HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BEIJING
Curriculum Newsletter - Term 1 August 2013
Year 12
The information given in this document is to give a brief outline of the nature of the work being carried in out in classes this term. If you have
any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the department concerned or the Director of Studies, Alasdair MacRae.
Subject
(inc. exam board / spec)
Time/ Dates
Topic/Area of Study
GCE
From August to December
Component 2: Coursework
Students will produce one coursework
folder exploring two or more of the
following areas: Drawing, Painting,
Printing, Mixed media, Digital
photography and Ceramics/3D.
Art and Design
(CIE)
Assessments
There will be a continual
assessment of observational
drawing techniques, use of
skills in materials, media and
processes and an evaluation
of critical contextual studies
as the student progresses.
This will take place during
Students develop a personal concept,
one to one tutorials and will
which they then develop into a
also include peer and selfsustained evidence of research,
assessments.
exploration of material, development
of idea and further use critical
Throughout the course there
contextual studies to support their
will be a continual emphasis
research. Students then present a final
on a clear understanding of
perceptive outcome, which reflects
the Assessment Objectives
their own personal interpretation of the
set by the Examination
theme.
Board, which each count
25% of the final A-level
mark.
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Other information
Homework will support the
coursework portfolio and
may be in the form of
research or practical work.
Component 2 is 20% of
final A level mark
HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BEIJING
Subject
(inc. exam board / spec)
Time/ Dates
GCE
SPO
Biology
1. Until Mid-September
(Edexcel)
2. October
3. November - December
Topic/Area of Study
1. General transport, water and
circulatory system
2. Heart structure, function and
disease, blood
3. Carbohydrates, lipids and
proteins
AFO / CWA
Assessments
Other information
Class tests at the end of each
topic section, using past AS
questions
Biology drop in support
sessions run on Tuesday
lunchtimes for any student
needing additional help
Regular homework tasks
Lab reports
4. Until Mid-September
4. Cell structure
5. October
5. Mitosis and Meiosis
6. November - December
6. Gametogenesis
Totipotency
GCE
Business Studies
(Edexcel)
Unit 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
Unit 1
3 weeks
3 weeks
2 weeks
4 weeks
Unit 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Marketing
Demand and Supply
Leadership
Finance
Unit 2
3 weeks
1 week
4 weeks
1 week
3 weeks
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Marketing
Elasticity
Production
Legislation
Finance
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


Topic tests
Homework
Group Work
HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BEIJING
Subject
(inc. exam board / spec)
Time/ Dates
Topic/Area of Study
Assessments
Other information
GCE
AB
ABY
1. Until October
2. Until December
1. Enthalpy, Hess’s law. Mass
spectrometry
2. Organic chemistry
Class tests at the end of each
topic section, using past AS
questions
Chemistry drop in support
sessions run on Wednesday
lunchtimes for any student
needing additional help
Chemistry
(Edexcel)
Extended reading presentations
Lab reports
SSC
Extended reading
independent task
1. Molar masses, reacting masses.
Born-Haber cycles. Ionic and
Covalent bonding.
2. Repulsion theory,
Electronegativity, Intermolecular
forces
GCE
From August to December
Drama & Theatre
Studies
(Edexcel)
GCE
Economics
(Edexcel)
1.
2.
3.
4.
6 weeks
6 weeks
6 weeks
5 weeks plus revision
Regular homework tasks
1. Study of two play texts – ‘Our
Country’s Good’ and ‘Servant of
Two Masters’.
2. Exploration of the texts with
reference to at least one major
theatrical practitioner.
3. Attendance of two compulsory
theatre performances and writing
theatre evaluations.
4. Completion of two pieces of
written coursework with reference
to the above.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Intro to Economics
Market Failure
Demand
Supply/Elasticity
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

Teacher assessment of
student contribution
during class work in line
with Edexcel guidelines
(formal).
Assessment of written
coursework in line with
Edexcel guidelines
(formal)
Tests
Homework
Group Work
Students are expected to
read both texts
independently at home and
ask for assistance with
language prior to formal
lessons.
HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BEIJING
Subject
(inc. exam board / spec)
Time/ Dates
GCE
English Literature
Topic/Area of Study
Assessments
Unit 2
1. 2 weeks
(Edexcel)
1. Introduction to A Level Literature Coursework:
Brief overview of literature, its history
and the key periods in English
literature.
2. 13 weeks
c.500 words creative
criticism/textual adaptation 8% AS
2. Shakespeare Study:
Introduction to Shakespeare (2 weeks),
Shakespeare text 1 (7 weeks),
Shakespeare text 2 (3 weeks)
Reading Journal Work
Students begin supervised private
reading programme
Unit 1
3. 3 weeks
3. Introduction to Theory and
Criticism
4. 6 weeks
4. Set Text 1:
Study of Wuthering Heights by Emily
Bronte.
5. 9 weeks
5. Set Text 2:
Study of The Colour Purple by Alice
Walker, followed by comparative
study of two novels
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Independent Reading
Journal
Other information
Presentation, discussion and
research work
Essays on different aspects
of Shakespeare’s work (in
preparation for coursework
drafting after Christmas)
HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BEIJING
Subject
(inc. exam board / spec)
Time/ Dates
Topic/Area of Study
GCE
From August to December

French

(Edexcel)
GCE
From August to December
Revision of all key grammar from
IGCSE.
Work based on the topics of:
technology, youth lifestyle,
fashion, health (including drugs
and eating habits), pollution, the
environment and relationships.
Assessments
Other information
Homework tasks, including
regular vocabulary tests.
Year 12 is team taught by
ERI and DVI.
The topics here mentioned
are covered alternately by
each teacher.
Written and spoken
assessments for each unit
covered.
Unit 1
Geography

World at Risk (Core Physical Unit) 
Exam questions in class.
(Edexcel: specification A )

Going Global (Core Human Unit)

Exam questions in class.
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HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BEIJING
Subject
(inc. exam board / spec)
Time/ Dates
Topic/Area of Study
GCE
From August to December
With EBE
History
(Edexcel)
Assessments
Progress Grades 1:
Take home essay – How far
Term one will be spent focusing on was the boom of the ‘20s
paper 1: Ideology, Conflict and economically and socially
Retreat: the USA in Asia, 1950-73. beneficial?
The content covered will be the
Conflict in Korea and the escalation of Progress Grades 2 :
US involvement in Vietnam
Class presentations on social
and political intolerance
With BSA
Progress Grades 3:
Term one will focus on paper 2: Unit In class exam: How far was
2: British Historical Depth Studies - the actions of Hoover the
C1 - Experience of Warfare in Britain: main reason for the extent of
Crimea, Boer and the First World War the depression?
– 1854-1929. The content covered will
focus on changing warfare in the In addition
Crimea and Boer wars.
Coursework paragraphs
typed in an ongoing
schedule – progress grades
will be based on these
responses
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Other information
HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BEIJING
Subject
(inc. exam board / spec)
Time/ Dates
Topic/Area of Study
Assessments
Other information
GCE
Hours – approximately
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Via HW exercises,
Mathsnetalevel and regular
common assessments
Exercises are from
Advanced Maths AS Core
for Edexcel teachers own
resources.
Mathematics
(Edexcel)
GCE
Further
Mathematics
(Edexcel)
1 – 4: 11 hours
5 – 8: 12 hours
9 – 12: 15 hours
13 – 16:15 hours
Hours – approximately
1 – 4: 19 hours
5 – 8: 13 hours
9 – 13: 20 hours
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Surds and indices
Algebraic expressions
Equations, quadratics & functions
Linear and quadratic inequalities
Differentiation
Simultaneous equations
Co-ordinate Geometry
Graphs and functions
Integration
Further Methods in algebra
Co-ordinate circle geometry
The Binomial Expansion
Applications of differentiation
Trigonometric functions
Applications of trigonometry
Exponentials and logarithms
Complex numbers
Numerical Methods
Further Coordinate systems
Matrix Algebra
Series
Proof by induction
Mathematical modelling
Discrete and continuous data,
mean, median & mode.
Quantiles, variance, standard
deviation and coding
Representation of data
Probability
Correlation
(Linear) Regression
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The number of hours given
are for guideline purposes;
there may be fluctuations.
Via HW exercises,
Mathsnetalevel and regular
common assessments
Exercises are from
Advanced Maths AS Core
for Edexcel teachers own
resources.
The number of hours given
are for guideline purposes;
there may be fluctuations.
HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BEIJING
Subject
(inc. exam board / spec)
Time/ Dates
Topic/Area of Study
Assessments
Other information
GCE
Approximately 2 weeks per
topic




Formative assessment
Website recommended:
Presentations;
http://www.nciku.com/
Quality of work;
http://www.chinese.cn/
Mandarin (AS)
(Edexcel)
Education and employment;
Leisure
Youth interests
Chinese festivals.
Homework;
Weekly vocabulary test
Unit test
End of term test
GCE
Mandarin (A2)
Approximately 3 weeks per
topic
(Edexcel)




Food, diet and health;
Transport, travel and tourism;
Education and employment;
Leisure, youth interests and
Chinese festivals
Formative assessment
Website recommended:
Presentations;
http://www.nciku.com/
Quality of work;
http://www.chinese.cn/
Homework;
Weekly vocabulary test
Unit test
End of term test
GCE
From August to December

Music
(Edexcel)


Pupils will learn to analyse the
first four set works from the
Anthology.
Alongside, they will study the
basic principles of harmonizing
Bach
Chorales
and
learn
compositional technique.
They will prepare one solo and
ensemble performance to be
performed in front of an audience..
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Students will receive regular
and detailed feedback about
their
compositions
and
performances. They will be
tested on their knowledge
and understanding of the set
works studied in preparation
for unit 3 of the course.
HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BEIJING
Subject
(inc. exam board / spec)
Time/ Dates
Topic/Area of Study
Assessments
Other information
GCE
Teacher 1
Teacher 1
1. Until Mid-November
2. End November
3. December
1. All of mechanics – motion,
Newton’s laws, projectiles, energy
and power.
2. Language of waves.
3. Extended reading presentations
Class tests at the end of each
topic section, using past AS
questions
Physics drop in support
sessions run on Thursday
lunchtimes for any student
needing additional help
Physics
(Edexcel)
Regular homework tasks
Lab reports
Extended reading
independent task
Teacher 2
Teacher 2
4. Until mid-October
5. Mid October - December
4. All of materials – fluid flow,
Hooke’s law, strength of materials.
5. Electricity – circuits, resistivity,
potential dividers
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HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BEIJING
Subject
(inc. exam board / spec)
Time/ Dates
Topic/Area of Study
Assessments
GCE
From August to December
Students will learn the details of, and
how to evaluate, key studies in Social
and Cognitive Psychology. Particularly
concerning
obedience,
prejudice,
memory, and forgetting. Furthermore
they will consider how the findings of
these experiments are relevant to real
world situations.
Students will be formally As the course progresses
assessed in line with the notes will be published on
school progress grades.
moodle2.
Psychology
(Edexcel)
These assessments will take
the form of

They will also begin to learn about
various
research
methods
that
Psychologists use through designing, 
carrying out, and writing up their own
investigations.

GCE
Spanish
(Edexcel)
From August to December


Revision of all key grammar from
IGCSE.
Work based on the topics of:
technology, youth lifestyle,
fashion, health (including drugs
and eating habits), pollution, the
environment and relationships.
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an extend piece of
writing evaluating Social
Identification Theory in
September,
an examination style
paper
on
Social
Psychology in October,
and a write up of a
student led practical
investigation into the
human
memory
in
November.
Homework tasks, including
regular vocabulary tests.
Written and spoken
assessments for each unit
covered.
Other information