In year 10 students have 30 lessons a week, these are allotted as follows:
Number of lessons per subject
Below is a general overview of the topics students are taught throughout the year in each subject.
For a more in depth outline of each subject please click on the link for the subject page.
If you would like to speak to us about any aspect of our curriculum, please get in touch.
Core subjects
English language and literature
Autumn term
Modern Prose: Lord of the Flies
- Focus on text analysis, GCSE questions, knowledge and understanding of plot, themes and contexts, guided focus on extended responses.
Novel: A Christmas Carol
- Focus on text analysis, GCSE questions, knowledge and understanding of plot, themes and contexts, guided focus on extended responses.
Spring term
Poetry Anthology – Power and Conflict
- War
- Identity
- Power of Nature
Summer term
Shakespeare: Macbeth
- Revision of Macbeth.
- Focus on text analysis, GCSE questions, knowledge and understanding of plot, themes and contexts, guided focus on extended responses.
English Language paper 1 and paper 2
- Paper 1: explorations and creative reading and writing
- Section A: reading
- Section B: writing
- Paper 2: writers’ viewpoints and perspectives
- Section A: reading
- Section B: writing
Geography
- Living with the physical environment
- Challenge of natural hazards
- Climate change
- The Living World
- Physical Landscapes in the UK
- Challenges in the human environment
- Urban issues and challenges
- The changing economic world
- Economic futures in the UK
- Geographical applications
History
- The Elizabethan age, 1558-1603
- The USA, a nation of contrasts, 1910-1929
- The development of the UK, 1919-1990
- Changes in health and medicine in Britain
Mathematics
Foundation
Autumn term
- Number revision
- Algebra revision
- Analysing data
- Fractions
- Coordinates & linear Graphs
- Pythagoras
Spring term
- Ratio & proportion
- Manipulating quadratics
- Percentages
- Transformations
Summer term
- 2D Shape
- Angles
- Probability
- Quadratic graphs
- Trigonometry
- Solving quadratics
- Constructions
Higher
Autumn term
- Percentages
- Probability
- Graphs
- 2D shape
- Solving quadratics
Spring term
- Simultaneous equations
- Comparing data
- Rearranging formula
- Surds
- Advanced trigonometry
Summer term
- Circle theorems
- Inequalities & regions
- Transformations
- Sampling and Histograms
- Algebraic fraction & proof
Modern foreign languages
- Theme 1: identity and culture
- me, my family and friends
- technology in everyday life
- free-time activities
- Theme 2: local, national, international and global areas of interest
- home, town, neighbourhood and region
- social issues
- global issues
- travel and tourism
- Theme 3: current and future study and employment
- my studies
- life at school/college
- education post-16
- jobs, career choices and ambitions
Visit our modern foreign languages page for more information
Religious studies
- Religion, philosophy and ethical studies in the modern world
- Study of Christianity
- Study of a world faith – Judaism
Science
Autumn term
- Chemical bonding, Structure and properties
- Quantitative Chemistry
- Organisation Part 1
- Energy Changes
Spring term
- Energy (Physics)
- Forces
- Organisation Part 2
Summer term
- Hydrocarbons
- Homeostasis
- Waves
- Revision for End of Year Exams
Optional subjects
Art
- Portfolio work
- Set task
Business studies
Theme 1: Business Activity: (written exam, 50%)
- Business activity
- Marketing
- People
- Operations
- Finance
- Influences on Business
Theme 2: Building a business (written exam, 50%)
• Growing the business
• Making marketing decisions
• Making operational decisions
• Making financial decisions
• Making human resource decisions
Child development and care
Autumn term
- Studying appropriate equipment for a nursery, specifically changing equipment and outside play equipment.
- Designing a floor plan for a feeding area of the nursery and analysising it for safety hazards
Spring term
- Students will be analysising two types of formula (lacto free and goats)
- Looking at dietary requirements for toddlers
- Making a bottle of formula then evaluating it
Summer term
- Theory of birth
- Job roles
- Antenatal testing
Computer Science
Unit 1 – Computer Systems (written exam, 50%)
Computer systems focuses on some of the key theory studied over Year 10 and Year 11. The units of study are categorised into 6 key units with sub topics included in each of these. These units will be worked on through Year 10 and Year 11.
1.1 Systems Architecture
1.2 Memory & Storage
1.3 Computer Networks, Connections and Protocols
1.4 Network Security
1.5 Systems Software
1.6 Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental Issues
Unit 2 – Computational thinking, Algorithms and Programming (written exam, 50%)
Unit 2 will focus on some of the practical elements of Computer Science and the theory behind programming. They will apply some of the knowledge and understanding that they gained in Unit 1. The units of study are categorised into 5 key units with sub topics included in each of these. These units will be worked on through Year 10 and Year 11 with practical lessons alongside.
2.1 Algorithms
2.2 Programming Fundamentals
2.3 Producing Robust Programs
2.4 Boolean Logic
2.5 Programming Languages and IDE
Construction
Unit 1: safety and security in construction
(external assessment online)
Unit 2: practical construction skills (internal assessment)
Unit 3: planning construction projects
Dance
- ‘Breathe’ and ‘Flux’ set solos
- Anthology work
- Duet/trio assessment work
- Suet trio
- Written assessment
Design and technology
Drama
- Blood Brothers
- Frantic assembly
- Physicality
- Exploration of scenes
- Devising drama portfolio
- Mock exam
Engineering design
This course is assessed through four units:
25% R105: design briefs, design specifications and user
requirements (exam)
25% R106: product analysis and research task
(how products are made)*
25% R107: developing and presenting engineering designs*
25% R108: 3D design realisation (making task)*
* internally assessed
Hair and beauty
• develop a broad understanding of the hair and beauty sector
• develop significant knowledge, which spans the entire vocational sector and related industries
• develop academic and study skills, that will support progression within the hair and beauty sector and, more broadly, across a range of sectors
Health and social care
• Essential values of care, for use with individuals in care settings
• Communicating and working with individuals in health, social care and early years settings
• Understanding body systems and disorders
• Understanding life stages
Hospitality and catering
• Meanings of food related terms
• Equipment
• Safety and first aid
• Recipe adaption
• Healthy eating
• Presentation techniques
• Environmental issues
• The hospitality industry
• Types of service
• Planning for functions
• Team work and communication
Media
You will study lots of different media forms, such as:
- Television
- Online media
- Advertising and marketing
- Film marketing
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Social and participatory media
- Music videos
- Radio
- Video games
Music
- Music of Africa
- Solo performance
- Composition
- Musical form
- Film music
- Ensemble
- Musical language
- Exam techniques
Physical education
- Improving social skills and enhancing social behaviour
- Focus on wellbeing, positivity and appreciation of healthy body and mind
- Choice of PE pathway
- Developing components of fitness
- Outdoor pursuits and awareness of outdoor activities – OCR
- Performance and sports leadership – OCR
Photography
- Portfolio
- Set task
Psychology
- Aggression
- Learning
- Memory
- Attention
- Language
- Culture
- Groups
Sociology
• Social structures, social processes and social issues
• Families and households
• Education
• Crime and deviance
• Social stratification
Triple science
Biology
Autumn term
- Organisation
- Homeostasis
Spring term
- Inheritance and Variation
Summer term
- Revision of Infection and Response
- Revision of Bioenergetics
- Revision of Ecology
- End of Year Exams
Chemistry
Autumn term
- Bonding, Structure and Properties
- Quantitative Chemistry
- Chemical Changes
Spring term
- Energy Changes
- Rate and Extent of Chemical Change
- Hydrocarbons
Summer term
- Chemical Analysis
- Chemistry of the Atmosphere
- Using Resources
- Revision for End of Year Exams
Physics
Autumn term
- Forces Part 1
- Forces Part 2
- Energy
Spring term
- Electricity
- Waves
Summer term
- Waves
- Magnetism and Electromagnetism
- Revision for End of Year Exams
