Year 9

Welcome to Year 9

Options

Options are a critical stage in students educational journey, and the first time students have a say in their chosen curriculum.

We advise students to pick subjects that interest them, reflect who they are, and support their ambitions. We encourage students not to rush the decision, to talk to family and friends at home to make sure they are truly making the right choice for them.

The Options Process

Read the options booklet carefully and more than once
Attend options evening and talk to staff and family/friends about courses
Prepare and attend your leadership interview and take on-board the advice
Complete the options form

Your Team

Our team will be here to support Year 7 students through their transition to secondary school and their first year at Beckfoot.

Mrs Douglas – Head of Year 9
Mr Khan – Pastoral Manager
Mr Midgley – Head of Key Stage 3
Mr Wade – Headteacher
Mrs Denham – Deputy Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mr Barnes – SENDCO

Should you ever have concerns or queries, please contact the school on 01274 771444.

Wider Opportunities

Year 9 Enrichment – We are committed to providing as many enrichment activities as possible for our students.

Trips and experiences run throughout the year and can range from residential trips, subject-specific trips and reward trips.

Enrichment Week is the final week of school before Summer, where students will have the opportunity to take part in an activity of their choice.

Subject	Cycle 1	Cycle 2	Cycle 3
Art	Futurism: Supercar collage – introduction to futurism and Giacomo Balla Assemblage: Bionic mask – introduction to Richard Symons	Landscapes: Urban landscapes – introduction to Andy Mercer Sculpture: Wire and modroc – introduction to Alberto Giacometti	Sculpture: Soap carving and observation – introduction to Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore Landscapes: Rural landscapes – introduction to Amelia Furman
Computer Science	Networks and Cyber Security: Students will be able to spot social engineering techniques and understand how to use technology safely, respectfully, responsibly and securely.	Python Programming: Students will be able to solve a variety of computational problems and can successfully debug their code.	HTM_CSS: Students will learn to create their own website with multiple interlinked pages, tables, a marquee, navigation bar and hyperlinks.
Design Technology	Food Technology: Power of Food Equipping students with the knowledge to make food choices in the future and adapting recipes to their own needs and others. Recipes/projects will include: making healthier versions of Big Macs, KFC, Cheesecake, Taco Bowls, Curry and Spring Rolls.	Design Technology: Electronics – 3D Jigsaw and steady hand game Using creativity and imagination, pupils are to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems.	Textiles: Graffiti Students will be expected to demonstrate good presentation techniques, use of displaying work and suitable font titles. Students develop application of colour and tone through designing a product based on the patterns and textures created.
English	Investigative journalism: Students will understand the role of a journalist and analyse different ways in which stories can be reported as they work to produce their own news article. Extended metaphor: Students will understand the purpose of an extended metaphor in poetry and prose and how they are used to deliver a message. The modern novel – Of Mice and Men: Students will begin to understand the hardships people faced in the Great Depression as they identify what Steinbeck was influenced by and explain what is meant by a feminist/Marxist interpretation.	Dystopian fiction: Students will understand the origins of the utopian and dystopian forms of writing and apply dystopian conventions to their own story. Other world views: Students will be exposed to a range of literature from around the world so they can explain why people around world use prose and poetry to raise awareness about racism, genocide, feminism, and other relevant issues.	Flipping the form: Students will learn how to change one form of writing into another and apply different forms to change a newspaper. Socrates to question time – talking to: Students will understand the features of Socratic questioning and partake in a debate.
Geography	Tour de Yorkshire: Students will look at the Tour De Yorkshire to celebrate the distinct UK landscape and how it can attract tourism. Students will look at the positives and negatives of tourism and formulate an argument to assess those impacts.	Russia: This unit looks at the physical and human landscape of Russia and their interdependence. Students will be introduced to geopolitics and the concept of superpowers and Russia’s political status. Middle East: The unit looks at the physical and human of the Middle East and their interdependence. Students will look at Dubai to study sustainability, Middle Eastern conflicts and their impacts.	South West China: This unit focuses on the physical and human landscape of South West China and their interdependence. The unit also encourages students to develop their World knowledge and make comparisons between places. The unit then focuses on the development of China, its population and its relationship to the wider the world. The unit recaps Geopolitics and the concept of superpowers.
History	What was life like in Nazi Germany? Students will be able to explain what life was like in Nazi Germany for different groups and how some groups resisted the Nazi rule and the impact of this. What was the turning point of the Second World War? Students will be able to explain what they think was the turning point of the Second World War and why.	What was the Holocaust and how did people respond to it? Students will be able to explain what the Holocaust was, the impact it had, and how different people responded to it. How close did the Cold War come to nuclear war? Students can explain that there were tensions between East and West in the 20th century, why there was a cold war, and how superpowers competed for dominance.	How did China change during the 20th century? Students will be able to explain how China came to be Communist and how this affected the lives of Chinese people and their relationship with the West. Has equality and freedom been achieved in the 20th century? Students will explain the significance of key events in the 20th century and explain the impacts of the events in creating equality and freedom.
PSHCE	Living in the wider world: Careers – Intro to Unifrog, personality quiz, Unifrog treasure hunt, Unifrog roles and pathways, Unifrog aim higher, budgeting and saving, values and attitudes Health and wellbeing: Physical health – Firework safety, cardiovascular disorders, organ donation, healthy eating reduces the risk of cancer, smoking, cosmetic and aesthetic procedures, CPR, defib and chest pain	Health and wellbeing: Mental health – Recognising MH concerns in others, negative thoughts, resilience, stress and strategies to cope, body image Relationships – Healthy and unhealthy relationships, ending of friendships, media, benevolent sexism, contraception	Relationships – Conflict management and resolution, substance misuse, online safety – sexual imagery, diversity, impact of bullying, digital footprint Living in the wider world: Beckfoot, Britain and beyond – Starting GCSEs, mutual respect and tolerance, political parties, voting and elections, SMSC at Beckfoot
Maths	Foundation Number – Types of number, LCM/HCF, fractions, decimals Algebra – sequences, working with symbols, coordinates and linear graphs Geometry and Measure – angle facts Higher Number – prime factors, surds, rounding, estimating and accuracy Algebra – working with symbols, sequences, equations Ratio, proportion and rates of change – ratio, probability	Foundation Number – percentages, indices and standard form Algebra – equations and inequalities, formulae Geometry and measure – volume and area, constructions, Pythagoras theorem Ratio, proportion and rates of change – compound measures Higher Number – Indices and standard form, percentages Algebra – formulae, simultaneous equations, inequalities Geometry and measure – transformations, Pythagoras Probability	Foundation Statistics – collecting data, representing data, statistical measures Algebra – quadratics, simultaneous equations Geometry and measure – reflect, rotate, translate, trigonometry Ratio, proportion and rates of change – ratio and proportion Higher Statistics – collecting data, statistical measures Number – fractions, decimals Geometry – construction and loci, trigonometry, circle theorems Algebra – quadratics
Performing Arts	Acting techniques for realism – Stanislavski: Students will be introduced to Stanislavski’s techniques to create more realistic performances and characters. Blood Brothers – Stanislavski: Students will develop their knowledge of Stanislavski’s techniques to perform a realistic context in a scripted performance.	Noughts and crosses – Brecht: Introduces students to Brecht’s techniques to communicate a message in a script. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie: Introduces students to stagecraft skills when staging a musical theatre performance, as they work in a team to perform a scene from a musical using their vocal, physical and dance skills.	Responding to a stimulus: Students will be introduced to devising a piece from a stimulus as they work in a discipline and style of their choice to devise a performance. Brings together all skills learnt from Year 7-9.
German	Oracy: Revision of adjectives and opinions to describe a photo and give opinions on it. Musik – music: This unit allows students the opportunity to explore German music using new vocabulary and grammatical structures to share their opinions and talk about preferences.	Vorbilder – role models: Students have the opportunity to discuss who their role models are and why. Meine Ambitonen – ambition: The conditional tense is revisited here, with the students focusing on student ambitions.	Die Kindheit – Childhood: This topic lays the foundations of key grammar to talk about childhood experiences. Rechte and Pflichten – age limits: This unit focusses on giving students the opportunity to explore their rights and responsibilities in the world.
Music	What is music to you? Students will work with Shape of You by Ed Sheeran as inspiration to write their own hook. History of music – Baroque and Classical: A look back at the building blocks of music to understand the importance of the use of chords and their formation on pieces. Students will also discuss historically important pieces.	Grunge and Britpop: Students will look at various instruments as they analyse the impact social developments have had on music. Students will perform Smells like Teen Spirit and Don’t Look Back in Anger. Musicals: Students will be introduced to stage musicals and their history, eventually developing their own rap to fit with the music from Hamilton.	Disco, EDM and Grime: Students will analyse the impact social developments have had on music, as they link between styles and understand the timelines of modern dance music. World music and fusion: Students will fuse together musical styles to compose their own new style.
French	Oracy: Revision of adjectives and opinions to describe a photo and give opinions on it. Students will revise question words and take part in role play situations Ma vie sociale d’ado: Students will discuss teenage life and what it means to them, expressing their own views and opinions on typical trends	Bien dans sa peau: This unit allows pupils to discuss key activities and actions needed for a healthy lifestyle À l’horizon: Students explore the opportunities languages can bring in terms of future careers and ambitions	Spécial vacances: This topic lays the foundations of key grammar and vocab used to discuss holidays Moi dans le monde: This unit focusses on give students the opportunity to explore their rights and responsibilities in the world
PE	Athletics: Embedding of core skills using age appropriate equipment and development of advanced skills Badminton: Embedding or core skills and advancement of skills Basketball: Embedding of core skills and Development of advanced skills and tactical awareness in isolated practices, conditioned and full sided game Cheerleading: Learn the basics of cheerleading looking at basic arm movements and jumps	Fitness (both outdoor and suite): Develop understanding of training methods and workouts Football: Embedding of core skills and Development of advanced skills and tactical awareness in isolated practices, conditioned and full sided game Gymnastics: Consolidation of core skills and choreographics devices on the floor and large apparatus Invasion games: Embedding of core skills and development of advance skills and tactical awareness Netball: Perform core skills with consistency and accuracy	Rounders: Embedding of core skills and development of advanced skills and tactical awareness in isolated practices, conditioned and full sided game Rugby: Implement core and advanced skills in larger conditioned games Invasion games: Development of leadership skills and knowledge of a variety of roles within sport. Striking fielding – softball: Embedding of core skills and Development of advanced skills and tactical awareness in isolated practices, conditioned and full sided games Table tennis: Developing knowledge of rules, introducing a wide range of core skills and advanced skills
RE	Ethical enquiry: Students will explore ethical debates and the different religious responses to them The extreme world: Students will know the difference between extremism and terrorism and the factors that can lead to radicalisation	The Abrahamics: Students will explore religious concepts that are important in monotheism, they will know the role of prophecy, angels, life after death and miracles for these faiths	Buddhism: Students will learn about the core beliefs of Buddhism such as the four noble truths, the four sights and the concept of attachment Famous Philosophers
Science	Biology – bioenergetics: Developing a more detailed understanding of the energy involved in keeping things alive Biology – cells: Further develops the ideas around cells as the building blocks of life Biology – organisation: Structures and systems inside living things that work together to keep them alive	Chemistry – atomic structure and periodic table: Look in detail at the chemistry of matter and how our understanding has developed Chemistry – chemical changes: Look in more detail at some useful chemical reactions Chemistry of atmosphere: Looking in greater depth at the human impact of the atmosphere and a timeline of how it developed in the first place	Chemistry – energy changes: Energy changes that take place in chemical reactions Physics – forces (part 1): Looking at interactions between objects and perform calculations to explain the effects of forces we come across

Subject

Cycle 1

Cycle 2

Cycle 3

Art

Futurism: Supercar collage – introduction to futurism and Giacomo Balla

Assemblage: Bionic mask – introduction to Richard Symons

Landscapes: Urban landscapes – introduction to Andy Mercer

Sculpture: Wire and modroc – introduction to Alberto Giacometti

Sculpture: Soap carving and observation – introduction to Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore

Landscapes: Rural landscapes – introduction to Amelia Furman

Computer Science

Networks and Cyber Security: Students will be able to spot social engineering techniques and understand how to use technology safely, respectfully, responsibly and securely.

Python Programming: Students will be able to solve a variety of computational problems and can successfully debug their code.

HTM_CSS: Students will learn to create their own website with multiple interlinked pages, tables, a marquee, navigation bar and hyperlinks.

Design Technology

Food Technology: Power of Food

Equipping students with the knowledge to make food choices in the future and adapting recipes to their own needs and others. Recipes/projects will include: making healthier versions of Big Macs, KFC, Cheesecake, Taco Bowls, Curry and Spring Rolls.

Design Technology: Electronics – 3D Jigsaw and steady hand game

Using creativity and imagination, pupils are to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems.

Textiles: Graffiti

Students will be expected to demonstrate good presentation techniques, use of displaying work and suitable font titles. Students develop application of colour and tone through designing a product based on the patterns and textures created.

English

Investigative journalism: Students will understand the role of a journalist and analyse different ways in which stories can be reported as they work to produce their own news article.

Extended metaphor: Students will understand the purpose of an extended metaphor in poetry and prose and how they are used to deliver a message.

The modern novel – Of Mice and Men: Students will begin to understand the hardships people faced in the Great Depression as they identify what Steinbeck was influenced by and explain what is meant by a feminist/Marxist interpretation.

Dystopian fiction: Students will understand the origins of the utopian and dystopian forms of writing and apply dystopian conventions to their own story.

Other world views: Students will be exposed to a range of literature from around the world so they can explain why people around world use prose and poetry to raise awareness about racism, genocide, feminism, and other relevant issues.

Flipping the form: Students will learn how to change one form of writing into another and apply different forms to change a newspaper.

Socrates to question time – talking to: Students will understand the features of Socratic questioning and partake in a debate.

Geography

Tour de Yorkshire: Students will look at the Tour De Yorkshire to celebrate the distinct UK landscape and how it can attract tourism. Students will look at the positives and negatives of tourism and formulate an argument to assess those impacts.

Russia: This unit looks at the physical and human landscape of Russia and their interdependence. Students will be introduced to geopolitics and the concept of superpowers and Russia’s political status.

Middle East: The unit looks at the physical and human of the Middle East and their interdependence. Students will look at Dubai to study sustainability, Middle Eastern conflicts and their impacts.

South West China: This unit focuses on the physical and human landscape of South West China and their interdependence. The unit also encourages students to develop their World knowledge and make comparisons between places. The unit then focuses on the development of China, its population and its relationship to the wider the world. The unit recaps Geopolitics and the concept of superpowers.

History

What was life like in Nazi Germany? Students will be able to explain what life was like in Nazi Germany for different groups and how some groups resisted the Nazi rule and the impact of this.

What was the turning point of the Second World War? Students will be able to explain what they think was the turning point of the Second World War and why.

What was the Holocaust and how did people respond to it? Students will be able to explain what the Holocaust was, the impact it had, and how different people responded to it.

How close did the Cold War come to nuclear war? Students can explain that there were tensions between East and West in the 20th century, why there was a cold war, and how superpowers competed for dominance.

How did China change during the 20th century? Students will be able to explain how China came to be Communist and how this affected the lives of Chinese people and their relationship with the West.

Has equality and freedom been achieved in the 20th century? Students will explain the significance of key events in the 20th century and explain the impacts of the events in creating equality and freedom.

PSHCE

Living in the wider world: Careers – Intro to Unifrog, personality quiz, Unifrog treasure hunt, Unifrog roles and pathways, Unifrog aim higher, budgeting and saving, values and attitudes

Health and wellbeing: Physical health – Firework safety, cardiovascular disorders, organ donation, healthy eating reduces the risk of cancer, smoking, cosmetic and aesthetic procedures, CPR, defib and chest pain

Health and wellbeing: Mental health – Recognising MH concerns in others, negative thoughts, resilience, stress and strategies to cope, body image

Relationships – Healthy and unhealthy relationships, ending of friendships, media, benevolent sexism, contraception

Relationships – Conflict management and resolution, substance misuse, online safety – sexual imagery, diversity, impact of bullying, digital footprint

Living in the wider world: Beckfoot, Britain and beyond – Starting GCSEs, mutual respect and tolerance, political parties, voting and elections, SMSC at Beckfoot

Maths

Foundation

Number – Types of number, LCM/HCF, fractions, decimals

Algebra – sequences, working with symbols, coordinates and linear graphs

Geometry and Measure – angle facts

Higher

Number – prime factors, surds, rounding, estimating and accuracy

Algebra – working with symbols, sequences, equations

Ratio, proportion and rates of change – ratio, probability

Foundation

Number – percentages, indices and standard form

Algebra – equations and inequalities, formulae

Geometry and measure – volume and area, constructions, Pythagoras theorem

Ratio, proportion and rates of change – compound measures

Higher

Number – Indices and standard form, percentages

Algebra – formulae, simultaneous equations, inequalities

Geometry and measure – transformations, Pythagoras

Probability

Foundation

Statistics – collecting data, representing data, statistical measures

Algebra – quadratics, simultaneous equations

Geometry and measure – reflect, rotate, translate, trigonometry

Ratio, proportion and rates of change – ratio and proportion

Higher

Statistics – collecting data, statistical measures

Number – fractions, decimals

Geometry – construction and loci, trigonometry, circle theorems

Algebra – quadratics

Performing Arts

Acting techniques for realism – Stanislavski: Students will be introduced to Stanislavski’s techniques to create more realistic performances and characters.

Blood Brothers – Stanislavski: Students will develop their knowledge of Stanislavski’s techniques to perform a realistic context in a scripted performance.

Noughts and crosses – Brecht: Introduces students to Brecht’s techniques to communicate a message in a script.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie: Introduces students to stagecraft skills when staging a musical theatre performance, as they work in a team to perform a scene from a musical using their vocal, physical and dance skills.

Responding to a stimulus: Students will be introduced to devising a piece from a stimulus as they work in a discipline and style of their choice to devise a performance. Brings together all skills learnt from Year 7-9.

German

Oracy: Revision of adjectives and opinions to describe a photo and give opinions on it.

Musik – music: This unit allows students the opportunity to explore German music using new vocabulary and grammatical structures to share their opinions and talk about preferences.

Vorbilder – role models: Students have the opportunity to discuss who their role models are and why.

Meine Ambitonen – ambition: The conditional tense is revisited here, with the students focusing on student ambitions.

Die Kindheit – Childhood: This topic lays the foundations of key grammar to talk about childhood experiences.

Rechte and Pflichten – age limits: This unit focusses on giving students the opportunity to explore their rights and responsibilities in the world.

Music

What is music to you? Students will work with Shape of You by Ed Sheeran as inspiration to write their own hook.

History of music – Baroque and Classical: A look back at the building blocks of music to understand the importance of the use of chords and their formation on pieces. Students will also discuss historically important pieces.

Grunge and Britpop: Students will look at various instruments as they analyse the impact social developments have had on music. Students will perform Smells like Teen Spirit and Don’t Look Back in Anger.

Musicals: Students will be introduced to stage musicals and their history, eventually developing their own rap to fit with the music from Hamilton.

Disco, EDM and Grime: Students will analyse the impact social developments have had on music, as they link between styles and understand the timelines of modern dance music.

World music and fusion: Students will fuse together musical styles to compose their own new style.

French

Oracy: Revision of adjectives and opinions to describe a photo and give opinions on it. Students will revise question words and take part in role play situations

Ma vie sociale d’ado: Students will discuss teenage life and what it means to them, expressing their own views and opinions on typical trends

Bien dans sa peau: This unit allows pupils to discuss key activities and actions needed for a healthy lifestyle

À l’horizon: Students explore the opportunities languages can bring in terms of future careers and ambitions

Spécial vacances: This topic lays the foundations of key grammar and vocab used to discuss holidays

Moi dans le monde: This unit focusses on give students the opportunity to explore their rights and responsibilities in the world

Athletics: Embedding of core skills using age appropriate equipment and development of advanced skills

Badminton: Embedding or core skills and advancement of skills

Basketball: Embedding of core skills and Development of advanced skills and tactical awareness in isolated practices, conditioned and full sided game

Cheerleading: Learn the basics of cheerleading looking at basic arm movements and jumps

Fitness (both outdoor and suite): Develop understanding of training methods and workouts

Football: Embedding of core skills and Development of advanced skills and tactical awareness in isolated practices, conditioned and full sided game

Gymnastics: Consolidation of core skills and choreographics devices on the floor and large apparatus

Invasion games: Embedding of core skills and development of advance skills and tactical awareness

Netball: Perform core skills with consistency and accuracy

Rounders: Embedding of core skills and development of advanced skills and tactical awareness in isolated practices, conditioned and full sided game

Rugby: Implement core and advanced skills in larger conditioned games

Invasion games: Development of leadership skills and knowledge of a variety of roles within sport.

Striking fielding – softball: Embedding of core skills and Development of advanced skills and tactical awareness in isolated practices, conditioned and full sided games

Table tennis: Developing knowledge of rules, introducing a wide range of core skills and advanced skills

Ethical enquiry: Students will explore ethical debates and the different religious responses to them

The extreme world: Students will know the difference between extremism and terrorism and the factors that can lead to radicalisation

The Abrahamics: Students will explore religious concepts that are important in monotheism, they will know the role of prophecy, angels, life after death and miracles for these faiths

Buddhism: Students will learn about the core beliefs of Buddhism such as the four noble truths, the four sights and the concept of attachment

Famous Philosophers

Science

Biology – bioenergetics: Developing a more detailed understanding of the energy involved in keeping things alive

Biology – cells: Further develops the ideas around cells as the building blocks of life

Biology – organisation: Structures and systems inside living things that work together to keep them alive

Chemistry – atomic structure and periodic table: Look in detail at the chemistry of matter and how our understanding has developed

Chemistry – chemical changes: Look in more detail at some useful chemical reactions

Chemistry of atmosphere: Looking in greater depth at the human impact of the atmosphere and a timeline of how it developed in the first place

Chemistry – energy changes: Energy changes that take place in chemical reactions

Physics – forces (part 1): Looking at interactions between objects and perform calculations to explain the effects of forces we come across