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Our Curriculum Booklet for Secondary

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GEMS Founders School – GFD Secondary Curriculum Overview Booklet

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Our KS3 students are currently consolidating their learning in both table tennis and badminton, applying the skills and techniques they have developed throughout the units. Alongside refining their performance, students are also taking part in a variety of team-building activities, where they are demonstrating the teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills they have developed throughout the year. It has been fantastic to see students working collaboratively, supporting one another, and applying their learning in new and engaging ways.

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This week, our KS3 pupils have been consolidating their learning by revisiting key topics, addressing any gaps in knowledge, and correcting misconceptions from throughout the year. This has given everyone the opportunity to strengthen their understanding and build confidence before the summer break. I have been incredibly impressed with the effort, resilience, and determination our pupils have shown—not just this week, but throughout the entire academic year. They have worked exceptionally hard, embraced new challenges, and made fantastic progress. I am extremely proud of everything they have achieved this year and would like to thank them for their enthusiasm and commitment. I hope they all have a well-deserved, restful summer break, and I look forward to seeing what they accomplish next year.

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Let the Challenge Commence!!! Happy Reading!!

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Let the Challenge Commence!!! Happy Reading!!

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See the resources below to take part in the GEMS Summer Reading Challenge as well as where/how to upload your evidence!

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Summer reading 2026 assembly slide or poster

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Year 7 have been learning about extreme weather, including its causes and impacts.

Year 8 have been studying life in Victorian Britain, focusing on working conditions, child labour and social differences.

Year 9 have been exploring the Cold War, including the Berlin Wall and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Well done to all students for their hard work this week.

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2 weeks to go!

we finish progress tests next week.

Reports are now released- please check your e-mails.

PTCS commence from Monday - details sent out via email and GEMS connect

Rewards trips on Tuesday and Wednesday

End of Year Rewards Assembly - 3rd July.

Attendance, Attendance, Attendacne - please ensure your child is in school every day from now until the end of the year.

bets wishes, Mr Paul.

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This week, Year 7 have been exploring the difference between weather and climate, learning how weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions like rain, wind, and temperature on a day-to-day basis, while climate describes the long-term patterns of weather in a place over many years.

Year 8 have been studying living and working conditions in factories and cities, focusing on the Industrial Revolution and how rapid urbanisation led to overcrowded housing, poor sanitation, and challenging and often unsafe working environments for many people.

Year 9 have been learning about the Berlin Wall and early Cold War tensions, including how Germany was divided after World War II, why the Berlin Wall was built in 1961, and how it became a powerful symbol of the political and ideological conflict between East and West.

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This week in Spanish we are receiving our end of year assessments and exam feedback to improve ahead of next year and our new topic.  we have covered lots of topics and made huge progress in our first year of learning another language - muy bien!

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This week in Humanities:

Year 7 have been studying the Black Death. They have explored how the disease spread across Europe, the symptoms experienced by those infected, and the impact it had on medieval society. Students have also examined the different methods people used to try to prevent and treat the disease.

Year 8 have been learning about the Industrial Revolution. They have investigated the key inventions and technological developments of the period, as well as how industrialisation transformed work, transport, and everyday life in Britain.

Year 9 have been studying the Cold War. They have explored the origins of the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union, including the impact of the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences and the growing tensions that emerged after the Second World War.

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🏓 Girls' Table Tennis
This week, the girls began their table tennis module, focusing on developing their forehand serve, passing skills, and understanding the basic rules of serving. They also worked on ball and racket familiarisation to build confidence and control. Throughout the lesson, students practised a drill designed to improve consistency and technique before applying their skills in competitive games, where they demonstrated excellent effort and progress.

🏸 Boys' Badminton
The boys started their badminton module this week, learning both the forehand and backhand serve while developing their understanding of the rules of serving. They practised these key techniques through a variety of activities before applying them in game situations. Students showed great enthusiasm and made a strong start to the unit, demonstrating increasing confidence and accuracy in their serving skills during competitive play.

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This week, KS3 students have been completing assessments and engaging in DIRT (Directed Improvement and Reflection Time) tasks. Their attitude and hard work during assessments have been really good, and they have shown strong focus and effort throughout.

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Year 7 are developing their keyboard skills by exploring some of the earliest keyboard instruments. They have also begun practising a range of warm-up exercises designed to improve finger dexterity, coordination and overall keyboard technique.

Year 8 are studying 1950s Rock and Roll music, exploring how music, fashion and the purpose of music have changed over time. They are investigating the cultural impact of this influential genre and its lasting legacy on popular music.

Year 9 have started their final topic of the year, Chart Hits. They are exploring the key ingredients that make a successful song, analysing musical features commonly found in popular chart music and discussing what appeals to modern audiences.

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Happy Eid one and all.

Have a restful break.

We will see you all on 1st June.

Best wishes.

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This week, all KS3 students are completing their assessments and engaging in DIRT (Directed Improvement and Reflection Time) activities. During DIRT, students are carefully reviewing their feedback, identifying areas for improvement, and making clear corrections to strengthen their understanding and responses. They have shown a fantastic attitude so far and are continuing to keep up the hard work.

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This week students spent this week revising and practising key programming concepts to strengthen their understanding and prepare for their upcoming assessment. Revision materials are also shared with them. We wish them all the very best for their upcoming assessments.

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This week, Year 7 have been developing their knowledge and awareness of the different instruments within the orchestra and the specific roles they play in an ensemble. Students have been exploring how different instruments contribute to texture, including melody, harmony, bass line, and rhythm, and how these parts work together to create a full musical piece. Alongside this, students have been working hard in preparation for their upcoming performance assessment of Viva La Vida, focusing on accuracy, rhythm, and developing confidence when performing on the keyboard.

Year 8 students have been continuing to develop their composition and theory skills, with a focus on creating and developing melodies. They have been exploring how musical ideas can be built using repetition, variation, and structure, and how small changes in pitch, rhythm, and dynamics can transform a simple idea into a more engaging musical piece. Students are also strengthening their understanding of how melodies are constructed and how composers develop ideas over time.

Year 9 are developing their listening and composition skills through the study of musical development techniques. They have been focusing on how composers transform musical ideas using augmentation, diminution, retrograde, and inversion. Students are applying these techniques to their own work, developing melodies and experimenting with how changing a motif can alter its character, mood, and impact. This is helping them to build a deeper understanding of how music is structured and developed over time.

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KS3 girls have been learning the rules of serving in badminton, how to determine which partner serves in doubles, how to keep score, and how to use the badminton tramlines correctly during games.

The Year 9 girls have progressed to learning an attacking shot called the “smash pass” and are developing their understanding of when and how to use it effectively during match play.

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This week, KS3 students have been focusing on revision in preparation for their upcoming assessments. Across lessons, students have been revisiting key knowledge, practising exam-style questions, and developing their understanding of important topics covered this term. There has been a strong focus on retrieval practice and applying knowledge in written responses to help build confidence ahead of the assessments.

Students have also been responding carefully to green pen feedback in their books. They have been correcting misconceptions, improving the detail and accuracy of their answers, and completing DIRT tasks to strengthen their historical and geographical skills. It has been encouraging to see many students taking pride in improving their work and engaging positively with feedback.

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This week in Year 9, students have been focusing on for loops in Python programming. They have learned how for loops are used to repeat a set of instructions a specific number of times, making code more efficient and structured. Students have applied this concept to solve problems and create simple programs where repetition is required, such as counting sequences and pattern-based outputs. Through practical activities, they have strengthened their understanding of how loops work, how to control repetition, and how to debug errors when loops do not behave as expected.

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CodeHS - Teach Coding and Computer Science at Your School | CodeHS

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Classroom management tools and integrations for student rosters, data, assignments, and grades.

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Secondary End of Year Assessment Schedule - 18th May - 5th June 2026

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Secondary End of Year Assessment Schedule - 18th May - 5th June 2026

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Dear Secondary GFD Families,

I hope you are well, we are writing to share important information regarding the upcoming end of year Secondary assessments.

Assessment Schedule

18th May – 5th June 2026: Assessment Window
(This period includes Eid week. All subjects will conduct an end-of-year assessment.)

8th – 12th June 2026: Arabic and Islamic Studies assessments

15th – 25th June 2026: Progress Tests – Additional information sent out about this.

End of Year Assessment Schedule

To support with preparations please find attached our assessment schedule.  Separate communication will be sent out by form tutors and we will share this with students in school to ensure everyone is clear about what assessments are taken place and when they will be.

Preparation and Support in School

To ensure all students feel confident and well-prepared:

Dedicated time will be built into lessons for students to familiarise themselves with the topics being assessed.

Students will be guided on what to revise utilising our Secondary Revision Board – click here.

Revision Support at Home

We encourage students to make full use of our Secondary Revision Board, which includes:

Subject-specific revision materials.

Key knowledge and topics.

Practical revision strategies.

Reporting Student Progress

Following the assessment period, we will share your child’s performance in their End of Year Report, providing a clear overview of:

Attainment across subjects.

Responsibility to Learning.

Working Together

We kindly ask for your support in helping your child to:

Establish a consistent revision routine.

Maintain a positive and focused mindset.

Balance revision with rest and wellbeing during the assessment period.

For further information about our internal assessments please click here, in this video we explain the importance of assessments.

At GFD, we remain committed to ensuring every student is well-prepared, confident, and able to demonstrate their full potential.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

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End of Year Assessment Calendar Term 3 2026

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Secondary End of Year Assessment Schedule - 18th May - 5th June 2026

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Secondary End of Year Assessment Schedule - 18th May - 5th June 2026

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Dear Secondary GFD Families,

I hope you are well, we are writing to share important information regarding the upcoming end of year Secondary assessments.

Assessment Schedule

18th May – 5th June 2026: Assessment Window
(This period includes Eid week. All subjects will conduct an end-of-year assessment.)

8th – 12th June 2026: Arabic and Islamic Studies assessments

15th – 25th June 2026: Progress Tests – Additional information sent out about this.

End of Year Assessment Schedule

To support with preparations please find attached our assessment schedule.  Separate communication will be sent out by form tutors and we will share this with students in school to ensure everyone is clear about what assessments are taken place and when they will be.

Preparation and Support in School

To ensure all students feel confident and well-prepared:

Dedicated time will be built into lessons for students to familiarise themselves with the topics being assessed.

Students will be guided on what to revise utilising our Secondary Revision Board – click here.

Revision Support at Home

We encourage students to make full use of our Secondary Revision Board, which includes:

Subject-specific revision materials.

Key knowledge and topics.

Practical revision strategies.

Reporting Student Progress

Following the assessment period, we will share your child’s performance in their End of Year Report, providing a clear overview of:

Attainment across subjects.

Responsibility to Learning.

Working Together

We kindly ask for your support in helping your child to:

Establish a consistent revision routine.

Maintain a positive and focused mindset.

Balance revision with rest and wellbeing during the assessment period.

For further information about our internal assessments please click here, in this video we explain the importance of assessments.

At GFD, we remain committed to ensuring every student is well-prepared, confident, and able to demonstrate their full potential.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

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Secondary End of Year Assessment Schedule May June 2026

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We have been learning the rules of debating this past week. Students have shown fantastic leadership skills, and really demonstrated maturity as they have begun to develop their debate skills. We have been exploring global issues, with the students voicing some really strong ideas and solutions for these global issues.

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Year 7 this week have looked at neutralisation reactions between an acid and a base. They learned the general equation for neutralisation and specific salts made when knowing the acid and base used.

Year 8 have been looking at how to explicitly revise using a range of different revision techniques ranging from: flash cards, mind maps, knowledge organisers, annotating diagrams, storyboards and key word glossaries. They key for pupils is how to use these resources and a useful method is the look, cover, say, check.

Year 9 have been looking at how to explicitly revise using a range of different revision techniques ranging from: flash cards, mind maps, knowledge organisers, annotating diagrams, storyboards and key word glossaries. They key for pupils is how to use these resources and a useful method is the look, cover, say, check.

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This week, Year 7 students learned about the development of Parliament in the United Kingdom after the signing of the Magna Carta. They explored how the Magna Carta helped to limit the power of the king and encouraged the idea that rulers should not make decisions alone. Students discussed how nobles and representatives gradually became more involved in decision-making, leading to the early foundations of Parliament. This helped them understand that Parliament developed slowly over time and played an important role in shaping representative government in the United Kingdom.

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This week, Year 7 have been studying urban processes in HICs, LICs, and MICs, focusing on how and why cities develop differently around the world. Year 8 have been learning about the Scramble for Africa, exploring European imperialism and its impact on African countries. Year 9 have been looking at crime and punishment in the 21st century, examining modern approaches to law enforcement and justice. All year groups have been doing great and engaging well with their learning.

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KS3 Girls – Badminton
Students have been learning a range of serves, including the backhand and underarm serve, and understanding the purpose of each within a game. They have focused on correct body positioning and explored how controlled wrist movement can increase power and accuracy. In addition, they have learned some of the rules around serving, including who serves. These skills have been successfully applied in game situations.

KS3 Boys – Table Tennis
Students have been developing their table tennis skills, focusing on different types of serves and introducing forehand topspin as a key technique. They first practiced these as isolated skills before applying them in competitive game play.

Great progress has been made by all students in both skill development and game understanding.

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Year 7 are developing their awareness of the roles different instruments have when performing in an ensemble. They are building their performance and rhythm skills by exploring the cello, double bass, and harp parts in Viva La Vida, while also continuing to develop their keyboard skills.

Year 8 & Year 9 are developing their listening skills and learning to recognise key minimalist techniques used to develop musical ideas. Their focus has been on augmentation, diminution, inversion, and retrograde (playing ideas backwards), applying these techniques to understand how music evolves over time.

🎧 Great focus and progress across all year groups!

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Distance Learning - Tuesday 5th May - Friday 8th May 2026.

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Distance Learning - Tuesday 5th May - Friday 8th May 2026.

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Dear Parents,

We hope you are all safe and well.

As the school is following the directions of the Ministry of Education, distance learning will take place from today until Friday, 8th May 2026. We would like to update you on our plans for this week.

All Form Times, Breaks and Lessons will follow the normal school timetable starting at 7.45am each day.

Tuesday, 5th May 2026

Lessons will be asynchronous, with work set for independent completion. Teachers will provide materials including a slide deck, assignment, and video instructions for each lesson.  These can be accessed via the Microsoft Teams calendar and Teams Pages.

Wednesday, 6th May - Friday 8th May 2026

We will begin delivering live lessons via Microsoft Teams for each subject following our normal school timetable. Attendance will be recorded for each lesson, in addition to the Form Time check-ins.

How To

See below how to access live lessons via Microsoft Teams and our ‘How To’ video here.

Getting Support

Please communicate your child's Form Tutor or the below people for any technical assistance or support:

Technical Support: ict_gfd@Gemsedu.com

Language Support: d.harji_gfd@gemsedu.com

Well-Being/Inclusion Support: counsellor_gfd@Gemsedu.com

We understand that this may be a challenging time for both students and families. However, we are confident that our students will continue to demonstrate the same commitment and resilience they have shown in recent weeks. We look forward to welcoming students back to school soon and celebrating their achievements together.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards, GFD.

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Year 7

This week in Drama, Year 7 students have been rehearsing their chorus speeches from Antigone. They explored the message of the story and brought this to life using exaggerated movement, unison, and a range of performance techniques. I’m really looking forward to them sharing their performances next week!

Year 8

Year 8 have continued developing their work in movement and physical theatre. Students have been creating their own sequences inspired by different emotions, using stylised techniques alongside music. The atmosphere they created was highly effective and engaging.

Year 9

Year 9 have been exploring abstract theatre, focusing on the practitioner Antonin Artaud. They have been experimenting with his distinctive style and applying his ideas in practical work, pushing their performances in bold and creative directions.

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Year 7 have been looking at acids and alkalis this week, with everyday examples of products. They will be conducting practical work next investigating different indicators to identify if an unknown solution is either acid, alkali or neutral.

Year 8 have been looking at graph skills and how to correctly draw their graphs and the importance of plotting data. They discussed why Scientists would use graphs after conducting their investigations. Students have spent time practicing drawing and plotting their data onto line graphs.

Year 9 have been looking at graph skills and how to correctly draw their graphs and the importance of plotting data. They discussed why Scientists would use graphs after conducting their investigations. Students have spent time practicing drawing and plotting their data onto line graphs.

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This week, KS3 students learned about prompt engineering using the CREATE framework. They used this approach to design a coin, a mascot and a logo for Dubai AI Week, thinking carefully about how to structure clear and detailed prompts to guide AI outputs. Students experimented with different prompt ideas, refining their work to improve the quality of their designs. It was great to see their confidence grow as they combined creativity with structured thinking and developed their problem-solving skills.

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This week, students in Years 7, 8 and 9 were introduced to the Adam Burfield Enterprise Award during their lessons. This exciting opportunity will allow students to develop their entrepreneurial skills and gain a deeper understanding of how businesses work in real-life contexts.

As part of the competition, students will explore one of the five participating UAE companies and work creatively to identify challenges, propose solutions and present innovative business ideas. Through this process, they will strengthen key skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, communication, critical thinking and enterprise.

We look forward to seeing how our students apply their ideas and creativity to real-world business scenarios.

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This week in PE, our KS3 students have been making excellent progress in their racket sports units.

Our KS3 girls have continued developing their badminton skills. They have been focusing on net play and the underarm serve, building control and consistency. They are also learning how to combine net shots with overhead clears in a sequence, helping them move their opponents to the back of the court and gain a tactical advantage during rallies.

Meanwhile, the KS3 boys have been progressing well in table tennis. They have been practising both the forehand and backhand serve, while also learning and applying the rules of serving in competitive play. Year 9 boys have taken this further by developing their topspin technique, understanding how to use spin effectively to gain an advantage in matches.

It’s been great to see students applying these skills in game situations and growing in confidence each week.

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Dear Parents,
We understand the excitement around activities returning to school. However, no activities will be running until further notice while planning and processes are put in place.

All students must be collected at the end of the regular school day, as there will be no after‑school supervision.

Further communication will be shared soon with full details of what will be offered and how to sign up. Thank you for your understanding.

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This term, students across Key Stage 3 have been developing their knowledge and exam skills through a range of engaging historical topics.

Year 7 have been exploring the Early Islamic Empire, building their understanding of how it expanded and the key factors behind its success. They have also begun practising GCSE-style 8-mark questions, focusing on structuring clear, well-explained responses.

Year 8 have been studying Indian Indentured Labourers, examining why indentured labour developed and the experiences of those involved. Alongside this, they have been working on GCSE 8-mark questions, developing their ability to explain causes and consequences in detail.

Year 9 have been investigating Crime and Punishment, focusing on how laws, enforcement, and attitudes to crime have changed from the Industrial Revolution through to the 20th century. They have also been practising GCSE-style 8-mark questions, with an emphasis on using evidence to support their explanations.

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This week we have been working on mark making techniques and getting back into a routine in the classrooms! It has been great to see the students bringing in artwork from the online lessons we worked on!

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This week in Drama, Year 7 have been exploring Greek theatre and developing their chorus work from Antigone. It’s been great to see their focus on teamwork and timing, and next week they will perform in unison.

Year 8 have been creating stylised movement sequences using physical theatre techniques. It’s been great to see their creativity and confidence grow as they communicate emotion through movement.

Year 9 have been working on abstract and epic theatre, exploring techniques such as breaking the fourth wall. It’s been great to see them experimenting with new ways of engaging the audience.

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This week, Year 9 explored the geography of West Asia. Students identified and located key countries in the region, as well as the important water bodies surrounding West Asia. They completed an interactive map-based activity on Nearpod, which helped them strengthen their geographical understanding and recognise how location, seas, rivers and surrounding regions influence settlement, trade and connectivity.

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year 7 have been working on their new unit - chemical reactions. They started off by looking at the difference between chemical and physical changes. They then had the opportunity to explore physical and chemical changes in the lab and made their observations.

Year 8 - Have been looking at how to work scientifically. To begin with this, we have looked at variables in more detail and the reason why scientists need variables in their investigations. Students were able to identify the variables in a range of different scientific questions

Year 9 - Have been looking at how to work scientifically. To begin with this, we have looked at variables in more detail and the reason why scientists need variables in their investigations. Students were able to identify the variables in a range of different scientific questions

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We have been super excited to see our learners back in our English classrooms this week. Students have settled back in beautifully. Year 8 have been looking at how to demonstrate respect and tolerance when writing about new cultures. We have been so impressed with the maturity shown by our students. We look forward to showcasing some of their work in the coming weeks.

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This week in PE, students have been developing their badminton skills, with a focus on serving and net play.

They have been learning how to perform a backhand serve, concentrating on control, accuracy, and consistency. Some students have also started progressing to an underarm serve, building confidence in different serving techniques used during matches.

In addition, students were introduced to net play. They explored how playing close to the net can give them a tactical advantage, helping to place the shuttle in difficult positions for their opponent and control the flow of the game.

It’s been great to see students improving their coordination, decision-making, and understanding of game strategy.

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It has been exciting to have the students back in school this week and to see them re-engaging with their learning. This week, Year 7 have continued studying the Islamic Empire, building on their understanding of its expansion and key features. Year 9 have carried on exploring crime and punishment in the 20th century, looking at how laws and policing have changed over time. Year 8 have been learning about the British Empire, with a focus on Indian indentured labourers and their role across the empire.

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Year 8 - Programming with Tracy the Turtle

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Year 8 - Programming with Tracy the Turtle

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This week, Year 8 students explored the basics of Python programming using Tracy the Turtle. Students practiced using angles, loops, and simple instructions to create shapes, building both their problem-solving and debugging skills.

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Welcome back to all our pupils at GFD! We are so glad to see you and to return to our Spanish lessons back in our 'clase de Español'. We are wrapping up our current topic and finishing with a mini assessment next week - imucha suerte! best of luck!

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Year 7 are exploring the roles of instruments within the orchestra. We’ve started with Viva La Vida, focusing on the bass part and gradually building upwards through the texture. Students are developing their understanding of how each instrument contributes and the role it plays within a piece of music.

Year 8 & Year 9 are focusing on minimalist techniques, exploring how simple musical ideas can be developed into melodies. They are experimenting with repetition, layering, and gradual change to create their own pieces.

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School is open from 7.30 am tomorrow. We are very excited!

Coming to school?

From your drop off point make your way directly to your form time. Do not stay outside.

Distance Learning?

Join your form time at 7.45am

Complete your work independently on Microsoft Teams.

Join RLAG at 9.50am

See you all tomorrow.

Best wishes, Mr Paul.

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Year 9 have had a really productive week in Maths. They have been exploring angles in parallel lines, developing their understanding of corresponding, alternate, and co-interior angles. Building on this, they then moved on to investigating exterior and interior angles in polygons, applying their knowledge to a range of problems. To strengthen their skills, students have also been practising past GCSE-style questions on these topics, showing increasing confidence and accuracy in their work. It has been fantastic to see such strong engagement and effort from Year 9, especially during the distanced learning period. Keep up the great work!

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Distance Learning Monday 20th April 2026

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Distance Learning Monday 20th April 2026

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We are busy preparing for the re-opening of our school for face-to-face teaching.

Until we receive official approval from the Ministry of Education we will continue to deliver distance learning.

Monday 20th April

On Monday, our staff will be engaged in a day of training at school as we prepare for re-opening. Due to this, learning will be asynchronous. Students will still access their lessons at the normal time. Teachers will set work via each Teams page for students to independently complete.

If you haven't already done so please complete our return to school survey here.

Please keep checking our Padlet, Instagram and Facebook pages for updates and look out for notifications via e-mail and/or GEMS connect.

Best wishes, GFD.

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Students in Year 7 and Year 8 have been exploring set design, focusing on musicals and comparing naturalistic and minimalistic styles. They have then applied their understanding by creating their own set designs, showing fantastic creativity and originality in their ideas.

Year 9 students have been developing their own plays in the style of different practitioners, using their knowledge to shape performances and explore imaginative and thoughtful approaches to theatre.

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Year 7 students have been looking at food chains and food webs this week. They have explored what can happen to food chains and food webs if their is any disruption. They looked at examples of increases/decreases in predators/prey within an ecosystem and consequences this can have.

Year 8 have looked at energy and how energy can be stored and transferred. They specifically looked at conduction, convection and radiation as well as how energy loss can be reduced in homes/buildings.

year 9 have looked at the beginning of their IGCSE content. They have looked at the characteristics of organisms, and looked more in depth at specific eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms.

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Online learning (2)- KS3 cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and balance in badminton 

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Online learning (2)- KS3 cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and balance in badminton 

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In PE this week, KS3 students have been developing their understanding of the components of fitness, with a particular focus on cardiovascular endurance within the context of badminton. They have explored key skills such as the smash, net play, overhead clear, and drop shot, while also learning why strong cardiovascular fitness is essential to sustain performance during rallies.

Students have also worked on improving their flexibility and balance, gaining a clearer understanding of how both contribute to effective movement and overall performance in the game. In addition, we have introduced yoga to support their range of motion and help develop greater control and mobility in their bodies.

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This week, Year 7 students explored how to use loops to create their own clicker games. They learned how repetition in code can make games more efficient and dynamic, allowing actions like scoring and animations to run continuously. Students applied their understanding by designing simple interactive games, developing both their programming skills and creativity.

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Overall students have found accessing live lessons easy to follow.

There are some who need extra help and GFD is here for you.

Please communicate to the below people for any technical assistance or support:

Technical Support: ict_gfd@Gemsedu.com

Language Support: d.harji_gfd@gemsedu.com

Well-Being Support: counsellor_gfd@Gemsedu.com

Inclusion Support: counsellor_gfd@Gemsedu.com

For more general support please contact your child's Form Tutor. A list of contact details for each Form Tutor can be found here.

Best wishes, Team GFD!

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Create a psoter that says "Technical support during  distance learning"

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Year 7
This week, Year 7 are continuing their topic on the orchestra. They will be exploring how music can create different moods for specific scenarios. Students will experiment with sounds from their surroundings (e.g. objects nearby, body percussion, or apps/instruments) and record short pieces to match a chosen mood or scene.

Year 8 & Year 9
This week, Year 8 and Year 9 are developing their understanding of ostinatos. They will be practising their rhythm skills and then building these rhythms into simple melodies, exploring how repeated patterns can form the foundation of a piece of music.

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Thank you to everyone, it has been a hugely successful week of distance learning at GFD!

Students have shown excellent engagement this week and have commented that their lessons are easy to access, more engaging and have a good balance of on screen/off screen time.

We need your feedback.

Please spend 2 minutes providing feedback below:

Parents click - here

Students click - here.

Next week

Launch of our online CCA competition - click here and get involved..

BE a GEM assembly.

Continuation of online learning.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mr Paul.

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This week, students in Years 7–9 have been working on writing monologues. Year 7 have explored a monologue for the first time and have done really well focusing on emotions and feelings. Year 8 have been considering the purpose of monologues, while Year 9 have been experimenting with adding different styles to their writing.

All groups were able to use the mics during their performances, and I’m especially impressed with those who really used their voice and delivery to bring their monologues to life. Well done everyone!

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Year 7 Music students have been studying the orchestra, developing their understanding of the different instrument families and how they work together in musical pieces. They have also been building their ability to identify and assess how the elements of music—such as tempo, dynamics, pitch, and texture—are used to create mood and atmosphere. As part of their online learning, students have been experimenting creatively with natural sounds from their surroundings alongside online resources to compose and analyse music that conveys different emotions and settings.

Year 8 and 9 Music students have been developing their understanding of ostinatos while improving their ability to recognise notes and rhythms through listening, notation, and composition tasks. As part of their online learning, they are exploring minimalist music by studying how repetition, layering, and gradual change are used by composers to create effect. Using natural sound sources from their surroundings and online digital tools, students are creating their own original minimalist compositions, applying their knowledge creatively in a virtual environment.

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Students across Key Stage 3 have been actively developing their programming skills this week. Year 7 students are exploring the basics of coding using PictoBlox, where they are learning how to use blocks and variables to create simple programs. In Year 8, students are working with Tracy the Turtle, using commands to control movement and create patterns, helping them build a strong understanding of sequencing and logic. Meanwhile, Year 9 students are learning Python, focusing on variables and how they are used to store and manipulate data. It has been wonderful to see students building confidence and problem-solving skills across all year groups.

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Year 8 have been diving into the topic of travel writing. This week we looked at the main themes; motivations of writing, risks the explorers encounter and their fantastic achievements. We used our inference finding skills, to pick out explicit and implicit inferences from sample texts and made posters on Ibn Battuta and other famous explorers. Brilliant participation and engagement by Y8 and we look forward to having these creative pieces on our classroom walls.

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This week, our KS3 girls and boys have been focusing on developing their understanding of strength training. They explored the concept of progressive overload, learning how gradually increasing the intensity of a workout can help build strength over time.

Students also looked at different ways to apply progressive overload in their training, such as increasing weight, repetitions, or improving technique. This has helped them understand how structured training leads to continuous improvement.

In addition, they discussed the importance of strength in sport, particularly for a netball player. They recognised how strength can provide a competitive advantage by improving power, stability, and overall performance on the court.

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Please ensure your child is ready for live lessons tomorrow 6th April at 7.45am.

Watch our live webinar here for all the detail.

Click here to view our 'How to access live lessons guide'

e-mail ict_gfd@gemsedu.com for technical support.

Access the document in this post for an overview of our timings.

See you all tomorrow at 7.45am.

Best wishes.

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1. Download Teams to your device

2. Log in with your school email address

3. Follow the Instructions above.

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Watch our Webinar - Distance Learning Update

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Watch our Webinar - Distance Learning Update

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On Monday 6th April, we are developing our approach to online learning in Secondary.

- Teachers have been trained.

- Students have been updated.

- Parents informed.

Please watch our webinar for an overview of our approach starting on Monday!

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Padlet Parent Webinar Mr Paul Secondary Distance Learning - Copy (1)

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Year 7

In Weeks 1 and 2, Year 7 explored the foundational conventions for naming shapes using capital letters, identifying line segments, and interpreting geometric diagrams accurately. They also revisited their prior knowledge of angles, including key vocabulary and angle relationships, to strengthen their understanding before moving deeper into the Measurement and Geometry unit. These early lessons have helped build a strong foundation for the upcoming work on constructing, measuring, and reasoning with a variety of geometric figures

Year 8

In Week 1, Year 8 pupils covered the laws of indices and learned how to manipulate powers accurately. In Week 2, they focused on fractions, decimals, and percentages, developing confidence in converting between these forms. Together, these topics provided a strong foundation for more advanced mathematical skills later in the year.

Year 9

We have been looking at similar shapes this week. Students have been learning how to recognise similar shapes and to use the components of similar shapes to find missing sides and angles in 2D shapes. We have linked our learning to the previous ratio topic as well as comparing similar shapes to congruent shapes, another topic studied in term 2. Well done for a successful week of online learning year 9.

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Our weekly Be a GEM Assembly is Taking Place now

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Our weekly Be a GEM Assembly is Taking Place now

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Please join our Weekly Be a GEM Assembly with you child.

This is taking place now.

Lots of students being rewarded.

7.45 8.20

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/32000190107880?p=8VS2u7goX9aHfYc4YM

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This week in online learning, Year 7 students explored government in England during medieval times. They learned how power was organised through the feudal system and examined the roles of the king, nobles, and the Church in governing society. Through discussion and independent activities, students developed their understanding of how medieval government worked and began to analyse how different groups held power and influenced people’s lives.

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This week in online learning, Year 9 students began studying the American War of Independence. They explored the main causes of the conflict, including taxation, lack of representation, and growing tensions between Britain and the American colonies. Students also examined key events that led to the war and began to understand why many colonists wanted independence. Through discussion and independent tasks, they developed their ability to analyse causes, sequence events, and form their own judgement about whether the colonists were justified in seeking freedom from British rule.

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This week in online learning, Year 8 students explored the location of Central Asia and learned more about the region’s geography. They identified the countries of Central Asia on a map and examined key physical features, such as mountains, deserts, plains, and rivers. Through independent activities and discussion, students also began to understand how geography can affect climate, travel, settlement, and the way people live. It was a valuable lesson that helped students build both their map skills and their understanding of the wider world.

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Please use the following link to upload your video/audio. Happy Reading!! https://padlet.com/secretary_gfd/parent-readers-j2was5rrw8tj5hu3

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GEMS Reading Challenge: Read 10 books from your Year Group list to receive a special prize!! Happy Reading!!

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GEMS Reading Challenge: Read 10 books from your Year Group list to receive a special prize!! Happy Reading!!

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Show off your creative flair, by submitting an entry to the GFD Anthology. This term's focus is Resilience, Support and Care. If you need any further support, please email Miss Lusi - l.wootton_gfd@gemsedu.com All ready to be published onto Padlet, if allowed. We look forward to reading them!

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All students are automatically enrolled in the competition.

To join and win, students are required to

1. Sign in to Century Tech

2. Complete nuggets and answer the questions.

3. Two winners from each class will be selected once the competition ends.

4. Certificates will be awarded during the Term 3 assembly.

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This week, our KS3 students have continued their home learning with real focus and commitment. I have been incredibly impressed by their resilience, maturity, and the way they have approached their studies with rigour and determination. Their positive attitude during such an uncertain time has been truly commendable. It has been fantastic to see them engaging so positively with the material on Humanities Teams, contributing to discussions, and maintaining high standards in their work from home. They should feel very proud of the effort they are putting in.

Please remember that all lesson resources remain available on the Secondary Padlet.

If you require any support at all, please do not hesitate to message me — I am here to help.

I am also happy to guide students on using BBC Bitesize for extra reading and consolidation.

Well done again to all of KS3 — keep going, and please stay safe and well.

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It has been a fantastic week in Drama, with students across KS3 diving into exciting new topics and developing their performance skills.

Year 7 have begun their new topic on Greek Theatre. Students have been exploring the key conventions of Greek theatre, building their understanding of its history and performance style. This week, they worked collaboratively as a chorus, using voice, movement and gesture to communicate strong emotions and tell a story collectively.

Year 8 have been exploring the stage adaptation of A Monster Calls, linking closely with their English lessons. Students focused on physical theatre and tableaux, using their bodies creatively to communicate emotion, relationships and key moments from the story.

Year 9 have started studying the practitioner Brecht and exploring Brechtian Theatre. They have been examining political theatre and developing their understanding of how performances can encourage audiences to think critically, rather than becoming emotionally absorbed in the action.

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Year 7

Year 7 focused on directed number, working confidently with both positive and negative values. They practised ordering and representing numbers on number lines, strengthening their understanding of size and position. The week finished with applying these skills in addition and subtraction involving directed numbers.

Year 8

Year 8 have now completed their work on sequences, showing improved confidence in identifying and continuing patterns. They have begun their new block on the laws of indices, exploring how powers behave in different calculations. Lessons this week focused on applying index rules accurately and building fluency.

Year 9

Year 9 spent the week going through their recent assessment and reviewing detailed feedback. They completed their DIRT tasks to reflect on misconceptions and make meaningful improvements. This process helped them consolidate key skills and prepare for the next steps in their learning.

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Year 7 this week have been looking at the structure of flowers and how their functions allow for seeds to be created, as well as the structure of seeds and what conditions are required for them to germinate. Students will looking at the dissection of a flower and planting seeds to put all their knowledge into practical application.

Year 8 have begun looking at circuits and in particular parallel circuits. Closely looking in more detail how the current and potential difference change depending on the type of circuit used. Students will be exploring the use of electrical circuits and measuring current/voltage using equipment

Year 9 have been studying displacement reactions and how this can be used to extract metal from ores. Students have used their chemistry knowledge to predict if displacement reactions will occur and if not, why.

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This week year 7-9 are beginning their new topics. Year 7s are studying the orchestra and individual instruments timbre/sonority. Year 8 are studying folk music and the traditional music of various countries. Year 9 are looking at dance music looking back at one of the earliest- Baroque!

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This week, codes for Home Learning will be given to all classes and shown how to use them by the end of Friday. In the meantime, students can use the following codes:

Year 7 Teams Code: 4a6um0l
Year 8 Teams Code: amp2qr1
Year 9 Teams Code: 24qglvs

On Teams, you will find the following folders:

Class Handouts – An information handout on each topic.

Knowledge Organisers – A summary document that outlines key facts and concepts for the topic.

Online Resources – A document containing video links to support learning for each topic.

Revision Resources – Practice papers / mark schemes for each topic to help consolidate learning.

Students are expected to:

Complete the quizzes posted on General every Friday.

Use their knowledge organiser or device to support answers.

Self-mark your answers; the answers will be attached with the quiz.

Record your answers in ClassNote under the section with your name.

The expectation is that this is independent learning: push yourself further and challenge your understanding. Points will be rewarded for effort and engagement.

At the moment, the quizzes are based on your previous history topics, so only the necessary materials for these topics have been uploaded. All other materials will follow in due course.

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This week, KS3 have received their assessment results and completed their DIRT (Dedicated Improvement and Reflection Time) feedback to reflect on their progress and improve their responses. Well done to all students — we are very proud of the effort they have shown throughout this process.

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Badminton, table tennis and yoga lessons 

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Badminton, table tennis and yoga lessons 

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KS3 PE Update:
For one lesson each week, Year 7 and Year 8 students have been developing their badminton skills, focusing on the underarm serve. They have worked on correct leg positioning, understanding when to make contact with the shuttlecock, and learning how to score a game accurately. Alongside their technical skills, students have been building their teamwork and communication to ensure successful competitive play.

In their second weekly lesson, Year 7 girls have continued developing their mobility, flexibility, and core strength through increasingly challenging yoga movements. They are also learning about the key muscle groups in the body and how these support sporting performance. Year 7 boys have begun their yoga sessions, focusing on the mobility skills particularly important for footballers.

Year 8 students have started their table tennis unit, learning how to control the bat and ball both in isolation and within competitive rallies and games.

Finally, Year 9 girls have been developing their theoretical knowledge, learning about AO1, AO2, and AO3 assessment objectives and understanding command words in preparation for their four-mark exam questions. They have been practising how to apply their knowledge of gamesmanship and sportsmanship effectively in written responses.

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As part of our commitment to Safer Internet Day, students in Year 7 learned about deepfakes and how artificial intelligence can be used to create realistic but fake images, videos, and audio. They explored why deepfakes can be misleading and potentially harmful, particularly when shared online without verification. Through discussion and examples, students developed their digital literacy skills by learning how to question online content, check sources, and think critically before believing or sharing information.

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This week in MFL we are starting our new topic. We are describing ourselves and others, using a variety of grammatical structures and practising adjectival agreement.

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KS3 :
Year 7, year 8 and year 9 boys have begun their badminton module, which takes place once a week. This week, they have been learning the backhand serve and developing their understanding of positioning in a doubles game. In their second PE lesson, Year 7 students have been focusing on core strength and flexibility through yoga, supporting their overall performance in sport. Year 8 students have been developing their table tennis skills, learning how to perform a backhand serve and improving their control and consistency.

KS3 Girls:
Year 9 girls have started their theory unit, focusing on key sporting values such as sportsmanship, gamesmanship, and etiquette. They have been exploring what these terms mean and discussing how applying these principles can help them become better athletes both on and off the field

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This week in KS3, students have continued with their normal lessons and have been working hard across their Humanities topics.

Next week, students will begin whole-class feedback on their recent assessments and will complete a DIRT (Dedicated Improvement and Reflection Time) task to help them respond to feedback and further develop their understanding.

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This week, students from Year 7 - 9 received whole-class feedback on their assessment. The feedback focused on common strengths and misconceptions identified and provided clear guidance on how students can improve their work. Time was given for students to reflect on the feedback and make improvements by completing the DIRT Task, helping them to better understand expectations and next steps. This approach supported consistency, encouraged self-improvement, and ensured that all students benefited from targeted guidance.

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This week, Year 7, 8, and 9 Maths students received feedback on their Term 2 Maths assessment. Beyond the marks, the focus was on reflection—understanding their strengths and identifying areas for improvement. Students then completed a DIRT task to respond to the feedback and further develop their learning.

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Year 7 have received their feedback on the recent end of term assessment. They have worked really hard and their scores reflect this. We looked at where we can improve on as a class and where the strengths lie too. Following on from the feedback, students will begin their new unit of work beginning with flowers and pollination.

Year 8 have also received their feedback and the areas for improvement as well as strengths have been clearly highlighted. Now feedback has been complete, students will begin their new unit of work beginning with a short recap of circuits from year 7 electricity.

Finally, year 9 have begun their new unit this week. We have looked at electron configuration and students practiced how to draw the electron configuration for the first 20 elements in the periodic table.

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This week, Year 7 and Year 9 have been reflecting on their assessments from last week. As part of this process, they have been discussing and addressing key misconceptions identified in their keywords test, ensuring they understand both the correct terminology and how to apply it accurately.

Following this, students took part in a whole-class feedback session where we analysed a performance that achieved full marks. Together, we explored what made the work successful, focusing on the specific skills, techniques, and qualities that met the assessment criteria at the highest level.

To conclude, students completed an “Even Better If” task. This encouraged them to reflect individually on their own performances and identify precise improvements they could make in order to reach full marks in the future. This process has helped to strengthen their understanding of expectations and provided clear, personalised next steps for progress.

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This week, Year 7–Year 9 students have been collaborating in groups to perform their practical assessments. They have demonstrated excellent teamwork and resilience throughout the process. Using proper audience etiquette, students have also been giving thoughtful peer feedback to each group. It has been fantastic to see different groups and individual students showcase their work to each other.

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KS3 Girls:
This term, the girls have been focusing on athletics, specifically long jump and triple jump. They have been learning the key phases of each jump, the correct technique, and which skills are most important for success. In triple jump, students have explored the hop, step, and jump, while in long jump they have focused on the approach, take-off, flight, and landing.

KS3 Boys:
The Year 8 boys have been developing their understanding of netball, learning about the different positions on the court and their roles in a game. Meanwhile, Year 7 and Year 9 boys have been working on football, exploring formations and the importance of positioning during matches.

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This week is assessment week for all year groups. They have worked brilliantly so far and the last few classes will finish their assessments by Friday.

With a quick turn around in marking - some classes have already received their scores and feedback on where we can improve as a class but also highlighting their strengths and Scientific knowledge.

Well done so far and keep going!