KS3 Overview
The information below will give you a good overview of learning and assessment in KS3 here at Roundwood Park School.
KS3 Assessment
Following the Government’s decision to abolish National Curriculum Levels, all secondary schools are required to put in place their own framework for assessment, detailing how progress and attainment will be tracked and reported. The above guide explains how Key Stage 3 Assessment and Reporting has changed at Roundwood Park School. Please take time to familiarise yourself with this.
Subjects & Lessons in Year 7
When students enter the school in Year 7, they are placed in mixed ability Form Groups and they are taught in these groups for most subjects throughout the year. The mixed ability groups help students settle into their new school and help our staff get to know them and their needs. In maths, students are set across two bands (X side has 4 classes (3 forms) and the Y side has 5 classes (4 forms)), from the October half term.
Year 7 students who are below expectations in English and/or maths may be selected for extra maths and/or English as appropriate. If so, students would continue to study one language, French for 2 hours a week. Students with a lower ability in English are supported by SEND staff in their English lessons.
Subjects & Lessons in Years 8 & 9
In Years 8 and 9, students continue in mixed ability groups for their pastoral care and for most subjects. In Year 8, maths continues to be set across two bands (X and Y), as in Year 7. All other subjects are taught in mixed ability groups.
Learning support classes in English and/or Maths are also offered in Year 8. If selected, students will only study one language, French for 1 hour a week.
The Year 9 science curriculum builds on the knowledge and skills gained during Years 7 and 8. In Year 9, students are set across two bands (X side has 4 classes (3 forms) and the Y side has 5 classes (4 forms)). Year 9 is a transition year covering biology, chemistry and physics topics taught to GCSE standard. Each school term contains elements of each of the three sciences with an assessment test at the end of each section. The topics chosen, along with the assessments, give the faculty a good indication of each student’s suitability for either the Combined Science or Separate Science courses at KS4.
All students in Year 9 continue with their study of Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) and they have the following options:
Focus on one language (French, German or Spanish) for 3 hours a week. Spanish is a fast paced beginners course and feeds into the GCSE option.
OR
Continue with the study of French and German for 2 hours each per week.
Students who are selected for learning support in Year 9 will complete the Level 1 Functional skills, numeracy and the reading fluency programme. As part of the learning support curriculum, students will maintain their study of French. These sessions will be led by a member of the MFL Dept.
| Subjects | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Mathematics | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Science | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Art | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Design & Technology* | 1 | 2 | 1 or 2 |
| Drama | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Geography | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| History | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Computer Science | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Modern Languages* / Learning Support | 3 | 3 | 3 or 4 |
| Music | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PE | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| PRE (Philosophy, Religion & Ethics) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PSHCE | 1 | 1 | 1 |
*Year 9: Those students studying one MFL for 3 hours a week have two DT lessons. Those studying 2 languages have one DT lesson a week.
