Year 8 Curriculum Guide (2019/ 2021) - ALL SAINTS RC SCHOOL Diocese of Middlesbrough
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ALL SAINTS RC SCHOOL
Diocese of Middlesbrough
Head Teacher: Mrs S Keelan-Beardsley
Year 8
Curriculum Guide
(2019/ 2021)
Compassion Truth Respect Forgiveness Justice Service Gentleness Humility Stewardship
Contents
___________________________
Page
Introduction 1-5
Sculpture 6
DT Technical Award (Level 1/2) 7-8
Certificate in Information Technologies (ICT) 9
Geography 10
History 11
Latin 12
Media Studies 13
Year 8 Curriculum Guide—2019/2021
What is New?
During the next few weeks you and your child will be making decisions about the
opportunity to start a GCSE subject in Year 9.
We see this as a real opportunity to provide more choice for our students and to
open up the curriculum in an exciting way. This will enable our students to follow
various routes during their education and allow them to follow new or existing
interests. The enthusiastic response of many of our Year 9 students who are
currently following these courses has delighted us.
We have tried to be innovative and have thought long and hard about the offer we
make. We feel very confident that it serves our children well.
We genuinely believe that by opening the curriculum in this relatively small way at
an earlier age, the potential benefits in motivation and achievement will be of
benefit to your child. It also provides an additional opportunity to study GCSE
History or Geography which form part of the English Baccalaureate.
You should not be worried about making a “wrong” choice for the future at this
point.
Useful information about the subjects on offer can be found by speaking to
subject teachers, Form Tutors and Mr Flanagan. You will also find a lot of useful
information in this booklet.
Year 8 Curriculum Guide—2019/2021 Page 1
Start Making Decisions
Which subject should I start in Year 9?
1. Choose a subject from the list on the choices form given, that you think you would
enjoy. These are usually the subjects in which you get the best results.
2. Do not choose a subject because your friend has done so. You may have different
interests and abilities and it is likely you will be in different groups.
3. Do not choose a subject because you like or dislike a particular teacher. Again
no-one can be certain who will teach you.
4. Discuss your choice with your parents as well as your teachers.
Some of the courses available are new to you. These will be explained in greater detail at
the Subject Choices Information Evening on Thursday 7 February 2019 at Lower
School.
Once you have chosen a subject, you have made a commitment to follow the course, for two
years. You will not be able to change the course, except in exceptional circumstances.
1. I am very interested in a particular subject and I think I may want to study it at
‘A’ Level, what subjects should I opt for in Year 9 and Year 10? If for example,
you are particularly interested in studying Art and considering Art ‘A’ Level.
We would strongly recommend that you chose the Art GCSE that starts in Year 10
You may also study the Art—Sculpture course starting in Year 9. However, this is not
essential.
2. Can I opt for a GCSE subject in Year 9 and also a GCSE in the same subject in
Year 10?
Yes in Art -Sculpture and ICT-Certificate in Information Technologies as these
courses are sufficiently different to GCSEs offered in year 10, which are GCSE Art
and Computer Science.
No for History and Geography.
NB We would advise students who wish to study Triple Science in Year 10 and 11 as
well as History or Geography that they will need to choose either
History or Geography as their early GCSE to study in Year 9 and
Year 10.
Year 8 Curriculum Guide—2019/2021 Page 2
What else will we study in
Year 9?
Subjects studied by all students in Year 9 are:
English
Mathematics
Religious Studies
Science
Design Technology
Geography
History
Computing
Modern Foreign Languages
Physical Education
Personal, Social, Health, & Citizenship Education
In addition students will choose one of the following subjects
as their early entry choice:
Sculpture
DT Technical Award (Level 1/2)
Certificate in Information Technologies (ICT)
Geography
History
Latin
Media Studies
When you are sure which course you want to do, complete the Subject Choices Form. This should
then be signed by you and your parents and returned to your Form Tutor by
MONDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2019
Year 8 Curriculum Guide—2019/2021 Page 3
What will I study in Years 10 AND 11
Compulsory Subjects Studied by all students are:-
English Language and English Literature GCSE (2 GCSEs)
Religious Studies GCSE
Mathematics GCSE
One Modern Foreign Language GCSE
Science GCSE (2 GCSEs)
Physical Education—not GCSE
PHSCE—not GCSE
Currently there are three choices to be made in Year 9 for study in Year 10
First you will be asked to choose ONE Modern Foreign Language
from this box or alternative by agreement
French
German
Spanish
OR
Princes Trust Achieve Programme (By agreement with Mr Flanagan)
Then you can choose TWO subjects from this box
Art French Spanish
Business Studies Geography Textiles
BTEC Business German Triple Science
Computer Science Health and Social Care
Dance History
Design and Technology Music
Drama PE
Food Preparation & Nutrition Princes Trust Achieve Programme
Year 8 Curriculum Guide—2019/2021 Page 4
You need to choose
wisely the first time
Mr Flanagan, Mrs Glew and Mrs Blanckley-Sharp are available to speak to you about
your choices and help you complete the choices form. Please bring the form to the
‘Subject Choices Information Evening’ on Thursday 7 February 2019, at Lower
School if you would like help completing it.
All forms must be returned to Mr Flanagan in school by:
Monday 18 February 2019
As soon as these forms have been received , the choices will be analysed and groups
arranged to suit as many students as possible.
After we have done this :
It may be necessary to ask some of you to use your reserve subject if your
initial choice cannot be accommodated. We ask for your co-operation in this
procedure as we do try to accommodate the requests of the majority of
students. It also emphasizes the importance of considering your reserve choice
carefully. We will have taken this into consideration when making groups.
It may also be necessary at this stage to decide whether any course needs to
be withdrawn because not enough students have chosen it.
Year 8 Curriculum Guide—2019/2021 Page 5
All Saints RC School
SCULPTURE
Full Course: 2 Years
Exam Board: AQA Check us out on Instagram
Search for ALLSAINTSYORK
General Outline
This is an exciting course where you will learn how to develop your creative ideas in a range of sculptural materials
including clay, plaster, wire, wood, card and a range of found objects. It is a hands-on course and students get very
involved with the materials when creating their 3D pieces. You may have seen the many 3D creations based on
natural forms in the Art room. The course has been designed to prepare you for the A Level Art course and is an
excellent pathway towards the Creative Arts. The course content is sufficiently different to the Art GCSE option
in Year 10 and many students choose to do both.
Instagram — take a look at what we do and follow us!
Images and visual communication are very important in today’s society and that’s why we launched our
ALLSAINTSYORK Instagram page. This gives you chance to take a look at images of student work from the
Sculpture GCSE so you can get a better idea of the course. You will also see work from our GCSE Art and
A Level Art and Photography students so you can see what you could move on to in future years.
What could this GCSE Sculpture lead to..?
Taking GCSE Sculpture or Art is essential if you to want to study Art at A Level at All Saints and it is a
popular progression for our enthusiastic students. Art can lead to many occupations including Advertising,
Animation, Architecture and Interiors, Design Crafts, Electronic Games, Fashion, Film and Television
Production, Fine Art, Graphic/Product Design, Photography, Teaching and Web Design. We will also teach you
skills to help with research, presentation, page layout and even time management—these skills could help in
other subjects too.
Even if you decide not to follow a career in the Creative Arts, Art is a great subject to study because it
helps you with creative expression, evaluation skills, visual literacy and a host of other valuable skills.
You will have your work in an exhibition!
We have an end of year exhibition called TALENT and your work will feature in it when you finish in Year 10.
Hundreds of visitors attend the open evening and we even sell lots of work. You can see the previous TALENT
exhibitions if you search for allsaintsyork on Flickr.com - you will be inspired!
Course Content: What will you do on your GCSE Sculpture course?
For coursework you will produce a ‘portfolio’ unit. This involves completing a
series of exciting workshops giving you a broad base of experiences in Art and
The final grade is based on:
Design. These include drawing, painting, sculpture and digital photography. You
then complete an externally set exam where you are given a number of starting
points and you choose your favourite to base your project on. You then develop Coursework 60%
your personal response to your chosen topic and showcase your many skills and Exam 40%
ideas leading to a final outcome.
All work completed is
We offer you a supportive, caring environment in which to learn and enjoy your practical.
studies, and this is a good subject to combine with others to create a balanced There are no written
breadth of study. exams.
Year 8 Curriculum Guide—2019/2021 Page 6
All Saints RC School DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (TECHNICAL AWARD) Full Course 2 Years Materials Technology Level/1/2 Exam Board AQA General Outline Design and Technology is part of everyday life and is constantly evolving and, in response to this, courses have been developed called Level 1/2 Technical Awards which have a focus on specialist skills allowing students to concentrate on the area that they are really interested in. This course can prepare students fully for progression towards our GCSE and A Level which can eventually lead on to Degree/Further Education courses in Engineering, Product Design, Graphic Design, Fashion Design etc. Students who wish to complete their studies at the end of Key Stage 4 will equally be thoroughly prepared in their chosen specialist area to move into a modern apprenticeship, employment or vocational courses. The qualifications focus on developing practical skills and associated knowledge within a particular material area, allowing students to manufacture high quality outcomes. They will learn about commercial processes and careers in related industries, as well as developing core transferable skills, such as collaboration and communication. Learners will get a practical, hands-on learning experience and learn through doing and applying the skills which they’ve learned to real-life situations. Based upon the feedback from industry, these qualifications have been developed to include not only the skills relevant to the physical material area, but also transferable skills such as communication and teamwork. Year 8 Curriculum Guide 2019/2021 Page 7
All Saints RC School
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
The course is delivered and assessed through three units: (Units 1 and 2 are coursework
and are marked internally. Each is worth 30% of final grade)
Unit 1 (30%) will give learners the opportunity to master eight core skills which are
set out in the specification and demonstrate their competency at each of these skills
through a series of mini projects. These will include things like forming, bending,
laminating, CNC laser cutting and CAD/CAM machines for Materials technology.
Unit 2 (30%) allows learners to put into practice the skills they’ve developed in Unit 1
through an extended making project, which will be based on a brief released by the exam
board. For example, in Materials Technology it may involve designing and making a piece of
furniture or a storage unit for specific items using a range of materials including woods,
metals and polymers (plastics).
Unit 3 (40%) is an externally assessed, written exam of an hour and a half, and it
will contain multiple choice and short answer questions with one extended response at the
end. Students will be assessed on their knowledge of the materials that they’ve studied,
the properties of those materials; they’ll also learn about commercial practice and
industrial practice, how things are done in the real world in a commercial and industrial
setting.
The final grade is made up of
two pieces of coursework (30%
each)
one examination (40%)
Year 8 Curriculum Guide 2019/2021 Page 8All Saints RC School
Certificate in Information Technologies (ICT)
Full Course 2 Years
Exam Board OCR
ICT equips students with the skills to use a computer confidently and effectively, building
on existing knowledge and motivating further learning. The course develops computer skills
at beginner, intermediate, advanced and professional levels, which gives students
transferrable skills that can be used in either employment or further/higher education.
It is essential that students leave school with effective IT skills and are digitally literate;
our ICT option ensures that both of these are covered. Many jobs in industry require
employers to have skill sets that this course includes throughout the two years.
Students are taught two units during the course, which cover a wide range of skills from
spreadsheets, databases and working with mobile technologies to gaining an ability to send
emails in a professional setting. Students are taught skills based on practical examples that
aim to transfer across other subjects and beyond school. For example, ‘How to Create a CV’
is taught within the teaching of Word Processing and ‘Personal Finance’ used as a model
during the teaching of Spreadsheets.
The course is both Level 1 and Level 2, so all learners will achieve a qualification rather
than have the pressure of pass or fail like some alternative ICT courses. 50% of the course
is based on an assignment which makes it an attractive option for students who don’t want
the added pressure of 100% examination for an early entry GCSE.
There are no specific entry requirements for this course as we are able to cover a wide
range of abilities but an enthusiasm for working on computers is clearly needed.
Topics studied include: -
Cyber security
All key MS Office skills
The qualification is split into
Web Design two units: -
Legislation for using computers One written exam worth 50%
Project design using computers
One assignment worth 50%
Year 8 Curriculum Guide—2019/2021 Page 9All Saints RC School
GEOGRAPHY
Full Course: 2 Years
Exam Board: AQA
General Outline
Geography will help you understand how the world you live in works and will allow you to give informed opinions
on problems that face us all. It is suitable for pupils of all abilities. The course focuses on the processes that
shape our world through the study of physical and human Geography. Many of the topics include things that you
see and hear about in the news every day.
Paper 1: Living in the Physical Environment
Natural hazards: earthquakes, volcanoes, tropical storms, extreme UK weather,
climate change.
UK physical landscapes: coasts and rivers.
Living world: ecosystems; tropical rainforests and cold environments.
Paper 2: Challenges of the Human Environment
Urban issues and challenges: world population and mega cities; urban planning,
regeneration and sustainability.
The changing economic world: measuring development, reducing the development gap,
regional growth in the UK.
Paper 3: Geographical Applications
The challenge of resource management: the global inequalities in supply and demand; UK energy mix,
nuclear power and shale gas; energy insecurity.
Issue evaluation: problem-solving element based on a pre-released resource sheet.
Fieldwork: pupils will undertake two geographical enquiries. Questions will be asked in the
exam about fieldwork in general and about the students’ individual projects. The data will be
collected during two separate day trips.
Geographical skills: a range of cartographic skills including atlas maps, OS maps and maps
in association with photographs; as well as graphical, numerical and statistical skills.
The final grade is made up
These skills can be transferred to many careers or further education courses. If you are of three elements:
thinking of A Levels later on, Geography is seen as the ideal link between Arts and Science Final Exam :
subjects. It helps to keep your options open. 35% Paper 1
35% Paper 2
Geography, if you attain a grade ‘5’ or above, contributes to the English Baccalaureate. 30% Paper 3
Year 8 Curriculum Guide—2019/2021 Page 10All Saints RC School
HISTORY
Full Course: 2 Years
Exam Board: AQA
General Outline
There are two main reasons for studying History:
a) To acquire knowledge and understanding about people who lived in the past and subsequently
understand the present better.
b) To develop academic (thinking) skills which will be of importance throughout life.
Paper 1.
Part A: Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and Dictatorship
This period study focuses on the development of Germany during a turbulent half century of
change. It was a period of democracy and dictatorship – the development and collapse of democracy
and the rise and fall of Nazism. Topics include: World War I, Weimar Germany, Wall Street Crash,
Rise of Hitler, Living under the Nazis and the Holocaust.
Part B: Conflict and Tension in Asia, 1950–1975
This wider world depth study enables students to understand the complex and diverse interests of
different states and individuals and the ideologies they represented. It focuses on the causes and
events of the Cold War in Asia and seeks to show how and why conflict occurred and why it proved
difficult to resolve the tensions which arose. This study also considers the role of key individuals
and groups in shaping change, as well as how they were affected by and influenced international
relations. Topics include: Korean War, Vietnam War, Protest Movements in the USA.
Paper 2.
Part A: Britain: Health and the People: c1000 to the Present Day
This thematic study will enable students to gain an understanding of how medicine and public
health developed in Britain over a long period of time. It considers the causes, scale, nature and
consequences of short and long term developments, their impact on British society and how they
were related to the key features and characteristics of the periods during which they took place.
Topics include: Medicine through time – Medieval through to present day – disease and cures!
Part B: British Depth Studies: Elizabethan England, c1568–1603 The final grade is made up
of:
This option allows students to study in depth a specified period, the last 35
years of Elizabeth I's reign. The study will focus on major events of
Paper 1
Elizabeth I’s reign considered from economic, religious, political, social and
(externally assessed) 50%
cultural standpoints, and arising contemporary and historical controversies.
Topics include: Elizabeth I and the problems she faced, life in Elizabethan
England, religion and executions! Paper 2
(externally assessed) 50%
We also offer a trip to the First World War Battlefields - visiting sites in
both France and Belgium.
Each exam = 1hr 45 mins
Year 8 Curriculum Guide—2019/2021 Page 11All Saints RC School
LATIN
Full Course: 2 years
Exam Board: OCR
Why Study Latin?
Have you ever wondered about the spelling of ‘debt’? What actually is an ‘extra-terrestrial’ being?
And why is there a statue of the Emperor Constantine outside York Minster? Studying Latin will
give you the answers to these and many more questions about the fascinating world of ancient Rome
and its influence on our own language and history.
The Latin GCSE course gives you the opportunity to study the language and literature of ancient
Rome. You will learn about the culture, language, social and political life of the Roman civilisation
which has inspired many later generations.
The course will help you develop analytical skills and intellectual flexibility, which will be useful in a
wide range of jobs or in further study.
You will develop an awareness of the relationship between Latin and the European languages of
today, and your English vocabulary will be enhanced by exploring the Latin roots of so many of our
words.
A knowledge of Latin has a practical application for those wishing to study Medicine, Veterinary
Medicine or Law as a later career. And did you know that the cash machines in the Vatican work in
Latin?!
Students will take the OCR GCSE in Latin at the end of Year 10. They sit three papers:
Paper 1:Latin Language (50%): Comprehension questions on, and translation from, a passage of
unseen Latin prose, with an option also to translate from
English into Latin.
Paper 2:Latin Literature (25%): Questions on translation and on the literary, social and
historical context of prepared Latin texts.
Paper 3:Either a Second Literature Questions on two Roman Civilisation topics (for example,
Paper or Literature and Culture Entertainment, Myths and Beliefs, Roman Britain), exploring
(25%) the cultural life of Rome through literacy and archaeological
sources. .
The Final grade is
made up of :
100% written
examinations at
the end of Year 10.
Year 8 Curriculum Guide 2019/2021 Page 12All Saints RC School
GCSE MEDIA STUDIES
Full Course: 2 Year
Exam Board: WJEC
General Outline
The WJEC Eduqas GCSE in Media Studies offers a broad, coherent and engaging course of study which
enables learners to:
demonstrate skills of enquiry, critical thinking, decision-making and analysis
acquire knowledge and understanding of a range of important media issues
develop appreciation and critical understanding of the media and their role both historically and
currently in society, culture and politics
analyse and compare media products and the contexts in which they are produced and consumed in order
to make informed arguments, reach substantiated judgements and draw conclusions about media issues
develop practical skills by providing opportunities for creative media production.
Overview of Specification The subject content is covered across the three components in the following
way:
Component 1—Exploring Media Language and Representation
This component introduces learners to the knowledge, understanding and skills required to look critically at
media products through the study of key areas of the theoretical framework: media language and
representation.
The following forms are studied through contemporary examples chosen by the centre:
Newspapers and radio news or current affairs programmes
Advertising and video games
Magazines and music videos
The examination includes the use of unseen print-based resource material as a focus for learners’ critical
analysis.
Component 2—Understanding Media Forms and Products
Component 2 builds on Component 1 through a focus on all areas of the theoretical framework—media
language, representations, media industries and audiences—in relation to the in-depth study of products set
by WJEC. This component also requires learners to study the influence
of relevant social, cultural, industry and historical contexts on media
products.
The forms and products set for study are as follows:
Television—two contrasting programmes set by WJEC from a
choice of genres
Film marketing, including film posters, online and social media—four contrasting products set by WJEC
from a choice of film franchises
Component 3—Creating Media Products
Final grade is made up of :
In this component learners create an individual media production in one form for an
intended audience, applying their knowledge and understanding of media language and 70% Exam
representation. The forms that learners can work in include television, magazine, film
marketing, music marketing and online options. The intended audience will be specified. 30% Practical Coursework
Year 8 Curriculum Guide—2019/2021 Page 13Disclaimer
At the time of printing, this Guide and the information contained in it is
correct.
Please note, however, that any of the courses described may be altered,
added to, or deleted from our programme in the light of changed
circumstances.You can also read
