In years 7, 8 and 9, students study the full breadth of a traditional Key Stage 3 school curriculum, developing skills and knowledge to successfully transition from the end of primary education through to their GCSE options.
Core Subjects
English, Maths and Science are allocated 3 periods each per week. English is taught in mixed ability, Science has some broad setting. Maths is taught in sets arranged by ability. The sets in Science remain relatively static throughout each year, setting in Maths is regularly reviewed – based upon assessment performance – at the end of each term.
Humanities & Languages
Geography, History and Religious Studies are allocated 5 periods per week. All humanities subjects are taught in mixed ability groups – any changes of sets are to ensure that a positive teaching dynamic is maintained in every class. Learning a modern foreign language is an essential life skill, and whilst students are not forced to take a language at GCSE it is strongly encouraged. Currently during KS3 all students learn French in years 7 and 8 (in mixed ability classes - 2 periods per week) and in Y9 they are given the option to take Spanish.
Other Academic Subjects
Our first core value is to ‘provide a broad and balanced curriculum’ and for that reason all students learn across a wide variety of subjects, and continue these subjects right through until the end of Y9. Students therefore also study Dance, Drama, Music, Art, D&T, Textiles, Food and Computer Science.
The Wider Curriculum
Physical activity, and an understanding of wider issues other than purely academic study is very important. Students have 2 periods of PE each week, and they also study Citizenship, which includes Personal Health and Social Education (PHSE) and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE).
Curriculum Intent Documents
Here you will find our ‘intent’ documents. These set out what content is covered from Year 7 through to Year 13 (where applicable) and also shows how this content is ordered, taking into account the starting point (prior knowledge from primary school) and also how the content links to the ‘next steps’ students will take, whether that is the post-16 or the post-18 transitions.
Subject Specific Information
Students and Parents at the school can follow the links below to find out more about the content in each subject on Firefly – our school’s online learning environment:
Citizenship | History | Textiles |
For those who do not currently attend Highams Park School, a summary of the main topics/assessments taught is shown below
Subjects | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
Art |
Portraits 1 Portraits 2 Cakes & Sweets 1 Cakes & Sweets 2 Day of the Dead 1 Day of the Dead 2 |
Under the Sea 1 Under the Sea 2 Identity 1 Identity 2 Pop Art 1 Pop Art 2 |
Art of the Object 1 Art of the Object 2 Street Art 1 Street Art 2 Crowds 1 Crowds 2 |
Computer Science |
1 Introduction to CS 2 Digital Devices 3 Databases 4 Scratch Mark 5 Online Safety 6 Micro Bits |
1 Inside Computer 2 Web Dev. E Safety 3 Intro to Networking 4 Intro. Prog. JS 5 Games Maker 6 Robotics with Microbits |
1 Algorithms 2 Cyber Security & AI 3 Advanced Networking 4 Data Rep & Logic 5 Python Programming 6 Ethics in CS |
Dance |
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 |
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 |
Puppet Dance Style Taster Musical Theatre |
Design Technology |
Drawing Test (20) Steady Hand Practical Timbers Test (20) Electronics Test (20) Balance Toy Practical Metal Test (20) |
Designers Practical Human Design Test (25) Urban Design Practical Bug Practical Mechanism Test (25) Launch Mechanism Practical |
Architectural Model Practical Graphics Test (25) Timer Practical Systems Test (25) Structures Practical Structures Test (25) |
Drama |
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4 |
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4 |
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4 Assessment 5 Assessment 6 |
English and Media |
Main Assessment Point 1 Main Assessment Point 2 Main Assessment Point 3 |
Main Assessment Point 1 Main Assessment Point 2 Main Assessment Point 3 |
Main Assessment Point 1 Main Assessment Point 2 Main Assessment Point 3 |
Food and Textiles |
Initial Assessment Food Design Food Practical Textiles Design Textiles Practical |
Initial Assessment Food Design Food Practical Textiles Design Textiles Practical |
Initial Assessment Food Design Food Practical Textiles Design Textiles Practical |
Geography |
Amazing Geography Development And Ghana Planet Ocean UK Weather & Climate |
Volcanoes and Earthquakes Mid-Unit Volcanoes and Earthquakes The Geography of Stuff Climate Change The Global Economy |
Population Mid-Unit Population Coasts Superpowers |
History |
Romans Normans Dark Ages Timbuktu Crusades Peasants' Revolt Break from Rome Elizabeth Exploration Mughal Empire Civil War |
Empire Slavery Age of Revolutions Industrial Revolution World War One Easter Rising 1916 Women's Rights 1 Women's Rights 2 Indian Independence |
Jewish Life 1918-45 Holocaust Appeasement The Blitz Hiroshima Vietnam Stephen Lawrence Civil Rights NHS Whitechapel |
Spanish |
Module 1: Mi vida Module 2: Mi tiempo libre |
Mi Vida Mi tiempo libre Mi insti |
|
French |
Basics: C'est parti Module 1: La rentree Module 2: En Classe |
Module 2: En classe Module 3: Mon temps libre Module 4: La vie de famille |
Module 5: En ville Module 1: Vive les vac Module 2: J'dore les fetes |
Maths |
Unit Test 1 Unit Test 2 Unit Test 3 Unit Test 4 Unit Test 5 Unit Test 6 Unit Test 7 |
Unit Test 1 Unit Test 2 Unit Test 3 Unit Test 4 Unit Test 5 Unit Test 6 Unit Test 7 Unit Test 8 |
Unit Test 1 Unit Test 2 Unit Test 3 Unit Test 4 Unit Test 5 Unit Test 6 Unit Test 7 Unit Test 8 |
Music |
1. Elements of Music 2. Rhythm & Time 3. Keyboard Skills 4. Form & Structure 5. Programme Music 6. Ensemble Skills |
1. Hooks & Riffs 2. Melody Writing 3. Minimalism 4. Gaming Music 5. Rhythms of the World 6. Ensemble Skills - Reggae |
1. Blues & Jazz 2. Theme & Variation 3. Musical Futures 4. Songwriting 5. Film Music 6. Self-development as a musician |
Physical Education (PE) |
Dodgeball Uni Hoc Basketball Rugby Fitness Circuit Short Tennis Handball Training Methods Netball Athletics Striking & Fielding |
Rugby Basketball Uni Hoc OAA Handball Dodgeball Fitness Circuit Short Tennis Netball Athletics Striking & Fielding |
Handball Theory Grade Basketball Fitness Circuit Rugby Netball Uni Hoc Dodgeball Badminton Athletics Striking & Fielding |
Religious Studies (RS) |
The World Six Buddhism |
Rights of Passage Islam Teacher Judgement |
Christianity Religion & Society Teacher Judgement |
Science |
Cells, Tissues, Org.Sys Sexual Repro in Animals Muscles & Bones Ecosystems Mixtures & Separation Acids & Alkalis The Particle Model Atoms, Elements, Molecules Energy Current Electricity Forces Sound |
Food & Nutrition Plants & their Reproduction Breathing & Respiration Unicellular Organisms Combustion The Periodic Table Metals and their uses Rocks Fluids Light Energy Transfers Earth & Space |
Genetics & Evolution Plant Growth Making Materials Reactivity Forces & Motion Force Fields & Electromag |