Art

Development Year

The aim this term was for all pupils to take part in a large collaborative project involving other Truro schools. This involved taking part in workshops and producing group collaborative work. The resulting artwork will be exhibited at the Lander Gallery after the spring half term.

As a theme they have been studying ‘Truro City’. Within this project pupils experienced how to produce field sketches, develop their work towards 3D and 2D, learning from artists' work and creating their own conclusions. Artist led raku, model making and musical workshops have been organised alongside other Truro schools.

Biology

The second year students have just started a new exciting course based on the 11-14 biology NOW! textbook. All students have been provided with a syllabus to help them monitor their own progress throughout the year. During this autumn term we have looked at photosynthesis and its importance to plants. After studying plants we have looked at our own food supply, a balanced diet, food tests and the process of digestion. These topics have enabled students to develop their practical skills as they have carried out a number of investigations. This has involved the collection, recording and presentation of data.

Chemistry

Lots of 'hands-on' Chemistry (where safety allowed) as we looked at the reactivity series of metals. This introduced the idea of chemical patterns and the use of them to make predictions.

DT

The students have worked on the theme of storage and have designed and created their own individual solutions according to their own needs.

The students have designed and manufactured a working torch that has good ergonomic features.

The pupils have designed and manufactured an “executive balancing desk toy” using a range of techniques and materials.

English

Pupils are reading and responding to a variety of literary and non-literary texts of increasing complexity.  They have opportunities to develop speaking and listening skills.  Written tasks cover a range of styles and forms. High standards of technical accuracy and careful presentation of work, including word-processing, are encouraged.

French

This term pupils have learnt about the past tense, talking about what they did and where they went. They have learnt how to express opinions in the past tense. They have also learnt vocabulary about clothes.

Games

GAMES - RUGBY

During this term in rugby, boys extend their individual skills in running, passing, kicking, tackling and ball-retention.  Unit skills of ruck, maul, scrummage and lineout are developed within modified games, progressing to the full-sided recognised form of rugby. 

GAMES - HOCKEY

In hockey, girls extend their individual and team skills.  They explore tactics applicable to attacking play, including timing, control of pass, circle position and roles and develop their knowledge of defence, including marking, covering and backing up.

Geography

This term we began with a study of Brazil, with particular emphasis on the contrasts in wealth and quality of life within the country. The students have just begun a study of coasts in terms of their landforms and their management.

German

Pupils have learned to talk about a recent holiday they have been on; the weather and the time.  They have also been introduced to the perfect tense and learned how to talk about activities in the past as well as give a range of positive and negative opinions.

History

The pupils have looked at aspects of the Renaissance and Reformation and its impact on England in the sixteenth century.

Maths

This term we have looked at conversion and travel graphs as well as statistical charts and transformations.  In addition we have done some work on powers, roots, estimation and negative numbers.  We have also solved some simple equations as we advance our study of algebra.

Music

2nd year pupils have two music lessons each week and the pupils undertake two half term projects. The first is an introduction to Baroque Music; the second, exploring Film Music. Through listening, performing and composing a variety of related music at the keyboard, pupils are introduced to the main characteristics of Baroque music and to the atmospheres and emotions created through Film Music. The above skills are linked to the pupils written work, were pupils learn how to notate pitch, rhythm, chords, dynamics, tempo and articulation.

PE

PE - BASKETBALL

During this term, the individual skills of passing, dribbling and shooting are developed, alongside an appreciation of basic attacking principles and man-to-man defence. Small-sided conditioned games are developed through to the full-sided version of basketball.

Physics

The course follows from the first year course and includes the National Curriculum year 8 topics, including heat transfer and cooling.  This is followed by a study of magnetic effects, which expands the first year work on electricity.

RE

This term pupils have studied the beliefs and practices of Islam and have been made more aware of the School’s Methodist heritage.