Key Stage 3 – Year 7, 8 & 9. (Ages 11- 14)
Key Stage 4 – Year 10 & 11.
At SABS, we believe that the curriculum is more than just a combination of subjects, it includes the relationships, attitudes, habits and ethos which create the whole school experience for our young people. The aim of our curriculum is to meet the needs and aspirations of every young person, in preparation for the opportunities and challenges that they will face as they take their next steps. We believe that the curriculum should not only be knowledge rich but should also prepare individuals to be lifelong learners as they engage in new endeavours and careers, some of which will present new and unanticipated opportunities to learn and develop.
We want our students to be inquisitive and feel confident in approaching unknown tasks; to develop their knowledge of the world beyond what they will be assessed on; and to learn more about the world that surrounds them and within which they are living.
KS3 is where we aim to build a strong skill set of positive work habits enabling them to be successful as they move through the school, feel confident in what they can achieve. We have a strong focus on supporting our students to build their resilience and independence so that they feel confident going into KS4, formal examinations and the world of work.

Key Stage 3 (Year 7, 8 and 9)

The English Department is dedicated to helping its pupils develop a passion and interest in English Language and Literature enabling pupils to engage in the richness of language through a range of literature from contemporary to classic writers. Reading lies at the heart of the curriculum and we are committed to ensuring that each pupil becomes an independent, enthusiastic and critical reader of literary, non-literary and media texts. Pupils learn the conventions of different text types, which enables them to analyse texts using technical vocabulary and supports them when writing in a variety of styles and forms, showing understanding of audience and purpose.
We aim to enable pupils to express themselves clearly, accurately and confidently both orally and in their writing. Above all, our aim is to instil in our pupils a lifelong love of the written word.
We support pupils in becoming confident and eloquent communicators; empowered through their command of language and encourage them to engage with the world around them, through literature and reading.

Each pupil is expected to pursue individual reading as well as study a range of texts in class. Alongside this, they study a variety of poetry, non-fiction and classic texts. Shakespeare is taught in each year.

In Years 7, 8 and 9 we offer an exciting curriculum that will secure, develop and challenge pupils. In each year we study a range of texts including poetry, plays, novels, non-fiction texts and spoken language.

In Year 9 pupils study all requirements of the national curriculum with a focus on literature. They are also introduce to some key skills needed for success at GCSE in a more informal setting although the GCSE coursed does not start until Year 10. In Years 7-9 all pupils are expected to participate in individual talks to the class and take part in formal debate. Pupils study a range of texts including Shakespeare, Pre-1900 and Post 1900 writers.

YEAR 9

At GCSE our pupils are study the IGCSE course in both English Language and English Literature. The course looks at both classic and contemporary texts with an emphasis on close reading skills.
All pupils are encouraged to deepen their interest in the subject outside of the timetable through extra-curricular events.

Mathematics has a central role to play in any academic study. The skills developed through the study of Mathematics are not just relevant to Science, Business Studies and Economics, but also helps to develop logical reasoning and methodical habits which are important to the study of any subject.
Mathematics at its core is an exploration of the limits of the logic. Starting from a very small set of initial assumptions it is possible to derive all the mathematics currently known through the strict application of logic!
All children study maths using the White Rose maths programme which prepares children for GCSE maths.

KS3

Within year 7 and 8 the main focus is for pupils to have a strong understanding of the number-based topics allowing them to be successful within all other areas of mathematics. Pupils are exposed to the relevance of what they are learning through linking other subject matters and real-life contexts.

Within year 9 pupils begin the transition towards the KS4 curriculum. They continue to build upon the skills they have learnt within KS3 with a focus on content and application.

Year 7 maths looks at:

  • Algebraic – sequences – understanding and using algebraic notation -equality and equivalence.
  • Place Value and Proportion – place value and ordering integers and decimals – fraction decimal and percentage equivalence.
  • Applications of Number – solving problems with addition and subtraction – solving problems with multiplication and division – fractions and percentages of amounts.
  • Directed Number – operations and equations with directed number,
  • Fractional thinking – addition and subtraction of fractions.
  • Lines and Angles – constructing, measuring and using geometric notation – developing geometric reasoning.
  • Reasoning with Numbers – developing number sense – sets and probability – prime numbers and proof.

Year 8 maths looks at:

  • Proportional Reasoning – Ratio and Scale – Multiplicative change – Multiplying and dividing fractions.
  • Representations – Working in the Cartesian plane –representing data – tables and probability.
  • Algebraic Techniques – brackets, equations and inequalities – sequences – indices
  • Developing Number – fractions and percentages –standard index form – number sense.
  • Developing Geometry – angles in parallel lines and polygons – area of trapezia and circles – line symmetry and reflections.
  • Reasoning with data – the data handling cycle – measures of location

Year 9 maths looks at:

  • Reasoning with Algebra –straight line graphs –forming and solving equations – testing conjectures.
  • Constructing in 2 and 3 dimensions – three dimensional shapes – constructions and congruency.
  • Reasoning with Number – numbers – using percentages – maths and money
  • Reasoning with geometry – deduction – rotation and translation – Pythagoras thermo.
  • Reasoning with proportion – enlargement and similarity – solving ration and proportion problems – rates.
  • Representations – probability – algebraic representation.

 

Scientific understanding is not just a body of knowledge but a way of thinking about a problem.
Science gives us methods to think about problems, understanding how to ask a clear questions, predicting a possible outcome, planning a way of testing it fairly and logically analysing and evaluating the evidence.
Science is split into 3 topics Chemistry, Biology and Physics, instruction is given in all three areas throughout the year.

KS3

Science in Years 7 and 8 revisits earlier topics but the emphasis is now on developing concepts which helps to explain why things happen. Pupils learn to read equipment with increasing accuracy; they improve graph skills and use these to draw conclusions. They begin to use their imaginations to reason and design experiments and pose their own questions.
We study a balanced range of topics encouraging pupils to think scientifically and providing them with opportunities to gain scientific knowledge. The topics we study are:

Year 7

  • Working Scientifically
  • Particles and their behaviour
  • Graphing skills
  • Forces
  • Cells
  • Elements, atoms and compounds
  • Structure and function of body systems
  • Reactions
  • Light
  • Sound
  • Reproductions
  • Acids and Alkalis

Year 8

  • Reactions
  • Periodic table
  • Structure and function of body systems
  • The earth
  • Space
  • Health and lifestyle
  • Separation techniques
  • Ecosystem processes
  • Electricity and magnetism
  • Adaptation and inheritance.

Year 9

  • Metals and acids
  • Energy
  • Cells
  • Enzymes
  • Cells and control
  • States of matter and separation
  • Atomic structure
  • Genetics
  • Natural selection and genetic modification
  • Motion
  • Forces

“Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past” Machiavelli

We work hard to enabling pupils not only to develop historical knowledge and understanding but also to develop a wide range of analytical skills that are applicable to History at exam level but also to other subjects and skills for life.

We aim to stimulate an interest and ownership of the past, help pupils to understand the challenges and issues of today, by reviewing the past. Looking at History also helps us to understand other cultures, values and ideas, including that of our ancestors. The pupils participate in active enquiry and gain skills in independent thinking and the ability to challenge convention and make their own conclusions.

The pupils are involved in interactive trips to museums and sites which are connected to the past and participate in multimedia learning

KS3

History begins in Year 7 by looking at Big History (studying 4.5 billion years of history in half a term). We then move on to local History and explore where we all came from. Pupils will learn key historical skills and apply them to studying Life through the ages.
You’ll study castles, towns, villages, the Black Death, crusades and the Norman Conquest.
Pupils practice skills such as chronology, cause and consequence, significance and diversity. They will also be able to consider the value of sources and begin to interpret evidence from historical events.

In year 8, pupil’s power and protest, they begin by looking at royal power and what challenged it; why was Beckett murdered, was King John really that bad and why were the peasants revolting? Pupils look at the Tudors and Stuarts, British civil wars, French revolutions and power to the people. They begin to look at forgotten History and discover how Britain became the ‘workshop of the world’.

The pupils continue to develop chronology, cause and consequence skills and consider and cross reference new sources and evidence to check for accuracy. They will begin to understand the causes of change and understand interpretations of the past and write a balanced argument.

In year 9, pupils look at the making of the modern world they begin with a look at the industrial revolution and then look at philanthropy and protest and begin to move towards a study of World War 1 and World War 2 and an in-depth study of the holocaust.

The pupils will continue developing previous skills and begin to look at causes and whether they are intended or unintended. They will be able to link interpretations to context and people and explain that not all change flows in the same direction. Pupils will be able to assess the utility of a source depending on the question being asked and information about its type, audience and purpose. They will begin to respond to statements and provide compelling arguments and answers to questions posed.

At SABS we aim to inspire curiosity and fascination about the world and create a lasting awareness of the world around us. The study of geography should prepare pupils for life in an ever changing world and allow them to practice creative, independent and critical thinking and build empathy towards others.

KS3

In Year 7, pupils look at how to become an excellent geographer. They look at how the Earth can meet our resources needs. The pupil’s then complete fieldwork based on a local issue for example is litter a problem around the school or in the local area? Finally, they look at how rocks shape our world.

In Year 8, pupils look at changes in location conducting fieldwork based on urban sprawl and deciding if it has a positive or negative affect on the local area. Pupils then move onto how glaciation changes the world, India and a study of maps. They end the year with field work looking at the future for a specific area of study.

In Year 9, Pupils explore volcanoes and earthquakes, a study on immigration, rivers and then begin to research and answer big questions affecting our world including; how does an aging population cause challenges for us all? And What is the global fashion industry and what has it got to do with me?

The P.E. department aims to provide varied and purposeful sports and games programme. They give all pupils a chance to achieve and work on increasing self- confidence and self-esteem.

In P.E. one of the focuses of development is teamwork and the Sport team work tirelessly to develop new skills and identify talent in all pupils, encouraging the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle.

Students enjoy a range of facilities including All-weather astro- turf pitch, Hard court area for volley ball and basketball and a hard court for most other sports.

The Art curriculum aims to develop creativity, confidence and independence and to remove the fear of failure. Everybody has the ability to be creative and through nurture and support they can discover how their creative voice.

The Art curriculum is based around a series of thematic frameworks that allows students to explore and investigate art-making through a range of media, scale and dimensions.

Art helps to develop an enquiring mind and provides students with the technical skills to express themselves confidently with feelings and imagination. It provides a stage for student’s self-expression and brings the inner world into reality. For many art is a language and a means of communication which can banish barrier and enhance cultural awareness.

KS3

In year 7 student’s work on projects including still life and ethnology, they develop techniques for drawing, painting and printing and learn the importance of visual elements to help with the development of their individual art.

In year 8, students work on projects including still life and landscape, continuing to develop their skills and learning techniques for 3D construction and textiles.

In year 9, students work on projects including Art History and Portraiture. Here they continue to develop their skills and learn about silk screen printing and photography.

In each year pupils take part in three base musical activities including composing, performing and listening. Pupils used tuned and untuned percussion instruments, keyboards, guitars, ukuleles, computers and other orchestral instruments to compose, rehearse and explore all music.

In year 7, pupils sing songs in class and play tunes using tuned percussion and other instruments, they use I.C.T to compose a percussion score and listen to pieces of descriptive music and compose and perform their own group compositions.

In year 8, pupils sing and play a ‘blues’ with solo singing, breaks and chords. They learn about how instruments work together and talk about music from other cultures, creating their own piece using the knowledge they have acquired.

In year 9, pupils learn about how melody, chords and bass work together and compose a score using this knowledge. In groups pupils compose songs and take responsibility for all aspects of the production including lyrics, melody, harmony, instruments, rehearsal and recording. Pupils learn about different types of voices, their quality and range, styles of singing and how young people’s voices change.

KS3

Computer Science encourages learners to apply principals and concepts of computer science, including algorithms and data representation. They will learn to be analytical and logical thinkers. Pupils learn to understand the components which make up digital systems and how they work with other systems, they will look at the wider impact of digital technology to themselves and society and apply mathematical skills.

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