Year 9 Course Description

Art

The Art course aims to build upon the areas of Art understanding, investigation and making. A range of new skills are introduced that support the knowledge and skills that year 10 GCSE students will cover.

Drama

Drama in year 9 seeks to enhance the skills developed in year 7 and 8, but also develops technical and acting skills that would be required for GCSE. Students work on developing characterisation techniques, enhancing their understanding of the demands required in key stage 4. technical skills in lighting, sound, costume and make-up are explored through developing devised and scripted pieces. Students have the opportunity to present ‘Theatre in Education’ performances linking to the primary feeder schools.

Geography

In year 9 students continue to develop key geographical skills, they focus on explaining world issues and providing sustainable futures. The topics covered this year are Earthquakes and Volcanoes, Wild Weather, population and Global issues.

History

In year 9 students develop their historical skills, conducting enquiries into historical topics and evaluating sources of evidence. The topics studied have followed a chronological coverage from 1750 to 1950. Studying the changes made to Britain during the Industrial Revolution to the two World conflicts of the Twentieth Century.

Design

This course aims to build upon the skills of research, analysis, designing and practical application. New skills are introduced that reflect the knowledge and skills introduced at GCSE. These help prepare students who wish to continue in a Technology subject at year 10.

English

In English in year 9, we cover the following assessed areas:

  • Short story
  • Response to reading – analysing an advert (at least 500 words)
  • Response to reading – Shakespeare and poetry link – this is a significant piece and can take 3 months to complete and prepares for GCSE
  • Formal letter
  • Poetry comparison – another significant piece to prepare for GCSE

French

At the end of year 9, students complete a considerable assessment so that a final level can be awarded and sent to the Welsh Government. They need to perfect their use of the present tense and learn how to use imperatives and the past tense. They study the topic areas of Health and Holidays in great detail. Topics are taught through the language skill areas; Oracy (Speaking and Listening), Reading and Writing. On completion of each topic, they are assessed using GCSE-style questions.

ICT

In ICT, students follow several topic area which aim to cover the realities of modern Information and Communication Technology industry demands. These include advanced use of Office software, graphics and web part manipulation, animation and interactive control products. Students also study Database development and manipulation. Modules are in blocks of 6 weeks of study.

Maths

The work covered in year 9 builds on the work covered in year 8 following the National Curriculum. Tasks are tailored to suit students’ ability but also add challenge. Topics covered include; ratio, indices, sequences, equations, area, measures, fractions, percentages, probability and averages. Students are also given opportunities to devlop their mathematical reasoning skills in preparation for the Welsh numeracy tests and the new style GCSE.

Music

All students continue to follow the KS3 music syllabus through one hour or tuition per week.

In year 9 students start to explore music in a more individual way by having a greater degree of freedom and choice. This freedom and choice is designed to foster candidates’ musical sensitivity, creativity and aural perceptions, through the acquisition of knowledge, skills and understanding and the exercise of the imagination. It promotes candidates cultural development, involvement in and enjoyment of music as performers, composers and appraisers through the study of a wide range of music. The course supports students’ personal and social development through making music with others.

Some of the units the students will study include composing their own song, rap, musical feature performances and samba composition.

PE

During this academic year there is a broadening of the activities undertaken in this subject. In the Autumn and Spring terms students follow units of work from Gymnastics, Dance, Fitness Training/Health and Well Being, Netball, Rugby, Basketball, Football and Badminton. During the Summer term students follow units of work in Athletics, Tennis, Rounders and Cricket. An increasing emphasis is placed on equipping students to understand the need to maintain personal fitness and to achieve this through a healthy active lifestyle. The work covered prepares the students for their end of Key Stage assessments and provides a good platform for future GCSE and Core PE programmes in Key Stage 4.

RE

In year 9 students have been engaging with fundamental questions, exploring religious beliefs, teaching and practices, as well as expressing personal responses. The students have now begun their GCSE short course which is a study of religion and human experience. The students will be studying a unit called Religion and Conflict from now until the summer term.

Science

In year 9 students consolidate and deepen their scientific knowledge in preparation for their GCSE years. Students are taught by subject specialists and currently study three biology units, two physics and two chemistry units. Each unit is taught by a different teacher on a rotation basis, allowing students a varied and stimulating learning experience.

Students are assessed at least once every four weeks; this allows the faculty to track and monitor the students regularly. The faculty assesses students on their scientific, numeracy and literacy skills in addition to their scientific subject knowledge.

Welsh

Students begin their GCSE Full Course in September of year 9. They study the following topic areas – Myself, Wales and the Area, Music, World of Film, Fashion, Shopping on the Internet and Sport. Topics are taught through the language skill areas; Oracy (Speaking and Listening), Reading and Understanding and Writing. On completion of each topic, they are assessed by way of GCSE questions these are marked according to GCSE criteria. Students are therefore aware of how they are progressing and of what grade they can expect to achieve.