Welcome to Year 8/9

School Day

• 6 periods• 45 minutes each• Timings of the day – 9:05a.m. to 3:15p.m.

Curriculum Overview

English OverviewThere are five English lessons each week: • two dedicated to developing writing and grammar; • two to encourage the enjoyment of books and exposure to

different genres and authors; • and one for spellings and dictionary work. • Woven into all of these lessons is the development of

speaking and listening skills in formal and informal situations.

The English programme of study is run over a cyclical two year cycle. We are on Cycle 2.

Curriculum Overview

Writing in English• Writing descriptions which includes writing about myself,

other people and settings etc.• Creating an imaginary character and describing it• Writing instructions and procedures• Writing in the style of a Fairy tale (retelling or revising a

known fairy tale)• Writing with discussion, argument and opinion• Writing a recount/past tense (focus – diary writing)

Curriculum Overview

Literature in EnglishAutumn Term:Adventure stories, eg Kensuke’s Kingdom and Flat StanleySpring Term:Greek myths, eg Icarus and Daedalus; legends, eg King Arthur or Robin Hood; and modern fairy tales such as The Paper bag Princess or Princess SmartypantsSummer Term:poetry – Narrative, eg The Listeners; Humorous, eg Spike Milligan; Classic, eg Edward Lear; Contemporary, eg Benjamin Zephaniahnon-fiction texts – Ebooks (the download series - fashion, music, brands and gadgets)famous Diaries- Anne Frank and Samuel Pepys

Curriculum OverviewMaths Overview

There are five Maths lessons each week using the national Curriculum Strands. They are taught topics in the 4 blocks below of 3 weeks each, each term:Block 1 covers Number Skills and ArithmeticBlock 2 covers Exploring Geometry Block 3 covers Handling Measures and Statistics Block 4 covers Understanding and Applying Fractions (including Decimals, Percentages)

The Maths programme is on cyclical two year cycle with an emphasis on repetition the topics to reinforce their understanding. Varying according to the groups.

Curriculum Overview

Maths OverviewThe aims of the curriculum are: To enjoy mathematics. To develop and tailor to the needs of the child.To develop problem solving techniques.To develop mathematical language.To acquire skills necessary for their future lives

Curriculum OverviewScience Overview

There are two Science lessons each week. Covering the topics below from the KS3 Science National Curriculum.Lessons require practical input from the students with an emphasis in developing their independence with practical and investigative science.

The Science programme is run over a cyclical two year cycle

Year 2 Metals -Health - Forces and speed - Sorting out living things - Space and planets - Energy and electricity

Year 1 Sorting things out- including elements and compounds – Light and sound - The body (including digestion and breathing) - Rocks - Chemical reactions - Ecology

Curriculum Overview

Geography OverviewStudents have one lesson a week.The Geography programme of study is run over a two year cycle. It is designed to extend their understanding and knowledge of other countries. Topics covered during the two years are: Year 2• Deserts and Rainforests – Australia - Fair Trade• Natural Disasters – Tourism - KenyaYear 1• Antarctica - Plate Tectonics, Volcanoes and Earthquakes - Japan• Coasts – Italy - The Water Cycle and Rivers

Curriculum Overview

ICT Overview• Autumn Term – ICT code of conduct, using the internet and

PowerPoint (including embedding actions – sound and hyperlinks)

• Spring Term - Scratch – programming, logical thinking• Summer Term - Moviemaker – creating and editing moving

images

Curriculum Overview

Talents Overview• One lesson per week• One talent per term• Drama, • Environmental Studies, • Music, • Practical Studies • and Dance

Curriculum Overview

PE OverviewThe Abbey provides a varied and inclusive PE programme and encourage all students to engage positively in some form of physical activity. The key is participation. Each student in Y8 and 9 has the equivalent of at least 1 ½hours of PE per week.

In addition to this there are lunchtimes sports club a week/ options and talents for a further 45-90 minutes of extra activities.

Curriculum OverviewPE Overview

As an active member of Surrey Special School Sports Association we host Competitive sports with other similar special schools including a KS3 football tournament, Netball, tag rugby tournaments and Games festivals.

FootballNetballBasketball

Hockey

TAG RUGBY

TennisBadminton

Rounders

Golf

BOCCIA

swimming

running

Walk

Bike riding

Dance

Curriculum Overview

Options Overview• On Friday afternoons• Students chose at the beginning of the year and an

explanation letter sent home.• Choices were – • Sports, • Cooking, • Creative Crafts/Practical Studies, • Swimming, • Drama, • 5K Challenge, • Band and • Street Dance.

Curriculum Overview

Art OverviewStudents continue to build on their foundation skills in drawing, painting, and sculpture and print making using different media to achieve an outcome.

Students are encouraged, through inspiring topic work and the introduction of new artists, to make progress and develop their observational skills. We will look at Textiles and learn about the impact of colour and pattern on our society.

Curriculum Overview

History Overview• Autumn Term - World War 1• Spring Term – Black History• Summer Term – The Victorians

Curriculum Overview

Tutor Time Overview• Reading for pleasure• Spellings practise• Cooking / Healthy Lifestyle / recipe investigation• Key Skills• Social Skills• Reading 4 meaning – Leading to T20 (Current Affairs)• Key Steps• RE

Curriculum Overview

RE Overview• RE is taught within six allocated tutor time periods each term

- three periods during the first half of the term and three during the second half

• Students will be taught within their tutor groups• Students will be studying aspects of Christianity, Judaism,

Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.

Curriculum Overview

PSHE OverviewThrough our PSHSE curriculum we aim for pupils to: • understand the world they live in as individuals and as

members of groups• bring their own experiences and understanding of life into the

classroom• develop positive attitudes towards others, respecting their

beliefs and experience• reflect on and consider their own values and those of others

Curriculum Overview

PSHE OverviewTopics: • Emotional wellbeing• Health – including• Relationships and Sex Education• Personal Safety• Child sexual exploitation, radicalisation and extremism• Laws, peer pressure and us• Financial well being

Homework

• English – once per week (20 minutes)• Maths – once per week (20 minutes)• Spellings (Daily – both at home and in school)• Reading• Current Affairs

P.E. Kit and Uniform

• P.E. Kit - Thursday afternoon but leave in school for the half term if helpful

• Uniform – it’s getting colder! • No hoodies• Non-uniform days – each term with a

donation to the students’ chosen charity

Parents...How can you help?

• Check Home / School book daily• Medication – both long and short term –

please advise• Parent volunteers welcome• Contacts that could support The Abbey• Feedback and support for homework