Download - Handbook year 8 - 2013.14

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

Telephone:

96 142 41 74

Email:

[email protected]

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

WELCOME!

Dear Parents,

We are delighted to welcome your son/daughter to Year 8.

Within this handbook I hope that you will find all the useful

information that you and your child require to enjoy a great year at

Caxton College. As well as lots of practical information concerning

the running of the school, we have also included advice and

recommendations from the Heads of Department involved in your

child’s education.

Finally, may I say that we aim to provide your child with a secure

and friendly working environment, in which the academic and social

features of learning can prosper to the full.

Pauline Larbaigt

Coordinadora de Year 8

CONTENTS

Secondary Educational

System ......................... 2

IPad Project ………………………..3

Tutorials ........................ 4

Assessment & Reporting......5

Progression Policy ………………..6

Subjects ........................ 7

Complementary Activities....22

Extra-Curricular Activities..23

Homework.......................23

School material.................24

Transport........................24

KEY STAGE 3

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

THE SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

"Accept responsibil-ity for your actions, and adopt a healthy

attitude to life”

Spanish System British System Cycles Public Examinations

6º Primaria Year 7 KEY

STAGE 3

1º ESO Year 8

2º ESO Year 9 IGCSE ESL

3º ESO Year 10 KEY STAGE 4

4º ESO Year 11 IGCSE

1º Bachillerato Year 12 SIXTH FORM

AS level/

Advanced level 2º Bachillerato Year 13

2

Secondary Education in Caxton

College covers 3 key stages as follows:

“Key Stage 3” (Year 7 to Year 9)

“Key Stage 4” (Year 10 & 11)

“Sixth Form” (Year 12 & 13).

This period covers the teenage years

of our students (from 11 to 18 years

old), which is why we consider this to

be the ideal time, not only to instil in

them good study habits, but also to

make them responsible for their own

actions and decisions, to show them

how to make the best use of their

leisure time and, of course, to try to

mould them into better people.

At this time, the tightly-linked

cooperation of teachers, parents

and students is essential. As a

result of this collaboration between

the school and the home, our students

obtain excellent results with which to

apply for University, while, on the

way, they grow into excellent

individuals.

In Key Stage 3 (Years 7—9),

students must study all the subjects in

the British Curriculum and they must

pass them in order to progress onto

the following year.

In Year 10, students start their 4th

and final obligatory key stage, a very

important stage in their education,

lasting 2 years.

Caxton College is a recognised

examination centre for the University

of Cambridge examination board

(CIE) as well as the Edexcel London

Board. In Year 9 students sit IGCSE

ESL (English as a Second

Language), so that they can focus on

the EFL (First Language English)

exam for IGCSE throughout Years 10

and 11. In Year 11 pupils sit their

IGCSE exams (International General

Certificate of Secondary Education),

thereby enabling them to obtain the

Certificate of ESO in the Spanish

system (Certificate of Obligatory

Secondary Education).

The IGCSE exams are a very

important part of our students’

education. Access to Sixth Form

depends on their grades from Year 11.

At present, in order to gain access to

Spanish Universities, students

submit their A Level grades as well as

those obtained in 2 extra Spanish

subjects which are chosen by the

students themselves, depending on

the career they wish to follow in the

future.

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

PROYECTO IPAD

In Caxton College our aim is to always be at the forefront

of education, and we constantly strive to offer the highest

quality teaching and learning methods.

The introduction of new technologies has had a very

positive effect on our students, allowing them to

experience interactive activities and to develop their

potential as individual learners. IPads are used as an

alternative tool for learning, with teachers carefully

choosing the most appropriate method for the topic in

question: textbooks, oral discussion in class, or the use of

kindles. In addition, iPads allow the students to learn in

any place and at any time, and thus enable them to share

their knowledge in a variety of ways and with a wide

range of people.

We have recently launched Project 1:1 iPads for students from Years 7 and 8, which means that every child

in these year groups will bring their own iPad to school. The iPads are used in all areas of the curriculum

with the aim of encouraging the students to take more responsibility for their own learning, to develop

creativity and improve teamwork.

Students from Year 9 to Year 11 regularly work on the school iPads (we have two fully-equipped trolleys for

this purpose, with 26 iPads on each), which can be used for different purposes: Students can film

performances and presentations in order to self-assess their work; make their own films (using iMovie) at

the end of a topic, use the Pages app to develop their ability to create texts, and even carry out scientific

experiments with them.

Some of the positive changes that we have identified in our students following the introduction of the use

of iPads as an education tool are as follows:

They are more committed to their own learning, more motivated and willing to work harder.

Their levels of self—confidence and attitude towards their own learning have improved.

They are able to finish a greater number of tasks and reach higher targets than those predicted.

They are responsible for their own iPads.

The iPads allow them a greater freedom of choice, and thus, a greater sense of responsibility

regarding their work.

They face up to challenges and use their own reasoning and skills to solve problems.

We are really looking forward to continuing this exciting and challenging journey on the iPad Project!

3

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

TUTORIALS / COMMUNICATIONS VIA THE WEB

Personal & Social Education

At school great importance is placed upon the personal

development of our pupils, as this is the basis of everything

they will do in the future.

PSHE:

Year 8 students attend a weekly class in Personal, Social,

Health Education. This is a time for thought and for

personal and group work, following a programme of

“Education in Values”.

Solidarity in the Classroom:

In addition, in school students take part in the Programme

“Solidarity in the Classroom” created by Fundar, the

Foundation for Solidarity and Volunteer work in the

Valencian Community.

The activities contained in the Programme are designed to

instil values such as good relations, tolerance, cultural

diversity and voluntary work with the aim of making the

whole educational community more aware of, and

committed to, these values.

1. The students have the help of a tutor throughout

Secondary school. Students meet their tutor first thing

every morning.

The tutor is responsible for monitoring individual

students and, holds one-to-one interviews with them

periodically to give them any support or advice they may

need.

As well as the meetings with tutors held by the school,

parents can always request a personal interview to talk

about their child’s progress whenever they wish.

2. During tutorials, students learn Public Speaking skills,

give talks and hold debates.

They will also receive career guidance and learn study

techniques.

3. The school web page now includes a private area for

parents, where they can send and receive emails, follow

their child’s Progress List which is updated weekly, see

term grades and receive documentation such as

handbooks, talks from the Psychologist and other items

of interest.

4

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

5

In Year 8 there are three assessment periods. At the

end of each one, parents will receive a report with the

grades achieved by their child in both academic per-

formance and effort.

In all subjects taught in English, teachers assess using

National Curriculum criteria, as occurs in all British

centres abroad. These are then converted to a Caxton

grading scale from A to E.

There are exams at the end of every term, and final

exams in the third term in the core subjects. They

make up 30% of the final year grade in the Brit-

ish subjects, and 20% of the year grade in the

Spanish subjects.

At the end of the year, all pupils who fail to achieve at

least a grade C in any subject will be required to sit an

exam in August.

Grades:

Please note that the grades A—E will often feature a +

or – sign to indicate a student’s position in relation to

the actual criteria, and provides better differentiation

among the students. For example a C+ would indicate

achievement heading in the direction of improvement

towards the next grade, whereas a C- serves to illus-

trate that the student is falling short of a grade.

<<<Examinations and Tests

ASSESSMENTS & REPORTS>>>

Exams are very important in order to consoli-

date knowledge and to gain an objective pic-

ture of a child’s progress.

They also prepare students for future external

British examinations.

Parents should bear in mind that students may

not repeat examinations except in very serious

or exceptional circumstances. We recommend

that you do not plan any family trips or other

activities which would oblige your child to miss

any school days.

If a student misses an exam or tests, they

must provide a medical certificate. If not,

they will receive a zero mark.

If a student has an unjustified absent the

day before or the day of an examination,

they will not be allowed to sit the exam,

and they will receive a zero grade.

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

6

<<<Criteria for Progression from Year 8 to Year 9

A pass grade at this level represents grades A to C

Students will only be allowed to progress to the

next year with a maximum of one subject failed.

In order to sit subjects failed in June, there is a

re-sit evaluation at the end of August.

Students can only re-sit exams during the August

evaluation with a maximum of 3 subjects failed.

If a student has failed more subjects, a panel of

teaching staff will decide whether the student

will be able to repeat the year or not.

In some subjects, the re-sits may consist of a

project to be handed in, instead of an exam.

Special consideration will be given to foreign

students in their first year in the school as

regards Spanish and Social Sciences.

In addition:

Students must demonstrate an adequate level of

study skills, behaviour and effort for entering the

following year group.

From the first term, students will be monitored by subject teachers and the relevant Head of Department if they have been identified as failing in a subject. They will be set specific targets for improvement.

Those students who are failing in a number of subjects will also be monitored by their Head of Year.

Parents of these pupils will be contacted periodically during the term in order to give added feedback on their child’s academic development in a particular subject area.

If, during the term, a student shows measurable signs of improvement, he/she will no longer be monitored and can work independently.

<<<Monitoring of “At Risk”

students

Private Classes >>>

If your child has a private tutor for any subject, we

recommend that you let his/her tutor know. This helps to

build up an understanding of your child’s commitment and

approach to learning.

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

SUBJECT INFORMATION

ENGLISH>>>

Head of Department: Stephen Miller

Assessment Policy: Assessment is ongoing throughout

the year, both in class (through conversation, drama, essays

etc) and by means of homework.

There are regular core assessments for the year group, as

well as an end-of-year exam, which is worth 30% of the

final grade.

Homework: Homework is given once per week and

students are expected to spend approximately 45 minutes

on it . All students are expected to read two extra books in

English per term. These may come from the library, home

or be bought (the school will recommend books). Students

will complete a book review for each book read. This

should be signed by parents.

IPad Project: Ipads will be used with the aim of

improving listening comprehension, speaking fluency in

English and pronunciation. The apps that the students will

use are: Key Note, Pages, Showbie and iMovie.

Nº of classes per 2-week cycle: 8

Web Pages:

- www.bbc.co.uk/KS3bitesize/english

- www.revisionaid.co.uk

- www.channel4.com/learning

- www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites

First Term Second Term Third Term

Advertising Prose: Cirque de Freak: Darren Shan

Communication unit

Literary Non-Fiction: “Shackleton”

Genre: Diary writing

Poerty (ballads & lyrics) Short stories and detective writing

“Noughts and Crosses”

7

From Years 7 to 9 students study

the following subjects:

English Language & Literature

Mathematics

A Foreign Language (French or

German)

Art, Music & ICT

British History and Geography

Religion or Ethics

Science

Career Skills (Personal

Development)

Physical Education

PSHE (Formación Humana)

Spanish Language & Literature

Spanish History & Geography

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

8

Recommendations:

How to help with reading: : Students should have access

to books or magazines in English and develop the habit of

reading them. When you watch films at home, try to watch

them in English with subtitles in English, this will improve your

child’s reading ability and comprehension.

Remember that talking about reading is very important, so

discussing a book will also help to develop their reading

comprehension skills .

Keep reading time relaxed, comfortable and pleasurable; a

quiet place, with the television turned off is best.

As your child progresses, talk about authors, characters,

themes and plots or what new information has been learnt .

If your child reads silently ask him/her to re-tell the part that

has been read and encourage the 'pointing out' of relevant

sections in the text.

If your child has hobbies and interests, encourage him/her to

read about these in English.

Helping with written homework:

Always ask your child if they have checked punctuation,

grammar and spelling in his/her written homework.

Encourage your child to use a dictionary when doing

homework. This will help to check spellings and to broaden

their vocabulary.

A thesaurus can also help your child to broaden and vary his

or her vocabulary .

English books: Book fairs are held in the school several times

a year, and there are reading books available in the school shop

and in the library.

English courses abroad: Many parents have opted to take

or send their son/daughter to England during vacations. This

has immense benefits for the development of the use and

understanding of the language in a range of contexts.

The school can advise you on the best course for your needs,

about which we have detailed information, and know

personally.

MATHEMATICS>>>

Head of Department: Kevin Worthington

Homework: Homework will be set once per week and should

last about 1 hour. In addition, pupils are encouraged to set

aside some time over the weekend to go over their work and

highlight any problems.


Class Structure: For the purposes of teaching Maths, Year 8

pupils are first separated into two bands according to tutor

group; for example, tutor groups 8A&B and 8C&D. For each

band there will be 3 Maths groups, setted by ability. The higher

groups will contain the most able students while the lower

group will contain those students who continue to experience

difficulties in the subject. These groups will be monitored close-

ly and changes made as and when required throughout the year.


Negative Numbers, Factors, Powers & Roots

Area of Triangles and Parallelograms, Volume of Cuboids.

Stem & Leaf, Pie Charts, Scatter Graphs.

Angle Rules, Quadrilaterals, Constructions.

Graphs, Gradient of a Line, Real-life Graphs.

Order of Operations, Decimals Multiplication and Division.

Probability, Experimental Probability.

Powers of 10, Estimation, 4 Rules with Decimals, Efficient Calculations.

Changing the Subject of a Formula.

Fractions and Decimals, Percentage Changes.

Congruence, Transformations, Shape and Ratio.

Proportion, Ratio.

Simplifying & Expanding, Index Notation.

Solving Equations, Substitution. Circumference and Area of a Circle, Bearings, Scale Drawings.

Data Comparison and Representation.

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

SCIENCE>>>

9

Homework: Homework will be set

once a week.

Assessment Policy: There will be

one summative assessment during

each topic. These are the assessments

that form the term grade. The end of

year grade is an average of the three

term grades + the end of year exam

(30% of total).

IPad Project: Students will use their

iPads daily as if they were a textbook.

They will carry out experiments and

analyse the results afterwards. They

can access interactive Periodic Tables

using the iPads and use apps to

measure volume, and the different

wavelengths of sounds, etc. The apps

they will use are: GoogleDrive, iMovie,

iMotion HD, Keynote and Pages.

Web Pages: We recommend visiting

the following sites. :

w w w . b b c . c o . u k / s c h o o l s /

ks3bitesize/

www.school.discovery.com

www.scifun.chem


Recommendations:

Pupils should not leave their

revision to the last minute.

It is important that the pupils use

their KS3 Revision Guides as much

as possible to support the work they

are covering in class.

It is important to use both the

textbook and their notebooks to

revise from.

Doddle Learn and Caxton Tic are

excellent resources, full of summary

presentations and quizzes.

T h e r e i s a “ S c i e n t i f i c

E x p e r i m e n t s ” w o r k s h o p

available during clubs time on

Wednesdays.

Assessment Policy: Assessment through homework and

classwork will take place continually throughout the year.

Exams will be tailored to the level of the pupils in each group

and the results of these exams will be used to determine

group placements and movements. The end of year exam is

worth 40% of the final grade.

Web Pages:

www.myimaths.co.uk

www.channel4learning.com/apps/homeworkhigh

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revision

Recommendations: Each student will have a practice

book which should be used on a regular basis alongside the

main text to help support and reinforce their learning. This

resource is invaluable in preparing for end of unit exams.

Parents should check pupils’ work regularly, sign any

internal tests and make sure pupils have the correct

mathematical equipment.


The Periodic Table Light People & the Environment

Heating and Cooling Sound Inside materials

Acids & metal reactions Digestion & nutrition

*Order may vary within year group.

Head of Key Stage 3: Nicola Porch

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

<<<Forming Groups in the Core British Subjects

10

Teaching groups in the Core Subjects:

With the aim of addressing the needs of all our

students, and maximising their academic potential,

the core British subjects English, Maths and Science

are organised in flexible class groups which do not

always correspond to their tutor groups.

The main characteristics of these groups are:

All the groups follow the same curriculum

They all sit the same exams

The teachers use different pedagogic styles.

The three subjects have different policies which are

outlined below.

English

In English, Years 7—9 have 2 support groups, with a

maximum number of 10 students in each, which

allows for more intensive support. The rest of the

pupils are distributed in groups of different mixed

levels.

The support groups are decided within the

department, and are based upon different criteria:

In Year 7:— the information provided by their

Year 6 teachers, including the results of KS2

SATs.

In Year 8 & 9:— data from previous years,

including internal assessments, teachers’

observations and end of year exams.

In Years 10 & 11:— the results of the ESL

external exam from year 9 are taken into

account.

Science

In Years 7 to 9 students are taught in tutor groups.

However, in Years 10 and 11 there are two high

ability groups, where students have achieved A or

high B grades the previous year.

Maths

From the moment students start in Secondary, they

are taught in ability groups according to the

following criteria:

In Year 7: information provided by their Year 6

teachers, taking in to account work and internal

and external assessments done during the year.

In Year 8, 9, 10 & 11: internal assessment data,

teacher observations and end of year exams.

Students in all groups will all use the same

textbooks.

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

Homework: Once a week. It is

important for the work to be

supervised at home.

Assessment Policy: This subject

will be continually assessed by means

of regular tests on what is taught in

class. As well as this, classwork,

projects, etc. will be graded. All of

these grades go to make up 75% of

the term grade, with the remaining

25% being awarded for essays

written as homework. There will be

an end of year exam, which is worth

20% of the Year 8 end of year grade.

The final grade will be the average of

the three term grades, plus the final

exam grade.

IPad Project: iPpads will be used to

help students gain a more thorough

understanding of the subject (in the

areas of vocabulary, spelling,

summaries, and searching for

information). The apps used will be:

digital textbook, Blink, RAE

dictionary, Pages, Keynotes, iMovie,

Showbie, Inspiration and Prezi.

Web pages:

Real Academia de la Lengua:

www.rae.es

Caxtoncollegetic


Recommendations:

Consult the Caxton tic web page

regularly;

Read your own books at home and

hand in book reports to your

teacher;

Study and revise regularly at home

in order to develop

good study habits.

SPANISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE>>>

Head of Department: Mar González

11


Unit 1: Communication;

Keeping a diary;

Nouns

Unit 5: Dialogues;

Adverbs

Unit 9: Poetry and its

themes;

Word structures

Unit 2: Descriptions;

Qualifying adjectives

Unit 6: Presentations;

Sentences

Unit 10: Stories; prefixes &

suffixes

Unit 3: Narrative;

Articles and

determinative adjectives.

Unit 7: Literary language;

Subjects & predicates

Unit 11: Narrative sub-

genres;

Lexical families

Unit 4: Journalistic texts;

Verbs Unit 8: Poetry and prose

Unit 12: Dramatic language;

Synonyms, antonyms,

homonyms & polysemy.

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

SOCIAL SCIENCES>>>

Head of Department: Mª Carmen López

12


The Iberian peninsula in Ancient

times Feudal Europe

The Hispanic

kingdoms during the

Middle Ages Europe and Spain at the start of

the Middle Ages

Religion and culture in the

Middle Ages

Homework: Homework will be set

once a week.

As se ss ment Policy: t h r ee

evaluations plus final exam.

Within each evaluation period there

will be several tests: the average

mark, along with the grades given to

homework and/or class projects, will

add up to the final evaluation grade.

End of year grade: Will consist of

average of all three evaluation

periods plus the final exam. (20% of

total)

Web Pages: Nowadays there are a

large quantity of web pages about

History and Geography. Below we

highlight some of them, which cover

general topics. For specific topics,

students can consult their text book,

and in every unit we refer them to

interesting and useful pages, related to

what they are studying.

www.wikipedia.es

www.educahistoria.com

- www.artehistoria.com


Recommendations: In this subject

the pupil has to understand and

comprehend the subject, not just

memorize the course content. In this

way the student can establish links

between the different concepts.

Projects should be carefully prepared

during the time allocated and NOT the

day before.

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

Homework: to be handed in once a week.

Assessment Policy: This subject will be assessed depending

on a final Project to be assigned by the teacher. Furthermore,

homework, classwork (both individual and group work), and the

study of basic prayers will add to the grade. The pupil’s

participation and attitude will also add to the final grade.

It is important for students to realise that not handing in the

project means they will fail the subject.

IPad Project: IPads will be used not only to support the

textbook, but also to learn more about other religions, the Bible,

history and religious traditions. The Apps to be used are:

Blinklearning, Numbers, Keynotes and Inspiration.


Web pages:

www.enciclopediacatolica.com (reference page)

www.anayadigital.com

When covering each topic, the teacher will suggest more sites

related to the themes discussed in each lesson.

Recommendations: Students need to remember that

Religion is not just a subject but also a way of life, therefore the

pupils’ education should be shared with the families, and

reinforced through discussion of topics at home, practising basic

prayers, etc.

Note: In Years 10 & 11, Catechesis in preparation for the

Confirmation is taught outside the school timetable, after

5.00pm. In order to be allowed to attend, students should have

attended Religion classes since they started their Secondary

education.

Homework: Required once a week, which usually con-

sists of unfinished class work.

Assessment Policy: The evaluation consists of handing

in a project to be set by the teacher. Apart from the pro-

ject, the work during class time and homework will be

evaluated. Participation and the pupil’s effort during les-

sons will also add to the final grade at the end of the term.

It is important for students to realise that not handing in

the project means they will fail the subject.

Web pages: When appropriate, the teacher will inform

the pupils about the most interesting pages they should

visit for each topic they cover in each lesson .


Head of Department: Almudena Cózar Ethics>>>


- Rules & fairness, rights &

Responsibilities

- Most important religions of the world

Developing debating skills

Communities & identities

Living together in communities

Developing research skills

Being a global citizen

Images of rich and poor countries in the

world

The impact of tourism

RELIGION/ETHICS>>> Students are free to choose one of these subjects,

but they will not be allowed to change once the year has started.

Course Content: We aim to make students aware of the phenomenon that is religion as a base for understanding other

religions, and of the uniqueness of the Christian faith. Students will learn basic prayers as well as the course content.

Religion>>>


The earliest religions Jesus Christ, our greatest treasure Man: God’s chosen creature

The ancient Gods The Feast of the Kingdom of Heaven Sin

India, the country of a million Gods God and creation God will remain here with us

13

Head of Department: Almudena Cózar

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

Head of Department: Carolina Cebrián

Career Skills>>> Head of Department: J J Wisden

Assessment: Students will be assessed on their ability to

engage in public speaking activities, contributions in class

and from their workbooks.


Homework: Will be set over the course of the term.

Objectives: -Students will be encouraged to take on

leadership roles within the lessons, taking on

responsibilities, motivating others and being a positive role

model within the class, year group and the whole school.

-Students will be focusing on different issues within society

that they can debate and discuss- then form presentations

around these issues.

-To focus students on what they would like to do in the

future (Careers)

-Students will also be concentrating on effective study skills,

time management, organisation and revision techniques.

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, you are a lead-

er."- John Quincy Adams

Coursework: We will follow the in-house PSC exercise

handbook

Homework: to be handed in when set, on the day that they

have class.

IPad Project: IPads will be used to prepare projects and

work such as role-plays. The apps to be used are: iMovie,

Showbie, Prezi and Pages. Also, students will study values

such as tolerance and diversity using the app “Vivir los

Valores” (Living Values).


Assessment Policy: The work during class time and

homework will be evaluated. It is important for students

to realise that not handing in the project means they

will fail the subject.

PSHE >>> Our main aim this year is to develop the ability to expressing our

wishes, feelings or requests, to accept and understand others and comprehend

the different sides of a conflict or problem.


Election of form representatives

Study skills– focus on testing, memory

activities, how to be successful

Your future: Research project on

careers within their families or friends

Civil Eights and impact on

prejudice and discrimination

Working together – Project on looking

after the School Grounds

Research project – working together

looking at the influence of the media

Cyber safety

Review of skills acquired

throughout the year


Good relations within a group The influence of stereotypes Being ourselves

Our good qualities and flaws Risks of tobacco & alcohol Understanding ourselves

through music

Learning how to treat others Equal opportunities Assertiveness

Dialogue: Listen and respect

14

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

Homework: Students will be

assigned homework once a week,

which will normally consist of

reviewing class theory (grammar o

vocabulary) or a reading or written

assignment .

Assessment Policy: Class work,

consisting of the student’s written

work (Workbook) and oral

participation, will be assessed

during the whole term and will

account for 50% of the term grade.

The other half of the assessment will

consist of a combination of writing,

reading, listening and speaking.

IPad Project: IPads will help the

students to broaden their knowledge

of the language, but more

importantly, they will serve to

practise it in an educational and

original manner: to record

conversations, work on role-plays,

mini performances, making posters

and presentations, searching for

information on the internet when

necessary and using linguistic web

sites. In addition, students will

download specific apps for this

language.

Web pages:

www.languagesonline.org.uk

www.linguascope.com (see

teacher for login code).

Nº of classes per 2-week cycle:

4

Recommendations: Students’

continuous effort will ensure

progress in this subject; thus the

i m p o r t a n c e o f c o m p l e t i n g

homework (about 30 minutes

weekly), of constantly revising and

memorizing the theory seen in class

(vocabulary, spelling, grammar, etc).

We would also recommend regular

reading at home.

Students can attend a French

c o n v e r s a t i o n c l u b o n

Wednesdays if they wish.

15

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES>>>

As well as the other languages the school offers to complete their education, the Year 8 students continue with their third modern language: French or German.

French>>>


Family Going out Travel and holidays

Home Jobs Countries

Free time Food & Drinks Friends

Clothing At the restaurant

Head of Department: Cathy Desbois

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

16

Homework: Students get one homework task per

week, usually either a learning task (grammar or

vocabulary) or a written task.

Assessment Policy: Class work, consisting of the

student’s written work (Workbook) and oral

participation, will be assessed during the whole term

and will account for 50% of the term grade. The other

half of the assessment will consist of a combination of

writing, reading, listening and speaking.

IPad Project: IPads will be used to share work (for

warm-up activities, homework, etc). The apps to be

used are: Showbie, Pages, Keynote and German

Dictionary App.

Web pages:

www.germanfortravellers.com

www.languagegames.org/la/german.asp

www.atschool.eduweb.co.uk/haberg/

reallyusefulge

www.linguascope.com (see teacher for login code).


Recommendations: Please support our teaching

staff by monitoring your child’s homework: learning

should be done frequently over the week for short

spells (5 minutes per day) with necessary attention to

spelling; also, it must be noted that a written

homework should take between 20 and 30 minutes.

Students can attend a German conversation

club on Wednesdays if they wish.

Head of Department: Melissa Baxter

German>>>


Holidays Shopping & Food Health

Past tenses After school Going out

An exchange visit

“He who speaks two languages

also doubles his worth.”

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

17

ART>>>

Head of Department: Liz Edwards


Literary Response:

An Art ´book´ will be created in

response to a selected poem

combining

text with sculptural form & images.

This will be preceded by

experimentation with paper

engineering and studying the work

of illustrators from a wide range of

disciplines including comic strips.

This project will involve team work

and inter- house competition.

Artist Inspired Object:

Research into a broad range of Art

movements and artists will form the

basis for creative designs of an

everyday object, such as a chair or a

shoe. These designs will then be

created as 3D models which reflect the

essence of the inspirational artists

selected.

Mexican Art & Craft:

Working from both the cultural

heritage of ancient and contemporary

Mexico, pupils will explore a range of

media including press-print, foil

embossing, painting, collage and 3D

modelling. A personalised piece of

work in the style of Mexican Folk Art

will conclude the project.

Homework: Homework is set every two weeks and a

list of the required tasks should be found attached to the

inside back cover of pupil sketchbooks.

Assessment: Assessment takes the form of teacher,

peer and pupil’s self -assessment on a regular basis. This

will be verbal as well as written; “Assessment for

Learning” is an integral part of every Art lesson.

The awarding of A- D grades for attainment reflects the

extent to which pupils meet the expected British KS3

levels for their age group, with a C grade or above

indicating that they are meeting the required level.

Web pages (for artist research):

www.the-artists.org

www.artcyclopedia.com

www.finesite.webart.ru

www.tate.org.uk


Recommendations: The habit of carrying a small (A5)

sketchbook around on a regular should be encouraged; it

enables pupils to respond to stimuli from real life

observation. This can include impressions of moving

objects in a matter of seconds, extended studies of

subjects in their environment (at the beach or waiting for

an appointment, for example) as well as notes made in

Art galleries, inspirational thoughts, quotations, poetry,

films, music etc.

An awareness of all the applied Art in our everyday lives

(jewellery, advertising, fashion, architecture, road- signs

etc) should be encouraged.

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

Homework: 1 per two-week cycle. Homework may be longer,

combined tasks.

Assessment Policy: Tests after each unit and continual

assessment over a range of tasks.

IPad Project: Students will use iPads to carry out research on

projects, and to make presentations. The apps to be used

include: Skitch, Google Earth, Popplet, iMovie and Showbie.

Web Pages:

www.swgfl.org.uk/jurassic/coastal3.htm,

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/11_16/site/

geography.shtm

www.census.gov/ipc/www/popclockworld.html

Number of lessons per two-week cycle: 3

Recommendations: Encourage your child to use the Internet

in a constructive way, both for homework and for keeping an

eye on geographical events. See the websites for reference.

“Geography is a key subject for the

future” - Michael Palin

Head of Department: Jeanette Nugent HISTORY>>>


Groups in Tudor society How different were Mary & Elizabeth? Life in Tudor England

Henry VIII The problems of Elizabeth The Industrial Revolution

Luther—changes in religion The Armada Revolution

GEOGRAPHY>>>


Brazil Coasts Environmental Issues

Ecosystems Crime Climate change

Head of Department: Jo Mattingley-Nunn

Homework: Homework may be set once a week and will

normally involve 30 minutes’ work. It may involve a range of

different activities. If a student fails to produce homework on

time a note from parents must be produced stating the reason

for this. Serious problems with homework will be referred to

the Head of Department who will consult with the tutor and

arrange for parents to be seen.

Assessment Policy: At KS3 there are a number of formal

assessments throughout and at the end of the year . These

will assess students’ knowledge to some degree but will focus

primarily on the skills that they have learnt throughout the

term.

History is less about memorizing

dates and terms and more about

using historical skills effectively. The

termly formal assessments will be

supplemented with rolling class

assessment to ensure a broad & fair

range of marks in line with the English National Curriculum

for History.

Web pages:

www.bbc.co.uk/history

www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk

www.schoolhistory.co.uk

www.historyonthenet.com

www.historylearningsite.co.uk


Recommendations: All students are encouraged to take an

active interest in history in a number of ways. This may

include being taken to historical sites, watching historical

films and documentaries and talking to family members about

historical events and people.

In addition, the reading of newspapers is useful, as it helps

develop some historical skills such as source evaluation and

interpretations.

18

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

19

Head of Department: Stephen Neville

Homework: Pupils will receive homework

occasionally, when necessary.

Assessment Policy: Assessment will take the form of

formative and summative assessment.

IPad Project: Students will learn to transfer

information between the iPad and the computer by

means of Gmail and Google Drive. In addition, they will

use the following apps: Keynote, Pages, Numbers,

Socreative and Quizlet.

Web pages:

www.caxtoncollegetic.com

www. teach-ict.com

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize

Www.greenfoot.org


Recommendations:

- We recommend that all Year 8 pupils have a set of

headphones ( preferably small ones which are more

easily stored and carried around and not expensive

ones).

- Children should be encouraged and made aware of

technology and technological advancements around

them to keep them up to date with an ever changing

society. They should be encouraged to use computers as

a means of developing and enhancing their research and

communication skills.

- Touch Typing (Keyboarding) Skills: Typing is a

great method to introduce students to computer literacy

and to improve their interaction with the computer. We

use touch typing software called “Typing Platinum”

which emphasises both accuracy and speed in typing.

There is a special emphasis on touch typing so that by

the end of Year 8 students will be familiar with the

correct body and finger posture and learn the letter

positions on the keyboard. The students should be able

to type letter sets at 15 words per minute (WPM).

ICT>>>


ECDL Module 2ª, Units 1-8 3-D Modelling Publishing on the web.

Spreadsheets ICT Theoretical Perspectives

Databases

Touch typing Game Design (Scratch) Microsoft Office Applications

Students in Key Stage

3 will learn to

integrate computer

applications

developed on the

computer and export

and edit them on iPad

devices.

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

Homework: Homework is given every two weeks and is

based on the topics studied in lessons at the time. Students are

given a homework sheet for the term that displays all

homework where the teacher puts the grade and effort to enable

parents to view their progress.

Assessment Policy: Listening and appraising, performing

and composing are assessed through class work, homework &

regular written tests in individual and group activities.

IPad Project: Students will use GarageBand to improve,

by means of sequences and multi-tracks, their ability to

compose. In addition, they will learn the techniques

necessary to create keyboard, percussion and stringed

instruments. The use of an IPad will allow students to

maximise their creative potential.

Web pages:

www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/4_11/music/

mm/orchestra01.shtml

www.earmaster.com

www.audacity.softonic.com

Nº of classes per two-week cycle: 3

Recommendations: The music room is available at specific

lunch times to practise on the class instruments. Students are

able to join extra music clubs to help develop both performance

and group skills. The music teacher is also there to help

students with any queries or doubts they have about the

subject.

“Without music, life is a journey through a desert.” -Pat Conroy

20

Head of Department: Gerry Paci

MUSIC>>>


African Music Variations Indian Music

Reggae & syncopation Jazz improvisation Music & space


Invasion Game I Invasion Game 2 Net Game 2

Net Game Gymnastics Striking Fielding

Fitness Dance Athletics

Swimming

Assessment Policy: At KS3 each activity is allocated

5/6 lessons per unit.

The end of year grade is the average of each term. It is

expected that students will achieve at least a B grade.

Number of lessons per two-week cycle: 6

P.E. Kit: We insist on all students wearing the Caxton P.E.

uniform of:

- polo shirt,

- shorts or tracksuit bottoms,

- white sports socks

- Suitable sport trainers (no Converse trainers).

It is advised that students wear an undershirt or Caxton

tracksuit top on colder days and bring a towel to shower if the

activity requires it.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION>>> Head of Department: Sheryl Howells

*Order may vary within year group.

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

If the correct kit is not available for any reason we require a

note of explanation and other appropriate sporting clothes

should be brought. This will be noted as incorrect kit, but

the student will not receive a low level until 3 incorrect kits

have been accumulated.

If a pupil is unable to take part in the lesson we require a

note. Notes should be written and signed in the student’s

diary on the day of the lesson.

If a student is unable to take part in the physical aspect of

the lesson they should still change into kit and be involved

as much as possible, taking the role of referee or leader.

This will help maintain the professional atmosphere of the

class and keep students who are unable to take part physi-

cally engaged and learning.

Recommendations: It is advised that students should take

part in regular, continuous physical activity 3 to 5 times a

week for a minimum of 20-30 minutes to maintain a healthy

lifestyle.

Assessment Policy: Continual assessment of

classwork throughout the year plus regular testing (twice

a term).

Number of lessons: 4 one-hour sessions a month.

Web Pages: In the page www.cult.gva.es/jqcv it is

possible to ask questions and do mock tests approved by

the JQCV (official Valencian organisation).

Recommendations: Students should be encouraged

to read in Valencian and to try to practise the language

whenever they can outside school.

Head of Department: Pilar Tortonda

VALENCIAN LANGUAGE >>>


Lectures: Un quadern màgic. Els negocis són els negocis. Els Blake, Anem a comprar al centre. - Vocabulari: Elements del cine i del còmic, Les relacions personals, La música i els instruments, La roba.

-Lectures: Dos pares i dues mares, Els lotòfags. - Vocabulari: La familia, La selva i el desert.

-Lectura: Una excel.lent idea, Bernat té un germà.. -Vocabulari: Els jocs populars, L’equipatge.

-Ortografia: Els paréntesis, Els pronoms febles (I), Els pronoms febles (II). -Gramàtica: Els pronoms, El verb: nombre i persona, El verb: temps i mode.

-Ortografia: p/b, t/d i c/g al final de paraula, g, j, tg, tj, b i v. -Gramàtica: Verbs regulars i irregulars, Els adverbis i les locucions adverbials, Les preposicions i les conjuncions.

-Ortografia: x i ix. -Gramàtica: Classes d’oracions, Repàs dels signes de puntuació.

-Expressió oral: Contar una pel.lícula, El carácter de les persones, Les professions. -Expressió escrita: La descripció d’un heroi del cine, La invitació, La narració de ciencia-ficció.

-Expressió oral: La moda, Contar una experiencia familiar. -Expressió escrita: El resum, La ressenya d’un llibre.

-Expressió oral: Les aficions, Els emigrants, Mar o muntanya. -Expressió escrita: El cal.ligrama, El poema, La ruta de viatge.

“The struggle is more important than the victory.”

21

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

<<<Complementary Activities

22

Drama

Throughout the course, students will be

given the opportunity to attend a variety

of dramatic performances, some of them

given by professionals, and others by the

Drama Club which runs during Extra-

Curricular Activities.

In addition, the college puts on whole

school theatre productions for pupils at

specific points during the academic year.

Professional theatre companies are

invited into school on a regular basis. The

productions are in either English or

Spanish. The productions are a valuable

resource for a number of subjects across

the curriculum.

School Trips

The school encourages pupils to develop

their friendships and social interaction

beyond the school day. One of the most

important events in this respect is the

Year Trip. This experience enriches the

sense of companionship and promotes the

group ethos, not only amongst pupils, but

also with regard to the relationships

formed between students and teachers.

Campaigns

Throughout the year different campaigns

are held to promote values amongst the

students such as solidarity, respect,

tolerance towards other nationalities and

cultures and good relationships in the

school.

Games Day, Athletics Day

& Swimming Gala

The PE department arranges 3 Inter-

House sports competitions during the

year. “Games Day” primarily consists of

team sports, such as Football and

Basketball, etc.; whilst “Athletics Day”

comprises Field and Track disciplines.

The students can also take part in a

variety of events in the Swimming Gala,

both individual and group. On all of these

days, pupils will have the chance to

demonstrate what they have learned

during PE lessons.

Special Days:

Book Day:

On International Book Day all students

and staff take part in a collective 10

minutes of silent reading of an English

text. They also receive a 1€ book token to

spend at specified book stores.

Talks by Guest Speakers

At certain times in the year, guest

speakers are invited to give talks on

various topics of interest to the students.

Prize-Giving Event

In June, there is a Prize-Giving Evening

for students from Years 7 &8, where their

academic achievements as well as their

efforts are celebrated. Each subject

department awards a diploma to those

students who have obtained the highest

marks in their subject, or made the best

effort this year.

Clubs Activities:

Teachers offer several Workshops so that

students can further their knowledge in

certain subjects, such as: Conversation

clubs in French and German, ICT

workshops or Scientific Experiments.

These are held during clubs time on

Wednesdays, from 3.15 to 4.50 pm.

The Choir (“Sound Lab”), meets almost

every lunchtime in the Music Room.

House System:

The House system at Caxton College is an

essential part of the school community

and provides friendly but fierce

competition for all to get involved in. All

students and teaching staff are allocated

to a House and join in with great

enthusiasm in the challenge of leading

their house to victory. More detailed

information can be found in the “Welcome

to Caxton” handbook.

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

23

HOMEWORK

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Training Healthy

Adolescents

At Caxton College homework is an important and integral part of the learning

process. It:

Provides an opportunity for staff and pupils to check knowledge and

understanding.

Consolidates learning.

Develops and makes demands upon an individual student’s self-discipline, as

well as important study and research skills.

Provides extra practice of work done in class.

Encourages family involvement in children’s learning.

Organisation at home

All pupils will be issued with a homework timetable at the beginning of the academic year. Subject teachers will set

homework according to this timetable and the agreed formula for each subject. Additionally, we recommend that students

devote at least 2 hours a week to those subjects which they feel require more attention.

Sample of Year 8 homework timetable:

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

WEEK A

Spanish

Religion or

Ethics

Social

Sciences

Music

Maths Science

History English

WEEK B Maths English

Arte

Spanish

PSHE

Social

Sciences

French/

German

Science

Geography

Education is not only about the transmission of knowledge, but also about the formation of values, habits and customs.

For this reason, we offer a wide range of extracurricular activities on Wednesday afternoons, including sports, artistic and

academic activities. All students in this Key Stage should enrol in one of these activities as part of their comprehensive

education. Students who do not participate in an extracurricular

activity will have to do supervised private study, including homework.

In May you will receive all the information you need in order to enrol.

Activities begin in September and end in June.

Those students who study Valencian Language will do this during clubs time.

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

24

<<<School Material

<<<School Transport

For Secondary students to go home alone from the school bus stop, written permission is needed from their parents.

Bus changes will not be permitted since the buses are filled to capacity. However, a student will be permitted to make his or her own change from bus to car by requesting this change in Reception. This will not require parental permission.

All students will need:

Pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener, etc.

A 30 cm ruler

1 compass

1 protractor

1 scientific calculator (we recommend Casio FX-85ES or a similar model provided it has the “replay” function).

1 pen-drive of 2 Gb

Exercise books (available in the school shop)

An iPad, minimum size an iPad 2 with 16 GB memory, is recommended to take notes and use in class when the teacher allows it.

Textbooks may be purchased through the school. They

are charged separately and in some cases are used for

two academic years.

Exercise books are available through the school since

they are personalised for our centre.

The fee for school material in Secondary is designated

for general school resources and includes the cost of

laboratory and art resources and photocopies.

It does NOT cover the costs of individual materials.

YEAR 8 HANDBOOK

Download - Handbook year 8 - 2013.14

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