RFSS Curriculum rationale 2018

Please follow this link to the current Y8 Options Booklet –   Year 8 options booklet 2017

“Don’t think about making art, just get it done.  Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it.  While they are deciding, make even more art.” – Andy Warhol

The Rugby Free Secondary School Art Department is a dynamic and stimulating environment where you will learn a broad and varied curriculum.

High achievement is encouraged through an engaging programme of quality teaching and learning. We expect all students to do their very best as they explore, develop and refine new skills, ideas and experiences.

Students are given the opportunity to express themselves creatively through independent learning, practical application, teamwork and reflection. We also prepare our students for the future by addressing issues relevant to their personal, social and moral development.

Art is an important part of the school’s curriculum which encourages students to think creatively and to go out and be aware, interested and involved in the world in which they live.

At RFSS we strive to promote an environment in which all students can develop lively, enquiring minds, solve problems, take personal responsibility for the safety of themselves and others and are allowed to enjoy and achieve their potential through art, craft, design and making. There is a strong emphasis on experimentation whilst learning practical skills to make quality art work and products of which the students can feel proud.

“The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it.” – Mark Weiser, XEROX

The increasing use of technology in all aspects of society makes confident, creative and productive use of ICT an essential skill for life.

ICT capability encompasses not only the mastery of technical skills and techniques, but also the understanding of how to apply these skills in learning, everyday life and employment. It is fundamental to participation and engagement in modern society.

Computing can be used to find, develop, analyse and present information as well as to model situations and solve problems. Of course, they also enable rapid access to ideas and experiences from a wide range of people, communities and cultures, enabling pupils to collaborate and exchange information on a wide scale.

ICT acts as a powerful force for change in society and citizens should have an understanding of the social, ethical, legal and economic implications of its use. As they improve their own capability,  pupils are able to make informed judgements about when and where to use ICT to enhance their learning and the quality of their work.

In Year 7 and 8, the Computing course is integrated into the STEMM curriculum. Students cover a broad range of topics, delivered through exciting projects which provide varied opportunities for them to shine. This includes a strong focus on Internet Safety, Computer Control, Web design, Robotics and Data Handling.

At GCSE level, the course is intended to build on young people’s love of digital devices. It explores how technology impacts on every aspect of our daily lives: learning and earning, leisure, shopping and money management, health and well-being and on the move.

Computing will always complement and improve the skill sets of students who wish to go on to a career in medicine, law, business, politics or any type of science.

English at Rugby Free Secondary school is taught in line with the aims and ethos of the new National Curriculum. Learning is structured to prepare students for the rigours of the new GCSE qualifications.

The curriculum across key stage three aims to take students on a journey through literary history, focusing on the study of canonical British texts and seminal texts from world literature.

Students use these texts to develop their skills in reading, writing and speaking, preparing them for GCSE and beyond. Students are also encouraged to read widely, with each historical unit explicitly linked to modern texts allowing students to explore the impact of each literary movement on texts they enjoy today.

Through the study of a range of challenging texts, and with a focus on developing reading and writing skills, students gain the cultural capital and literacy skills necessary to succeed in higher education and compete in a global market.

The Humanities subjects are Geography, History and Religious Education.

In Geography, students learn about the world they live in, looking at the physical and human interactions of our planet and understanding the importance of looking after it for future generations. This includes a wide range of topics from Urbanisation and Tourism to Natural Disasters and Ecosystems.

In History, we take a journey through time, beginning in the Stone Age and arriving in our modern world today. When our students learn about the mistakes that have been made in the past, they can realise for themselves why it is important not to repeat them in the future. History also gives young people an appreciation of what they have now and and an understanding of why civilisation is like it is today.

In Religious Education, students have access to learning about a wide variety of different religions from around the world. Our aim is to create a generation of students who are respectful and understanding of other people’s beliefs, helping to maintain a tolerant and peaceful society.

“Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” – Albert Einstein

“Mathematics knows no races or geographic boundaries; for mathematics, the cultural world is one country.”  – David Hilbert

Maths is a subject that can help us in ways people don’t always realise.

It’s obvious to see how it is useful for something like Physics where you have to do calculations. But Mathematics enhances our abilities in other areas too because it helps develop a sense of logic and progression.

The subject has certainly moved a long way from what used to be known as ‘arithmetic’. Even so, the way we teach Maths and the associated theories are still influenced by ancient figures like Pythagoras.

At Rugby Free Secondary, we like to change the perception of Mathematics from being something that is hard work and brain-numbing. We prefer to see it as being about free-thinking and puzzle solving – it’s fun!

Maths has often been seen as something you either get or you don’t – a subject only for those gifted with a love for numbers.

While we appreciate that it comes more easily to some than others, our goal is to make Maths accessible to everyone, so they can share in the joys of logical thinking.

The love of the abstract is still preserved in our lessons, but the history and impact is just as important. Many pupils want to see a meaning in Maths and our activities are geared to discover how relevant Maths is in the world.

Our aim is to instil interest and passion for the subject in Year 7 and Year 8 to prepare our pupils for the challenges ahead as they reach GCSE. As their confidence grows they should have a good foundation to be able to excel in their exams.

Our Maths lessons in Rugby Free Secondary School are as varied as the subject is vast. We teach traditional techniques as well as active and practical Maths. When the opportunity arises we like to take Maths outside into the fresh air where is it all around us.

Every puzzle has a solution, but getting the correct answer is only half the story. Here in Rugby Free Secondary we value the journey itself – how we reached our goal is just as important. We like our pupils to experiment and manipulate numbers without fear of miscalculation. After all, it is only through mistakes that we truly learn.

All students in Year 7 study Spanish, one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Within the curriculum students are given the opportunities to explore and learn about the culture of the Hispanic speaking countries to enhance their language skills.

Students are also encouraged and exposed to extracts of literature and authentic materials in the language to improve their fluency and to prepare them for the new GCSE.  Language learning apps such as Quizlet and Duolingo are used to complement and support pupils’ progress in Spanish.

The spontaneous use of Spanish is also something we are focusing on in order to develop students’ confidence, fluency and enjoyment in speaking it.  We have already planned a trip to Spain at the end of the year, as well as trips to see Spanish films and to a Spanish restaurant. During Year 7, all students take part in a singing competition in which they learn a song in Spanish. Families get a chance to see these performed at an after school event.

The Music curriculum is designed to inspire pupils expand their appreciation of music and to develop their talent as musicians, regardless of their starting point and previous musical experience. In studying music, pupils increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.

Pupils perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including music from different cultures.

They learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others. They also have the opportunity to play and learn musical instruments, to read rhythm and pitch notation and to use music technology appropriately.

Pupils will develop their musical literacy to enable them to analyse and describe the musical elements such as pitch, dynamics, tempo and structure.

They will also understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated – there are relevant overlaps here with other curriculum areas such as science and computing.

Our PE curriculum offers a comprehensive range of experiences to meet the needs of each student. ‘Traditional’ sports are complemented by a range of exciting new sports, all of which have been chosen to excite and encourage all students to get physically active and develop an understanding of the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

The department covers all of the major sports that would be expected, but this is always open to change. On our list at the moment are Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Dance, Fitness, Football, Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Softball, Table Tennis, Tennis, Rounders, Rugby and Netball.

A major focus of the department is promoting student leadership and independence. Students are given the knowledge and skills to be able to organise and lead others in sport, and this includes the chance to complete a sports leadership course, a nationally recognised award.

Students are also given opportunities to take part in regional and national competitions ranging from level 1 through to level 3 schools games. Boys’ and girls’ teams compete in a range of sports and are given access to a variety of after school clubs, provided by both staff and external agencies.

Students get the option to study GCSE PE with Edexcel when they enter Year 9. The department has a current GCSE PE moderator and experienced staff, so students will be well guided and advised throughout their studies.

So far, groups of students have worked with Sky Sports and the Youth Sports Trust on two separate projects and the school has also been to Twickenham to watch the England rugby team. At the end of the year, a group of students will be going to Wimbledon to see the tennis.

We are in the early stages of planning a sports tour to South Africa. This will see Football and Netball teams compete against South African schools. It will also be an educational trip where students will learn about African culture and see animals in the wild.

“Equipped with five senses, humans explore the universe around them and call the adventure Science.” – Edwin Powell Hubble

Science is associated with knowledge, but it also has the power to develop a wider range of abilities such as research skills, practical skills, teamwork and independence.

This provides opportunities for lessons to be placed in the wider context of the development of the student as a learner.

At Rugby Free Secondary School, we believe that the Science curriculum should be broad, balanced and flexible so it has the best chance of inspiring some of the next generation of scientists.

It is essential that the content is relevant and current, develops the scientific method, and that it links to the GCSE to provide a stable foundation for attainment in future years.

We are very keen for girls and boys to have the chance to develop a passion and enthusiasm for all three sciences: biology, chemistry and physics. We teach science through these three main disciplines, whilst also developing key skills in scientific enquiry that underpin the practical elements of all these subjects.

Our aim is to inspire the youngsters to be interested in the natural world and the wider universe.

Students are assessed on their practical and analytical skills through regular practical investigations. We work with every child to develop these skills across Year 7 and 8 to prepare them for the demands of their GCSEs in Science.

There are millions of species alive on our planet today and there have been millions more in the past that are no longer around, but we are all linked together by common evolutionary strands.

Studying these biological similarities can make us feel part of the whole chain of events that stretches both backwards into the past and forward into the future. That’s what makes biology so interesting.

In Year 7 we teach our students about cells, the basic building blocks of life. They look at how they are both similar to and different from human beings and other life forms. They start to understand how we fit into the whole web of life by studying basic ecology and begin to see how our successful reproduction has led to our impact on the planet.

As we move into Year 8 we aim to develop curiosity about how human systems and organs function. We look at the fundamental processes of respiration, feeding, digestion and immunity. Students get the chance to look at and dissect real animal organs. They will be fascinated by the intricacies they see.

As we progress through to GCSE and beyond, there is more focus on issues which we feel are important because of their impact on humans socially, medically and economically. Students are encouraged to become aware of the advances in research and their implications on our own modern life.

The challenge for modern chemists is to find and develop new materials for a society ever hungry for new technology. This must be done in a way that respects our environment and is sustainable for future growth and development.

These new materials are being used in fields as diverse as medicine, communications and energy and in every aspect of daily life. This is why chemistry is so relevant, because it affects all of us.

As students begin their study of chemistry in Year 7, we encourage them to make observations of the way the world around them works so they can begin to describe the processes and phenomena surrounding materials. They will begin to notice patterns in these behaviours and can start to build models to explain them.

We show them how to work with these materials safely and how to use their observations to predict new possibilities. Chemistry in Year 7 and 8 is predominantly practical and will look to develop analytical skills that will be easily transferred to other subjects.

When students’ progress to GCSE and A Level, their work will become more theoretical as they build more complex models to explain the abstract ideas like structure and bonding. However, they will continue to work practically in making observations in areas such as electrolysis and in organic chemistry, finding out how we use materials in our world. Students will also begin to explain their observations quantitatively and these skills can be developed further at A level.

Physics is crucial to understanding the world around us, the world inside us, and the world beyond us. It is the most basic and fundamental science, encompassing the study of the universe from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particles.

Physics challenges our imaginations with concepts such as relativity and string theory, and it leads to great discoveries and technologies which change our lives, such as the world wide web, lasers, Blu-ray, positron-electron tomography (PET scans) and developing sustainable energy solutions.

Physicists are problem solvers. You can find physicists in industrial and government labs, on university campuses, and in other places too: even in the City, where their ability to think analytically is a great asset, and presenting on TV.

At all stages of the curriculum we encourage and develop our students’ thinking and problem solving skills.

As an experimental science, physics utilises the scientific method to develop and test hypotheses based on observation. The results are used to formulate laws, usually expressed in the language of mathematics, which can then be used to make predictions. This practical approach is a major part of how physics is taught at Rugby Free Secondary School.

In Year 7 we introduce the concepts of energy, force and electricity, and the Earth’s place in the universe. As we continue through Year 8 we will develop the key ideas around light and sound, and speed and motion, with a more detailed look at Newtonian Physics and electromagnetism.

Once students embark on their GCSE Physics studies they will develop a deeper understanding of the wider universe, atomic structure, radiation and electricity and magnetism.

We strongly believe that the best approach to learning these more complex ideas is to continue to use practical hands-on investigations, where a close link with Maths and Engineering will help develop the essential analytical skills required in the 21^st Century.