aural skills. Knowledge is gained of musical notation, rhythm and structures and there is a strong emphasis on practical work. Students are encouraged to participate in one or more of the many extra curricular music activities. For example: The Lower School Choir; The Training Orchestra; The Training Wind Band.

  • 1 out of 25 lessons per week.

Science (National Curriculum)

Introduction to chemistry, including techniques for separating mixtures, acids and alkalis, physical and chemical change. Physics to include work on sound and light, the earth's place in space, and the planets of the solar system. Biology to include cell structure, basic plant biology and human organ systems exemplified by the reproductive system. An introduction to earth science. The course places an emphasis on the development of laboratory skills, data handling and interpretation.

  • 3 out of 25 lessons per week.

Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship, Education

PSHCE comprises all aspects of the Grammar School’s planned curriculum provision. Within it we try to promote the students’ personal and social development, including their health and well being. In addition, the aims of the course are to develop confidence, responsibility, good relationships, and to raise an awareness of the issues in PSHCE so that students can make informed decisions and choices. The Year 7 course includes topics such as Induction into the Grammar School, Self Esteem and Self Image, Bullying, Relationships, Rights and Responsibilities, Health and Hygiene, Drugs and the role of the Police, Puberty and Disability.

  • 1 out of 25 lessons per week.

 Physical Education and Games (National Curriculum)

The PE programme for all students consists of Ball skills/Racquet skills, Gymnastics, Swimming, Dance, Athletics and Rounders. These P.E. lessons are all mixed, girls and boys, and take place in the mornings. The main sports for Girls, in their games lessons, are Netball, Hockey, Athletics, Tennis, Rounders and Swimming. The main sports for boys, in their games lessons, are Football, Rugby, Hockey, Basketball, Cricket and Athletics. The games lessons for Year seven take place on Monday lesson 5 and girls and boys are taught in gender groups. The course seeks to improve physical fitness, motor skills, co-ordination and health awareness.

  • P.E. 1 out of 25 lessons per week. Games 1 out of 25 per week.

Religious Studies

After initial groundwork sessions on the Big Questions at the heart of philosophy and on symbolic language, the students embark on an investigation into Christian Ethics. First we study the belief in the flawed nature of humanity and the need for laws. In the second term we move on to look at the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and the Christian belief in the need for moral example. In the summer term we turn to a study of the ethics and philosophy of Hinduism.

1 out of 25 lessons per week


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