GCSE Class News
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Spring Term 2019
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English Language
The Spring term will increasingly focus on GCSE practise questions for our exam students, whilst continuing our general aim to extend knowledge of complex texts and how to respond to themes, motifs and devices used by authors.
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English Literature
This term we will be completing our study of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds, before moving onto the poetry component of the English Lit GCSE course. This will include poems by Blake, Byron, Wordsworth, Heaney, Owen, Douglas and Dharker etc...
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Maths
We will be focusing on inverse proportions, probability and statistics, trigonometry, rearranging equations and formulas. The year 11 children are being taught by Helen for 2 out the 3 sessions (Thursdays) and can be practising on GCSE past papers (AQA 8300 course) or using the mymaths website to plug any gaps in their knowledge.
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Science
We are, of course, well into revision mode. We're starting the term with C1 'Air and Water' and P2 "Sustainable Energy". Meanwhile, any help that parents/carers and siblings can provide with learning physics equations would be very much appreciated. The students have been asked to come up with creative ways to memorise the list of 18 required equations (19 for triple science) - from mnemonics to colourful posters and silly songs - in the hope of shifting them out of 'Ugh, physics!' mode and into a growth mindset. If anyone has 'accidentally' lost the list, Ash can provide another copy!
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Geography
We are moving towards the end of our GCSE course with only a few topics to go before we start revision! This term we are looking at the 'changing economic world'.
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History
Now that we have completed our study of Nazi Germany we will be focussing on the aftermath with a comprehensive exploration of the the first 30 years of the Cold War. We will be considering how it started, was it necessary and who was to blame as we study the key events of the period.
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Psychology
This term we will be completing our study of 'Memory' before moving onto the final main topic of the course, 'Sleep and Dreaming'. We will then be undertaking some research into different areas where the students will develop their own studies / experiments.
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Art and Design
After Christmas we will be starting the externally assessed set task for the Art, Craft and Design GCSE. Each student will select a starting point from the five themes listed on the exam paper and will be using this term to produce preparatory work. Work should take the form of a sketchbook or portfolio and needs to include observations, drawings, photographs, artist's research, test pieces/samples and developmental ideas for a final piece.
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Music
Continue our first look through the syllabus - looking closely at film and game music, as well as ongoing composition practise and practical sessions. Homework is always set for each session, two per week, each week.
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Autumn Term 2018
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Music
Focusing on our composition techniques and writing music to a brief. Continuing through the syllabus work, looking at Greek, Palestinian and Israeli folk music and African percussion music traditions.
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The School Choir needs your support! We meet each Friday lunchtime in the Studio 1.30-2pm. Anyone from Upper Primary upwards is more than welcome to join - as well as parents and staff! We sing a great and fun mix of music in many styles. Please encourage your child to come and join us, and why not come along yourself?!
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Science
We are studying the Physics module 'P5 Radioactive Materials' - learning about different types of radiation, use of radioactive materials in medical treatment and imaging, and the reactions that explain both nuclear power and the atomic bomb! The rest of the term will be dedicated to a recap of modules that were studied in years 9/10, to refresh everyone's memories before the serious business of GCSE revision starts!
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Geography
We will be completing the second and final year of the GCSE course. Currently we are working through the Living world unit starting with Tropical Rainforests and moving on to Hot Deserts.
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English Language
This term we will be working on components of the syllabus for OCR English Language, considering Aims and Objectives (AOs), individual Section B essay responses and working with practise exercises to stregthen technical, functional skills.
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English Literature
We will be studying the much imitated War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells as past of the 19th century section of the English Lit GCSE course. The novel raises multiple issues about the nature of progress, the effects on humanity of technology as well as timely reminders about our place in the universe.
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History
After studying over 1,000 years of British history last year we have landed into the most extraordinary century to date, the 20th. This term we will be studying Germany from 1871-1945, covering the rise of the new nation, the impact of World War One and the rise and fall of the Nazis. These classic lessons from the not too distant past seem more relevant than ever before.
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Psychology
This term we will be focussing on the topic of Social Influence. We will be studying the psychology of crowds, the effects of culture on social behaviour, the effect of situational factors in Milgram's classic 'Electric Shock' experiment and Bickman's 'Power of the uniform' experiment, the effect of dispositional factors and a study of the Tottenham riots of 2011.
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Art and Design
For the Autumn Term, students will be working on their self-directed projects. Building up a sketchbook of observations and artist's research, they will be exploring ideas and experimenting with test pieces and eventually making a final outcome.
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Maths
A new timetable to navigate, which includes a double lesson on a Thursday. We have a lot of work to get through, as some students will be sitting their GCSE this year. We will start working through past papers soon. So far we have studied similarity, and will be looking at foreign currency and exchange rates very soon.
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