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The Year 9 Curriculum
All pupils study English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, History and Religious Studies, as well as Games and Personal Health & Social Education.
A choice of FIVE further subjects has to be made from the following options. The choice should include at least two foreign languages. At least one should be modern.
Ancient History German (continuers)*
Art Greek
Computer Science Latin
Design & Technology Music
Drama ̂ Spanish (beginners)*
French Spanish (continuers)*
German (beginners)*
* A note in this booklet explains which Spanish and German option to choose.
^ Please see the note on the next page regarding Drama in Years 10/11.
Studying at least two modern foreign languages allows for more choice to be retained for the Year 10 GCSE subject choices. The school also offers additional subsidised extra-curricular provision in Italian, Japanese, Mandarin on a three-year programme starting in Year 9. More information on these
courses is published later in the year.
Heads of Departments will be pleased to answer questions about specific subjects; their contact details are in the following pages. Ultimately we reserve the right not to run courses if there is minimal demand or if timetabling practicalities do not permit it, although we very much hope not to have to exercise this right and would contact parents and students regarding
the matter in such cases.
The Year 10 and 11 Curriculum
Choices made now affect GCSE options in twelve months time. In particular, it is not possible to study a language at GCSE which has not
been chosen as an option in Year 9.
Ancient History, Art, Computer Science, Design & Technology and Music should normally be chosen in Year 9 as preparation for GCSE although exceptions may sometimes be made at the discretion of the Head of
Department.
Six subjects are compulsory at GCSE: English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Students also choose four optional I/GCSE subjects in Years 10 and 11, including at least one modern language, currently from: Ancient History, Art, Computer Science, Design & Technology, French, Geography, German, Greek, History, Latin, Music, Religious Studies and Spanish. Drama is also now available in Years 10/11 as a full-size option choice but please note that this internally designed
course follows RADA accreditation instead of a GCSE.
A number of pupils in Year 10 also choose to study an additional research-based Higher Project Qualification in Year 10 for their mini-elective (two periods per fortnight) which can be related, in chosen topic, to any subject discipline. Alternatively there are a range of other options including ICT certifications, Drama RADA Shakespeare certification (to less progression than the full Drama option), an internal, academic P.E. course or
supervised private study to assist with other commitments.
In Year 10 students also have the opportunity to study fast-track Music or Computer Science as a subsidised extra-curricular GCSE after school but would not usually study more than one such course including any extra-
curricular language.
For further advice you might also wish to contact:
Mr P Hicks, Head of Year 8 ([email protected]);
Mr S Ball, Head of Middle School ([email protected]);
Mr P Baker, Deputy Head Curriculum ([email protected])
Modern Foreign Languages in Year 9
All pupils must study at least one modern foreign language to GCSE. We expect and strongly recommend that most pupils will continue to study the core language which they have been studying in Years 7 and 8. There is also the opportunity to study more than one modern foreign language giving students a genuine choice for
GCSE.
Year 9 ab initio (beginners) courses are offered in Spanish and German. Please note that there is no ab initio course in French. Each course is designed to introduce pupils to the basics of the language and to provide a firm foundation of grammar and vocabulary to be developed further in Years 10 and 11. Themes and activities set in realistic contexts and using authentic documents encourage students to understand, speak, read and write the language with confidence. Practical topic areas include: Personal details, Family, Hobbies and Sport, Travel,
Food and Drink.
The course books we use have been chosen to give pupils insight into aspects of life and culture in those countries where the chosen language is spoken. The courses are for those who enjoy languages in themselves, as well as for those who see languages as a means to an end either for use on future employment or on holidays. Pupils will also have regular opportunities to develop their language skills by making full use of our
ICT language-learning programmes.
Extra-curricular GCSE languages: Italian, Japanese and Mandarin The Perse offers pupils the chance to study an additional MFL to GCSE in extra-curricular sessions. These take place over one lunchtime and one after-school session per week, a total of 2 hours 15 minutes tuition weekly. The aim is to reach A/A* standard at GCSE within three years or in some cases two. There is an annual financial contribution involved with this subsidised extra-curricular provision which was set at £415 in academic year 2016/17 with full details available later.
It should be noted that the extra-curricular programme does not act as a substitute for the French/German/Spanish options. In offering the extra-curricular language choices, we provide a broader range of subjects for those who wish to enrich their
language-learning experience.
French, Spanish and German continuers to IGCSE
Pupils will work on topics and grammar that are aimed getting them ready for the new Edexcel IGCSE course, building on the knowledge of grammar and vocabulary they have acquired in Years 7 and 8. The range of topics covered will be varied
with greater emphasis on grammatical accuracy.
Pupils will have the opportunity to practise their spoken language at regular intervals and the emphasis is divided equally between the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. In Year 10 and 11 oral lessons are taken with a native speaker which provides an excellent opportunity to develop the spoken
language.
Pupils studying French can visit Paris in the Michaelmas term in Year 9 and/or Biarritz in May in Year 10 as part of our well-established exchange links with our partner schools, Notre Dame de Sainte Croix, in Neuilly for Year 9 (the French pupils come to Cambridge in February or March) and St Thomas d'Aquin in St Jean-de-Luz, near Biarritz in Year 10 (the French pupils come to Cambridge in December). Pupils studying Spanish in Year 10 will be offered the opportunity to take part in an exchange which has been set up with a school in Seville. In
German, pupils in Years 9 and 10 can participate in the Hamburg exchange.
We run both continuers’ and beginners’ groups in Spanish and German – please make sure that you read the note below before selecting the appropriate option
for you.
German beginners to IGCSE
In Year 9 pupils are introduced to the language through the very effective course-book ‘Echo Express’. The basis of grammar and vocabulary is laid for further development in the following years. The oral language lessons with a German native speaker in Years 10 and 11 are designed to further the oral competence of
each pupil. Participation in the German exchange to Hamburg is highly recommended for both
social and linguistic reasons.
Left: Spanish exchange
Spanish beginners to IGCSE
Pupils will start Year 9 with an entertaining and fast-moving introduction to the language. The colourful course book ‘Caminos’ that we use provides an introduction to the country and culture and enables pupils to make a rapid start in the grammar and vocabulary of the language. In Year 10 and 11 oral lessons are taken with a Spanish native speaker which provides an excellent opportunity to develop the spoken language. Pupils in Year 10 will be offered the opportunity to take part in
an exchange which has been set up with a school in Seville.
Mr P Pillet, Head of French and
Head of Modern Foreign Languages ([email protected])
Mr D A Brunskill, Head of German, ([email protected])
Dr R A Mitchell, Acting Head of Spanish ([email protected])
Are you a ‘beginner’ or a ‘continuer’ in Spanish / German?
We offer both beginners’ and continuers’ Spanish and German in Year 9, and it is important that we place all pupils into the correct groups for them to make best
progress over the year.
If you have studied Spanish / German as a main part of your curriculum (i.e. not a club) for at least one academic year and have a strong grounding of grammar and vocabulary then you should opt for continuers level; any less than this you should opt for the fast-track beginners option. It is not usually possible to swap groups once you have started, so please contact Dr R A Mitchell, Acting Head of Spanish ([email protected]) or Mr D Brunskill, Head of German
([email protected]) if you are unsure which option is best for you.
Ancient History in Year 9 The Year 9 Ancient History course has been designed by the Classics Department to provide an overview of the Greek and Roman worlds. The course lays foundations and develops skills for the GCSE course that pupils can follow in Years 10 and 11. During the year we will investigate a series of key moments and important characters from ancient history. We begin with the Trojan War and consider whether it is just a mythological story or whether it had any basis in fact. We will then explore significant episodes from the first millennium BC, including the foundation of Rome by Romulus and Remus, the wars fought between Greeks and Persians, the conquests of Alexander the Great and Hannibal’s invasion of Italy. We then move on to study the way in which Rome came to be ruled by emperors and how the city came to acquire – and then lose – its famous empire. In short, to study Ancient History in Year 9 is to develop an overview of some of the most important events in world history that happened between 1250 BC and AD 500. Anyone opting for this course can expect to undertake a range of different activities during the year, including preparing and giving presentations and researching and writing up projects. The key attribute pupils need to bring to the course is an interest in the past. We will spend time during the year becoming familiar with the range of ancient evidence that is available to us as ancient historians as we seek to understand the classical past. We will look at texts (always in English translation) but also at archaeological evidence to help us piece together an impression of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. Please note that there is no significant overlap between this course and Latin, Greek or History in Year 9.
To find out more about what the subject involves, please do speak to one of the teachers in the Classics Department or Year 9s currently taking the subject (though please be aware that the course they are studying is different from that on offer for 2017-18).
Dr J Watson, Head of Classics
Art in Year 9
The course will provide pupils with a good grounding for those pupils interested in studying Art at GCSE level, building on the pupil's previous skills whilst developing their creative and conceptual thinking. Emphasis in Year 9 is on experimentation with a range of new materials and techniques such as silkscreen, textiles, photography, 3D construction, painting and
digital media.
Pupils are given the opportunity for more independent response and personal input within their work through more open ended homework tasks and broad based themes. Knowledge and understanding of art in our contemporary society and in other times and cultures is an integral part of
the course and will relate directly to their practical investigations.
Ms A Cunningham, Head of Art and Design
Greek in Year 9
The Perse is now one of the few schools nationally to teach Ancient Greek and it is hoped that as many pupils as possible will take advantage of this rare opportunity to learn the one of the most influential languages of all time. During Year 9 pupils will learn the basics of the ancient Greek language by working through the first book of John Taylor’s “Greek to GCSE” course. Those who have enjoyed learning Latin in Years 7 and 8 will find Greek to be a similar subject, with stories to translate into English and vocabulary to learn, while all the time they will be developing a better understanding of the ancient world. The Year 9 course forms the foundation from which the GCSE course continues in Years 10 and 11, and in almost every case it will be necessary for pupils opting for Greek for GCSE to have studied the subject in Year 9. Those who opt for the course will include absolute beginners and those who have some experience of Greek, whether from Latin lessons in Year 8 at the Perse or at their previous school. Anyone with particularly extensive prior experience of Greek is encouraged to make contact with the Head of Classics in advance to discuss the best way to build on their previous learning. Pupils likely to thrive in this highly-regarded academic subject will have an aptitude for languages and are likely to have excelled in Latin. During the year pupils can expect to read stories about the adventures of Odysseus (including his encounter with the monstrous Cyclops) and of Alexander the Great, as well as some of Aesop’s famous fables. There is no overlap between this course and Ancient History or Latin in Year 9, and Greek makes an excellent complement to either subject.
Dr J Watson, Head of Classics ([email protected])
Computer Science in Year 9
Computer Science is a recent addition for Year 9 students. The course works in a similar way to the traditional sciences with a balance of theoretical concepts and practical activities. In Year 9, the theory topics covered include binary and hexadecimal, the internal structure of a PC,
computer networking and file compression.
There will be plenty of practical work such as programming Python, Arduino and PHP as well as an introduction to databases. Year 9 Computer Science will have significantly more lessons (5 per fortnight) than in Years 7 & 8 allowing for more practical projects and development of a topic from lesson to lesson. In addition, from Year 9 onwards, the course is focussed entirely on Computer Science without the elements of ICT/digital literacy
that are covered in Year 7/8 Computing.
If you are considering taking the IGCSE Computer Science course in Year 10 (curriculum or fast-track), it is an expectation that you will choose Computer Science in Year 9. Even if you have not studied Computing before, you will find this course accessible as it recaps all the basics. If you are interested in programming, manipulating data, solving sequential problems and discovering how computers work and communicate then you should find this course enjoyable and challenging.
Mr D Gwilt, Acting Head of Computer Science ([email protected])
Design & Technology in Year 9
Technology presents an exciting opportunity to engage in more fun design and build projects. You will learn how to make best use of hand tools, understand materials and techniques and become proficient at CAD and using the machines in the department. Projects will last about 4-6 weeks and will incorporate the many different elements of modern design and technology including 3D CAD, Design and Electronic Systems. Whilst most of the projects are themed, pupils are given the opportunity for more
personal input within their work through more open ended tasks.
If pupils are considering taking the GCSE Technology course in Year 10, it is an expectation that pupils will opt for Technology in Year 9. It doesn’t matter if you have not done much Design and Technology before, this new course will start with the basics. Important criteria for maximum enjoyment include an interest in technical creativity, design and finding
out how things work.
Mr K Wilkin, Head of Design & Technology ([email protected])
Latin in Year 9
Those who have enjoyed Latin in Years 7 and 8 will find that the subject continues in a familiar way in Year 9 as we make our way through the Cambridge Latin Course. We continue to read stories – those in Year 9 being set in Roman Britain and then in Rome itself – as a means of learning about both how the language works and the Roman world. At the start of the year we will be using Book 3 of the Cambridge Latin Course. Although this subject will not therefore be suitable for beginners, those who have followed a different Latin course at their previous school normally become quickly integrated with those who continue from Year 8 at the Perse. If a pupil has covered considerably more or less Latin at their previous school than is covered in Books 1 and 2 of the Cambridge Latin Course, however, it is recommended that they make contact in advance with the Head of Classics to discuss the best way to build upon their prior learning. The Year 9 course provides an essential foundation for studying the subject for GCSE, as many important language features and much key vocabulary is introduced and learned during the year. In almost every case, anyone who opts to study Latin in Years 10 and 11 will need to have completed the Year 9 course first. During the year we will read stories featuring characters such as Quintus, Salvius and Cogidubnus already encountered in Books 1 and 2, but we will also meet new figures including the hapless soldier Modestus and the building contractor Haterius. The characters will find themselves caught up in love triangles as well as sinister plots as the storyline takes increasingly dramatic turns. There is no overlap between this course and Ancient History or Greek in Year 9, and Latin makes an excellent complement to either subject.
Dr J Watson, Head of Classics ([email protected])
Drama in Year 9
The Year 9 Drama course is a popular and successful option. The course builds on Drama skills acquired in earlier years and also offers an introduction to the subject for those who are new to it. Activities complement those carried out as part of the Year 9 English curriculum. The approach is a practical and enjoyable one, with the emphasis on learning through doing – but we are also keen to present a rigorous programme of activities which will enable students to pursue the subject at a higher level in a variety of later contexts (including the new Year 10/11 Drama course, and the RADA Shakespeare Certificate options in Year 10 and for Years 11/Lower Sixth Enrichment at The Perse). Students will improve their Drama skills by preparing existing texts for performance and by creating their own work. The course explores how a published text is animated and brought to life for an audience and also examines the key principles of devising a piece of Drama from stimulus materials. There are opportunities for whole-class work as well as pair and small-group exploration. There are also opportunities to work in the roles of designer, deviser and director – as well as the chance to find out more about technical aspects of theatre performance. The course includes both an element of public performance and visits to professional performances in Cambridge and London. The course incorporates participation for all in the English-Speaking Union’s ‘Performing Shakespeare’ competition – and students have been highly successful in this event in recent years (sometimes progressing to the national final with a performance onstage in a West End theatre).
The course also begins to build Drama-related writing skills and includes both a written and practical assessment at the end of the year. Please be aware that photographing and filming students for educational purposes is an integral part of this course.
Mr Chris Green, Director of English and Drama ([email protected])
Music in Year 9
The course will enable pupils to further their listening, performing and composing skills. Although it is a non-specialist course, it aims to mix a basic grounding in musical theory with a number of exciting practical projects – such as composing a Christmas carol, writing a reggae track, programme music and minimalism. Pupils will listen to and discuss music in a very wide range of styles – from which a number of composition and performance projects will arise. Fundamental to composition will be the use of Music Technology and all pupils will receive a thorough introduction to the software programs of Logic and Sibelius. Pupils may also be able to make some use of the recording facilities in the Music Department. This all forms a very good grounding for the GCSE course, and it is recommended that pupils intending to take GCSE opt for music in Year 9. If pupils are considering taking the extra-curricular Fast Track option in Year 10, it is an expectation that pupils will opt for music in Year 9. Year 9 music is an all-inclusive course and no pupil need feel that lack of experience as an instrumentalist should bar them from choosing this subject.
Ms K Pledger, Head of Curricular Music ([email protected])
