KS3

At Athena School, we teach REAL Projects in KS3. This is an innovative and immersive approach based on projects that are REAL.

R – Rigorous

E – Engaging

A – Authentic

L – Learning

Projects can be linked to history, science, geography, The Arts, current affairs … The list is endless!

As Educators we have always known that children learn most when they are excited, having fun and being challenged by their learning. This REAL project approach allows children at Athena school to learn meaningfully while incorporating the 2014 National Curriculum Requirements. In each of the KS3 year groups, the approach is the same.

• WOW Lesson – This is the start of the project – something that the children will discover, find out or see what will capture the children’s imagination.
• Essential Question – Children will be asked to find out what question they will need to solve.
• Project Design – The teachers will design lessons which will engage the children and promote high level of learning which is meaningful.
• Critique – Children will become critically engaged and be motivated in helping others improve their work and be motivated to critique and improve their own.
• End Outcome – This will serve a purpose. It may be as simple as an exhibition of high quality pupil work or it may be as extensive as to put on a fashion show or develop a new permanent area for the school.

At Athena, we are proud of our curriculum and ensure it changes with the times and the cohorts of children that run through our wonderful school. We want children to be fully immersed and part of their learning and remember their quality time at Athena.

Click the links below for the 3 cycles documents:

Cycle 1 WW2 Our Universe Lincolnshire

Cycle 2 Get Physical Grand Designs Liberated

Cycle 3 Rock On That's Sick Medieval

In Art this term we have been looking at Pop Art, and the Artist who made it so popular. The pupils have produced a range of Lithenstein onomatopoeia explosions. We have work collaboratively to recreate Warhol's famous Campbells soup can. The pupils have also done an abstract pencil sweet studies, where we use a view finder to capture the image, then they enlarged the drawing. We also looked into patterns and the work by Romero Britto. The pupils created a Disney character then used Britto pattern technique apply colour and texture to their work.

BTEC ART & DESIGN LEVEL 1/2 FIRST AWARD

COURSE INFORMATION

The Edexcel BTEC Level 2 First Award in Art and Design focuses on a range of 2D and 3D creative processes, including drawing, painting, print-making, collage, and sculpture. Students also study the work of other artists to support the development of their own creativity

UNITS

• Introduction to Specialist Pathways in Art & Design
• Creative Project in Art & Design
• Communicating Ideas in 2D
• Communicating Ideas in 3D

In English they will be looking at their 'spoken language' elements of their English Language and Functional Skills qualifications. This will require the pupils to really explore their voice and challenge their confidence; as well as ensuring that they hear one another's opinion.

In English lessons, year 10 and 11 have been looking at SPAG - spelling, punctuation and grammar - and have been practising independent writes and descriptive writing. 

GCSE English Language (part of the core curriculum)

Course Details

Course Type: GCSE

Specification: AQA 8700

About the course: The English Language GCSE offers the opportunity to develop your skills in reading, writing and speaking and listening in an interesting variety of ways and through the study of a wide variety of texts. The course is varied and, and will enable you to develop the critical reading skills you need for other subjects across the curriculum as well as for life in general.

Qualities & Qualifications Needed:

• Skimming and scanning texts
• Inferring meaning
• Writing for a particular purpose – e.g., to persuade, to describe, to entertain
• Confident speaking skills
• Effective listening

Course Content:

During the two-year course you will read a variety of extracts from works of fiction, both old and modern, focusing on the choices writers make when crafting narratives and using these same skills to produce creative writing of your own. In addition, you will study non-fiction writing from different time periods and the different methods writers use to put forward their ideas and perspectives on issues which are important in our everyday lives. Through speaking and listening, you will have the chance to discuss issues which are important to you, and to practice important communication skills which you will use throughout life once you enter employment.

Methods of Teaching and Learning:

Students will learn in a variety of ways including:

• Being involved in whole class discussion of texts and extracts
• Through attempting to emulate and recreate styles and techniques used by a variety of writers when creating their own texts
• Completing exam practice questions and repetition. Students will learn the key components required for each type of question and each exam paper.
• Independently – In both the classroom and with independent study and homework tasks.

Exam and Assessment Details:

Examinations include two papers. Each is worth 50% of your final grade. (160 marks total).

• Paper 1 is 1 hour 45 mins and is worth 80 marks. (40 marks for reading fiction, and 40 marks for Writing to describe or narrate.)
• Paper 2 in 1 hour 45 mins and is worth 80 marks. (40 marks for comparing non-fiction texts, and 40 marks for writing to argue and persuade).

BBC Bitesize Revision.

The study of History at Key Stage 4 encourages pupils to think critically. Our young Historians will have the chance to examine various sources and make judgments on what they tell us about key events. They will study different historical views and by looking at the evidence they will form their own opinions. The pupils are encouraged to question things asking themselves why certain historical events are portrayed in a given way. These are key life skills that our pupils can use throughout their lives.

This term the Year 10 historians continue to study the rise of Hitler and the impact this had on Germany. They have also been looking at the holocaust. They will continue to study this until the summer term.

The year 11 Historians have completed their study of Nazi Germany and have moved onto looking at Crime and Punishment in England from 1000 until the present day. They are looking at how crimes have changed and how societies ideas of punishment have changed.

Mrs Wyles teaches year 11 and Miss Mills teaches year 10.

BBC Bitesize Revision.

The year 10s will be exploring topics such as finding the nth term, circle formula, ratio and proportion, plans and elevations, reciprocals and probability. With a whole school focus on problem solving, the students will be exploring how Maths is used in everyday life and tackling real-life problems justifying their reasoning.  

Mathematics

This term, Year 11 are continuing with our GCSE topics. This year, we will be completing Functional Skills Level 1 whilst working towards our GCSE Mathematics exams at the end of the year. We have three Mathematics papers (2 calculator, 1 non-calculator) to prepare for. So far this term we have been revising:

• Pythagoras’ Theorem
• Trigonometry (SOHCAHTOA!)

All pupils have been provided with a list of topics they need to understand for Mathematics, which details what they need to know for the three exams in May. Please note that any topic can turn up on any of the three exam papers, so pupils need to bear this in mind when revising.

The following links are useful for maths revision:

GCSE Maths revision - https://mathsmadeeasy.co.uk/gcse-maths-revision/

BBC Bitesize GCSE Maths - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z38pycw

Maths revision video (an example of the many available!) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYPwEyeyPLA

Course information:

Pupils are taught a variety of different topics over the course of their KS4 career. These include:

• Number - such as ordering negative/positive numbers, applying the four operations (add, subtract, multiply, divide), inverse operations and prime numbers/factors
• Algebra - such as algebraic expressions, collecting like terms, solving equations, solving simultaneous equations and line graphs
• Ratio, proportion and rates change - such as ratio in context, percentages and direct and inverse proportion 
• Geometry and measure - such as angles, lines and polygons, 2D and 3D shapes, circles, sectors and arcs and Pythagoras theorem
• Probability 
• Statistics - such as collecting, representing and analysing data
• Problem solving - such as solving number, geometrical, algebraic and statistical problems

BBC Bitesize Revision.

Prince's Trust is undertaken in KS4.

Princes Trust- the Achieve Programme

Our Achieve programme provides an opportunity for the pupils to try out new activities, boost their confidence and gain a recognised Prince's Trust qualification.

What's involved?

Our Achieve programme is delivered as clubs in your school or centre. As part of the programme, you will explore the following:

• Personal and social development: By working in small groups, they will be able to meet new people and make new friends
• Life skills: Through fun and interactive sessions, they will learn how to manage money, be healthy and stay safe
• Active citizenship: they will work as part of a team to make a difference to your local community
• Enterprise project: This is a Dragons' Den style challenge. Ready to put your entrepreneurial skills to the test?
• Preparation for work: Create a tip-top CV, practice for future interviews and explore your skills and talents

For our school fair, we have started drafting letters to send out  to businesses, both local and mainstream, in the hopes that they will offer up some prizes for our raffle and tombola. We are finalising plans for what we hope will be a very successful fair. We have also been looking at the importance of E-Safety, and looking at the pros and cons of using the internet, and the potential dangers associated with it.

Mrs Wyles teaches Prince's Trust to Year 11 and Miss Mills teaches Year 10.

Students study the following qualifications concurrently:

Combined Science GCSE (Y10 T1-6, Y11 1-5)

Entry Level Science (Y10 T1-6) & Entry Level Further Science (Y10 T6, Y11 T1-4)

At present, all three qualifications are through Edexcel. Combined science is the equivalent of two GCSEs in science, whilst studying all three subjects in less depth that separate sciences. I have included the Bitesize links for each topic in the table below. 

The students have to complete 18 core practicals to get their GCSE qualification. These will be spread across the two years and three subjects:

Practical skills https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z2nvv9q

Please click the link below to access our Science curriculum.

Science curriculum

Miss Pritchard is our KS4 Science teacher.

BBC Bitesize Revision.

The Religious Studies Curriculum is decided on a local level. At Athena School, we follow the The Lincolnshire agreed syllabus for Religious Education.

The Lincolnshire Agreed Syllabus states that Religious Studies across KS3 and KS4 should:

• develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity as well as other principal religions and world views
• focus on concepts as well as content, within the context of enquiry-based learning
• explore authentic religious material, e.g. sacred texts
• reflect diversity in terms of the changing religious landscape of the UK (see 2011 census below) so that they are prepared for life in modern Britain
• engage and challenge pupils
• reflect pupils’ own experiences and provide a safe space for discussion
• present religious belief as a real, lived phenomenon, not something exotic or belonging to the past
• take into account the increase in the number of people with non-religious beliefs and identities
• provide opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development
• help to prepare pupils for adult life, enabling them to develop respect and sensitivity for others

Throughout KS3, pupils study Islam and Christianity as core religions, along with Hinduism and Judaism as additional units. Pupils learn about key beliefs and practices, whilst also being given the opportunity for personal reflection, and consideration of their own views. As a school we are equipped with authentic religious materials, such as sacred texts, to aid the delivery of religious education, something which we believe is important for pupils to be able to experience. Curriculum delivery on beliefs and practices is also given context through careful consideration of the changing religious landscape of modern Britain.

In addition to the curriculum intentions outlined in KS3 Religious Studies, KS4 continues to deepen the understanding of the beliefs of different faiths and how this can shape the day to day lives of the followers. All pupils continue to study compulsory religious studies lessons, which are referred to in Key Stage Four as ‘Ethics and Faith’.