Year 9

Welcome to Year 9

Year 9 marks a critical stage in our students educational journey, as they have their say in their chosen curriculum. Our Year 9 team will be there to guide and advise you and your family through this process to make sure your child is choosing subjects in line with their interests and future goals.

As older students in school, we expect our Year 9 students to demonstrate remarkable behaviour, and to show commitment to our learning habits.

Family Information

Year 9 Learning Dashboard

Options

We advise students to pick subjects that interest them, reflect who they are, and support their ambitions.

The options process

Year 9 Options Booklet issued to families, this should be read carefully and more than once
Assemblies and tutor support to look at the best combinations of subjects for them
Student interviews with senior leaders for support and advice
Year 9 Options evening with staff and family
Complete options form before the deadline

Your Team

Our team will be here to support our Year 9 students in their final year of Key Stage 3.

Mr S Bhatti – Head of Year 9
Mrs S Trusselle- Headteacher
Mr P Dolan- Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs T Holden – SENDCO

Wider Opportunities

Past trips and visits have included museums, sporting activities, outdoor adventure activities, visits to the theatre and musical events.

Our wide extracurricular offer also provides students with the opportunity to expand their skills and knowledge outside the classroom.

Year 9

Subject	Cycle 1	Cycle 2	Cycle 3
Art	Junk – Still life, drawing, skills, artist research, photography	Junk – Planning, 2D or 3D final pieces Take it to the street – Social issues, artist research, personal theme, typography	Take it to the street – Social issues, artist research, personal theme, typography
Science	Atmosphere and climate change Electromagnets Microbes and disease Forces and pressure Rate of reaction	Wave properties Chemical energy GCSE B1 Cells and Transport GCSE B2 Cell division – mitosis	GCSE C3 States of matter GCSE C1 Separation techniques GCSE B15 Ecological techniques GCSE B17 Biodiversity GCSE C2 The periodic table
Computing	9.1 Digital graphics: using graphics software such as Adobe Creative Suite and Affinity to create graphics for specific audience and purpose 9.2 Introduction to Python Programming	9.3 Exploring data science: exploring how to analyse and evaluate data to discover trends and correlations 9.3 More data modelling with spreadsheets: how to use spreadsheets to store and process numerical data	9.4 Data representation: going audio visual: How do computers store data for images, sound and movies 9.5 Cyber security: How do computers keep our data safe? What are the risks with personal data and how can we ensure it is protected
English	Gothic genre: understanding the conventions of the genre with application across a diverse range of texts Identity poetry: studying a range of poems addressing the theme of identity, alongside poetic techniques and analysis	Purple Hibiscus, by Chiminanda Ngozi Adichie: a foray into Nigerian fiction, tackling challenging and thought-provoking topics Imaginative writing	An Inspector Calls, J. B. Priestley: A study of the play and genre in preparation for the GCSE English Literature exam
French	Where I live: Describe where you live and talk about where you would like to live in the future Food and drink: discuss what you eat and drink for 3 meals and use the past tense to talk about what you ate yesterday	Healthy living: talk about healthy and unhealthy habits and explain how you are going to be healthier in the future Holidays: describe a holiday in the future tense, including where you are going to go, how you are going to get there, where you are going to stay, and what you are going to do	Revision of KS3: Revisit all vocabulary and grammar taught Les Choristes film project: Watch and understand the French film Les Choristes, discuss the characters and give opinions on what you have watched.
German	Where I live: Describe where you live and talk about where you would like to live in the future Food and drink: Discuss what you eat and drink for 3 meals, and use the past tense to talk about what you ate yesterday	Holidays: Describe a holiday in the future tense, including where you are going to go, how you are going to get there, where you are going to stay and what you are going to do Sports: Revisit vocabulary from year 7. Develop your responses to talk about how often and with whom you play different sports	Revision of KS3: Revisit all vocabulary and grammar taught during KS3 to prepare you for study at GCSE Sophie Scholl film project: Watch and understand the German film Sophie Scholl, discuss the characters and give opinions on what you have watched
Geography	The Middle East: Mapping countries in the Middle East as well as the physical geography, study the rise of cities like Dubai and how it is trying to become more sustainable Ocean plastics: Study the impact of plastic in our oceans and understand how ocean currents have a significant impact on climates	Ecosystems: Developing understanding of ecosystems and biomes and how plants and animals are adapted to their environments, the negative impacts humans are having on ecosystems Russia: the physical geography of Russia and its influence on the world today	Urban change: Rio De Janeiro, opportunities and challenges of living in a megacity Urbanisation: decision making exercise
History	World War 2: What caused the war and the effects of the war that led to Nazi controlled Europe The Holocaust: Exploration of the state sponsored genocide of 6 million people in Europe	The Cold War: Students will look at the ideological war between USSR and USA that lasted nearly half a century to prove which was superior between Communism and Capitalism Civil rights campaign: The study of systematic racism in the USA, including the actions of Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks and Malcom X	The Vietnam War: Students will look at the conflict between USA and North Vietnam as one of the most significant events of the Cold War
REW	Introduction to Humanism	Introduction to crime and punishment	Introduction to religion and life
Maths	Straight line graphs, forming and solving equations, testing conjectures, three dimensional shapes, constructions and congruency	Numbers, circle geometry, using percentages, maths and money, deduction, rotations and translation, Pythagoras’ Theorem	Enlargement and similarity, solving ratio and proportion problems, rates, probability, algebraic representation, polygon geometry
Music	The Beatles class band performance: Students will develop their ensemble skills by performing both melody and chords as a full class ensemble including instrumental parts on keyboard, guitar and ukulele	Classical remix using PC software: Students will learn how to perform part of Beethoven’s ‘Fur Elise’ on the keyboard. They will then record their work using the online platform Soundtrap and learn how to create an original remix. This project combines traditional Western Classical music with modern styles and allows students to use the computer software in a creative way.	‘Backstage Pass’ A Festival Planning project: In this end of year project, students will learn about a range of job roles and careers in the live music and events industry. Alongside creating and planning an original music festival, students will perform as a whole class band on a range of instruments including keyboard, guitar and ukulele. They will perform a headline set (in the classroom!) and work together to create a unique festival of their choice.
Technology	Night Light/table lamp project. Further development of skills and knowledge of a variety of materials including polymers. Design ideas including biomimicry	Introduction to electronics producing circuit for light/lamp. Soldering, symbols, connectivity and how components are linked together to create a circuit	Chair project. The importance of research and how the work of others can be the basis of a product. Prototypes and modelling
Food	Culture: Students explore making a variety of cultural dishes such as burgers, chicken fajita’s. pasta sauce and Risotto	Relationships and Sex Education; Students develop their knowledge , understanding and skills of a wide range of elements surrounding RSE	Beckfoot bake off and dietary needs –Students make a variety of desert such as Scones, cookies, swiss roll and brownies and learn to identify and adapt to the dietary needs of children and babies