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

  • Formal elements
  • colour
  • shape
  • pattern
  • line texture

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

  • Matilda – Musicals
  • Alice in Wonderland – Musicals

Spring term

  • Musicals – Whole school show
  • 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.

Food

  • Core skills building
  • Cutting techniques
  • Simple family dishes

DT

  • Woodwork – creating a Blockbot

Textiles/Graphics

  • Oceans of plastic
  • Sketch up guided tutorials

Drama

Autumn term

  • Mime
  • Matilda

Spring term

  • Message in a Bottle (Characterisation)
  • Refugees

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

Romeo and Juliet (play)

  • Knowledge of drama conventions: form, structure, language, staging.
  • Characterisation, plot and context.
  • Symbolism

Spring term

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (modern play)

  • Knowledge of modern drama conventions: form, structure, language, stage directions.
  • Characterisation, plot and context.
  • Non-linear structure
  • Explore the function of different characters
  • Explore the function of the non-linear structure.

Summer term

Chinese Cinderella (novel)

  • Novel conventions: plot, genre, character, setting, theme, context.
  • Novel conventions: prose, narrative structure, narrative voice.
  • Explore the function of the narrative voice
  • Explore the function of family.

Geography

Autumn term

  • Map skills
  • Settlements

Spring term

  • Population and migration
  • Weather and climate

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

  • Life in Medieval England
  • Native American Indians

Mathematics

Autumn term

  • Decimals
  • Factors, multiples & primes
  • Manipulating expressions
  • Negative numbers
  • Averages
  • Collecting data
  • Rounding
  • 2D shapes

Spring term

  • Fractions
  • Solving equations
  • Substitution
  • Angles
  • Ratio and proportion

Summer term

  • Percentages
  • Area, perimeter & volume
  • Presenting data
  • Sequences
  • Metric units
  • Probability

Modern foreign languages

Spanish

Autumn term

  • All about me
  • Phonics
  • Numbers
  • Talking about birthdays
  • Describing a family
  • Talking about pets
  • Culture: Día de los muertos

Spring term

  • Describing yourself
  • Discussing hobbies and Sports
  • Culture: Spanish speaking musicians

Summer term

  • Talking about where you live
  • Culture: Las Islas Canarias
  • Describing a town

French

Autumn term

  • Alphabet
  • Phonics
  • All about me
  • Family Members
  • Hobbies
  • Talking about school
  • Culture: Christmas in France

Spring term

  • Comparing school in France to the UK
  • Weather and Seasons
  • Sports
  • Culture: Petit Nicolas

Summer term

  • Animals and Pets
  • Talking about a family
  • Describing where you live
  • Places in a town
  • Making plans
  • Culture: Bastille Day

Music

Autumn term

  • Find your voice
  • African drumming
  • Jingle Bells

Spring term

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

Summer term

  • Variety band skills

Music Development Plan

Physical education

  • Introduction to sports
  • Development of key social skills
  • Extra-curricular activities
  • House competitions
  • Safe practices
  • Basic skills
  • Rules of sport
  • Teamwork and sportsmanship

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

  • Working Scientifically
  • Particles
  • Atoms, Elements and Compounds
  • Cells
  • Body Systems
  • Forces
  • Space

Spring term

  • Chemical Reactions
  • Reproduction
  • Light
  • Sound

Summer term

  • The Periodic Table
  • Acids and Alkalis
  • Energy
  • Enrichment tbc