Subjects
Art
In art pupils reflect critically on their own and other people’s work, judging quality, value and meaning.
They learn to think and act as artists, craftspeople and designers, working creatively and intelligently. They develop an appreciation of art, craft and design, and its role in the creative and cultural industries that enrich their lives.
Through the course students develop a creative practical skills for communicating and expressing ideas, feelings and meanings in art and design. Investigative, analytical, experimental and interpretative capabilities, aesthetic understanding and critical skills. An understanding of codes and conventions of art, craft and design and awareness of the contexts in which they operate.Knowledge and understanding of art, craft and design in contemporary societies and in other times and cultures.
Chemistry
Key Subject Aims for those studying Chemistry are as follows.
Students:
- Further develop an appreciation of the practical nature of chemistry and develop experimental and investigative skills based on correct and safe laboratory techniques.
- Develop an appreciation of the importance to scientific methods of accurate experimental work and reporting.
- Develop students’ ability to form hypotheses and design experiments to test them.
- Develop a logical approach to problem-solving in a wider context.
- Develop an understanding of the widespread importance of chemistry and the way materials are used in the world.
- Are shown the work of the chemist has social, industrial, technological, environmental and economic consequences for the community.
- Are prepared for more advanced courses in Chemistry or courses which require them to have knowledge of Chemistry.
Economics
Through the course students:
- Develop an understanding of economic concepts and apply these concepts to real-life situations
- Interpret and evaluate economic data in order to make reasoned arguments and informed judgements
- Develop an awareness of economic change and its impact on developing and developed economies
- Understand economic issues, problems and possible solutions that affect mixed economies
Languages
Students learn to appreciate different countries, cultures, communities and people. By making comparisons, they gain insight into their own culture and society. The ability to understand and communicate in another language is a lifelong skill for education, employment and leisure throughout the world.
Learning languages gives pupils opportunities to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and to express themselves with increasing confidence, independence and creativity. They explore the similarities and differences between other languages and English and learn how language can be manipulated and applied in different ways. The development of communication skills together with understanding of the structure of language, lay the foundations for future study of other languages and support the development of literacy skills in a pupil’s own language.
Language classes are set by ability and are taught from Year 7 to 9 with careful differentiation within each year group. This ensures that students work at a level which provides both a feeling of success and sufficient challenge. In lessons, a wide range of teaching methodologies and interactive resources are employed, thus promoting an engaging learning environment for our students.
A great emphasis is placed on the use of authentic language in the classroom, whilst developing students’ fluency and confidence. Initially students will be able to deal with short examples of familiar language progressing to understanding longer material in more depth. Finally students will develop the skills to understand and use unfamiliar language in a range of unfamiliar contexts.
At Kellett Senior, all students study a second foreign language as beginners starting in Year 8, choosing from French, Mandarin, German, Spanish and Latin. This pathway enables all students to study two foreign languages at GCSE, should they so choose. Mandarin provision also benefits from an Advanced 2nd Language Stream, which seeks to accelerate our most able linguists to GCSE in Year 9 and IGCSE (First or Second Language depending upon ability) in Year 11.
For students who speak a language other than English to native-speaker standard, Kellett may be able to support their linguistic development through the Home Languages Programme. This offers students the opportunity to secure an additional IGSCE qualification from CIE (where available).
Physics
Key subject aims in Physics are as follows.
Students:
- learn about the unifying patterns and themes of Physics
- acquire knowledge and understanding of physical facts, concepts and principles
- appreciate the practical nature of Physics, developing experimental and investigative skills based on correct and safe laboratory techniques
- appreciate the importance of accurate experimental work and reporting as scientific methods
- develop a logical approach to problem solving in a wider context
- evaluate, in terms of their scientific knowledge and understanding, the benefits and drawbacks of real-life applications of science, including their everyday, industrial and environmental aspects
- select, organise and present information clearly and logically, using appropriate scientific terms and conventions
- prepare for more advanced courses in Physics at higher education institutions and for other courses which require them to have a knowledge of Physics.
Biology
In studying Biology, the key aims are as follows.
Students:
- learn about the unifying patterns and themes of biology
- acquire knowledge and understanding of biological facts, concepts and principles and the skills needed to use them in new and changing situations
- appreciate the practical nature of biology, developing experimental and investigative skills based on correct and safe laboratory techniques
- appreciate the importance of accurate experimental work and reporting as scientific methods
- sustain and develop an enjoyment of, and interest in, the study of living organisms
- evaluate, in terms of their biological knowledge and understanding, the benefits and drawbacks of real-life applications of science, including their everyday, industrial and environmental aspects
- select, organise and present information clearly and logically, using appropriate scientific terms and conventions
- prepare for more advanced courses in biology and for other courses which require them to have knowledge of biology.
Design and Technology
Link to the new GCSE Specification
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/design-and-technology/gcse/design-and-technology-8552
GCSE Design and Technology will prepare students to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. Students will gain awareness and learn from wider influences on Design and Technology including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. Students will get the opportunity to work creatively when designing and making and apply technical and practical expertise.
The GCSE allows students to study core, technical and designing & making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials techniques and equipment. They will also have the opportunity to study specialist technical principles in greater depth.
Why choose AQA for A-level Design and Technology:
This creative and thought-provoking qualification gives students the practical skills, theoretical knowledge and confidence to succeed in a number of careers. Especially those in the creative Industries.
They will investigate historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic influences on design and technology, whilst enjoying opportunities to put their learning into practice by producing prototypes of their choice.
Students will gain a real understanding of what it means to be a designer, alongside the knowledge and skills sought by higher education and employers.
Link to the new specification
English
Literature in English is rich and influential. It reflects the experiences of people from many countries and times and contributes to our sense of cultural identity. Pupils learn to become enthusiastic and critical readers of stories, poetry and drama as well as non-fiction and media texts, gaining access to the pleasure and world of knowledge that reading offers.
Looking at the patterns, structures, origins and conventions of English helps pupils understand how language works. Using this understanding, pupils can choose and adapt what they say and write in different situations, as well as appreciate and interpret the choices made by other writers and speakers.
Students at all levels will be given regular next steps by their English teachers, which they will record on their Next Steps Sheets, on which they will be expected to demonstrate that they have worked at improving in these target areas. As well as helping them to improve in the subject area of English, this will help them to become reflective, independent learners.
Geography
Geography explains where places are, how places and landscapes are formed, how people and their environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies, societies and environments are interconnected. It builds on pupils’ own experiences to investigate places at all scales, from the personal to the global.
Geographical enquiry encourages questioning, investigation and critical thinking about issues affecting the world and people’s lives, now and in the future. Fieldwork is an essential element of this. Pupils learn to think spatially and use maps, visual images and new technologies, including geographical information systems (GIS), to obtain, present and analyse information. Geography inspires pupils to become global citizens by exploring their own place in the world, their values and their responsibilities to other people, to the environment and to the sustainability of the planet.
Mathematics
Mathematics contributes to the school curriculum by developing pupils’ abilities to calculate; to reason logically, algebraically, and geometrically; to solve problems and to handle data.
Mathematics is important for pupils in many other areas of study, particularly Science and Technology. It is also important in everyday living, in many forms of employment, and in public decision-making. As a subject in its own right, Mathematics presents frequent opportunities for creativity, and can stimulate moments of pleasure and wonder when a problem is solved for the first time, or a more elegant solution to a problem is discovered, or when hidden connections suddenly manifest.
Media Studies
In Media Studies, students gain an understanding of the varied techniques used within media texts to appeal to their chosen audience. They can then apply this understanding through construction of their own products and designs.
Media Studies offers students and insight into one of the most influential industries in the world.
Pupils will learn techniques and language that allow them to view influential Media texts in a way that a normal practitioner would not. It gives them an insight into the inner workings of products that capture the attention of billions, and offers them the core skills required to then produce their own mediums.
Students are able to employ both analytical and creative skill sets in this very unique subject. They will also be guided through the more technical aspects of Media production, providing them with the tools they require to enter into one of the fastest growing and evolving industries in the world.
Music
Music brings together intellect and feeling and enables personal expression, reflection and emotional development. As an integral part of culture, past and present, music helps pupils understand themselves, relate to others and develop their cultural understanding, forging important links between home, school and the wider world.
Music education encourages active involvement in different forms of music-making, both individual and communal, helping to develop a sense of group identity and togetherness. Music can influence pupils’ development in and out of school by fostering personal development and maturity, creating a sense of achievement and self-worth, and increasing pupils’ ability to work with others in a group context.
Music learning develops pupils’ critical skills: their ability to listen, to appreciate a wide variety of music, and to make judgments about musical quality. It also increases self-discipline, creativity, aesthetic sensitivity and fulfillment.”
Business Studies
Students explore the four main functional areas of business – Accounting and Finance, Human Resources, Marketing and Production – through investigations into well-known businesses and current business news stories. Practical activities also bring the subject to life.
The International GCSE Business Studies course is designed to give students a sound understanding of business and the ability to use knowledge, skills and understanding appropriately in the context of international markets and the United Kingdom.
The Edexcel IAL in Business Studies is built around a core unit with an enterprise theme, to enable students to think of a new business idea and how they might research and develop it. Students will think about how their learning applies to their own business idea. The course will introduce students to international business, equipping them either to work in, or to manage, a business in an international context.
Drama
It is the aim of the department to instill in all students an enjoyment of the subject and an understanding of its relevance to the world around them.
The Drama course is closely-linked to the National Curriculum and is dynamically styled towards our students’ needs. The three stages of dramatic inquiry: making, performing and responding allow students and opportunity to explore and experiment with skills, knowledge and understanding of Drama as a discrete body of knowledge with its own specific principles, techniques and vocabulary. Students are assessed on each unit of work and are marked using criteria that focuses on all three components of: making, performing and responding.
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
Welcomed by universities for its emphasis on research, analysis and independent learning, the qualification is recognised as a gateway into the skills required for success in Higher Education and the world of work.
Learners begin by working out which area they are most interested in pursuing: Dissertation, Performance, Artefact or Investigation. There is no limit to what the students can pursue, resulting in an intellectual freedom and passion for their chosen topic.
Having finalized a project title with their given mentor, the students then undertake extensive research in that area. Following this, they move into the development and planning stage before ‘realising’ the project outcome. The final stage is one of reflection where the students write an evaluation of the process and perform an oral presentation to peers and teachers. Throughout the project, students keep a detailed Activity Log which is highly reflective of the project management process.
The bulk of the project is completed independently, although students are allocated a mentor who will guide them through the process. Students will also receive instruction in research, project management and presentation skills.
History
History helps pupils develop their own identities through an understanding of history at personal, local, national and international levels. It helps them to ask and answer questions of the present by engaging with the past.
Pupils find out about the history of their community, Britain, Europe and the world. They develop a chronological overview that enables them to make connections within and across different periods and societies. They investigate Britain's relationships with the wider world, and relate past events to the present day.
As they develop their understanding of the nature of historical study, pupils ask and answer important questions, evaluate evidence, identify and analyse different interpretations of the past, and learn to substantiate any arguments and judgments they make. They appreciate why they are learning what they are learning and can debate its significance.
History prepares pupils for the future, equipping them with knowledge and skills that are prized in adult life, enhancing employability and developing an ability to take part in a democratic society. It encourages mutual understanding of the historic origins of our ethnic and cultural diversity, and helps pupils become confident and questioning individuals.
Physical Education
A high-quality PE curriculum enables all pupils to enjoy and succeed in many kinds of physical activity.
Physical education and sports are an integral part of student life at Kellett.
We believe these areas are a core element of a balanced education, and so they are delivered through both the curriculum and extra-curricular activities. Our aim is to provide opportunity and encourage participation and sportsmanship, whilst promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.
Science
For our Year 7 & 8 students, this is an accelerated course broadly based upon the traditional UK National Curriculum, intended to prepare Kellett students to start the IGCSE course one year early in Year 9. Kellett staff designed this course to fit the international context in which we operate, adapted to the needs of our learners and adjusted in terms of content to best prepare Kellett students for the triple Science course that all students will be examined upon in Year 11.
The Science curriculum is supported by the Scientifica series of resources published by Nelson Thornes. The students complete 12 units of work, four in each discipline over the two years. A strong emphasis is placed on scientific investigation and skills progression. Cross-curricula links are explored throughout the course as well as links between learning in school and the real world. Final assessment of student achievement is carried out at the end of Year 8 using traditional style exam papers.
Science is a subject that is underpinned by a range of 21st Century skills – as such our students have many opportunities during their time with us to develop practical mathematical skills; technological literacies and organisational abilities, in addition to problem solving, critical thinking and group work.
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Grades A* - A I/GCSE Results
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A-levels Results Grades A* - A
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A* - A Grades early entry I/GCSE Exams
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A* Grades at A-level