Specialist
Schools
2015-2018
Specialist Curriculum
On their timetables students are given the opportunity to choose a subject to study as
part of the Specialist Curriculum. In Year 7, this curriculum is delivered for four
continuing lessons every Monday. In Years 8 and 9 students will continue to study their
specialist subject for 2 periods each week.
For the first 10 school weeks of the Autumn Term in Year 7, each student will be given
the opportunity to experience a four period taster session in each specialist subject
(please see timetable overleaf). At the end of the 10 week period they will then choose
the specialist subject they wish to continue with for the duration of KS3.
Our Specialist Schools include:
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Mandarin & Chinese Studies
Computing
Business Studies
Creative Arts Specialist School which includes Art, Art Textiles, Pottery,
Photography, Food and Design Technology
Theatre Specialist School
Music Specialist School
Media Specialist School
PE Specialist School
As well as the development of an expertise, our Specialist Curriculum promotes
commitment as students must continue to study the subject which they select. This
ensures that they develop discipline and resilience, vital life skills. This also provides a
real context in which students can develop key transferable skills such as teamwork,
independent learning and creative thinking.
Linear
Group
Week 1
7th Sept
Week 2
14th Sept
Week 3
21 Sept
Week 4
28th Sept
Week 5
5th Oct
Week 6
12th Oct
Week 7
2nd Nov
Week 8
9th Nov
Week 9
16th Nov
Week 10
23rd Nov
A
Theatre
School
(W002)
Art (N102) /
Art Textiles
(N103)
PE
(Sports Hall)
Computing
(N007)
Music School
(W102)
Technology
(N006) / Food
(N004)
Media (S114)
Art (N102) /
Art Textiles
(N103)
Computing
(N007)
Music School
(W102)
Technology
(N006) / Food
(N004)
Theatre
School
(W002)
Mandarin
(N105) /
Business
Studies
(N108)
PE
(Sports Hall)
Computing
(N007)
Music School
(W102)
Technology
(N006) / Food
(N004)
Media (S114)
Theatre
School
(W002)
Art (N102) /
Art Textiles
(N103)
Computing
(N007)
Music School
(W102)
Technology
(N006) / Food
(N004)
Media (S114)
Theatre
School
(W002)
Art (N102) /
Art Textiles
(N103)
Business
Studies
(N008) /
Mandarin
(N109)
Pottery
(N104)/
Photography
(N104)
Business
Studies
(N008) /
Mandarin
(N109)
Pottery
(N104)/
Photography
(N104)
Business
Studies
(N008) /
Mandarin
(N109)
Pottery
(N104)/
Photography
(N104)
Business
Studies
(N008) /
Mandarin
(N109)
Pottery
(N104)/
Photography
(N104)
Media (S114)
C
Mandarin
(N105) /
Business
Studies
(N108)
PE
(Sports Hall)
Business
Studies
(N008) /
Mandarin
(N109)
Pottery
(N104)/
Photography
(N104)
Pottery
(N104)/
Photography
(N104)
B
Mandarin
(N105) /
Business
Studies
(N108)
PE
(Sports Hall)
Media (S114)
Theatre
School
(W002)
Art (N102) /
Art Textiles
(N103)
Media (S114)
Theatre
School
(W002)
Art (N102) /
Art Textiles
(N103)
Media (S114)
Theatre
School
(W002)
Art (N102) /
Art Textiles
(N103)
Media (S114)
Theatre
School
(W002)
Art (N102) /
Art Textiles
(N103)
Media (S114)
Theatre
School
(W002)
Art (N102) /
Art Textiles
(N103)
Theatre
School
(W002)
Art (N102) /
Art Textiles
(N103)
Mandarin
(N105) /
Business
Studies
(N108)
Mandarin
(N105) /
Business
Studies
(N108)
PE
(Sports Hall)
Mandarin
(N105) /
Business
Studies
(N108)
PE
(Sports Hall)
Mandarin
(N105) /
Business
Studies
(N108)
PE
(Sports Hall)
Mandarin
(N105) /
Business
Studies
(N108)
PE
(Sports Hall)
Mandarin
(N105) /
Business
Studies
(N108)
PE
(Sports Hall)
Mandarin
(N105) /
Business
Studies
(N108)
PE
(Sports Hall)
D
E
Computing
(N007)
Music School
(W102)
Technology
(N006) / Food
(N004)
F
Music School
(W102)
Technology
(N006) / Food
(N004)
G
Technology
(N006) / Food
(N004)
H
Business
Studies
(N008) /
Mandarin
(N109)
Pottery
(N104)/
Photography
(N104)
Business
Studies
(N008) /
Mandarin
(N109)
Pottery
(N104)/
Photography
(N104)
Business
Studies
(N008) /
Mandarin
(N109)
Pottery
(N104)/
Photography
(N104)
I
J
Media (S114)
Computing
(N007)
Computing
(N007)
Computing
(N007)
Music School
(W102)
Computing
(N007)
Music School
(W102)
Technology
(N006) / Food
(N004)
Computing
(N007)
Music School
(W102)
Technology
(N006) / Food
(N004)
Music School
(W102)
Technology
(N006) / Food
(N004)
Business
Studies
(N008) /
Mandarin
(N109)
Business
Studies
(N008) /
Mandarin
(N109)
Pottery
(N104)/
Photography
(N104)
Mandarin & Chinese Studies
Lister offers you the most spoken language in the world!
Fun to learn
Year 7
 Understand the beauty of Chinese characters;
 Introduce your family members in Mandarin.
 Learn about Chinese culture and food.
 Learn how to talk about school subjects in Mandarin (Chinese)
Year 8
 Understand and celebrate Chinese festivals.
 Describe your “pet dragon”
 Talk about your holidays
 Introduce your house to your Chinese friends
Year 9
 Learn Chinese calligraphy
 Talk about shopping in Chinese.
 Describe your hometown
Chinese (Mandarin) is now offered for GCSE at Lister!
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China is now the world’s second biggest economy
Learning Chinese is a huge benefit in the world of work. Companies love it!
Can be combined with business studies GCSE for a real head start.
Lets you communicate with 1/5th of all people on Earth
Computing
Year 7
 Will learn how to use various IT software to create a range of items needed for a company
to run. Students will be given the opportunity to choose an industry that they wish to
promote.
 Students will create the following items to help promote their chosen industry:
 A logo to represent their brand
 A digital banner
 A Poster
 Conduct a survey
 Transfer information to a database
 Create a spreadsheet
 Create a digital poster
 Create a website with all the items created
All the items created are very important in business, by creating all these items students will
have used software which is known as "industry standard".
Year 8
 Will be creating a board game, they will plan, design and create a board game and get
it working on PC by programming it using software such as Scratch.
 Students will have to think about all the board games that they have played. They will brain
storm all the good and not so good features. This will allow ideas to be generated and
character building. After creating a mock physical version and playing it, their game will
then be transferred to an electronic version which they will have programmed.
Students will also be doing some programming in Python to create an encryption
programme which will encrypt a message making it a secret.
Year 9
 Will be planning, designing and creating a website. The website created can be of any
kind and it is down to the student to decide. Students will have to create all the items
that are placed on a website using industry standard software.
Websites created could be anything from a shopping style website to a football
promoting website. The possibilities are limitless allowing each students to design
something personal to them.
Business Studies
Year 7
 Will do the year 9 SFL, plus they will work on promotion and product in more detail.
 They will have a young apprentice theme throughout where they will have to come up
with a business plan and pitch their ideas in creative ways.
 Students will visit the secret life of home exhibition to broaden their ideas about product
design and marketing.
Year 8
 Will do the year 9 SFL, plus they will work on finance in more detail.
 They will have a Dragons Dens theme throughout where they will have to come up with a
business plan and pitch their ideas in creative ways.
 Students will visit the Bank of England to broaden their ideas about finance.
Year 9
 Students in Business Studies will be looking at practical aspects of business.
 There will be an enterprise theme running throughout, where they will design, market and
sell their own product.
 They will also hold their own market stall exhibition and be visiting the brand museum and
other places to assist them along the way.
Creative Arts Specialist Curriculum
We offer an exciting range of subjects in Creative Arts, and will visit a museum or art gallery as
part of the programme.
Art
Students will have opportunities to make graffito pictures, collages, paintings and 3d models
and work with clay to make fantastic tiles and coil pots. They will develop their drawing and
painting skills to a very high standard to prepare them for GCSE.
Textiles
Students learn printing with ink on fabric, they will learn to use batik techniques and tie dye to
make purses and cushions. They will use hand and machine embroidery techniques to
embellish their work and learn simple construction.
Food
Students will learn to cook simple savoury and sweet dishes using our modern, well equipped
kitchen.
Design and Technology
Students use 2d and 3d software to create keyrings and products on the laser cutter, they use
hand and machine tools and the vacuum former to create wooden toys and products to a
very professional standard.
Photography
In year 9 students can pick photography as an option. They learn to use both digital and
darkroom techniques and learn to roll film, take expert photographs in black and white and
colour and develop and print their own photographs using our darkroom.
Year 7
Term 1
The students are put into 5 groups. Each group has 4 consecutive lessons on one day.
We start the units with research and investigation of an artist. Then the students produce a
range of outcomes based on the work of the artist, eg stencilled fabric cushions, hand and
machine cut wooden puzzles, 3d construction.
Term 2 and 3
Students rotate classes so each one has an experience of 3 different disciplines, in the last part
of the summer term, students make products to sell at the school summer fair.
Year 8
The students remain in their chosen specialist group and rotate each term. They have a double
lesson each week. This year the students are beginning to develop the skills and understanding
that will prepare them for choosing an appropriate GCSE in year 10. Our projects are in line
with GCSE format, and students rotate each term so they can choose an option at the end of
the year.
Year 9
Students choose within the creative arts specialism. Students have a double lesson each week
and the focus will be on embedding skills that are required for GCSE. The projects follow the
GCSE format and the students remain in their chosen specialism all year.
Theatre Specialist School
Year 7
In Year 7 Theatre School Specialism students are taught a range of topics from Devising Ghost
Stories to Creating Masks and Performance. Students are given an in-depth, first-hand
experience of the Theatre World including working with directors, actors, make-up artists and
professional technical in lessons as well as performing on the stages of real, well established
stages.
Key skills taught:
 Public Speaking
 Leadership Promotion
 Self-Esteem building
 Physical Theatre
 Mask work
 Creativity Inspiration
 Directing
 Acting
Opportunities/projects:
 Performance at BRIT School
 Working with Professional actors and directors from West End Theatres such as ‘The Old
Vic’
 Stage Make-up Master-class
 Several chances to see live West-End Theatre performances throughout the year e.g.
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.
 Devising and producing a Musical Production
Year 8
In Year 8 Theatre School Specialism offers students the chance to experience the whole
process of staging their very own musical. Through studying all components of what it takes to
make a successful production. Students are not only taught how to sing, dance and act but
also study other aspects such as costume, set design, lighting and sound. The production is
showcased in the Spring Term.
Key Skills taught
 Singing
 Dancing
 Acting
 Costume design
 Set Design
 Audition Process
 Technical Aspects of Theatre
 The Professional Industry
Opportunities/projects
 Arts Award Certificate
 Visiting and working in a real Theatre environment
 Being taught by Industry professionals
 Devising, Directing and Staging a Musical for an audience
 Watching West End Theatre
Having studied all 3 areas (Music/Drama/Dance/Tech) in our Year 9 our Theatre School
Specialism, students can begin to research a specific aspect of the subject in depth. They will
work on projects which lead to performance and be responsible for a particular aspect of it.
Students will have opportunities to work with professionals in their chosen aspect or all 3 if they
wish as well as visit theatres and participate in industry professional led workshops. This year
students can prepare for their GCSE option and become masters of the subject to ensure
success.
Year 9
Key Skills Taught
 Dance/Singing/Acting
 Market Research
 Time/cost management
 Technical Aspects
 Advertising/publicity
 Hair/Make-up/costume design
 In-depth study of a particular subject area
Opportunities/projects
 Perform in a production for paying customers
 Visiting and working in a real Theatre environment
 Being taught by Industry professionals
 Devising, Directing and Staging a Musical for an audience
 Watching West End Theatre
Music Specialist
School
As part of the Music Specialist School, students get access to free one-to-one lessons on
their chosen instrument and get to work with a range of specialist teachers and
visiting professional musicians. They work as chamber groups, bands and orchestras
to perform and compose music in a range of styles. They get to learn keyboard and ICT
skills in our suite of Apple Macs and can write and produce their own tracks. Students
get access to a range of exciting workshops, day and residential trips. This year’s
opportunities included: workshops with the National Youth Orchestra; residential
trips to Ireland, Cambridge and Oxfordshire; participating in the MiSST concert at the
Barbican and numerous trips to concerts at venues such as the Southbank Centre.
Topics covered during years 7-9 include:
-Solo performance
-Orchestral performance – pieces have included: Clean Bandit’s ‘Rather Be’; Grieg’s ‘In the Hall
of the Mountain King’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’
-Chamber music (small group playing)
-Music theory; aural training; listening and appreciation
-ICT – using midi keyboards, Logic Pro X, microphones to perform, compose and record - past
tasks have included: realising a piece by Avicii; composing a pop piece in A minor
=Singing performance and songwriting
Years 7-9 Music Specialist School
instrumentalists and singers performing
at the Barbican Concert Hall
Year 7 Specialist School Students
practising some chamber music
Years 7-9 Music Specialist School
students at the West Cork Chamber
Music Festival 2015
To see what the Music Department
have been up to find us on twitter
@listermusicdept or our website
https://listercommunityschoolmusic.w
ordpress.com/
FOR MORE INFO. ON JOINING OUR
MUSIC DEPARTMENT FAMILY PLEASE
SEE MISS HENDY
sarah.hendy@lister.newham.sch.uk)k)
Year 7
Make it like Spielberg
You will study, and then go on to create a range of movies, using the
unique style of Stephen Spielberg.
Year 8
Graphic Detail
You will use Adobe Photoshop and Flash CS6 to create a range of
graphics, posters and animations
Year 9
Watching the Detectives
You will study TV Detective programmes, and then go on to create a
range of still and moving image promotional materials inspired by your
research
Aims and objectives
The programme is designed to identify and develop young talent. Students will receive four
additional periods of Physical Education each week. Students are expected to attend at least
one sports club per week and be looking to represent Lister Community School in that sport.
We aim to:
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Identify and develop sporting talent
Inspire students through world class coaching
Compete at the very top level for target sports teams
Develop a pathway to GCSE
Create a pathway to excellence beyond school
*You will not be playing football
Curriculum Model
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Year 7 – Talent Identification
Year 8 – Pathway to excellence
Year 9 – World Class Programme (pathway to GCSE)
Extra-curricular passport
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All students to select and participate regularly in at least one extracurricular sport per
term
Passport stamped by the teacher at the end of the club
Regular trips arranged as rewards for students with full passports (that attend regularly)
Year 7 – Talent ID
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Students study all 8
components
Theory
Basketball
Cricket
Fencing
Badminton
Trampoline
Dance
Table
tennis