Radyr Comprehensive School Ysgol Gyfun Radur “Opportunity, Success & Enjoyment for all”

KS3 Curriculum Letter Year 7 Autumn Term 2014 Dear Parent The KS3 Curriculum Letter gives parents details of the content covered by subjects throughout the term. It also gives you details of assessments carried out and advice about how to support learning at home. It is not meant to be in any way prescriptive nor is the advice meant to be followed in its entirety. There are also contact details at the back of this document. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require further support. Yours faithfully Mr R Jenkins Assistant Headteacher KS3

ART Topics covered:  An understanding of basic colour theory and the colour wheel.  How to mix colours in order to create a variety of warm and cool colours.  Painting with precision by learning and developing paintbrush control skills.  Using the work of Hundertwasser to inspire a Wales themed painting looking at colour, tone, pattern and line. Supporting learning from home: Visits to museums and galleries are a great way to inspire your children and get them interested and thinking about art (most have free admission). The National Gallery in Cardiff is a fantastic local museum with a huge collection of works which is easily accessible. Help you children by looking at the architecture and landscapes of Wales and photograph iconic buildings and natural landscapes. Details of assessment throughout the term: Pupils will be assessed on homework tasks and class work throughout the term. Assessment is regularly documented in the back of pupils’ sketchbooks using 2 star and a wish comments. Oral feedback is regularly given during practical tasks. Pupils will complete both peer and selfassessments regularly.

FRENCH Topics covered: Greetings; school objects and the alphabet; ages; numbers; saying what colour things are; describing your brothers and sisters; talking about your family and pets; describing what you look like and your character; using full paradigm of avoir and être. Supporting learning from home: Encourage your child to speak French at home, help to learn vocabulary (look,

cover, write, check) encourage them to use the Internet e.g. www.languagesonline.org.ukplus pupil packages for Expo 1 and resources and weblinks on ‘Moodle’, including copies of the pages from the textbook. Details of assessment throughout the term: Fortnightly vocabulary tests - set as homework and based on vocabulary learnt in class. All 4 skills assessed in end of unit test at the end of October

ENGLISH Topics covered: Reading: Two class novels such as ‘Boy’ or ‘Skellig’, focusing on how character is created. Pupils will also look at non-fiction writing where they will compare and contrast different non-fiction pieces. Writing: Autobiographical writing: ‘My Self’. Imaginative writing, such as stories and poems. Writing transactional pieces such as persuasive leaflets and newspaper articles. Speaking and Listening: Giving a speech in the Christmas Debate and novel-based role-play. Presenting a ‘functional’ task such as a debate or a discussion on a current issue. Other: Pupils will spend a term on skills such as grammar, punctuation and spelling. They will also study different types of poetry. Supporting learning from home:  Review students work and identify frequent errors to be learnt and tested at home  Establish and support a ‘quiet reading’ time at home, or in the local library for independent wider reading – 15-30 minutes a day. Keep a reading log  Identify a weekly news story to follow, discuss and research, using the Internet, broadcast media or daily newspaper

MUSIC Details of assessment throughout the term: Eight formal, levelled assessments. Three speaking and listening to include; group discussion, paired work, individual talk, real life situations and role play. Two reading assessments. One to be a response to a literary text, one to be a response to a range of non-fiction texts. Three writing assessments; imaginative writing, transactional writing and writing to express an opinion.

WELSH BACCALAUREATE Topics covered:  Library Introduction – the use of encyclopaedias for research;  An introduction to the Brain and how we learn  Individual Learning Profiles. Supporting learning from home: When pupils have research to do, encourage creative thinking and use tools other than ‘Google’ or ‘Wikepedia’. Encourage pupils to reflect on their learning. Talk about what they have learned that day and how they have learned. Encourage trying different learning strategies using the green pages in the planner as we establish an individual learning profile. Details of assessment throughout the term: Year 7 students are currently working towards the School’s bronze skills award. This involves students achieving ten skills targets across a range of school subjects. The award is designed to help students identify and obtain the skills needed to support their learning across the school curriculum. Students’ progress in achieving this award is supported and monitored in Welsh Baccalaureate lessons.

Topics covered: Rhythm & The Elements of Music – students will develop their musical skills through whole-class and group performing and composing tasks. Students will have the opportunity to play drums, keyboards, percussion and the samba instruments:  Snakes and Ladders – all students will learn how to play a keyboard piece.  Classroom Orchestra – students will develop their instrumental skills create a class arrangement of a Christmas song. Supporting learning from home: Opportunities to receive group or individual instrumental/vocal tuition in school (provided by the Cardiff County and Vale of Glamorgan Music Service)  Pupil participation in Year 7 & 8 Choir, Orchestra, Big Band, Samba Band – lunchtime rehearsals  Practice rooms may be booked for rehearsing.  Resources may be accessed via ‘Moodle’. Details of assessment throughout the term: Mostly informal assessment. Their final performance of the keyboard piece will be given a level. MATHEMATICS Topics covered: Maths in Sport; identifying 2D and 3D shapes and their symmetries, basic numerical processes (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) in written formats, number patterns, decimals, fractions and elementary algebra. Supporting learning from home:  Use times tables with pupils especially in relation to everyday life such as shopping;  Highlight the way that Maths is used in everyday life such as sport;

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Encourage children to recognise mathematical shapes in everyday life such as in packaging and sport; Research topics on the ‘MyMaths’ website www.MyMaths.co.uk and on the internet.

Details of assessment throughout the term: Assessment is by tests given in class. Testing takes place in September and each half-term thereafter. There is a major assessment in June.

HISTORY Topics covered: Wales in Medieval Britain c.1000–c.1500 An analysis of how the coming of the Normans brought changes in life in Britain and Wales Supporting learning from home:  Encourage students to read books: Terry Deary: Horrible Histories – The Measly Middle Ages  Consider using our textbooks at home: Martyn Whittock: Conflict, People & Power – medieval Britain 1066-1500 (Hodder History), Byrom/Counsell/Riley: Medieval Minds – Britain 1066-1500 (Think Through History)  Encourage students to explore websites for further research (see Department link on school website for details)  Visit local castles e.g. Caerphilly, Cardiff, Chepstow  Visit Cosmeston Village Details of assessment throughout the term: Students’ interpretation and knowledge and understanding skills will be assessed through an extended written task on the death of Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings.

P.E Topics covered: Hockey, Rugby, Netball, HRE (Health Related Exercise), Outdoor and Adventurous (OAA), Football, Gymnastics. Supporting learning from home:  Organisation of correct kit for the appropriate lessons (e.g. indoor and outdoor lessons).  Encourage out of school participation in physical activity. Encourage your child to remain hygienic post-exercise. Details of assessment throughout the term: Pupils will be assessed in every activity at the end of each unit, with the focus on both level of ability and understanding. Pupils overall level will be based on the four areas of activity across the curriculum.

SCIENCE Topics covered: Energy, Acids and Living Things Supporting learning from home: Look out for science topics in the news. Each term the pupils will carry out a couple of science enquiries. The research part of this could be helped by looking online for relevant support or discussing the ideas and their relevance to everyday things. Revision materials can be found on the school’s ‘MOODLE’ website. Details of assessment throughout the term: Every two units of study has an end of topic test and an assessed enquiry.

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

IT & Computing

Topics covered: Health and safety training for workshop skills and food preparation.

Topics covered: DeskTop Publishing, Spreadsheet Modelling, Databases and Data Analysis, HTML, programming and eBook publishing

Food: Healthy eating and nutrition together with a range of practical skills i.e. vegetable preparation and the rubbing in method. DATA ‘Active kids get cooking’ award. Textiles: Making a fabric doorstop and a fleece hat. Sewing machine skills. Systems and control: ‘Mechatronics’ Designing and making an electromechanical buggy. Resistant materials: Designing and making a ‘puzzle in a box’ and using graphic skills. Use CAD/CAM to make a Memphis clock. Supporting learning from home: Help to weigh ingredients for food practical lessons (recipes on the website). Encourage thorough research and good presentation with design sheets Ensure that pupils bring basic drawing equipment to lessons – pencils, coloured pencils, and rule. Details of assessment throughout the term: Both design and practical work are assessed using the national curriculum levels. The students can track their progress by using the pupil levelling sheet in their folder.

Supporting learning from home: Parents may be able to help pupils design and create their eBook as well as review their work and encourage proof reading. It would also be a great help if parents were to ensure students have access to and are using the Departmental ‘Moodle’ site. Details of assessment throughout the term:  Last week of term in December students sit a database test  Last week of February half-term students are assessed on their Sic Taffy film authoring task  Last week before Easter students are assessed on a DeskTop Publishing task – PE Sequences  Last week before May half-term students sit a spreadsheet test  Last week before end of summer term students sit a programming test

R.E Topics covered:  Looking for God in Christianity:  The Political, Social and Religious world in the time of Jesus  The birth and baptism of Jesus of Nazareth  Baptism in Modern Christianity Supporting learning from home: Talk to your child about what they have been studying at school. Encourage debate and discussion surrounding the course content. Use televised news programmes, documentaries and even ‘The Simpsons’ to stimulate discussion, question religious and ethical issues. When on holiday, try to access the culture around your child, often photographs and brochures support learning experiences. Check planners

and e-mails regularly. If your child is unsure of an assigned task let us know, we regularly e-mail pupils with assistance and useful resources. Details of assessment throughout the term: Assessment is on an ongoing basis, but there will be a more formal assessment activity towards the end of each unit of work. Students will also practice self and peer assessment.  Baptism Project – An analysis of the different types of Baptism in the modern church, and why baptism is important to Christians  End of unit Test

around them and attend the Welsh second language youth club held every Wednesday after school. This is run in conjunction with Cardiff Youth Service and provides the ideal opportunity to practise Welsh in a social setting. For assistance with homework it is possible to use the Welsh Language Board’s homework helpline (3 pm- 5 pm from Sunday to Friday (tel) 08712 300029, (text) 07797 805607 or e-mailing [email protected] Details of assessment throughout the term: Students will have a reading, writing and speaking assessment this term based on the topics studied. The emphasis is on speaking the language.

DRAMA Topics covered: Pupils will participate in a variety of Drama related group games, exercises and activities culminating in a project based around the subject of Mime.

GEOGRAPHY

Supporting learning from home: Parents may be able to help pupils to learn their lines, write scripts or collect props and items of costume

Supporting learning from home: Encourage children to look for Geography in the news (newspapers, television, radio, Internet). The ‘Mission Explore’ books are a great way to get children thinking in a geographical way - there is also a web based version http://www.missionexplore.net/

Details of assessment throughout the term: Continuous formative assessment in the lesson. CYMRAEG Topics covered: Revision of work covered in Junior Schools and pupils start the year by introducing themselves to each other. Focus on using the present tense correctly, different ways of expressing opinions and giving reasons and constructing extended sentences. Supporting learning from home: Every student must have their own Welsh pocket dictionary in every lesson. Encourage pupils to watch Welsh programmes on S4C, subscribe to ‘Iaw’ magazine, raise awareness of the Welsh

Topics covered: The Geography of Chocolate, Antarctica…the last wilderness?

Remind them of the work they have been studying as you are out and about – an awareness of the geography around them (coasts, rivers, Cardiff Bay, business parks, shopping centres…) Details of assessment throughout the term: Assessment is on an ongoing basis, but there will be a more formal assessment activity at the end of each unit of work. Students will also practice self and peer assessment.

Radyr Comprehensive School Ysgol Gyfun Radur

“Opportunity, Success & Enjoyment for all” Below you will find the school term dates for the 2014-2015 Academic Year.

Half Term

Ends

Number of School Days

Friday

Friday

75 days

27 Oct 2014

31 Oct 2014

19 Dec 2014

Monday

Monday

Friday

Friday

Term

5 Jan 2015

16 Feb 2015

20 Feb 2015

27 March 2015

Summer Term

Monday

Monday

Friday

Friday

29 May 2015

17 July 2015

Term

Begins

Autumn Term

Monday

Monday

1 Sept 2014

Spring

13 April 2015 25 May 2015

55 days

65 days

INSET days. Monday 1 September 2014 Wednesday 15 October 2014 Friday 12 June 2015 Monday 15 June 2015 Monday 20 July 2015

Yr7&8 Wellbeing Evening - Wednesday 1 October 2014 Short presentations on strategies to support your child at home with literacy, numeracy and thinking skills. Opportunity to discuss with staff. There will also be access to other external agencies that are available to all families. We would encourage all families to attend this evening.

Year 7 Parents’ Consultation Evening – Wednesday 22 October 2014 This is an opportunity to meet your child’s Form Tutor to discuss how they have settled in here at Radyr.

Contact Details Clear routes of communication are very important in ensuring you speak to the correct staff member. To help, below are the names and contact details of those members of staff responsible for each aspect of your child’s education. If you have queries regarding subjects you can contact the relevant Head of Department:

Subject Art Biology Chemistry Drama English Geography History Information Technology Learning Skills Mathematics Modern Foreign Languages Music Physical Education Physics Religious Education Technology Science Welsh

Head of Department Mrs S Williams Mr T Cummings Mr J Firth Mr S Lee Mr R Phillips Mr J Jowett Mr N Beynon Mr K Allen Mrs N Clarke Ms M Egan Mrs B Dinnick Mrs K Morgan Mrs V Woods Mr M Stephens Mrs N Evans Ms L Lloyd Mr M Stephens Mrs N Morgan

Email address [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

If you have queries regarding your child’s overall progress across subjects then you should contact your child’s Progress Leader, Mrs C Fowler. If you have concerns regarding attendance or general wellbeing then you can contact the KS3 Wellbeing Officer, Mrs C Powell. For other matters you can contact Mr R Jenkins, Assistant Headteacher for KS3. The Named Child Protection Officer for the school is Mrs S Phillips, Deputy Headteacher.

Role Yr7 Progress Leader KS3 Wellbeing Officer Assistant Headteacher

Name Mrs C Fowler Mrs C Powell Mr R Jenkins

Email address [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Alternatively, staff can be contacted through contacting the School Reception on 029 20845100.