Key Stage 3

Year 7

In Year 7 pupils have the opportunity to withdraw from a second foreign language at the end of the autumn term. They are invited to attend literacy lessons in the spring and summer terms. This prepares them for work they will undertake in Years 8 and 9.
The topics which are covered include:

  • Alphabetical order
  • Vowels
  • The end stops
  • Using capital letters
  • Sentences
  • Words with more than one meaning
  • Here and hear/ There and their
  • Plurals
  • Similars
  • Showing ownership – ‘s
  • Opposites using un
  • Short forms
  • Writing letters
  • Collections and group names
  • Writing dates
  • Rhymes
  • When people speak
  • Compound words
  • Joining sentences using conjunctions
  • The meaning of prefixes mono, bi, and tri

Pupils who withdraw from a foreign language in Year 8 are invited to attend classes in literacy/numeracy and work towards the AQA Literacy/Numeracy certificates.

All pupils follow the AQA Literacy/Numeracy syllabus at Entry Level

The Entry Level Certificates are designed to offer pupils an opportunity to show Entry Level achievement.

Achievement at Entry Level can be used to assist progression within the National Qualifications framework and is designed to be a stepping stone towards GCSE.

We deliver the subject content using a variety of methods and contexts. Learning in practical situations is encouraged and opportunities for group work (e.g. role-play) and individual work outside the classroom is explored.

The activities used in the lessons help the pupils practise basic skills in a way that is true to life and meaningful for them.

Literacy

The skills of spoken communication, reading and writing play a fundamental part in everyday life. Effective communication skills support independent living and broaden the choices and opportunities available to individuals.

At each level, pupils can apply their literacy skills effectively in contexts and situations that are familiar to them. Study of literacy, through these specifications, develops the role that literacy plays in everyday life, in the community, at work, during leisure time, in education and training and using ICT.

Numeracy

Numeracy plays a fundamental part in many aspects of adult life.

Numeracy is the ability to represent ideas, problems or situations using numerical or mathematical information, work with this information and then present results as solutions or conclusions. Effective numeracy skills support independent living and broaden the choices and opportunities available to individuals.

At each level pupils can apply their numeracy skills effectively using alimited range of strategies in contexts and situations that are familiar to them. Study of numeracy, through these specifications, develops the role that numeracy plays in everyday life, the community, at work, during leisure time, in education and training and using ICT.

Year 8

In Year 8 we begin the AQA Literacy/Numeracy course using a range of different resources. We follow the AQA Literacy/Numeracy specification – at Entry 2.

The topics which are covered include:

  • The alphabet
  • The building blocks of language
  • Forms
  • Common abbreviations
  • Brochures/catalogues
  • Time
  • The family
  • Labels
  • Signs in Public Places
  • Preparation of Foodstuffs
  • Food and Drink
  • Money
  • The Weather
  • Clothing
  • Personal Hobbies and Interests
  • Whole numbers
  • Fractions, decimals and percentages
  • Common measures
  • Shape and Space
  • Data and statistical measures
  • Probability

Year 9

In Year 9 we continue with the AQA Literacy/Numeracy course at Level 3.

In the summer term pupils have the opportunity to start the ASDAN Award programme which should prepare them for possible entry on the full ASDAN Award programme in Y10/11.

The topics which are covered include:

  • The Building Blocks of Language cont.
  • World of Work
  • Occupations
  • Forms
  • Equipment and machines found in the workplace
  • Newspapers and Magazines
  • Common abbreviations cont.
  • Money
  • Timetables
  • Data handling
  • Personal hobbies and interests
  • Whole numbers
  • Fractions, decimals and percentages
  • Common measures
  • Shape and Space
  • Data and statistical measures
  • Probability
  • The Weather