Autumn Term

Students embark on a journey through space, learning about the solar system, stars, galaxies, and the fundamental concepts of astronomy. The study of particles introduces them to the basic building blocks of matter, exploring atoms, molecules, and states of matter. Additionally, lessons on energy cover its different forms, transformations, and the importance of energy in various physical processes.

The topic of cells looks into the structure and function of the basic units of life, including cell theory and the differences between plant and animal cells.

Spring Term

Students explore the topic of elements, where they learn about the periodic table, atomic structure, and the properties of different elements. The reproduction unit covers both human and plant reproduction, focusing on processes like fertilisation, growth, and development.

Additionally, the curriculum includes the study of sound, examining its production and characteristics. They also study mixtures and acids, where students investigate the properties of solutions, methods of separation, and the nature and reactions of acids and bases.

Summer Term

Students investigate the muscular system, examining how muscles function, their role in movement, and the importance of maintaining muscular health. The curriculum also includes the study of light, covering its properties, behaviour, and how it interacts with different materials.

Additionally, lessons on ecosystems explore the interactions between living organisms and their environments, while the study of rocks encompasses their types, formation processes, and the rock cycle, providing a comprehensive understanding of Earth’s geology.

The 5-year curriculum plan provides a logical progression through the National Curriculum for KS3, following onto the Edexcel Foundation or Higher GCSE specification.

We provide an ambitious curriculum encompassing number, algebra, geometry, ratio, probability and data handling. Topics taught this year include:

• Analysing and displaying data
• Number skills (including negative numbers, order of operations, fractions, decimals and percentages)
• Ratio and probability
• Sequences
• An introduction to the use of algebra, manipulating algebraic expressions and solving simple equations
• Lines and angles
• An introduction to straight line graphs
• Transformations.

Writing

At Ipswich Academy, we place great importance on the ability of students to communicate their thoughts, feelings and experiences clearly in different forms and for different purposes. All of our units are underpinned by opportunities to write analytically, creatively and persuasively.

Reading

Reading is the master skill of learning and the English curriculum offers broad opportunities to read and develop confidence with challenging texts of varying type, age and purpose. Specific focus is given to creating a broad knowledge base and a specific skill set for academic reading.

In year 7, students will be introduced to the key skills of breaking down texts like a literary scholar. Using Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Evaristo’s Hello, Mum, and a range of linked secondary texts as vehicles, students will begin to explore the effects created by writers as they explore ideas around society.

The French curriculum is designed to introduce students to another language and culture.

We have three key aims to our language learning; developing cultural awareness and intercultural understanding; providing a firm basis for further study; providing students with the tools to understand and use French for travel or other purposes.

We develop skills in four key areas: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Key themes in Year 7 are:

• Introductions
• Numbers
• Family
• Hobbies
• School
• Town.

Students are introduced to present tense verbs, personal pronouns, adjectives, time phrases and expressing opinions.

Year 7 students study the following units, which develop their geographical knowledge, understanding and skills. Each unit includes a range of interesting case studies on a local, regional, national and global scale.

• My Place in the World
• Natural Environments
• Europe – Italy and Norway
• Antarctica
• Food, Energy and Water
• Crime.

In Year 7 students’ studies focus on the Medieval Period, examining the level of change and continuity through key themes such as power, the Church, and feudalism.

Students will study topics such as the Norman Conquest, the evolution of the Church’s power, the Black Death, and power in Medieval Africa. Students will be introduced to and build on historical skills such as causal arguments, source inference, and beginning to wrestle with historical interpretations.

Autumn Term 1

Rhythm, Pulse, and Duration (Sub-Saharan African Drumming)

Autumn Term 2

Rhythm, Pulse, and Duration (Samba)

Spring Term 1

Basic Pitch and Melody (Folk Music of Europe and Ground Bass)

Spring Term 2

Basic Pitch and Melody (Folk Music of Europe and Ground Bass)

Summer Term 1

Further Melody (Minimalism and Riffs and Hooks)

Summer Term 2

Further Melody (Minimalism and Riffs and Hooks)

Download our music development plan here.

Our Physical Education curriculum for Year 7, 8, and 9 students aims to foster holistic development, encompassing physical, social, cognitive, and emotional growth. We are committed to inclusivity, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to participate and thrive in a supportive environment.

Each half term, students will engage in a variety of sports, including invasion games, net and wall games, and striking and fielding activities. This diverse curriculum is designed to enhance physical literacy and competence, ensuring that every student develops a broad range of skills and enjoys the benefits of an active lifestyle.

Through our program, we aim to provide ample opportunities for all students to achieve their full potential in physical education.

The PSHE curriculum for KS3 is two hours per fortnight for Year 7 and 8 and one hour per fortnight for Year 9. It is developed from the Jigsaw programme with some bespoke lessons added to suit the needs of the students and current affairs happening in the world.

In Year 7 we cover:

• Celebrating differences
• Dealing with anxiety
• Careers
• Relationships
• Personal finance
• Health – choices

In Year 8 we look at:

• Celebrating differences
• Prevent
• Careers
• Mental Health
• Health – choices
• Relationships

In Year 9 the subjects are:

• Health – choices
• Mental Health
• Prevent
• Careers
• Personal Finance
• Consent

Careers focus: Illustration

The Lost Words – Technical drawing skills and colour are revisited and built upon repeatedly. We start to introduce the language of GCSE (assessment objectives) as it corresponds with national curriculum guidelines.

-Elements of art studied: colour (theory-wheel, watercolour techniques), line, value, form (clay). All relate to A02, 3 and 4. Develop visual language and analytical skills through artist research (A01).

Primary source material for drawing and pressing/embossed reliefs. Sensory connection with nature in order to record ideas and observations, This is collected outside on a nature walk (school grounds/Orwell Country Park).

Illustrator/ceramics- hinterland careers.

Year 7 students will learn the basic skills required for performance through the exploration of different theatre styles. Students will study both Pantomime and Greek Theatre, developing their performance skills along with an enhanced knowledge on style and techniques.

In Year 7, students will:

• Look into the terms ‘input’ and ’output’.
• Learn how to identify the Macronutrients within the dish (healthier swaps).
• Learn how to increase the nutritional value of a dish.

Writing

At Ipswich Academy, we place great importance on the ability of students to communicate their thoughts, feelings and experiences clearly in different forms and for different purposes. All of our units are underpinned by opportunities to write analytically, creatively and persuasively.

Reading

Reading is the master skill of learning and the English curriculum offers broad opportunities to read and develop confidence with challenging texts of varying type, age and purpose. Specific focus is given to creating a broad knowledge base and a specific skill set for academic reading.

In Year 8, students will begin to explore texts linked to the core theme of identity and how the written word can act as a mirror to help us understand the world and our place in it. Animal Farm, The Merchant of Venice and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time provide the basis to develop skills of analysis and critical reading.

The 5-year curriculum plan provides a logical progression through the National Curriculum for KS3, following onto the Edexcel Foundation or Higher GCSE specification.

Year 8 builds on the knowledge and skills developed in Year 7. Topics taught this year include:

• Indices and standard form
• Surface area and volume of 3D solids
• Measures
• Types of graphs and comparing data using stem and leaf diagrams
• Expanding and factorising expressions, solving two-step equations
• More real-life graphs
• Calculating with fractions, decimals and percentages
• Angles in parallel lines, exterior and interior angles in polygons
• Direct proportion on graphs, equations of straight lines – gradient and midpoints.

Autumn Term

Students explore a range of scientific topics, including the fundamentals of nutrition and food science, the principles of forces and their effects, and an introduction to the periodic table and its elements. Additionally, they delve into the process of respiration, understanding how organisms convert oxygen and glucose into energy.

Spring Term

Students explore the fundamentals of motion, looking into concepts such as speed, velocity, and acceleration. They also study reactions, focusing on chemical processes and equations. They will study plants, examining plant biology and photosynthesis as well as electricity, covering the basics of electric circuits and current flow.

Summer Term

Students study the world of genetics, exploring the principles of inheritance, DNA structure, and the role of genes in determining traits. The curriculum also covers the properties of fluids, including their behaviour under different conditions, pressure, and buoyancy. Additionally, the study of energy encompasses its various forms, conservation, and transfer, helping students understand fundamental concepts in physics.

The French curriculum is designed to introduce students to another language and culture. We have three key aims to our language learning; developing cultural awareness and intercultural understanding; providing a firm basis for further study; providing students with the tools to understand and use French for travel or other purposes.

Key themes for Year 8 are clothes, weather, TV and media, sports, where you live and a visit to Paris. Students are introduced to past tense verbs, formal greetings, negatives, asking questions and making comparisons.

Students study the following units, which develop their geographical knowledge, understanding and skills. Each unit includes a range of interesting case studies on a local, regional, national and global scale.

• Tourism
• Rivers and Flooding
• Population
• Global Change
• Climate Change
• Conflict.

In Year 8, students’ studies focus on the developments in the distribution of power and democracy in the United Kingdom and the role of the United Kingdom across the world.

This includes the impacts of the Industrial Revolution, the evolution of democracy and Black British Civil Rights, and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The key themes of power and democracy are woven throughout each Scheme of Work.

Students will continue to build on key historical skills such as the introduction of analysing the accuracy of sources and using their own knowledge to support their claims.

Autumn Term 1

Form and Structure (Video Game Music)

Autumn Term 2

Form and Structure (Programme Music)

Spring Term 1
Basic Harmony – Forming Triad Chords (Pop-music and Reggae)

Spring Term 2

Basic Harmony – Forming Triad Chords (Pop-music and Reggae)

Summer Term 1

Basic Harmony and Tonality – Developing Chords (Blues and Jazz)

Summer Term 2

Basic Harmony and Tonality – Developing Chords (Blues and Jazz)

Download our music development plan here.

Our physical education curriculum for Year 7, 8, and 9 students aims to foster holistic development, encompassing physical, social, cognitive, and emotional growth.

We are committed to inclusivity, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to participate and thrive in a supportive environment. Each half term, students will engage in a variety of sports, including invasion games, net and wall games, and striking and fielding activities.

This diverse curriculum is designed to enhance physical literacy and competence, ensuring that every student develops a broad range of skills and enjoys the benefits of an active lifestyle. Through our program, we aim to provide ample opportunities for all students to achieve their full potential in physical education.

The PSHE programme has been carefully designed to meet the needs of students and is regularly updated according to students’ changing needs.

The programme of study follows a large number of Jigsaw 11-16 lessons as well as some more bespoke lessons designed in-house. These lessons include three core themes: Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World. The programme also incorporates SMSC, British Values and Careers to ensure students gain a rounded education and experience.

The main focus of the PSHE programme is to give students a broad and engaging programme of study that provides a positive, safe and consistent environment where students gain the most out of their educational opportunities, regardless of ability or background.

Careers focus: Graphic Design

-Elements of art revisited and built upon: colour (theory-wheel, acrylic techniques), line, form (1 point perspective drawing, typography, drawing 3d) All relate to A02, 3 and 4.  Develop visual language and analytical skills through artist research (A01).

– Elements of art introduced: TEXTURE AND PATTERN (African batik)

Graphic design-  hinterland careers.

In Year 8, students will explore:

• Exercise and Nutrition – the government’s recommendations around diet and exercise
• Making of healthy lunch alternatives
• Unhealthy lifestyles and dietary deficiencies
• A range of roles and jobs within catering.

Writing

At Ipswich Academy, we place great importance on the ability of students to communicate their thoughts, feelings and experiences clearly in different forms and for different purposes. All of our units are underpinned by opportunities to write analytically, creatively and persuasively.

Reading

Reading is the master skill of learning and the English curriculum offers broad opportunities to read and develop confidence with challenging texts of varying type, age and purpose. Specific focus is given to creating a broad knowledge base and a specific skill set for academic reading.

Year 9 takes the theme of injustice as its basis with Blood Brothers, Romeo and Juliet and Reynolds Long Way Down, providing the beginning of discussions around how individuals are impacted and fight against inequality.

The 5-year curriculum plan provides a logical progression through the National Curriculum for KS3, following onto the Edexcel Foundation or Higher GCSE specification.

The Year 9 curriculum is both the culmination of Key Stage 3 studies and introduces many concepts and skills that form part of the GCSE syllabus.

Topics taught this year include:

• More advanced graph work
• Algebra work, including simultaneous equations, algebraic products and factorising quadratics
• Number work, including trial and improvement, recurring decimals, percentages work with appreciation/depreciation and rounding (upper and lower bounds)
• Trigonometry
• Congruency and similarity for triangles
• Transformations, particularly enlargements.

Autumn Term

In the autumn term of Year 9, students begin the first part of the GCSE science syllabus by exploring key concepts in biology, including the use of microscopes and the structures and functions of animal and plant cells. In chemistry, they delve into the states of matter, learning about solids, liquids, and gases and their properties. Physics covers P1, focusing on fundamental principles of motion, such as acceleration and interpreting velocity-time graphs.

Spring Term

In the spring term of Year 9, biology lessons cover the study of enzymes and their functions, as well as essential processes like diffusion and osmosis. Chemistry focuses on separation techniques, including filtration and chromatography, along with understanding how water is purified for drinking, and students complete a core practical on chromatography. In physics, the curriculum delves into forces, with a particular emphasis on Newton’s laws of motion and their applications.

Summer Term

In the summer term of Year 9, the biology curriculum includes studying mitosis, growth processes, the use of stem cells, and the basics of the nervous system. Chemistry lessons focus on understanding atomic structure and exploring the periodic table, providing a foundation for more advanced concepts. In physics, students learn about energy, forces, and power, delving into how these principles interact and affect the physical world.

The French curriculum is designed to introduce students to another language and culture.

We have three key aims to our language learning; developing cultural awareness and intercultural understanding; providing a firm basis for further study; providing students with the tools to understand and use French for travel or other purposes.

We develop skills in four key areas: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Key themes in Year 9 are:

• Social media
• Food
• Healthy living
• Work and future studies
• Environment and social issues.

Students are introduced to near future and conditional tenses, complex sentence structures, modal verbs, comparisons, time adverbs.

Students study the following units, which develop their geographical knowledge, understanding and skills. Each unit includes a range of interesting case studies on a local, regional, national and global scale.

• Geography of Disease
• Development
• Tectonics
• Coasts
• Brazil
• Weather and Climate

In Year 9 students’ studies focus on the Twentieth Century and the ever changing nature of international power and alliances.

Students will study topics such as the World Wars, Life in Nazi Germany, the Russian Revolutions, and the Holocaust. These topics are essential for students gaining an understanding of how the world looks today and the complicated nature of international relations.

Again, students will continue to build on key historical skills with the aim of best preparing them to use those skills at GCSE level or to build a bank of transferable skills to be applied across students’ other subjects.

Autumn Term 1

Texture – Using the ‘phonics’ (Indian Raga)

Autumn Term 2

Texture – Using the ‘phonics’ (Film Music)

Spring Term 1

Preparing for GCSE – Performance

Spring Term 2

Preparing for GCSE – Performance

Summer Term 1

Preparing for GCSE – Performance

Summer Term 2

Preparing for GCSE – Performance

Download our music development plan here.

Our Physical Education curriculum for Year 7, 8, and 9 students aims to foster holistic development, encompassing physical, social, cognitive, and emotional growth. We are committed to inclusivity, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to participate and thrive in a supportive environment.

Each half term, students will engage in a variety of sports, including invasion games, net and wall games, and striking and fielding activities. This diverse curriculum is designed to enhance physical literacy and competence, ensuring that every student develops a broad range of skills and enjoys the benefits of an active lifestyle.

Through our program, we aim to provide ample opportunities for all students to achieve their full potential in physical education.

In Year 9, students will consider the arguments for and against belief in God. In the second term they will study Buddhist teachings about overcoming suffering, and in the third term students will examine Sikhism and its beliefs about equality.

The PSHE programme has been carefully designed to meet the needs of students and is regularly updated according to students’ changing needs.

The programme of study follows a large number of Jigsaw 11-16 lessons as well as some more bespoke lessons designed in-house. These lessons include three core themes: Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World. The programme also incorporates SMSC, British Values and Careers to ensure students gain a rounded education and experience.

The main focus of the PSHE programme is to give students a broad and engaging programme of study that provides a positive, safe and consistent environment where students gain the most out of their educational opportunities, regardless of ability or background.

Careers focus: Graphic design, Games/Animation Industry

Elements of art revisited: colour, line, texture, pattern, technical drawing. All relate to A02, 3 & 4. In addition Photography ( A03- to record ideas and observations animation) and stop frame animation (A04- to produce a personal outcome).
Photographer/animation/illustrator- hinterland careers.

It is carefully constructed to revisit but build upon technical skills across 2d and 3d, creative skills and vitally critical understanding of art/artists and why we make art. We aim to embed the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create throughout the years.

Students will continue to develop skills required for performance through the exploration of different theatre styles. They will study both Physical Theatre and Naturalism introducing them to a wider range of practitioners and techniques.

Students will also begin to explore a vast range of roles and responsibilities within theatre, supporting different career routes within the arts.

In Year 9, students will cover:

• Traditional cooking
• One pot wonders when cooking
• Sweet vs savoury
• Meal planning
• Time plans
• Own planning and cooking of their own dish

Writing

At Ipswich Academy, we place great importance on the ability of students to communicate their thoughts, feelings and experiences clearly in different forms and for different purposes. All of our units are underpinned by opportunities to write analytically, creatively and persuasively.

Reading

Reading is the master skill of learning and the English curriculum offers broad opportunities to read and develop confidence with challenging texts of varying type, age and purpose. Specific focus is given to creating a broad knowledge base and a specific skill set for academic reading.

GCSE English Language and Literature

These subjects are woven together through the two years of GCSE study. An Inspector Calls, Macbeth, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and power and conflict poetry are explored in depth to provide ample opportunities to explore their meanings and how they are created. GCSE English Language skills and approaches are taught alongside the Literature texts to promote mastery of the skills.

The 5-year curriculum plan provides a logical progression through the National Curriculum for KS3, following onto the Edexcel Foundation or Higher GCSE specification. Students follow the Higher tier or Foundation tier GCSE Edexcel Mathematics linear course and are taught in two years.

All pupils will sit a baseline test during the first week to ensure they are placed into the most appropriate sets and are in the right tier. Progress will continue to be monitored throughout the year.

Topics are taught in preparation for GCSE in the summer of Year 11 and include:

• Best buys and interest rates
• Further development of number skills, including work on surds and highest common factors / lowest common multiples
• Algebra skills, including advanced indices and graph work
• Trigonometry and advanced trigonometry
• Circle theorems
• Geometrical proofs
• Probability with conditional probability.

Autumn Term

In the autumn term of Year 10, GCSE biology students explore genetics, including meiosis, the structure and function of DNA, DNA extraction techniques, alleles, inheritance patterns, gene mutations, and variations within species. Chemistry lessons cover the principles of ionic, covalent, and metallic bonding, providing a deep understanding of how different elements combine and interact. In physics, students learn about the conservation of energy and examine both renewable and non-renewable energy sources, highlighting their importance and impact on the environment.

Spring Term

GCSE biology students delve into evidence for evolution, examining Darwin’s theory, classification of living organisms, breeds and varieties, and the application of genetic principles in agriculture. Chemistry focuses on acids and alkalis, including practical experiments such as making copper sulfate and conducting neutralisation reactions. Physics covers the study of waves, including core practicals, the electromagnetic spectrum, and the various uses of electromagnetic waves in technology and everyday life.

Summer Term

In the summer term of Year 10, GCSE biology covers the Health and Disease topic, which includes topics such as communicable and non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular disease, pathogens and their spread, physical and chemical barriers, the immune system, and antibiotics. Additionally plant structures and functions are explored, focusing on photosynthesis, factors affecting photosynthesis, absorption of water and minerals, and the processes of transpiration and translocation. In chemistry, students learn about the calculations of masses, including molar calculations and electrolysis, while physics lessons cover radioactivity, atomic models, the structure of atoms, electrons and their orbits, background radiation, types of radiation, radioactive decay, half-life, and the dangers of radioactivity.

Our KS4 core Physical Education curriculum is dedicated to promoting lifelong participation and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle.

Students are placed into pathways that enable them to engage in physical education alongside like-minded peers. We emphasise high participation levels and a commitment to continuous activity.

The curriculum is designed to introduce students to a variety of sports, both within and beyond the school environment, encouraging them to explore and adopt activities that they can enjoy throughout their lives.

The PSHE programme has been carefully designed to meet the needs of students and is regularly updated according to students’ changing needs.

The programme of study follows a large number of Jigsaw 11-16 lessons as well as some more bespoke lessons designed in-house. These lessons include three core themes: Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World. The programme also incorporates SMSC, British Values and Careers to ensure students gain a rounded education and experience.

The main focus of the PSHE programme is to give students a broad and engaging programme of study that provides a positive, safe and consistent environment where students gain the most out of their educational opportunities, regardless of ability or background.

Students will be encouraged to question ideas, problem solve, challenge each other’s opinions, work as teams, debate and reflect. Through this work, students will build their confidence, self esteem and ability to communicate their ideas and feelings.

Overview

GCSE Business is designed to introduce students to how businesses work. Students will explore realistic business scenarios and consider how to apply the concepts they have learned.

A typical example of this would be when students are given financial information about a business from which they must: calculate a variety of financial ratios explain what the financial ratios reveal about the finances of the business suggest solutions to improve the financial position of the business.

The course covers the following topics:

• Business in the real world: the purpose and nature of business, business ownership, setting aims and objectives, stakeholder, business location, business planning, expanding a business
• Influences on business: technology, ethical and environmental considerations, the economic climate, globalisation, legislation, competitive environment.
• Business operations: production processes, the role of procurement, the concept of quality, good customer services.
• Human resources: organisational structures, recruitment and selection of employees, motivating employees, training.
• Marketing: identifying and understanding customers, segmentation, the purposes and methods of market research, the elements of the marketing mix.
• Finance: sources of finance, cash flow, financial terms and calculations, analysing the financial performance of a business.

Assessment

The business qualification consists of two written exams. Each exam has a short section of multiple choice and short answer questions, then there are longer questions based on a case study or business data.

Paper 1

Influences of operations and HRM on business activity written exam – 1 hours 45 minutes, 90 marks worth 50% of the overall qualification

Paper 2

Influences of marketing and finance on business activity written exam – 1 hour 45 minutes 90 marks worth 50% of the overall qualification.

Subject links

The Business GCSE has strong links with English, maths, and geography.

Careers

Qualifications in business support learners to go into a variety of careers including setting up their own enterprise. However, this course is especially relevant to people who are already considering a career in:

• Accountancy
• Law
• Recruitment
• Marketing
• Politics

Our Cambridge National in Creative iMedia will inspire and equip students with the confidence to use skills that are relevant to the digital media sector and more widely.

They’ll design, plan, create and review digital graphics to meet client and target audience demands.

Students begin with World Cinema as the focus of component 2, focusing on context, representation and style. The films studied for the component are Rocks (Gavron, 2019), Jojo Rabbit (Waititi, 2019), and The Farewell (Wang, 2019).

The French curriculum is designed to introduce students to another language and culture. We have three key aims to our language learning:

• Developing cultural awareness and intercultural understanding
• Providing a firm basis for further study
• Providing students with the tools to understand and use French for travel or other purposes.

We develop skills in four key areas throughout key stages three and four: listening, reading, writing and speaking.

In Year 10 students develop grammar skills they have acquired at Key Stage 3: superlatives and comparisons, complex sentence structures, application of tenses in at least three timelines, adverbs, complex opinions, reflexive verbs.

Key themes are:

• Free time
• Holidays
• Family and friends
• Food
• Special occasions
• Places in town
• Describing a region.

Year 10/11 students study AQA GCSE Geography, which covers the following units:

• Unit 1: Living with the Physical Environment
• Unit 2: Challenges in the Human Environment
• Unit 3: Geographical Applications.

Students also complete two fieldwork enquiries (Human Enquiry: Urban Regeneration at Ipswich Waterfront and Physical Enquiry: Coastal Management at Felixstowe).

In Year 10 students’ studies are based on the Edexcel GCSE History course, and we aim to complete two of four modules.

The first is a British study of Anglo-Saxon and Norman England including topics such as the 1066 Succession Crisis, the Battle of Hastings, and the Normanisation of England. Students’ ability to analyse and explain the cause and consequences of historical events alongside making consistent analytical judgements will be tested here.

Students will spend the second half of Year 10 on a British Thematic study of Medicine through Time c1250 – present. This includes a case study on the injuries, illnesses, and treatments on the British Sector of the Western Front of the First World War. This unit allows students to use the historical source analysis skills built up across KS3 to access the highest grades possible.

In this subject, Year 10 students will learn:

Presentation skills
Dress code, food hygiene, plate presentation and personal appearance.

Personal skills
Showing evidence of progression, improved confidence and enjoyment.

Students follow the EDUQAS Music GCSE Specification at Key Stage 4.

Autumn 1
Theory – Note Values; Rhythm & pitch basics; Treble & bass clefs

AOS4 – Popular Music Study of different popular music genres (Blues; Rock ‘N’ Roll) and associated music theory (structure; harmony; context)

Autumn 2

Theory – Time Signatures; Key signatures; Creating Chords

AOS4 – Popular Music Study of prepared piece (‘Africa’ by Toto) – Looking into the use of the elements of music within this piece. Study of Fusion and how it is used within the prepared piece.

Spring 1

Theory – Circle of Fifths and relative keys

Performance – Ensemble Performance

Composition – Notating a simple melody

Summary of AOS4 & AOS3 – Film Music. Focus on specific melodic; rhythmic; and harmonic devices used throughout film music.

Spring 2

Performance – Ensemble Performance

Composition – Writing A piece using homophonic texture

AOS3 – Film Music Focus on how composers use appropriate elements of music within underscores to enhance a character/plot.

Summer 1

Performance – Solo Performance

Composition – Free Composition – Focus on the use of structure and creating contrasting sections of music.

AOS1 – Forms And Devices Study of different forms of classical music with specific focus on the use of particular melodic; rhythmic; and harmonic devices and their application within a different genre/period.

Summer 2

Performance – Solo Performance

Composition – Free Composition – Further work to develop free composition in a chosen style by implementing studied devices into students’ own work.

AOS1 – Forms And Devices Study of prepared piece (‘Badinerie’ by J.S.Bach) – Looking into the use of the elements of music within this piece.

Students who take Performing Arts will begin with component 1, in which they will study 3 different professional works. Within this component students will analyse the style, skills and techniques used looking in details at different roles and responsibilities and how this impacts the overall performance.

At Ipswich Academy, pupils can choose between two examination pathways: OCR GCSE Physical Education and NCFE Health and Fitness.

Both courses aim to build and develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of different body systems, physical factors affecting performance, and socio-cultural and psychological aspects of fitness.

The OCR GCSE PE course is assessed through a combination of 10% coursework, 30% practical performance, and 60% examination.

The NCFE Health and Fitness course is assessed with 40% examination and 60% coursework.

Both pathways offer excellent opportunities for students, providing a strong foundation for further studies in sport and physical education.

Writing

At Ipswich Academy, we place great importance on the ability of students to communicate their thoughts, feelings and experiences clearly in different forms and for different purposes. All of our units are underpinned by opportunities to write analytically, creatively and persuasively.

Reading

Reading is the master skill of learning and the English curriculum offers broad opportunities to read and develop confidence with challenging texts of varying type, age and purpose. Specific focus is given to creating a broad knowledge base and a specific skill set for academic reading.

GCSE English Language and Literature

These subjects are woven together through the two years of GCSE study. An Inspector Calls, Macbeth, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and power and conflict poetry are explored in depth to provide ample opportunities to explore their meanings and how they are created. GCSE English Language skills and approaches are taught alongside the Literature texts to promote mastery of the skills.

The 5-year curriculum plan provides a logical progression through the National Curriculum for KS3, following onto the Edexcel Foundation or Higher GCSE specification.

At key stage 4 students follow the Higher tier or Foundation tier GCSE Edexcel Mathematics linear course and are taught in two years.

In Year 11 we teach the most advanced topics in the GCSE syllabus: quadratic functions, comprising manipulating quadratic expressions; solving quadratic equations, the graphical representation of functions and their use in a range of problem-solving contexts; algebraic fractions and algebraic proofs; vectors; graph transformations.

We focus on examination technique, and practice past examination papers to best prepare students for the GCSE, whilst teaching them to the highest level as an excellent foundation for any future A level study in the subject.

Autumn Term

In the autumn term of Year 11, GCSE biology students study hormones, focusing on the menstrual cycle, the control of blood sugar levels, and the management and implications of Type 2 diabetes. Chemistry lessons delve into the periodic table, exploring the properties and reactivity of Group 1 (alkali metals), Group 7 (halogens), and Group 0 (noble gases).

Physics covers electrical circuits, including current and potential difference (PD), the relationship between current, charge, and energy, various aspects of resistance (including core practicals), energy transfer, power, transferring energy by electricity, and ensuring electrical safety.

Spring Term

In the spring term of Year 11, GCSE biology focuses on aerobic and anaerobic respiration, gas exchange, the importance of surface area, and the circulatory system, including blood, blood vessels, circulation, the heart, cardiac output, and the effects of exercise on cardiac output. Additionally, students study ecosystems, food webs, and sampling methods.

Chemistry covers rates and energy changes, addressing rates of reaction, factors affecting these rates, related core practicals, catalysts, activation energy, exothermic and endothermic reactions, and overall energy changes. The second unit taught during this term covers fuels, including hydrocarbons, fractional distillation, alkanes, complete and incomplete combustion, combustible fuels, and breaking down hydrocarbons.

Physics lessons explore magnets and magnetic fields, electromagnets, transformers, particle density and related core practicals, energy changes of state, energy calculations, and core practicals involving water.

Summer Term

In the summer term of Year 11, GCSE biology students explore ecosystems, focusing on fish farming, eutrophication, preserving biodiversity, and the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles. Chemistry lessons cover the early atmosphere, its changes over time, the current composition of the atmosphere, and the impacts of climate change. Physics delves into the relationships between gas, temperature, and pressure, the principles of bending and stretching, core practicals involving springs, and Hooke’s Law. Time will also be set aside for revision, as students prepare to complete their six GCSE science exams at the end of May and the start of June.

Our KS4 core Physical Education curriculum is dedicated to promoting lifelong participation and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle.

Students are placed into pathways that enable them to engage in physical education alongside like-minded peers. We emphasise high participation levels and a commitment to continuous activity. The curriculum is designed to introduce students to a variety of sports, both within and beyond the school environment, encouraging them to explore and adopt activities that they can enjoy throughout their lives.

The PSHE programme has been carefully designed to meet the needs of students and is regularly updated according to students’ changing needs.

The programme of study follows a large number of Jigsaw 11-16 lessons as well as some more bespoke lessons designed in-house. These lessons include three core themes: Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World. The programme also incorporates SMSC, British Values and Careers to ensure students gain a rounded education and experience.

The main focus of the PSHE programme is to give students a broad and engaging programme of study that provides a positive, safe and consistent environment where students gain the most out of their educational opportunities, regardless of ability or background.

Students will be encouraged to question ideas, problem solve, challenge each other’s opinions, work as teams, debate and reflect. Through this work, students will build their confidence, self esteem and ability to communicate their ideas and feelings.

Overview

GCSE Business is designed to introduce students to how businesses work. Students will explore realistic business scenarios and consider how to apply the concepts they have learned.

A typical example of this would be when students are given financial information about a business from which they must: calculate a variety of financial ratios explain what the financial ratios reveal about the finances of the business suggest solutions to improve the financial position of the business.

The course covers the following topics:

• Business in the real world: the purpose and nature of business, business ownership, setting aims and objectives, stakeholder, business location, business planning, expanding a business
• Influences on business: technology, ethical and environmental considerations, the economic climate, globalisation, legislation, competitive environment.
• Business operations: production processes, the role of procurement, the concept of quality, good customer services.
• Human resources: organisational structures, recruitment and selection of employees, motivating employees, training.
• Marketing: identifying and understanding customers, segmentation, the purposes and methods of market research, the elements of the marketing mix.
• Finance: sources of finance, cash flow, financial terms and calculations, analysing the financial performance of a business.

Assessment

The business qualification consists of two written exams. Each exam has a short section of multiple choice and short answer questions, then there are longer questions based on a case study or business data.

Paper 1

Influences of operations and HRM on business activity written exam – 1 hours 45 minutes, 90 marks worth 50% of the overall qualification

Paper 2

Influences of marketing and finance on business activity written exam – 1 hour 45 minutes 90 marks worth 50% of the overall qualification.

Subject links

The Business GCSE has strong links with English, maths, and geography.

Careers

Qualifications in business support learners to go into a variety of careers including setting up their own enterprise. However, this course is especially relevant to people who are already considering a career in:

• Accountancy
• Law
• Recruitment
• Marketing
• Politics

Creative iMedia will inspire and equip students with the confidence to use skills that are relevant to the digital media sector and the wider industry.

It’s a vocational qualification, equivalent in value to a GCSE and contains both practical and theoretical elements.

Most of the qualification is assessed by coursework that is set and marked by the teacher and then moderated by the exam board. This will be done throughout the two-year course. You will complete project work, research, completing practical tasks and meeting deadlines. One of the units that all students must complete is Creative iMedia in the media industry, this unit is an external written exam.

The students will then complete a coursework unit on Visual Identity and Digital Graphics. To finish off the coursework, they will complete one of the following units of coursework:

• Characters and comics
• Animation with audio
• Interactive digital media
• Visual imaging
• Digital games

Assessment

iMedia is assessed by two coursework units and a written paper.

Component: R093

Weighting: 40%

Title: Creative iMedia in the media industry

Length: 1 hour 30 minutes

Assessment type: Written paper

Method: External assessment

====================================

Component: R094

Weighting: 25%

Title: Visual identity and digital graphics

Assessment type: Portfolio

Method: Internal assessment

====================================

Component: A choice between R095-R099

Weighting: 35%

Title: A choice between:

Characters and comics

Animation with audio

Interactive digital media

Visual imaging

Digital games

Assessment type: Portfolio

Method: Internal assessment

====================================

Subject links

The iMedia course has links with English, Art, Business and Computer Science.

Careers

By developing applied knowledge and practical skills, this course will help give you the opportunity to progress on to A Levels, a Cambridge Technical in Creative Media, an apprenticeship or university. Creative iMedia could be first step of a career as a Games Developer, Comic Book Writer, Graphic Designer, and more.

American Cinema is the focus for component 1, with a focus on comparison and analysis of specialist writing. The films studied for this component are Rebel Without A Cause (Ray, 1955), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (Hughes, 1986), and The Hate U Give (Tilman Jr, 2019).

The French curriculum is designed to introduce students to another language and culture.

We have three key aims to our language learning; developing cultural awareness and intercultural understanding; providing a firm basis for further study; providing students with the tools to understand and use French for travel or other purposes.

We develop skills in four key areas throughout key stages three and four: listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Key themes for Year 11 are:

• School
• Health and wellbeing
• Social issues such as drugs, alcohol, homelessness and poverty
• Jobs and work
• Environment.

Year 10/ 11 students study AQA GCSE Geography, which covers the following units:

Unit 1: Living with the Physical Environment

Unit 2: Challenges in the Human Environment

Unit 3: Geographical Applications Students also complete two fieldwork enquiries (Human Enquiry: Urban Regeneration at Ipswich Waterfront and Physical Enquiry: Coastal Management at Felixstowe).

In Year 11 students’ studies focus on the final two units of the course.

The first is an in depth study of Weimar and Nazi Germany. This fascinating unit allows students to work with historical sources and interpretations to best understand the changing nature of early twentieth century Germany and explores the impacts of the First World War on Germany and the subsequent rise of Nazism in the run-up to the Second World War.

The second unit is a wide-reaching study on the development of the American West, the relationship between white settlers and the indigenous peoples of America. Students examine a range of social and political events in a crucial period in the development of the United States of America.

Historical skills students will be accessing include analysing the consequences of key events, understanding and writing an analytical chronology, once again, focusing on explanation.

Unit 2 covers a practical assessment and coursework

Students will be assessed on practical skills:

• Time management
• Cooking knowledge
• Event planning and organisation

And on interpersonal skills:

• Communication
• Individual drive
• Group work.

Students follow the EDUQAS Music GCSE Specification at Key Stage 4.

Autumn 1
Performance – Solo & Ensemble performance preparation

Composition – Free Composition

AOS2: Music For Ensemble Study of different forms of ensemble with specific focus on the use of particular melodic; rhythmic; and harmonic devices and their application within differe

Autumn 2

Performance – Solo & Ensemble performance preparation

Composition – Composing to a brief

AOS2: Music For Ensemble Focus on ensembles where improvisation is a key part of a performance

Spring 1

Performance – Solo & Ensemble performance preparation

Composition – Composing to a brief

AOS1&3: Revisiting areas of study with new listening pieces which develop understanding of period/genre characteristics and their use of devices.

Spring 2

Performance – Recording of performances

Composition – Composing to a brief

AOS2&4: Revisiting areas of study with new listening pieces which develop understanding of period/genre characteristics and their use

Summer 1

Exam preparation

Exam Technique Specifics: – Aural Note Identification – Note recognition – Long Answer response – Chord sequences/ scale degrees.

Summer 2

Exam preparation/End of Course

Year 11 students will complete both component 2 and 3.

Component 2 will require students to show their practical skills by performing a section from a professional performance. In component 3 students will need to work in groups to devise their own performance and perform it to a specific target audience. In this component students will also do three written exams in which they will evaluate their ideas, skills and performance.

At Ipswich Academy, pupils can choose between two examination pathways: OCR GCSE Physical Education and NCFE Health and Fitness.

Both courses aim to build and develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of different body systems, physical factors affecting performance, and socio-cultural and psychological aspects of fitness.

The OCR GCSE PE course is assessed through a combination of 10% coursework, 30% practical performance, and 60% examination. The NCFE Health and Fitness course is assessed with 40% examination and 60% coursework. Both pathways offer excellent opportunities for students, providing a strong foundation for further studies in sport and physical education.