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11a

Typically, our Y11a pupils are offered 23 hours per week. Our aim for our Y11 pupils is to support them to complete appropriate qualifications and transition successfully to an appropriate Post-16 placement.

A sample timetable can be viewed below

Please note that the content offered to students may differ from the main plan below if specific gaps in learning are identified or if the students host school has previously covered this material. In these cases, bespoke plans may then be put in place. 

 

English

Our aim at The Chapel is to engage students in learning that is representative of elements of learning in mainstream school while enabling students to gain confidence in their ability and potential.

The long-term plans are dictated largely by the demands of the AQA exam syllabus. At The Chapel we work towards enabling students to gain a grade 4 or above in both English Language and Literature. However, we aim to be flexible and this pathway is not suitable for all of our students due to their individual circumstances. We also offer a Functional English course alongside the GCSEs for selected students.

The course starts with close study of two literature texts that explore the theme of social responsibility: An Inspector Calls and A Christmas Carol. We then turn to developing skills in creative reading and writing for the English Language exam.

Throughout the course we examine a collection of poetry connected by the theme of 'power and conflict', with poems from Percy Bysshe Shelley and William Blake alongside modern contemporary poems by Imtiaz Dharker and Carol Ann Duffy.

We also study Macbeth or Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare and analyse how writers use language to express their viewpoints before writing our own.

We want our students to learn to :

· Read a wide range of non-fiction and fiction texts with understanding and insight.

· Develop an appreciation of literature through the close study of prose, poetry and drama texts.

· Write skilfully to suit various audiences, purposes and forms such as letters, speeches etc.

· Speak with increasing confidence and fluency for a variety of purposes and audiences.

We also expect our pupils in KS4 to bring a private reading book to school every day. There is a reading opportunity towards the end of one of their English lessons and there may be chances to read in form time or in other lessons when work is completed.

Autumn 1

Language  Paper 1 –

  • Narrative writing skills
  • Ambitious vocabulary
  • Plot structure
  • Sentence variation

Autumn 2

Language Paper 2-

  • Persuasive language
  • Speeches
  • Formal letters
  • Newspaper articles
  • Higher level punctuation

Spring 1

Literature Paper 1

  • Revise key themes and ideas in nineteenth century novel
  • Past exam questions

Spring 2

Literature Paper 1

  • Revise key themes and ideas in Shakespeare play
  • Past exam questions

Summer 1

  • Targeted exam revision 

Summer 2

 

Maths

Our approach is to enhance pupils' enjoyment of maths by working to ensure they experience success. For pupils who have missed time in school or who have struggled to make progress, this may mean spending more time building up their knowledge of number facts and methods, with structured practice to help with long term retention. Pupils who are already more confident also spend time learning strategies to apply to problems and recognising when a particular strategy is required. 

Although pupils join us at different points, we structure the school year to provide the possibility for progression and some clarity for pupils as to what to expect and what they might have missed. 

Y11a students follow the Edexcel 1MA1 syllabuses. Y11a study the higher level aiming for GCSE Grade 5 or above. The curriculum is split into five areas: Number, Ratio and Proportion, Algebra, Geometry and Statistics. Each area is taught as a whole over the course of a half term.  

Autumn 1

Number, Ratio & Proportion

  • Calculations, checking and rounding
  • Indices, roots, reciprocals and hierarchy of operations
  • Factors, multiples, primes, standard form and surds
  • Fractions and percentages
  • Ratio and proportion
  • Accuracy and bounds
  • Direct and inverse proportion

Autumn 2

Algebra

  • Setting up, rearranging and solving equations
  • Sequences
  • Solving quadratic and simultaneous equations
  • Inequalities
  • Quadratics, expanding more than two brackets, sketching graphs, graphs of circles, cubes and quadratics
  • Changing the subject of a formula (more complex), algebraic fractions, rationalising surds

Spring 1

Geometry 1

  • Polygons, angles and parallel lines
  • Pythagoras’ Theorem and trigonometry
  • Transformations
  • Constructions, loci and bearings
  • Graphs of trigonometric functions
  • Further trigonometry
  • Similarity and congruence in 2D and 3D
  • Circle Theorems

Spring 2

Geometry 2

  • Graphs: the basics and real-life graphs
  • Linear graphs and co-ordinate geometry
  • Quadratic, cubic and other graphs
  • Perimeter, area and circles
  • 3D forms and volume, cylinders, cones and spheres
  • Vectors and geometric proof

Summer 1

Probability and Statistics

  • Averages and Range
  • Representing and interpreting data and scatter graphs
  • Probability
  • Collecting data
  • Cumulative frequency, box plots and histograms

Summer 2

Revision

  • Past papers and exam practice

Science

In Science our aim is to enhance pupil’s enjoyment of the Sciences. Our curriculum at KS4 involves the teaching of Chemistry, Biology and Physics at GCSE level and is taught in an engaging and interactive way, making the learning fun and ensuring that pupils’ experience success. We structure the lessons so that they are representative of learning in the pupils’ home school and support pupils to gain both the substantive and disciplinary knowledge that they need to succeed in the subject.

Although pupils join us at different points, we structure the school year to provide the possibility for progression and some clarity for pupils as to what to expect and what they might have missed. 

Staff work with the pupil during their time at Chapel House to identify any gaps in learning and then work together to address those gaps.

Autumn 1
  • The structure of an atom
  • Mass number, atomic number and isotopes
  • The development of the model of the atom
  • Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation
  • Nuclear equations
  • Half-lives and the random nature of radioactive decay
  • Radioactive contamination
  • Sexual and asexual reproduction 
  • Meiosis
  • DNA and the genome
  • Genetic inheritance 
  • Inherited disorders 
  • Sex determination
  • Crude oil, hydrocarbons and alkanes
  • Fractional distillation and petrochemicals
  • Properties of hydrocarbons
  • Cracking and alkenes
Autumn 2
  • Density of materials
  • Changes of state
  • Internal energy
  • Temperature changes in a system and specific heat capacity
  • Changes of heat and specific latent heat
  • Variation 
  • Evolution 
  • Selective breeding 
  • Genetic engineering
  • Evidence for evolution 
  • Fossils   and  Extinction 
  • Resistant bacteria
  • Classification
  • Pure substances
  • Formulations
  • Chromatography
  • Testing for gases
Spring 1
  • Poles of a magnet
  • Magnetic fields
  • Electromagnetism
  • Communities 
  • Abiotic factors 
  • Biotic factors 
  • Adaptations
  • Levels of organisation 
  • How materials are cycled
  • The proportions of different gases in the atmosphere
  • The Earth’s early atmosphere
  • How oxygen increased
  • How carbon dioxide decreased
  • Greenhouse effect and carbon footprint
  • Atmospheric pollutants from fuels
  • Properties and effects of atmospheric pollutants
Spring 2
  • Transverse and longitudinal waves
  • Properties of waves
  • Types of electromagnetic waves
  • Properties of electromagnetic waves
  • Biodiversity 
  • Waste management  
  • Land use 
  • Deforestation
  • Global warming 
  • Maintaining biodiversity
  • Using the Earth's resources and sustainable development
  • Potable water
  • Waste water treatment
  • Life cycle assessment
  • Ways of reducing the use of resources
Summer 1

Physics: KEY IDEAS

  • Review

Physics: REVISION AND PAST PAPERS

Biology: KEY IDEAS

  • Review

Biology: REVISION AND PAST PAPERS

Chemistry: KEY IDEAS 

  • Review

Chemistry: REVISION AND PAST PAPERS

Summer 2  

RSE and PHSE

All Becton students are taught using a spiral curriculum approach which is a curriculum that returns to the same topics over time. All lessons are aligned to the National Curriculum.

 The spiral approach to curriculum has three key principles. The three principles are:

  1. Cyclical: Students should return to the same topic several times throughout their school career;
  2. Increasing Depth: Each time a student returns to the topic it should be learned at a deeper level and explore more complexity;
  3. Prior Knowledge: A student’s prior knowledge should be utilised when a topic is returned to so that they build from their foundations rather than starting anew.

The curriculum approach uses 5 levels of skills across 3 different areas:

  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Living in the Wider World
  • Relationships

Staff will benchmark students on entry and will choose a level and subject according to the specific, bespoke needs of the students at that time. The choices will be made with liaison with the wider multidisciplinary team.

Enrichment

Our enrichment sessions occur on a Thursday afternoon and pupils can choose from a variety of activities to suit their needs and interests. Activities change across the terms and examples of what we have offered and be seen below: 

Autumn 1
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Board Games
  • Online Escape Room
  • Film Club
  • Documentary Club
Autumn 2
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Board Games
  • Minecraft club
  • Computer Coding
  • Whirlow Hall Farm
  • Baking
  • Local History and travelling on local transport
  • Christmas Bonanza
Spring 1
  • Chapel Doc Fest
  • Drama/Expressive Arts - Drama/Music/Dance
  • Teamwork
  • Becton Bake Off