Year 8
Year 8 (Key Stage 3)
Year 7 & 8 is arranged in two halves. Generally X band & Y band. Each band is made up of 5 tutor groups from across each of the communities. Tutor groups are designed with an even spread of mixed ability, male/female ratios taking into account the learning needs of those students along with primary school recommendations. See below for both the number of lessons that make up a student's timetable and the details of the class arrangements across the subjects.
Curriculum structure:
Students have 50 one hour periods, in addition to 10, 20 minute tutor periods, arranged over a two week timetable. They begin each day with a tutor period. The number of lessons students have within each subject is detailed in the table pictured right.
For the academic year 2023-2024, we will continue to deliver computing via enrichment days where students will participate in computing workshops. These sessions will be delivered by our specialist computer science teachers along with external experts from industry.
Find out about what students will learn in these subjects by visiting the curriculum map for the subject.
*Some students may receive extra literacy support in place of French and /or Spanish. This is managed by the Additional Learning team.
** Technology consists of three strands; food preparation and nutrition, graphics and resistant materials. This is delivered on a carousel basis.
English
Each English class will be named after a person or character that is relevant to the English curriculum. This will appear on student timetables as the initials of that person or character. For example, a class named ‘Mary Shelley’ may have a class code of 8XMS. Students will then spend some time exploring literature around this person or character and return to them throughout the year.
The English department has moved from attainment setting to mixed ability classes for year 7 -9. This has allowed all students to achieve the highest grades, as all classes are given access to ‘top set’ learning.
Classes will have a similar balance of students with high attainment, middle attainment and lower attainment, so that all students are challenged and supported at the same time. We have six key assessment points throughout each academic year in order to assess the progress that students are making and to ensure that this progress continues to build each term. If we have any concerns about a student being on track to achieve their target grade, we will contact parents to consider how we can support them at school and at home.
If you have any further questions regarding your child's mixed ability group, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Contact: Miss Karen Al-Kahky, Curriculum Leader for English
Maths
Maths groups are taught in mixed ability during Key Stage 3 (years 7 and 8). This allows all students to have access to top level work and an equal opportunity to enjoy and improve their maths. Work is carefully differentiated so that students of all attainment levels are stretched, challenged and inspired.
We assess the students twice per half term in order to track progress and ensure early intervention takes place, where necessary. Students’ assessments are recorded on Go4Schools and parents can view results as they are entered throughout the year. If there are concerns about a student’s progress, staff will contact parents to discuss how their child can best be supported.
We aim to keep students’ class teachers as consistent as possible, however, set changes can be made during an academic year where staff feel this is in the student’s best interest; this will typically take place at the end of a half term.
If you have any queries regarding your child’s maths group, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Contact: Mr Joseph Hampton, Curriculum Leader for Maths
jhampton@wardenpark.co.uk
Science
Year 8 continue to be taught in their mixed ability tutor groups. In most cases and where possible teachers will change from year 7 to 8.
Where classes are shared between teachers, staff will work together in the same google classroom so that there is a single topic taught at a time.
Contact: Mr Ben Tinkler, Curriculum Leader for Science
Technology
Technology is taught on a rotation basis in three strands: food preparation and nutrition, resistant materials and graphics. Students are taught in mixed ability sets of up to 23 students, their class will be a mix of students from two different tutor groups from different communities.
Contact: Mr Stuart Davies, Curriculum Leader for Design & Technology
PE & Health & Wellbeing
Year 8 classes are set based on students performance throughout Year 7. Groups are arranged into a top set for boys, a top set for girls and then 2 mixed ability groups for boys and girls on each side of the year group. Both PE and Health & wellbeing lessons are taught in single sex groups. This enables the curriculum design to provide opportunities for different skills to be mastered.
Contact: Mr James Gentry, Curriculum Leader for PE
All other subjects
Throughout Year 8 the following subjects are taught within a student's tutor group: Art, Careers & Enterprise, Character in Action, French, Geography, History, Learning about Life, Music, Science & Spanish. For any queries about tutor group arrangements please contact your child's Head of Community.