Year 8 into 9 Choices Booklet
Year 8 into Year 9 Foundation Curriculum 2026
For thefirsttimeinyour schoolcareer, youwillbeabletoselectthesubjectareasthatyou wishtostudy.DuringYear9,youwillhavetheopportunitytocontinuewithyourKeyStage3 curriculum,althoughyoucanstarttoselecttheLearningPathwaysthatyouareinterestedin ThesewillhelptoguideyouwhenchoosingyourGCSEsubjectsattheendofYear9.
Youhavetotakethefollowingsubjectsaspartofyour Core Curriculum
● English
● Maths
● Science
● History
● Geography
● ModernForeignLanguage
● PE
● PSHE
Youalsohavetofollowthreefoundationsubjectswhicharetaughtfortwoperiodsaweek.At leastoneofthesemustbeanArtsubject
Art Foundation subjects Foundation subjects
● CreativeArts
● Graphics,Photography&Film
● PerformingArts
● MusicandMusicTechnology
● SocialCare
● ComputerScience
● Business&Enterprise
● SocialScience
● SportsStudies
● Catering
It is crucial that you discuss your choices at home, with your parents/carers, siblingsand friends,aswellasyourteachers.
Career advice and guidance
Inorder to helpyouwiththedecisionmaking process, you will bespendingtimelookingat linking subjects and careers in your PSHE lessons
The deadline for making your choices is Friday 13th March. You need to select your choices on this form
N.B. In the likelihood of some of the courses being oversubscribed, a judgement will have to bemadeonyour suitabilitytotaketheselectedcourse.
Core Curriculum
English
Youwillcontinuetodevelopreading,writing,speakingandlisteningskillswiththeintentionof securingthebasicskillsyouhavebeenpractisingsinceYear 7to preparefortherigoursof GCSEstudyinYears10and11.
Specifically,youwillstudy:
● A range of poems andnon-fictiontextslinkedto the Conflict genre
● Arangeofextractsfromthe Gothic genre
● MacbethbyWilliamShakespeareinordertoexplorethegenre of Tragedy
● Arangeofmodernshortstoriesinthe Crime genre
● OfMiceandMenbyJohnSteinbeckinordertostudythegenre of Social Realism.
Thislistcoversarangeofliterarygenresandnonfictiontexts,withakeenfocusonseminal textsfromtheEnglishliterarycanon.
Our intention is to ensure you are able to independently understand any English textyou encounter inyourfuturestudies Furthermore,youwilluseyourreadingskillsasaplatform toexploreyourownideasthrougharangeofwritingstyles.Finally,yourstudieswillalsoaim todevelopyourskillsinoracy
Maths
Attheendoftheyearyouwillbeableto:
● Use indices and write numbers in standardform
● Drawconstructions
● Solveequationsandinequalities
● Calculateprobabilities
● Usefractionsandpercentages
● Findmissinganglesinvariousshapes
● Find appropriate averages and ranges
● Calculateperimeters
● Areasandvolumes
● Drawgraphs
● Performtransformations
You will develop subject knowledge, problemsolvingskillsand exam techniques, which will prepare you for Key Stage 4and, ultimately,yourGCSEexamsinYear11.
Science
TheSciencecurriculumatHomewoodSchoolisdesignedtoprovideyouwithabroadrangeof opportunitiestolearn,understandandgainanappreciationofthecomplexanddiverse phenomenaofthenaturalworldandhowthesecanbeunderstoodandexplained. TheYear9 curriculumisdesignedtoextendanddevelopyourlearningatKS3andtoprepareyoufor GCSEstudiesinYears10and11. DuringYear9, youwill studythebigideasofscienceincluding:
● Biology:Cells,LifeProcesses,Genetics,Inheritance, healthanddisease
● Chemistry:Particles,atomicstructure,materials, chemicalchangesandEarthscience.
● Physics:Forces,energy,waves,electricityand magnetism
WeusethesebigideastoteachboththetheoreticalandpracticalaspectsofScienceaswellas teachingabouthowScienceworksandthescientificmethod.Weusearangeofrealworld examplesandcontextstoteachyouabouthowScienceimpactstheworldaroundus.
History
InHistory,youwilldevelopawiderunderstandingofwhytheworld isasitis.Therefore,throughstudyingHistory,youwilluncoverhow different societies, beliefs and cultures were in thepastandhow theyhaveplayedoutintothemodernage.InYear9,themainfocus will beonkeyhistoricaleventsinthe20thcenturyandhowthey shapedtheworld.
● TheriseoftheNazis
● TheColdWar
● Mao'sChina
Geography
● TheHolocaust
● Americancivilrights
● ThetroublesinNorthern Ireland
Geographyseekstodevelopasenseofplace,helpsyoumakesenseofyour surroundings and gain a better appreciation and understanding of the variety of physical and human conditions on the Earth’s surface. The followingtopicsarestudied:
● IsIndonesiaadangerousplacetolive?
● WillChinabethenextSuperpower?
● IstheGeographyofRussiaacurseorabenefit?
● Why is Haiti the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere?
● Nigeria-anAfricanSuperpower?
● Willourwaterrunout?
● ShouldtherebeaportintheCaymanIslands?
Modern Foreign Languages (Continuing French, German, or Mandarin)
InModernForeignLanguages,youwilllearntheknowledge andskillstobeabletoliveand work inGermany,France,or China comfortably.Youwilldeepenyour understandingofthe mostimportanttopicsfromYear7andYear8,andwillfinishtheyearthoroughlypreparedfor theGCSEcourse inYear10.Inalllanguages,youwilllearnhowtomakerequests,talkabout pastexperiencesandfutureplans,andgivehigh-qualityopinionsandreasons.InGermanand French,youwilllearn:
● Dailyroutine
● Schooloptionchoices
● Friendshipsandrelationships
● Futurecareers
● Pastandfutureholidays
● Technologyandmedia
IfyoustudyMandarin,youwilllearnthefollowingtopics:
● Shopping
● TravelinChina
● MyLife/MySchool
● Leisure
PE
The Physical Education curriculum provides opportunities for you to become physically confident in a way which supportsyour health and fitness. You will get opportunities to competeinsportandotheractivitiesinorderto build character and helpto embedvaluessuch asfairnessandrespect.Someofthesportsyou willtakepartininclude:Fitness,CrossCountry, Handball, Badminton, Basketball, Acro Gym, Netball,Football,CricketandAthletics.
PSHRE
Throughouttheyearyouwillstudyavarietyofdifferenttopicsincluding:
● Developingasacitizene.g.democracy
● Understandingyourselfe.g.socialrightsandresponsibilities
● SexEducatione.g.safesexandcontraception
● Financesandmanagingmoney
● CareersEducatione.g.opportunitiesinlearningandwork
● Keeping Healthy e.g. physical, social and mental health relationships
Foundation subjects (Arts)
Creative Arts
Creative Arts encompasses areas of study from FineArt,Ceramicsand Textiles. The course aims to allow you to extend your knowledge and interestofthecreativeworld Youwillexplorearangeofmaterialsand techniques from each specialism and will engage with contemporary makersandartistsasa andstyles
The courseaimsto developyour artistic skills which could include drawing, painting, printing, collage, embroidery, fabric dying, sculpture, modelling and glazing
Graphics, Photography & Film
Graphics, Photography & Film’s curriculum provides you with an opportunity to develop your knowledgeandunderstandingofthese threesubjects
You will engage with contemporary makers and artists asastartingpoint to inspireyourcreativeprocessesand skills.Practicalskillswillbedeveloped, alongside refining your handdrawing andartisticskills
You will begin to develop your analytical skills in order to understand how films are constructedandyouwilllearnhowfilmmakersusecameraangles,lighting,soundandediting tocreatestoriesandentertainaudiences.
Youwillberequiredtothinkcriticallyandanalyseyourownworkaswellasothers.
Performing Arts
Performing Arts encompasses thestudyofbothDanceandDrama. Thecourseaimstobroadenanddevelopyoursubjectknowledgeand skillsinbothsubjectswhileengagingyouinavarietyofstimuliand themesfromsocial,culturalandpoliticalcontexts.
Youwilldevelopskillsinthreecorestrands;performing,creatingand appreciation Whencreatingwork,youwillhavetheopportunityto experiencethewholeprocessthroughdevisingdramaperformances andchoreographingdances
Music and Music Technology
In this course, you will develop performance skills on either an instrument or your voice, alongsidedevelopingyourmusicaltechnologyskillsthroughusingaDigitalAudioWorkshop. Compositionandimprovisationskillswillalsobepractisedtoextendmusicalideas.
Listeningtoandanalysingawiderangeofmusicwillalsotake place from Bach to Lewis Capaldi, Wagner to AndrewLloyd Webber andVanessaMaeto BillieEilish.MusicTechnologists will also learn the skills required for computers, developing composition skills and creating their ownpiecesfor avisual soundclip.
Foundation subjects
Social Care
In Social Care, students will gain knowledge and understanding of health, social care and earlyyearsprinciples.Keytopicsstudiedinclude:
● Knowledgeandunderstandingofhumanlifespananddevelopment.
● Developinghealthandsocialcareskills,includingalternativemethodsof communicationsuchasBritishSignLanguageandFirstAid.
● ParticipatingintheNationalNHSCareersCompetition.
● Exploringhealthylifestylechoicesandapracticalopportunitytocook.
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● Engagingincommunitycollaboration,planningandhostingalocalcommunityevent (e.g.coffeemorningsandcarepackages).
Throughoutthecourse,studentswilldevelopanddemonstrateawiderangeofskills,including communication,teamwork,independence,compassion,problem-solving,anddecision-making.
Social Sciences
The Year 9 Social Sciences Pathwaypreparesyoufor GCSEandAlevelstudyinfascinating subjectslikeCriminology,Politics,PsychologyandSociology.Socialscientistslikesociologists and psychologists enjoy studying people: how they behave and interact as individuals, in communitiesandacrosssociety.
Computer Science
Someofthequestionsraisedinclude:
● WhatdidtheBoboDollexperiment(left)revealabouthow childrenlearntobeaggressive?
● Arecriminalsbornormade?
● Whyhaven’tweachievedequalitybetweenthesexesandraces?
Social Sciences develop major skill areas, critical thinking andadeeper understandingintothesocietythatwelivein.
Computer Science aims to provide you with the knowledge and understanding of how technologyworks,forbothbusinessandpersonaluse.Topicswillbevisitedwithemphasison learningthepracticalskillsthatarefundamentaltoComputerScience.Therewillbeafocuson programmingandavarietyoflanguageswillbeused;timewillbespentpracticingtechniques andcompletingprogrammingsolutionstoproblems.Thekeytopicsthatwecoverare:
·IntroductiontoprogramminginPython
·Computationalthinkingandlogic
·HTMLandwebsitedevelopment
·AIandmachinelearning
·PythonthenextstepsandpracticalskillsinSQL
These skillsaretransferableamongstamultiplicityofdifferentsubjectareasaswellasbeing veryusefulwithinthedigitalindustrywithgreatcareeroptions.
Business & Enterprise
Our Enterprise course will help you to develop an understandingofskillsneededintheworkplace andhelpyou toreflectonthoseyoualreadyhaveandhowtobuildmorefor your future. You will investigate career paths, participate in teambuilding activities, learn about health and safety in the workplace, consider your dream house, and look at sustainabilityforyourfuture,pluslotsmore.
One of the bigprojectsthatyouwillcompleteisan“Apprentice”stylechallenge,whereyouwill learn how to create ideas for a product from start to finish and how you might go about bringing it into the market to be sold. Learning the basics of marketing and finance along theway.
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Sport
Thiscourse provides an opportunity for youtoprogressfromyourstarting pointsinthe following areas of Learning Focus: skills and technique, strategy and tactics throughhandball and athletics. Itthen becomes a stepping stone intobothGCSE PE/BTEC L2 Sport by introducing topicsincludingdevelopingfitnessand exploring the short and long term effectsofexerciseonthebody.
Catering
This course aims to develop students' cooking skills and nutritionalknowledgeacrossawidevarietyofcuisines.
Inpracticallessons,studentswillcookarangeofhealthy,savory dishes from different cultures, using diverse ingredients and focusingonteamworkandworkstationhygiene.Theorylessons covernutrition,healthandsafety,hygiene,ingredientstorage,and howtoadaptrecipesfordietaryneeds.
Note: There is a small termly charge for ingredients, with financial support available for students receiving Free School Meals.
