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.

Art

Autumn term  Spring term  Summer term 
Formal elements – 

An introductory study of the formal elements, including – Form, Texture, Colour. Line, Shape, Tone and Pattern. 

Angie lewin – 

Students investigate and explore the style of popular printmaker Angie Lewin. Creating artist copies to develop skills and producing relief prints to mimic her bold style. 

Aboriginal – 

Students spend the autumn term focusing on aboriginal art, distinguishing the different styles and creating traditional dot art paintings. 

Computing

Autumn term

  • Digital footprint
  • Computational Thinking

Spring term

  • Magical spreadsheets
  • Micro bits make code

Summer term

  • Under the hood
  • Reuse, reduce, recycle

Dance

Autumn term

  • Musicals
  • Christmas cabaret

Spring term

  • Musicals – Frozen
  • Cultural dance

Summer term

  • Variety performance
  • Superheroes

All year 7 are offered the opportunity to gain the Bronze Arts Award Qualification through their participation in the arts, culture and the development of their skills.

Design and technology

Please note that that due to the different classes within a year group, students do not follow a set termly curriculum for Design and technology. Instead, all students will complete all of the below topics during different terms throughout the academic year.

Rotation   Rotation  Rotation 
Blockbot 

Resistant materials  

Students create a wooden robot toy, using a range of skills including; chiselling, sawing and using a range of machinery.  

Monster key ring 

Textiles 

Students create a key ring using a fabric. Producing designs, understanding both natural fibres and synthetic materials, and using a range of hand stitches. 

Cooking 

Food 

Students spend time looking at safety in the kitchen, potential careers linked to hospitality and engaging in a range of practical sessions. Focusing on safely using knives, operating an oven and hygiene in the kitchen. 

Drama

Autumn term

  • Mime
  • Matilda

Spring term

  • Message in a Bottle (Characterisation)
  • Refugee Boy

Summer term

  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

All year 7 are offered the opportunity to gain the Bronze Arts Award Qualification through their participation in the arts, culture and the development of their skills.

English language and literature

Autumn term

  • The Bone Sparrow 
  • Persuasive and fictional writing​

Spring term

  • Romeo and Juliet
  • Discussion and creative writing

Summer term

  • Animal Farm
  • Fictional and propaganda writing

Geography

Autumn term

  • Retford on the map
  • Settlements

Spring term

  • Weather and climate
  • Population and migration

Summer term

  • Biomes
  • Rivers

History

Autumn term

  • Roman Britain – Study of a period of History predating 1066
  • The Norman Conquests from 1066

Spring term

  • Medieval Castles
  • Early Plantagenets

Summer term

  • Plague and Revolt
  • Native American Indians

Mathematics

Autumn term

  • Decimals
  • Factors, multiples & primes
  • Manipulating algebra
  • Negative numbers
  • Averages
  • Collecting data
  • Rounding

Spring term

  • Properties of 2D shapes
  • Fractions
  • Solving equations
  • Angles
  • Percentages

Summer term

  • Ratio and proportion
  • Area & perimeter
  • Presenting data
  • Sequences
  • Metric
  • Probability

Modern foreign languages

Spanish

Autumn term

  • All about me
  • Talking about family
  • Film study: Encanto

Spring term

  • Describing people
  • Discussing hobbies

Summer term

  • My home and local area

French

Autumn term

  • All about me
  • Talking about family

Spring term

  • Describing people
  • Discussing hobbies
  • Film study: Petit Nicolas

Summer term

  • My home and local area

Music

Autumn term

  • Find your voice
  • African drumming

Spring term

  • Message in a bottle – (Performance and composition – theme parks)

Summer term

  • Variety band skills

Music Development Plan

Physical education

Autumn term Spring term Summer term
  • Football
  • Rugby
  • Trampolining
  • Netball

 

·         Rugby

·         Trampolining

·         Fitness

·         Badminton

·         Handball

·         Cricket

·         Athletics

·         Badminton

·         Football

Religious studies*

Autumn term

  • Introduction to religious education
  • Religious Symbolism

Spring term

  • Christianity
  • Hinduism

Summer term

  • Non-Religious Beliefs
  • Philosophy

* Parents and carers have the right to request their child is withdrawn from all or parts of religious studies. Requests can be made by contacting the academy at office@retfordoaks-ac.org.uk

Science

Autumn term  Spring term  Summer term 
  • Working scientifically. 
  • Cells and organisation.  
  • Particles, elements and compounds.  
  • Body Systems 
  • Chemical reactions 
  • Forces 
  • Reproduction 
  • Acids and alkalis  
  • Sound and light