Upper Fourth Love of Learning2025-2026
A curriculum to spark curiosity and a passion for learning
Introduction
The Love of Learning programme presents Upper Fourth pupils with a range of challenges that take them beyond the academic curriculum - deepening their understanding and broadening their knowledge. The aims of the programme are to ignite curiosity; foster a genuine enthusiasm for learning; and nurture key skills – including independent research, digital presentation and creative thinking. The programme supports the girls to thrive as independent learners and succeed in the next stages of their education, and beyond.
This booklet features an exciting range of tasks and activities, organised by subject area. We encourage all UIV pupils to explore and complete challenges across a variety of subjects – including the Humanities, Sciences, Languages, and STEM subjects – throughout the year. By embracing a broad mix of disciplines, pupils can discover new interests, understand interconnections across subjects, and develop diverse skills.
There are two sets of challenges: Curriculum Challenge tasks are linked more directly to the UIV curriculum, whereas the Beyond the Curriculum Challenges allow investigation into the broader context of each subject. We suggest that all UIV pupils undertake at least 3 optional challenge tasks and encourage them to select these across a range of subjects and skills.
By completing a range of challenge tasks during the Michaelmas, Lent, and Summer terms, pupils will earn points towards their UIV Love of Learning Award. The level of award achieved will reflect the quality and breadth of the tasks undertaken, but also the effective development of key skills such as creativity, digital literacy, research, presentation and collaboration.
The three levels of award:
• Enthusiastic Thinker: 3 challenge tasks completed
• Inspired Thinker: 4 challenge tasks completed
• Master Thinker: 5 or more challenge tasks completed
• Inquisitive Thinker: Awarded to those who go above and beyond, discovering new perspectives – an individual who approaches the world with curiosity and a love for learning – these pupils may have followed many of the ‘want to know more’ prompts in addition to Challenge Tasks.
Curriculum Challenge
The UIV curriculum is designed to provide challenge for all pupils, offering opportunities to extend their learning, develop independent thinking and study skills and to foster a deeper curiosity about the world around them.
Throughout each term, teachers will set Curriculum Challenges which are directly linked to the pupils’ learning in lessons.
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Pupils may also take their love of a subject and their learning beyond the curriculum through Beyond the Curriculum Challenges. These have been designed by departments to allow pupils to develop their interest in their subject area, to be creative and to explore topics within their subject area that are not directly linked to the UIV curriculum but that spark pupils’ curiosity and ignite their passion for learning.
STEM - Science
Michaelmas Term
Curriculum Challenge
Physics
Research Essay Task
Pick one of the titles below and write an essay (800 – 1000 words) and submit to your teacher:
1. Why does it matter to us that things are stretchy?
2. In what way is Physics the “most fundamental science”?
3. Does anybody still weigh things using moments?
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge Physics
Solar Oven build task Construct a working solar oven using foil, boxes and plastic wrap – then cook something (like s’mores). Present your findings creatively.
Make a Working Thermometer Build a simple thermometer using a sealed straw, coloured water, and a bottle to show how temperature affects liquid expansion. Present your findings creatively.
Invisible Ink Science Experiment with different invisible ink methods (lemon juic, baking soda, UV pens) and test what works best. Present your findings creatively.
Lent Term
Curriculum Challenge
Chemisty
Research Essay Task
Pick one of the titles below and write an essay (800 – 1000 words) and submit to your teacher:
1. Explore the history of the atom
2. What is the most interesting material in the 20th century?
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge Chemisty
Sustainable Solutions Challenge Research a local environmental problem (e.g. plastic waste) and design a small-scale intervention or campaign.
Rube Goldberg Machine Build a contraption that performs a simple task in an overly complex and creative way (e.g popping a balloon or ringing a bell).
Balloon-Powered Car Race Build small vehicles powered by balloon propulsion and race them.
STEM - Science
Summer Term
Curriculum Challenge
Biology
Research Task
Research or (better still!) visit a nature reserve/ zoo/ wildlife park/ seedbank and then make/ deliver a presentation or magazine article on biodiversity.
• How the zoo/reserve helps to increase biodiversity
• Why is increasing biodiversity important
• How can we help?
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Biology
Fieldwork Challenge
Design a piece of fieldwork to measure the biodiversity of the Downe House site.
Discuss your findings with Mrs De Chazal and make suggestions as to how to maintain or increase the biodiversity.
Origami Organelles!
Ask your teacher for some paper and some instructions to make a whole range of biological structures including a red blood cell, a heart and mitochondria.
Build – a – bridge Challenge
Design and build a bridge out of spaghetti or straws that can hold the most weight.
Want to know more?
Listening
• The Infinite Monkey Cage
• The Life Scientific
Watching
• Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014) –Hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, this stunning series explores the universe and humanity’s place in it.
• The Martian (2015) – A thrilling, scientifically grounded space survival film with lots of real-life science applications.
• David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020) – A moving reflection on nature, climate change, and our responsibility to the planet.
• Particle Fever (2013) – A behind-the-scenes look at the discovery of the Higgs boson and the Large Hadron Collider.
• Hidden Figures (2016) – The inspiring true story of African-American women mathematicians who played vital roles at NASA during the space race.
Want to know more?
Reading
• What If? – Randall Munroe
Wild hypothetical questions answered with real science and humour.
• The Martian (Young Readers Edition) – Andy Weir
A gripping space survival story packed with science and problem-solving.
• The Science of Everyday Life – Marty Jopson Fascinating explanations of the science behind ordinary things.
• A Short History of Nearly Everything (Young Readers Edition) – Bill Bryson
A fun, accessible journey through the history of science and discovery.
• Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World – Rachel Ignotofsky
Inspiring, illustrated biographies of trailblazing women in STEM.
• The Gut by G Enders
A book that takes us on a fascinating tour of our insides. The message is simple - if we treat our gut well, it will treat us well in return.
• Wilder by M Kerr
Rewilding is a radical new approach to wildlife conservation that offers remarkable potential – read all about it in this book!
• Pathogenesis by J Kennedy
A book about how pathogens have shaped humanity at every stage, from the first success of Homo sapiens over the equally intelligent Neanderthals to the fall of Rome.
Visiting
• Science Museum (South Kensington) –Interactive galleries, space exploration, medical history, and hands-on experiments in Wonderlab.
• Natural History Museum (South Kensington) – Dinosaurs, geology, biodiversity, and an iconic Earth Hall – great for aspiring biologists or geologists.
• Natural History Museum, Oxford – from architecture to animals, bacteria to brains, learn all about Natural History through their brilliant exhibitions.
• The Royal Observatory (Greenwich) – Stand on the Prime Meridian, explore astronomy and timekeeping, and enjoy the planetarium shows.
• Wellcome Collection (Euston) – Fascinating exhibitions on medicine, the human body, and the intersection of science and culture. (Some parts better suited to older teens, but many exhibits are accessible and thoughtprovoking.)
• Kew Gardens (Richmond) – A living lab of plant science, climate research, and biodiversity, with interactive exhibits in the Princess of Wales Conservatory and Treetop Walkway.
• The Eden Project, Cornwall - an eco-visitor attraction and educational charity exploring the interconnections between all living things.
STEM - Maths
Michaelmas Term
Curriculum Challenge
Mathematical investigations
The Four 4s Challenge
Use exactly 4 number 4s and any operations you know (including factorials, roots, powers) to make every whole number from 1 to 30.
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Design a Mathematical Board Game
Create a board game based on key maths topics you’ve studied studied this term (fractions, algebra, geometry etc).
Include at least 10 questions or puzzles.
Lent term
Curriculum Challenge
Statistics in the real world
Create a Data Project
Collect your own data (e.g. survey your peers or record a real-life dataset) and analyse it using averages, range, graphs and conclusions.
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Famous mathematicians
Research and creatively present the work and life of a mathematician (Ada Lovelace, Katherine Johnson, Ramanujan). The format can be a poster, a comic strip, a video or a podcast.
Summer Term
Curriculum Challenge
The maths of nature
Fibonacci and the Golden Ratio
Investigate how the Fibonacci Sequence and the Golden Ratio appear in plants, shells, art and architecture. Present your findings visually.
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Maths in art
Create a Fractal or Tessellation Artwork
Use mathematical patterns such as fractals or tessellations to produce a piece of art. Include a brief explanation of the maths involved.
Listening
• BBC Radio 4 – More or Less
• Numberphile Podcast
Want to know more?
Watching
• Youtube: Numberphile
• Vi Hart
• Ted-Ed Maths
• Netflix: The Story of Maths (by Marcus du Sautoy)
Reading
• The Number Devil – Han Magnus Enzenberger
• Alex’s Adventures in Numberland – Alex Bellos
• Murderous Maths Series – Kjartan Poskitt
Visiting
Science Museum (South Kensington) –Mathematics Gallery
Bletchley Park – codebraking and mathematical history
Royal Institution Lectures – particularly maths and physics topics
Curriculum Challenge
English
Michaelmas Term
Read or watch another play by Willy Russell. Report back to the group. Can you see any recurring themes or ideas?
Skills – research, note taking, summarising, oral skills.
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Challenge/activity: Read or watch another classic by Charles Dickens.
Skills – Research, note taking, summarising, comparing and consolidating.
Lent term
Curriculum Challenge
Contextual research for ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Research and present Elizabethan women.
Skills – Oral presentation, wider reading, scanning and summarising.
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Choose and watch another Shakespearean tragedy. How does it compare to ‘R and J’.
Skills – Research, summarising and comparison.
Summer Term
Curriculum Challenge
Select and annotate several poems of your choice.
Skills – Identifying methods, considering the effects on the reader.
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Challenge/activity: Find a newspaper article and annotate. What devices can you find?
Skills – Identifying persuasive devices and considering the impact on the reader.
Want to know more?
Listening
BBC Sounds: The Poetry Detective or search for podcasts on the text your studying. You could also try The Penguin Podcast and ‘The Freedom Writers Podcast’.
Reading
Try a modern adaptation of a classic text: John Greene’s ‘The Fault in Our Stars’
Try reading ‘Little Women’ a classic femalecentred novel. You may want to read a classic novel like ‘Jane Eyre’
Watching
A Shakespeare comedy: e-stream Kenneth Brannagh’s 1993 ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ You could also watch ‘10 Things I Hate about you’ the adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. If you’d like something completely different why not try ‘The Freedom Writer’s Diary’
Visiting
Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon; The British Library, London; Jane Austen’s House, Bath; Sherlock’s House on Baker Street, London; The Alice and Wonderland Walking Tour, Oxford; The Globe Theatre, London
Languages
Michaelmas Term
Curriculum Challenge
French: Create a French Holiday Brochure
Design a brochure advertising a Frenchspeaking destination. Include details like activities, weather and food.
Spanish: Create a ‘Quién soy yo’ video diary
Record a short video in Spanish introducing yourself, describing your family and what you do in your free time.
German: Mein Klassenzimmer
Create a labelled poster of your classroom in German. Use colours, numbers, and classroom objects.
Italian: Vocabulary Challenge
Create a visual resource of 20 essential Italian words on a theme (e.g., food, school, travel). Use digital tools or drawings.
Chinese: Chinese Character Mnemonics
Pick any character we have studied and draw an interesting visual mnemonic to help you learn it! You can then explain your method to the class!
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
French: Quizlet Vocabulary Master
Create a Quizlet set for ‘Free time and Holiday’ and challenge your classmates.
Spanish: Family Tree Project
Create a visual family tree (real or fictional) with short Spanish descriptions of each person.
Spanish: Free Time Poster
Make a poster or comic strip about your favourite free time activities using verbs like jugar, hacer, ver, salir etc.
German: Craft – Research St Martin’s Day or Advent and craft a typical lantern/table decoration.
Italian Conversation Roleplay
Write and perform a short roleplay on a common topic (ordering food, asking for directions).
Chinese: Quizlet Match
see if you can get a time of less than 7 seconds for every Quizlet vocabulary set!
Lent term
Curriculum Challenge
French Video diary: A day at school in France
Script and record a short video or audio diary in French, describing a typical school day.
Spanish: Design your Dream House Brochure
Describe your ideal house and daily routine. Present it as a brochure with labelled pictures and descriptions in Spanish.
German: Meine Familie Create a mini family tree with names and German family words. Present it to the class.
Italian: Una persona Famosa Research and create a poster about a famous Italian (artist, athlete, scientist, etc.). Include 5 Italian sentences.
Chinese: Stroke order
Using websites such as strokeorder.com, practice writing out a range of characters. Write your own rules
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
French Cultural Poster: French School System
Research and design a poster comparing the French and UK school systems.
Spanish: European Country Fact File Research a Spanish speaking country in Europe or nearby. Include facts, images, and a short paragraph in Spanish introducing it.
Spanish: Daily Routine Timetable Create a colour-coded timetable of a typical weekday, using reflexive verbs and time expressions in Spanish.
German: Food taster – try a German Food Try a German food (e.g. pretzel, sausage, apple strudel) and write about it in German.
Italian: Italian Riddle Challenge Translate and explain 3 Italian riddles or jokes. Bonus for creating your own!
Chinese: Chinese radical exploration
Use the radical dictionary on mdbg.net to explore characters you have studied
Summer Term
Curriculum Challenge
French Comic strip: Daily routine of a French student
Create a comic strip in French showing a student’s daily routine with times, reflexive verbs, and sequencing.
Spanish: Create a tourist guide to your city
Describe your town or city, including what people can do there and what the weather is like.
German: Meine Stadt:
Write about your hometown and what you can do there in a simple letter to a friend at Schillergymnasium Berlin
Italian: Nella mia città
Create a tourist guide to your city.
Describe your town or city, including what people can do there and what the weather is like.
Chinese: Chinese Character map
Start with one character such as and explore how different radicals and components are used in in different compound words ( )
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
French Daily Routine Rap or Song
Write and perform a short French rap/song about daily routine using key verbs and phrases.
Spanish: Festival Project
Choose a festival celebrated in Spain or Latin America. Create a short report, presentation, or poster in Spanish about its customs and history.
Spanish: Weather Forecast Challenge
Record a 1-minute weather forecast in Spanish using weather expressions and the near future tense.
German: German Song Challenge
Learn a simple German song (e.g. “Ich habe einen kleinen Papagei”) and perform or record it.
Italian: Italian Culture Challenge
Explore a tradition or custom (e.g., Carnevale, Ferragosto). Create a short presentation or creative piece.
Chinese: Chinese Character art
Create a piece of character art by designing a large version of a Chinese character using multiple smaller versions of the same character.
Want to know more?
Listening
• Italian Listening: Songs – Laura Pausini, Andrea Bocelli; Podcasts – Coffee Break Italian
Il Gabbiano e la Balena - A story in slow Italian (with English subtitles)
Il gabbiano e la balena (Text, Audio + Video) (thefablecottage.com)
Il Polletto Carletto (Text, Audio + Video) (thefablecottage.com)
Il Polletto Carletto - Chicken Little in Italian (with English subtitles)
• French Listening 1jour1actu, Learn French with Alexa, News in Slow French, BBC Bitesize French
• Spanish Listening Coffee Break Spanish (beginner to intermediate), BBC Bitesize Spanish clips, Rockalingua, Dreaming Spanish (youtube)
• German Listening: Watch a short video: “Learn a German Christmas carol” on YouTube. Try to sing along!
• Chinese Listening: Xi Yangyang TV series on Youtube
Reading
• French Reading: Le Petit Nichlolas, Les Vacances du Petit Nicholas, Asterix en Corse
• Spanish Reading: ¡Mira! 3; ¡Viva! 3; Short stories from “Learn Spanish with Stories”; Articles on BBC Bitesize Spanish
• German Reading: Read a short story or comic in German (e.g. “Hallo Anna” or “Deutsch mit Felix und Franzi”).
• Italian Reading: – Italian Reading: Italian Texts for Beginners
• Chinese reading: Chinese readers in the library
Watching
Li Ziqi videos on Youtube
Humanities - History
Michaelmas Term
Curriculum Challenge
Investigating the British Empire
Present research on the independence movement of a country in the British Empire (Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, India, Jamaica). Work with others to identify similarities and differences
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Historical novels
Read and produce a book review/TikTok-style review of one of the following historical novels: Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy Walkabout, James Vance Marshall Small Island, Andrea Levy
Lent term
Curriculum Challenge
Research visit to Hermitage Cemetery
Use the CWGC website and ‘A Street Near You’ to research local war dead and present a worksheet.
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
First World War futher learning
Debate/Essay - Research the vision and purpose of the IWGC. To what extent was the British decision not to repatriate its war dead justified? Or
Research the impact of the First World War on your family, hometown or any chosen country
Summer Term
Curriculum Challenge
Children in the Second World War
Research either the Kindertransport or Helen Kerr’s When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit.
What challenges faced Jewish refugees building new lives in the UK?
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
ResearchOperation Barbarossa
Why did Operation Barbarossa fail? Can be presented as a poster, film, or essay.
Or
Essay: Was the Allied war effort a fight against racism
Want to know more?
Reading
Recent history on the British Empire and/or Migration to the UK:
• Sathnam Sanghera, Empireland
• Wendy Webster, Mixing It
• William Dalrymple, The Anarchy
• Philippe Sands, The Last Colony
• Gary Sheffield: Forgotten Victory (revisionist history of the First World War)
• Dan Todman, The Great War, Myth & Memory
• Nick Lloyd, The Eastern Front
• Margaret MacMillan, Peacemakers
• Daniel Finkelstein, Hitler, Stalin, Mum & Dad (the Holocaust and the Second World War)
• Jack Fairweather, The Volunteer
• Dan Todman, Britain’s War
• Alan Allport, Demobbed
• Lucy Noakes, War and the British
Humanities - Geography
Michaelmas Term
Curriculum Challenge
Rainforest research
Create an ESRI story map based on your research of the rainforest biome
Skills – research, creativity, digital communication
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
RGS Young Geographer of the Year poster competition
RGS Young Geographer of the Year poster competition
Skills – research, creativity, digital communication; self-direction
Rainforest model: Create a model of a rainforest showing its layers, biodiversity and adaptations using any material you choose
Skills –creativity, having a go.
Lent term
Curriculum Challenge
Strategies to reduce the development gap – presentations
Work in small groups to research a strategy and a real world example. Produce a 3 minute presentation to present to the class
Skills – research, public speaking, presentation skills
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Nigeria Cup
Research Nigeria and present your research creatively – it could be a video, song, essay, poster, piece of art, game, quiz, interactive map etc.
Skills – research, creativity, remaining skills dependent on method of presentation chosen!
Summer Term
Curriculum Challenge
News report - the UK’s role in the wider world
Research the role of the UK in global trade – with the EU, the Commonwealth and other global partners.
Skills – research, extended reading, writing to inform.
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Fieldwork challenge
Design a piece of fieldwork to investigate the Downe House site – our deciduous woodland ecosystem, our environmental quality, our population
Skills – formulating questions, the enquiry process, using equipment; data presentation (numeracy)
Want to know more?
Listening
39 Ways to Save the Planet – A series investigating creative and revolutionary ways that people around the world are finding ways to reduce climate change using science, sociology and lessons from the past.
Reading
• Boy Overboard, Morris Glietzman
• A Long Walk to Water, Linda Park
• I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai
• Boy in the Tower, Polly Ho-Yen
• Factfulness, Hans Rosling
• A Boy Called Hope, Lara Williamson
• Does My Head Look Big in This? Randa Abdel Fatteh
Watching
BBC Planet Earth – This classic David Attenborough series gives a wonderful view of the world’s biomes, both terrestrial and marine, and our impact upon them
Visiting
Natural History Museum (South Kensington) –Dinosaurs, geology, biodiversity, and an iconic Earth Hall – great for aspiring biologists or geologists.
Natural History Museum, Oxford - from architecture to animals, bacteria to brains, learn all about Natural History through their brilliant exhibitions.
The Living Rainforest, Chieveley – Near to school, a mini Eden Project focused entirely on rainforests, their species and how we are impacting upon them.
Humanities - Religious Studies
Michaelmas Term
Curriculum Challenge
Faith through story: Christianity in books or film
Choose a book (fiction or non-fiction), film, or TV series that explores a Christian teaching, theme, or practice (e.g. forgiveness, resurrection, vocation, sacrifice, justice, etc).
Please discuss your choice with your class teacher before you embark on any further stages, so that they can approve your choice or offer you support in coming to a decision.
Create a detailed review or reflection that:
• Explains the Christian themes present
• Analyses how these are portrayed
• Reflects on how effectively it challenges or affirms Christian beliefs
• Include personal and/or critical response
Suggested formats your review could take: article, podcast discussion, video essay, skilled art or comic strip with detailed annotations, short comparative essay, or another suitable and approved format.
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Reimagining Hell: A cultural & religious history
Investigate how different cultures, eras, or thinkers have imagined “Hell.” This could include: Dante’s Inferno, Hieronymus Bosch’s art, Islamic or Hindu concepts of afterlife punishment, Pop culture depictions of Hell, A comparison with Biblical descriptions.
Produce a creative or critical piece exploring how and why these ideas have evolved, and what this reveals about human fear, justice, and/ or morality.
Suggested formats: Mini documentary, illustrated timeline, philosophical essay, original artwork with commentary, myth comparison, or another suitable and approved format.
Lent term
Curriculum Challenge
The Buddhist in modern life
Explore how one or more Buddhist teachings (e.g. the Eightfold Path, kamma, anatta, mindfulness) are applied in today’s world. You could:
• Investigate a real-life Buddhist practitioner or community, to see how they implement/ prioritise/ struggle with this teaching in their life.
• Compare traditional and modern interpretations of/ engagements with this teaching.
• Reflect on this teaching in a personal context or contemporary issue.
Suggested formats: Interview-based article, visual diary, podcast, reflective essay, digital presentation, infographic poster, or another suitable and approved format.
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Ancient beliefs and customs in a digital world
Explore how a religion is/ religions are adapting to (or being challenged by!) technology. Possible areas to investigate could include online worship & virtual communities, AI in religion (e.g. robot priests, AI-generated prayers), social media and spiritual influence, ethical questions raised by digital innovation, etc.
Suggested formats: Research article, mock podcast, illustrated essay, infographic timeline, digital art, or another suitable and approved format.
Summer Term
Curriculum Challenge
Faith in the face of violence
Choose a religion and investigate how its followers have responded to instances of conflict or violence. Focus could be:
• A historical case study (e.g. Christian pacifism in WWII, Buddhist monks during the Vietnam war, etc)
• A contemporary issue (e.g. Ukraine, IsraeliPalestinian conflict, protests)
• A theological debate (e.g. Just War Theory vs Pacifism)
Suggested formats: News-style report, ethics debate, creative writing from a historical viewpoint, critical essay, model UN-style presentation, or another suitable and approved format.
Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
People who united divides
Research a figure (historical or contemporary) who worked across religious boundaries to promote peace, justice, or understanding. (Possible figures you may wish to consider: Abdul Sattar Edhi, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Eboo Patel, interfaith chaplains, youth initiatives, faith leaders in diplomacy, etc)
Suggested formats: Role-play interview, magazine feature, video documentary, illustrated profile, or another suitable and approved format. digital art, or another suitable and approved format.
Creative Arts - Art/Textiles/3D
Michaelmas Term
Curriculum Challenge
Challenge/activity
Create a study on an artist/designer/movement that links to your current topic. This may be presented in a sketchbook, on a large sheet of card or on a PowerPoint (materials may be requested).
Present bullet point facts about your chosen artist/designer/movement that you have researched and include images of works that stand out to you.
Annotate each image giving your thoughts on the composition, shapes, forms, colours, textures, techniques, mood and atmosphere created. What do you think is successful/ unsuccessful in each example?
You may wish to do this as a group and give a verbal/visual presentation.
Skills - Research (knowledge construction), motor skills, IT tools, working with others, communication skills.
Optional Challenges
Challenge/activity
Create a response to an artist/designer/ movement that interests you. This could take the form of a piece of art, textiles or 3D model. You may do this individually or work as a group.
Skills – Motor skills, self-direction, working with others.
Challenge/activity:
Attend one of the weekly Art Clubs on a regular basis.
Skills – Problem solving and research, motor skills, self-direction, working with others.
Lent term
Curriculum Challenge
Challenge/activity
Create an individual response to the artist/ designer/movement that you have been studying. Materials used should be relevant to the area of study. This challenge will extend into the Summer term.
Skills – Motor skills, IT tools, self-direction, problem solving.
Optional Challenges
Challenge/activity
Visit a gallery, museum, artist’s studio or similar to seek out first-hand examples of art or design. Take photographs and create a 3-minute PowerPoint to present to your class.
Skills – Research (knowledge construction), IT tools, working with others, communication skills.
Challenge/activity:
Attend one of the weekly Art Clubs on a regular basis.
Skills – Problem solving and research, motor skills, self-direction, working with others.
Design
Summer Term
Curriculum Challenge
Challenge/activity
Evaluation of work produced, this should cover the stages of the journey and the outcome, skills/learning acquired, perceived successes and what could be improved in the future. 500 words.
Skills – Communication skills, IT use
Optional Challenges
Challenge/activity
Request a sketchbook and begin to create studies for the creative subject that you intend to pursue at GCSE level. Your teacher can give you some guidance.
Skills – Problem solving and research, motor skills, self-direction.
Challenge/activity:
Attend one of the weekly Art Clubs on a regular basis.
Skills – Problem solving and research, motor skills, self-direction, working with others.
Want to know more?
Reading
Visit the Art and Design section in the library for books related to your creative discipline.
Watching
BBC iPlayer has excellent programmes on artists. Look at YouTube for practical tutorials.
Visiting
There are fabulous galleries and museums all over the world – go and enjoy the experience of witnessing Art and Design first-hand!
Curriculum Challenge
Sport sponsorship study
Sport
Sport
Michaelmas Term
Research how athletes secure sponsorship deals and explore how this impacts them personally and professionally.
To deepen your investigation, consider:
• What qualities or achievements make an athlete attractive to sponsors?
• What do sponsors expect from athletes in return?
• How does sponsorship affect training, travel, equipment, or opportunities?
• Are there ethical issues around sponsorship (e.g. betting companies, energy drinks)?
• Compare two sponsored athletes — what helped one secure more support than the other?
Practical/Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Athlete sponsorship pitch
Create a full sponsorship pitch for a real or fictional athlete and present to an audience
This could include:
• Branding designs
• Sample advertisements
• A logo + colour scheme
• A pitch deck
• A video advertisement
• A mock email to a potential sponsor
Lent term
Curriculum Challenge
Rise of women’s sport investigation
Examine how women’s sport has grown over the last five years using data, events, and media coverage and write an 800-1000 word essay to show your findings.
To deepen your investigation, consider:
• Which female athletes or teams have become more visible recently?
• How has TV or social media coverage changed?
• What major events (e.g. Women’s World Cup, WNBA expansion) influenced growth?
• How has sponsorship investment changed?
• What barriers still exist for female athletes?
• How does growth differ in the UK vs. other countries?
Practical/Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
In small groups, research the growth of women’s sport. Plan, conduct and record your own debate on the topic below:
“Technology (e.g. streaming platforms) will make women’s sport as popular as men’s sport.”
Summer Term
Curriculum Challenge
Global sporting events - the Olympics
Cost of the Olympics
Investigate the true cost of hosting the Olympic Games — venues, staffing, security, technology, longterm legacy and present your findings.
To deepen your investigation, consider:
• What did recent Olympics (Tokyo, Paris, Rio) cost — and why did the costs differ?
• Which costs are unavoidable? Which are choices made by the host city?
• What happens to Olympic venues afterward?
• How do cities benefit financially or socially?
• Why do some countries refuse to bid for the Olympics now?
Additional
sport
challenges
Curriculum Challenge
Business and sport analysis (IPL)
Explore how the Indian Premier League functions as a global sports business - auctions, sponsorship, broadcasting, franchise ownership. Write an analysis (800-1000 word) on your findings.
To deepen your investigation, consider:
• How do IPL teams make money?
• What is unique about the player auction system?
• How does the League attract global audiences?
• How does sponsorship influence team identity or decision-making?
• What lessons could other sports leagues learn from the IPL?
Skills: Teamwork, business understanding, creativity.
Nutrition for Peak Performance
Curriculum Challenge
Practical/Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
In small groups or pairs, plan an eco-friendly Olympic village:
• Use renewable energy sources.
• Include athlete housing, transport, and waste management.
• Present as a model (physical or digital) or a visual blueprint.
(to complete throughout the year)
Practical/Beyond the Curriculum Challenge
Design a team
Create a pitch board to present a new team for the IPL. Plan a Dragons’ Den style pitch and present to an audience.
• Name & Concept: Choose a name that reflects a strong theme (e.g. local culture, animal, power, speed).
• Tagline: Create a catchy slogan that represents the team’s spirit.
• Mascot: Design a character that embodies the team’s personality.
• Kit: Design a logo and include sponsor placement, names and numbers. Think about your brand and the colours and shapes you want to use.
• Research nutritional needs for athletes and write an 800-1000 word essay or record a podcast on “Fuelling Success: How Nutrition Shapes Athletic Performance”
• Practical Option: Design a “Performance Menu” for a school sports team, including hydration strategies and pre/post-game snacks. Design the menu for Monday-Sunday with match day taking place on Saturday.
