KS3 Rotation

INTENT

How the KS3 Creative Rotation curriculum fits into our Whole School Vision:

Broad:

As a creative collective of subjects we are able to offer a broad range of experiences, personal developments in abilities and confidences.

Stimulating

The Creative Rotation engages students in a wide range of disciplines stimulating their love of design, being creative and performing in a way that stretches and challenges their knowledge, ability and understanding.

Our curriculum promotes student’s interest and natural inquisitiveness towards the range of specialist subjects encouraging and guiding them to make their own discoveries and outcomes.

Enjoyable

Students will find lessons are fun yet informative, and relatable to real life scenarios allowing them to recall on their developed skills again in the future. They have the opportunity to explore and experiment with their ideas and abilities through a range of practical outcomes, performances and techniques that relate to real life scenarios and problems.

Engaging

Students are encouraged to develop an understanding and awareness of how real life situations affect their outcomes. They learn about the creative subject specific industries and create an array of exciting and engaging product outcomes.

Motivating

The Creative rotation allows students to make links between the different topics in these specialist areas and the potential careers that can stem from an interest in these topics and gain insight in to subject specific industries.

Students learn about future pathways after KS3 and KS4 Specialist subjects and the wide range of careers that a qualification in in these areas can offer.

Challenging

The Creative rotation providing a curriculum that challenges each individual to push themselves and their abilities. This helps to stretch and build their confidence allowing them to feel at home with a number of subjects.

IMPLEMENTATION

Within the KS3 Creative Rotation each student will spend a minimum of 6 weeks in each subject area each year as follows:

YEAR 7	YEAR 8	YEAR 9
CAD CAM	CAD CAM	Design Technology/Engineering
Resistant Materials	Resistant Materials	Computing
Computing	Computing	Food Technology
Food Technology	Drama	Personal Development
Personal Development	Personal Development	Music
Music	Music	Move to option subjects Term 6

Students rotate to a new subject area each term, in this time they will study and learn with a specialist teacher you will create a range of products and take part in practical lessons that will teach you an array of practical, designing and problem solving skills and ways to express yourself.

Teacher’s present subject content clearly, promoting appropriate discussion, checking learning, identify misconceptions accurately and provide clear, direct feedback. As a result teachers respond and adapt their teaching as necessary. The lessons are fun yet informative.

Students are assessed on their Diary of Progress that sees the students tracking and planning their progress made during the practical lessons of their rotation and also on their practical outcome.

IMPACT

Students will make good progress against their outcomes, which will mean high attainment; a strong grounding for life in the real world, equipping them with skills such as identifying issues, problem solving, expressing ideas creatively and clearly, developing ideas and communicating these to others. Progress will be monitored against target grades, gap analysis is undertaken after formal assessments to enable staff to identify individual student’s areas of weakness and strengths.

 

The following homework’s are issued within each subject area during each term.

	Task	Time
Homework 1: (Week 1)	Students are to create a front cover for the Creative Rotation that they are currently in. Their front cover should include the Subject area and project title that they are studying. It can be produced on the computer or by hand.	25-45 mins
Homework 2: (Week 3)	Your teacher will supply you with a set of Spellings that are relevant to their topic, you are to find and write down the definitions	25-45 mins
Homework 3: (Week 5)	Career research – The students are to research a role within the pathway they are studying creating an information page.	25-45 mins

 

Music Homework - 2024-2025

 

In Key Stage 3 pupils will learn about Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing.  They will gain an understanding of the benefits of using CAD in real world applications.  Pupils will be introduced to some of the CAM machines and gain knowledge of how they work, differences between them and their use.

In year 7 pupils will study 2D Design and will design a keyring holder.  They will learn how to create outlines for cutting, controlling line size and colour.  They will learn how to import graphics and convert them into a specific format, edit them and prepare them for laser cutter engraving.  Pupils will also learn how to manipulate change and edit imported graphics and text. 

In year 8 pupils will learn how to work in a 3D CAD package and create a 3D village design.  They will learn how to create all sorts of 3 dimensional shapes and how to modify them into more complicated shapes.  Pupils will learn how to add layers to 3D models to create more detail, how to apply texture packs and add 3D text.

In year 9 pupils will return to 2D Design and work towards manufacturing a light box.  They will learn how to create shapes that will fit together after cutting with millimetre precision.  They will work to create intricate cut out designs where light can shine through creating a visual effect.

Computing is part of the creative subjects at St George’s and is studied in a 6-week rotation block. In this time, you will study a range of different computing topics such as computational thinking, coding, hardware and software, networking and how data is represented. 

In Year 7, you will learn how to structure and organise files and folders, keep safe online, effectively search the web and code in Scratch and. You will be challenged to create a digital workbook that records your progress and demonstrate your ICT skills.

 

In Year 8 you will build upon your knowledge and study the function of the CPU, learn what happens when a device is switched on and how data is stored.  You will expand your knowledge of algorithms and computational thinking.  Lessons will cover new and emerging technologies, you will determine whether computers are smart are smart on not!  Coding lesson will also develop your knowledge and skills and take you to the next level using Python language.

 

Year 9 gives you a taster of what BTEC Digital Information Technology is all about!  You will study the law and how organisations have a responsibility to keep data safe.  You will study the mechanics of creating spreadsheets for data analysis, further develop your knowledge on digital threats and showcase your creative side by producing a prototype for an interface project.  Computing careers and opportunities are embedded throughout the rotation giving you information on a possible future career in Computing!

 

What do we offer beyond the classroom?

Homework tasks are set regularly throughout the rotation to support and enhance learning outside of the classroom.

Opportunities for pupils to take part in creating digital promotional materials to showcase what St George’s school has to offer

During your KS3 time at St George’s you will spend a 6 week rotation of Food Technology in years 7, 8 and 9. In this time, you will cover a wide variety of practical sessions which cover a healthy balanced diet and family meals. You will also cover a broad range of theory relating to health and safety, healthy eating and the needs of others. You will learn lots of skills throughout your time in the kitchen, lessons are fun, engaging and cover everybody’s needs.

During year 7 we look at the basic skills of the kitchen. We will cover kitchen safety, food safety, knife skills and a balanced diet. You will look at a range of practical skills throughout your practical sessions

During year 9 we will cover skill based practical sessions with links to the hospitality and catering industry. We will showcase practical skills though bread and pastry making, knife skills and dietary needs.

What do we offer beyond the classroom?

• Cooking club
• Entering of local cooking competitions
• The opportunity to showcase learnt knowledge in the home.
• Students will learn the importance of personal safety, kitchen safety and food safety throughout the time spent in Food Technology.

The following gives examples of outcomes made in the rotation:

Year 7- Back to basics

• Fruit Salad
• Apple Crumble
• Pasta Salad
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Vegetable stir fry

Year 8 - Multicultural/ Needs of others

• Meatballs and a tomato sauce
• Pizza
• Jam Tarts
• Cheesecake
• Shortbread

Year 9- Advanced skills

• Spring Rolls
• Macaroni Cheese
• Foccacia
• Swiss Roll
• Savoury Quiche

Music is a creative subject and taught in rotation with other creative subjects. In Key stage 3 music you will be taught a range of practical skills, composition and learn to play an instrument to facilitate this. Lessons are fun and informative and offer many opportunities for you to pursue and develop your musical talent now and as a future career. 

When you start in music you will have an opportunity to discuss and share your previous experience of music, instrumental lessons and if you would like to learn to play an instrument / voice and join one of the extra-curricular activities which are all free. There are instruments available for you to borrow / hire if you need to. In year 7 you will learn about the musical elements which combine to create a piece of music, how to play an instrument and how to develop and practise to successfully develop your musical knowledge and understanding implementing the elements.

In year 8, your learning will build and develop the work that you completed in year 7; you will investigate more sophisticated musical techniques and research how they affect the audience, how techniques are used in films and television, play drums and compose your own music using the skills that you have been developing in year 7 and 8.

Year 9 involves tracking popular music from its roots in The Blues through the 20^th century and how popular has developed and moved forward with the use of instruments, vocals and technology. You will investigate and research artists and ultimately write your own blues music using everything that you have learnt through KS3 to support your composition journey.

 

What do we offer beyond the classroom?

There are a range of opportunities for pupils in music, including:-

Instrumental lessons with peripatetic teachers – voice, clarinet, flute, saxophone, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, violin, ‘cello, French Horn, drums, piano, keyboard, percussion…other instrument lessons may be possible if there is something not included in this list.

 

Also, there are a variety of ensembles to join – school band, rock band, guitar group, Dragons Ensemble (singing group), Performance Club (for all types of performances), theory of music and composition club.

St. George’s music department regularly visits the local community and enjoys entertaining people at local residential homes, churches for example.

We hold regular events which celebrate pupil’s achievements and progress, family and friends are encouraged to attend and enjoy our amazing pupils and their wonderful skill and talent.

Pupils are encouraged to participate in events to showcase their ability and to offer an opportunity to develop their confidence and experiences performing to an audience.

Year 7 and Year 9 have Personal Development as part of their Subject Rotation.

 

Year 7 & 9 PD  - 2022 2023
Theme	Lesson	Title	Learning intention	Content
Health and Wellbeing	1	Respectful relationships	To recognise positive, respectful relationships	Establishing class ground rules/contract, what happens when you seek help. Express and manage emotions in a constructive/safe way (the language of wellbeing)  Qualitites of healthy and unhealthy relationships.
Health and Wellbeing	2	Drugs and alcohol	Understand how to manage influences relating to drugs, alcohol and smoking and the effects of substances, including dependence and addiction.	Medicinal and recreational drugs, managing risks and  influences relating to caffeine, smoking, alcohol and substances. Habit and dependence and the science of addiction,
Health and Wellbeing	3	Mindfulness and managing anxiety	Describe ways to prcatice mindfulness and the benefits it can have on our wellbeing	Personal development workshop incl mindfulness, negativity bias, primitive brain, managing unwanted thoughts. Managing stress and anxiety (anger) and assessment anxiety. Signposting to sources of help for students.
Relationship and sexual education	4	Diversity and Discrimination	Identify whether situations show prejudice or not and explain the nine protected characteristics of the 2010 equality act	Diversity, recognising prejudice and discrimination. British values,  Protected characteristics.
Relationship and sexual education	5	Healthy and safe relationships	To recognise how we keep healthy and safe relationships	Evaluate expectations for romantic relationships, consent (law & communication),  recognise and respond to innapropriate and unwanted contact, how to assess risks and manage influences including online, risks of sexting.
Living in the Wider World	6	Developing the skills and aspirations for careers	To explore career types and patterns of work	Identifying careers which match students interests or personality profile. Explain the working hours and required skills of chosen  careers. Use Labour Market Information to find out more about  chosen careers

During your KS3 time at St George’s you will spend a 6 week rotation of Resistant Materials in years 7, 8 and 9. In this time you will create an array of products that will teach you a range of practical skills, designing skills and problem solving skills. The lessons are fun yet informative, and relatable to real life scenarios allowing you to recall on these skills again in the future.

In year 7 we create a coat hook from steel. This project allows you to become familiar with the workshop, its tools and machinery. After learning how to mark out, shape, drill, bend the metal and then add a finish to protect it, you soon become confident in using the workshop and in your practical and problem solving skills.

In year 8 we have a choice of two projects one is a paired project to recreate a table top Trebuchet. The other is a small individual project that results in you creating a cork topped Automata. The Automata sees you come up with a solution to a problem. The Automata moves using energy that you create and the outcomes have been amazing so far (please see above!) The Trebuchet teaches you about angles of projection and problem solving.

Year 9 would see you put all your skills to use to create a pendant/ keyring from a low melt metal called pewter. During this project you create a 3 part MDF mould that you produce using the laser cutter, these are stuck together sometimes with an acrylic decoration that gets embedded within the pewter, these are then filed and polished to a high standard and the outcomes are very impressive.

What do we offer beyond the classroom?

• We run STEM competitions with local Engineering Companies.
• The students can attend CAD (Computer Aided Design) Workshops.
• We give the opportunity to experience hands on assembly and disassembly of products.
• We run Christmas and Easter craft and enterprise workshops.

Drama is taught in Year 8 as part of the KS3 rotation.  Drama is the expression and exploration of personal, cultural and social worlds through role play and character exploration. The teaching of Drama at St George’s aims to engage, build independence and challenge its pupils. Pupils will create meaning as drama makers, performers and audiences as they enjoy and analyse their own and others' stories and points of view.

At St George’s Drama is taught as a skill based subject that equips pupils with the knowledge to allow further exploration beyond the classroom.  It is also a subject that supports the development of communication skills, confidence building and a deeper understanding of difference with people and communities, thus developing compassion for all as they explore different people in different situations.

 

There are 7 transferable and life skills that can be developed through our drama lessons.

• Communication.
• Confidence.
• Teamwork and leadership.
• Listening and responding.
• Creativity.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Time management.