1. Communications Faculty
English (language and literature),
Literacy (mechanics of language),
French
and Spanish

2. Homework tasks and time
English: reading, writing, including planning and drafting, preparation of oral work, research, learning
French and Spanish: learning vocabulary, structures, phrases, grammatical principles.  Practising speaking.  Written work in the foreign language

3. Expectations Between 60 – 90 minutes for homework set for each subject
Constant reading of a range of texts
Emphasis on mechanics of language and reading, writing, speaking and listening in all subjects
Oracy is a central feature of all subjects
Understanding happens through sharing ideas and talking

4. Year 8 English curriculum
Autumn 1
Modern Novel: Setting, Structure, Author’s craft.
Autumn 2
Non-fiction and media texts(En2) writing triplets for SATs
PAL (purpose, audience, language)
Spring 1
Writing Triplets (En3)

5. Year 8 English curriculum
Spring 2
Poetry anthology: Theme: Different cultures
Summer 1
Reading pre-1900 prose anthology:
Gothic mystery stories
Summer 2
Shakespeare/Macbeth Project

6. Year 8 French Curriculum
Autumn 1
Chez moi: understand and describe your village/town – give opinions – understand and describe your ideal town
Autumn 2
L’ecole – le matin: describe your morning routines – discuss school – give information about teachers and subjects

7. Year 8 French
Spring 1
En Ville: talk about buildings in town/village – find your way round – French money - ask the price of things
Spring 2:
Quand, alors?
Tell the time – arrange meetings – give time and place

8. Year 8 French
Summer 1
En route: talk about modes of transport – use public transport – buy tickets at a station – understand routes
Summer 2
Les vacances
Give details about holidays – discuss what you do on holiday – understand and give details about the weather

9. Assessment
Each unit of work completed per half term is assessed in French for a separate skill (thus, 6 assessments per year)
Each unit of work completed per half term in English is assessed for reading, writing, speaking and listening
A national curriculum level for each skill is given in English and Modern Foreign Languages
Level 4a/5c is average for English in Year 8, whereas from 2a to 4a is average in Modern Foreign Languages in year 8

10. Thank you for listening
Contact me if you have any questions about homework or expectations in English or Modern Foreign Languages

11. History, Geography, RE, Enterprise, PSHE
Humanities Faculty
History, Geography, RE, Enterprise, PSHE

12. Students will study Great Britain between 1500 – 1750
History
Students will study Great Britain between 1500 – 1750

13. This will involve studying….
The Tudors e.g. Henry VIII
The Stuarts e.g. Charles I

14. Spanish Armada
Reasons for the Armada
The route the Armada took

15. Black Peoples of America
Slavery e.g. effects of slavery on Africa
Civil Rights Movement e.g. Montgomery Bus Boycott

16. Students will study Natural Hazards, Brazil, Tourism
Geography
Students will study Natural Hazards, Brazil, Tourism

17. Natural Hazards Which is a Hurricane and which is a Tornado?

18. Brazil

19. Tourism
Have an appreciation of the impact that tourism can have on a variety of areas
Understand the importance of tourism

20. Religious Education Christian Worship:
Life of Jesus, his teachings and miracles.
How the Christian Church began.
A Christian Baptism, Wedding, Funeral

21. Religious Education Islam Introduction to Islam Festivals
Islam birth, marriage, funeral
The life of Mohammed
Hindu & Jewish rituals and ceremonies:
Introduction to each religion.
Birth, marriage, funerals of each religion.

22. Enterprise

23. Enterprise

24. PSHE Personal, Social & Health Education
“Young people live in a world far removed from that which their parents experienced in their teens” ofsted
PSHE looks to prepare young people for life, working in groups and developing their listening skills the students look at:
Personal Safety, Justice System, Sex Education

25. Useful Web Sites www.historyonthenet.com
RE: Homework Booklet

26. Thank you for listening
Contact me if you have any questions about homework or expectations in Humanities

27. ICT & Technology Faculty ICT Food Design Technology

28. Design Technology (DT)
Themes
Begin to combine different materials in one product (eg Wood & Plastics)
Creating a Mechanical Toy;
Maze Travel Game;
Packaging project to a specification.
Homework to be aware of
given a booklet to work through
time dedicated to design and evaluation of process; set targets for next lesson
How can you support learning?
familiarise with similar products on the market.

29. Food Themes Homework to be aware of How can you support learning?
cook/chill meals;
produce food packaging
Homework to be aware of
cakes – design own
best examples published on website!
Packaging - design homework
How can you support learning?
Come in to the lesson and see them in action!
Get them involved in cooking (especially WASHING UP!!)

30. Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
Themes
Designing websites/information systems (for prospective students and an adult audience)
Using ICT to measure, monitor and control devices (includes some programming skills)
Improve Internet research skills
Homework to be aware of
Paper based design/story boards for multimedia work
evaluations/reports on work carried out on computer
How can you support learning?
give feedback as to website design/content
Keep them off MSN and on & &
Check out The Harefield Academy website –

31. Thank you for listening
Contact me if you have any questions about homework or expectations in ICT or Technology

32. Mathematics Faculty

33. What basics should I know?
Mathematics
What basics should I know?
What equipment should I have?
How do I use it ?

38. Calculator

39. Protractor

40. Ruler

41. Pair of Compasses

42. Well prepared
happy
Students!
And happy teacher!!

43. Thank you for listening
Contact me if you have any questions about homework or expectations in Mathematics

44. Science Faculty

45. pages in the workbook appropriate to the unit they are studying.
Science Homework
Students are issued with a Revision Guide
Oh NO!!!
This contains all of the basic information that students need to deal with
their standard homework.
Don’t panic – we’ve got it covered
Science Workbooks
Students are also issued with 3 workbooks;
Materials (Chemistry), Physical Processes (Physics)
and Life Processes and Living Things (Biology)
Most homework will involve completing the relevant questions and
pages in the workbook appropriate to the unit they are studying.
Answers can usually be found in the revision guide.

46. The ability research is key to this development.
Encouraging Research
The emphasis in secondary science is increasingly on
developing the skills of scientists, within the student population.
The ability research is key to this development.
Students will be given research based tasks throughout
their secondary career.
They need to learn to use a variety of ways of finding the
information they need;
Books, T.V. programmes, web sites, surveys, discussions.
You can help simply by reading their task and discussing with
them what they think is needed. Perhaps suggesting places they
might start to look for useful information.
They must to learn to extract information that is relevant to the
task and to express it in their own words
Encourage them to use different ways of communicating their
knowledge;
essays, posters, mind maps, models, tables, graphs, powerpoint
and publisher documents.

47. Most of all take an interest in what they are doing…or not doing!
Their homework increases their ability as independent learners and
extends their learning time by years.
It is vital to enable them to achieve to their maximum.
A rough guide to the levels of attainment in science;
Factual knowledge comes with each unit and the basics are given in the revision guide.
Level 4 Description D
Level 5 Explanation E
Level 6 Application A
Level 7 Linking L

48. Thank you for listening
Contact me if you have any questions about homework or expectations in Science

49. VPA Faculty
Art, Music and Drama

50. MUSIC
1. THE BLUES The historical context and theory (Scale, instruments and structure)
Keyboard skills and improvisation forming a large part of the assessment. Solo performing skills and discussion of musical context. Developing aural skills through listening to early popular music
2. GAMELAN & WORLD MUSIC :Students will study key features of music from Indonesia (Non-Western styles and traditions). They will learn about native/local instruments and the various stylistic features. Key features covered : Layering, ostinato and structure. Students will develop group compositional and ensemble performing skills. In some cases, leading and directing a small group will form part of the assessment.
3. KEYBOARD SKILLS : Students will follow a program of study along the lines of individual piano lessons. The aim will be to ensure students can play simple tunes using two hands at the end of the term. Pieces will focus on familiar popular pieces. Historical context of the music played will also be covered making a smooth link into year 9, where student start looking at the history of popular music styles.

51. Homework and home support
Homework is normally set in project/homework pack form
Includes research on famous performers and artists, key themes and historical ideas.
Students will be expected to develop keyboard skills (solo and group)
Students are asked to broaden their musical experience by listening to less traditional music
Students are best supported if they are encouraged to spend time after school practising the keyboards available or at home on their own instrument. They should be encouraged to listen to a wider variety of music, on CD or radio stations they would not normally tune into : Smooth Fm, world music stations.
Ideally, students should have the chance to experience live music, in a variety of styles when ever possible. BBC Bitesize, Radio, Free music festivals and concerts, music focused magazines.

52. ART
1. Observational Drawing and Perspective. Students will explore mixed media, mark-making techniques with particular reference to form and tone. Students will complete a final still life piece.
2. Pop Art & Printing : Students will explore the pop art movement and the key features of works by Lichtenstein and the repeating multiple prints of Andy Warhol. Final piece will be a completed piece in a pop style.
3. Animation. Students will study the time-line of the moving image. Making a thaumatrope. They will have lessons in the ICT suite looking at sequences and flicker books. Exploring animation and movie-maker.

53. Homework and home support
Homework is set over two weeks and will include research on famous artists, key themes and stylistic features and ideas. Students will be expected to develop drawing skills along with their research, visual analysis and presentation skills.
Students are best supported if they are encouraged to take pride in and look after their own equipment and bring this to lesson. Sketch books are often bigger than most, so a suitable bag is needed if this is to be kept safe. Invest in equipment and somewhere to keep it safe. Visits to galleries etc.

54. DRAMA
1. Theatre Styles : Students study the three main eras of theatre. Greek, Shakespearean and Naturalistic theatre
2. Travel : Students learn about discrimination and how they can be judged unfairly based on where they have come from.
3. Physical Theatre : the importance of the physical space and how to use their imagination
4. Melodrama : Students explore the genre of melodrama and begin using scripts
5. Holocaust : The importance of historical events and how these can be used as the basis for a drama stimulus.
6. Characterisation. Students will learn how to create and sustain a character and be introduced to the methods of Stanislavski.

55. Homework and home support
Homework is set in a pack distributed at the start of each term. These homework packs are brought to lesson and checked and normally contain plans, reflections and creative designs linked to topics covered in lessons. They are also asked to research and record ideas from various authors and key features covered.
Students are best supported if they are encouraged to keep up with the demands of the “pack”. Constant reflection and independent thought is needed to have the project recorded and completed by the end of term.
Every opportunity to see live theatre is a bonus

56. Useful Web Sites www.tate.org/uk www.8notes.com/school/scores
TIMEOUT LONDON magazine
Visits/Experience live performances of all types
Encourage students to get involved in local arts activities

57. Thank you for listening
Contact me if you have any questions about homework or expectations in Visual & Performing Arts