NEWSHEET
Spring Term 2016
Year 8 Termly Newsheet
Curriculum overview - Topics to be covered
Resources to Support Learning
RE
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The People of God (Exodus, New Covenant). In search of wholeness (struggle, Sacraments of
Healing, HCPT). Saviour of the World (personal worth, sin, conscience)
People of spirit and truth (symbols, Sacrament of the Eucharist). Churches together (Christian Unity,
division and denominations)
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ENGLISH
Building Skills in English Book 3 Unit 6 - Setting Up a Company
Speaking and Listening Assessment - Dragon’s Den style presentation of a product
Reading Assessment AFs: 1, 2, 3,4,5,6
FRENCH
Body parts, saying you are unwell, healthy living, revision past tense, TV programmes,
types of films, organising a meeting, introduction of future tense.
GEOGRAPHY
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Making Money – focus on multinational companies
Run for it! – Use of Ordnance Survey maps
MATHS
Theme 3 - The aim of this unit is to develop student’s ability with algebraic expressions and
equations, move onto functions and sequences, including justifying in context. Then move onto
exploring straight line graphs.
Theme 4 - The main aim of this unit is to improve the student’s ability to investigate statistical
problems. The unit will take the form of a continuous project that students work on independently.
SCIENCE
Health and Lifestyle. Speed, Moments and Pressure. Metals, Acids and Materials
PE (CORE)
Students will acquire skills in the range of sports covered. Sports covered in the winter terms:
Rugby, football, netball, handball, table tennis, basketball, gymnastics, dance, swimming and
hockey. Students will select and apply these skills in competitive situations
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MUSIC
Film Music - Using sequencing software to create music for a film clip.
12-bar Blues - Investigating the history of the Blues; composing a blues using a 12-bar chord
sequence and blues scale; developing improvisation skills. NB: These topics will run concurrently
during 2.1 and 2.2, with teaching divided between Mr Jette and Mr Matthews
ICT
Algorithms. Small basic programming
ART
Project 1 ‘Tell us a story’ Student’s will work through the four main assessment objectives –
Develop, Explore, Record and Present. They will experiment with a range of materials including
printmaking and resources available and complete their final outcome based on all their
preparatory work during.
Project 2 will begin after February half term. Students will be familiar with the assessment
objectives from project 1 and they will begin working in a range of materials to prepare for a
painted outcome around the given theme.
Students will be encouraged to research the theme and their ideas on the internet, read and
research in books, visit libraries, galleries and museums and look at a range of artists and craft
people’s work to inspire and influence their own.
HISTORY
A case study of protest: The Civil Rights Movement in the USA
We look at how the movement changed from the 1950s to the present day, considering the various
methods of protest used and their impact.
The Holocaust - We look at the life of Jews in Europe before the Holocaust, before looking at the
causes, events and impact of the Holocaust.
TECHNOLOGY- making pizzas, deli salad. Product Design - pupils will make a laser cut door sign
and Wonka Bar. Resistant Materials-pupils will make a wooden sweet machine. Textiles - How to
use the sewing machine and make textile products.
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Documents and PowerPoints are
available from RE Dept.
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
French story books and magazines
available from class teacher and
new library
Newspaper articles, YouTube, BBC
news, Google Earth.
BBC Bitesize
www.cgpbooks.co.uk www.planetscience.com
www.scibermonkey.org.uk
Maths frameworking
ISBN: 978-0-00-753775-4 (core)
ISBN: 978-0-00-753778-5
(extension)
Mymaths logins & passwords will
be issued for students to access
learning resources at home.
History dept. has a non-fiction
library where students can borrow
books.
Valance House museum is an
excellent resource for local history.
The films to watch —’Suffragette’
(Oct 2015) Boudicca (2003)
Gandhi (1982) Selma (2014)
Malcolm X (1992)
www.historylearningsite.co.uk
www.spartacus-educational.com
www.schoolhistory.co.uk
www.mini.co.uk
www.wwf.org.uk
Design Museum - Royal Academy
National Portrait Gallery
Tate Modern (Nam June Paik –
media, robotic sculpture)
Tate Britain (
National Gallery
Barbican Centre The Whitechapel
Victoria and Albert Courtauld
Gallery (
The imperial War Museum
The British Museum – Alice in
wonderland
Use of internet for researching all
above galleries and more.
Pinterest.
Use of the school online log in
via school web site
www.hcpt.org.uk
 https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/
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Practice map reading
SPORTS NEWS
Nathan Sykes Visit
Information, advice and guidance is provided for all students across
the school and we try to expose them to a wide range of careers.
With this in mind we held a surprise concert and Q & A session with
Nathan Sykes from the boy band ‘The Wanted’. Nathan is now
launching a solo career and went to Number 1 in the US with his last
single, he is an ambassador for The Princes Trust and is promoting
education and following your dreams to get to the position you aspire
to.
Nathan sang three songs and then the lucky few were able to join him
on stage to ask questions about his career, singing at Wembley
Stadium and which artists he gets his inspiration from.
Thank you to all the staff that supported this event and left the hall
with burst ear drums!
Yr8 played in the semi-finals of the London
and South England Rugby League Cup,
against Verulam. Although they lost 22-10,
it was a great effort by the team, with a
couple of mistakes costing them the game.
Overall, an unfortunate loss.
Wow what a term, thank you for all your continued
support this term with our charities. It has been a
busy term and the students have been fantastic in
supporting all of these amazing charities. We started
with Lenten Feast to Fast, October Harvest where we raised over £300. On Friday 27th November
we had the sponsor silence, the students performed with great respect. In some very unusual situations the students
maintained silence throughout the whole course of lesson. With money still coming into the school the hope
is that we can beat last year’s huge amount of £4,000. Lastly the local SVP groups and Anchor House were the
benefits of amazing hampers, gifts of generous from the students. Again thanks for all your support over this
term.
Attendance, Punctuality and Rewards:
During the Autumn term, year 8’s attendance has been 95.64%. This is a good figure, and we look forward to it improving
after Christmas as we move past flu season! Punctuality is 98.7%, a very pleasing amount. Thank you for supporting us by
allowing us to keep any students who are late in school for up to an hour. This is a punishment that they do not enjoy and
serves as an effective deterrent, as evidenced by the numbers of students sprinting for the school entrance at 8.44 each
morning!
Unauthorised absences are just 0.77% - an impressive figure, but we would nonetheless appreciate your support in getting
that down to 0% - notifying the school of any medical appointments, and bringing in notes when your child returns from
absence all help.
Thank you for all your support in ensuring that your children are present in school and on time; after all, children cannot fulfil
their potential if they are not in school to learn.
Throughout this term, form tutors have been awarding reward points to deserving students at the end of each week. Reward
points recognise consistently good attainment, behaviour and punctuality, and making a positive contribution to the school
community. Prizes have been awarded to the highest scoring forms in our fortnightly year-group assemblies. The top 3
highest scoring forms throughout the Autumn term are….. 8o = 379 8I = 336 8S = 297
Congratulations to 8o on their achievement; the challenge is on for the other forms to catch them up next term!
DATES FOR THE DIARY
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French Play
Speed Options Reports Evening Options deadline -
9/02/16
11/02/16
25/02/16
29/02/16
OTHER INFORMATION
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Correct equipment is to be brought to every lesson. Calculators available via ParentPay.
Any Art materials are welcomed in addition to 2b drawing pencil.
YouTube for revision materials
French Drama Club –lunchtime
Look up news stories on river floods, coastal erosion, multinational businesses
After every Maths assessment students are required to highlight 2 mathematical areas of
weakness and produce a corrected response to ensure that their unsecured learning has
been addressed.
We highly recommend that students purchase the CGP Key Stage 3 Science revision guide
and accompanying white book. These can be purchased from the school via ParentPay.
Involvement in extracurricular clubs in and outside of school will help develop student’s
practical ability.
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KEY DATES/ASSESSMENTS
English - Half Term Assessment Task - Comparative analysis of two adverts looking at slogan, logo,
persuasive language etc.
Maths - Please note that the timing of in class test may change. Pupils will always be given prior
warning of an assessment. At the end of each theme, the students will sit an assessment and be
given a % score. Students will then be required to highlight 2 mathematical areas of weakness and
produce a corrected response, with detailed commentary, to ensure that this unsecured learning
has been addressed.
History - First assessment (before half term): How and why did the Civil Rights protests in the USA
change over time? Second assessment: Pupils will reflect on and answer a question on the issue of
who was responsible for the Holocaust.