2. KEY STAGE 3
YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
WELCOME!
Dear Parents,
CONTENTS
Secondary Educational
We are delighted to welcome your son/daughter to Year 8.
System ......................... 2
IPad Project ………………………..3
Tutorials ........................ 4
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
YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
Assessment & Reporting......5
Progression Policy ………………..6
Subjects ........................ 7
Complementary Activities....22
Extra-Curricular Activities..23
Homework.......................23
School material.................24
Transport........................24
3. THE SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
Secondary Education in Caxton
College covers 3 key stages as follows:
important stage in their education,
lasting 2 years.
“Key Stage 3” (Year 7 to Year 9)
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).
“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.
"Accept responsibility for your actions,
and adopt a healthy
attitude to life”
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.
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.
In Year 10, students start their 4th
and final obligatory key stage, a very
Spanish System
British System
Cycles
6º Primaria
Year 7
Year 8
KEY
1º ESO
2º ESO
Year 9
3º ESO
Year 10
4º ESO
Year 11
1º Bachillerato
Year 12
2º Bachillerato
Year 13
STAGE 3
KEY STAGE 4
SIXTH FORM
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YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
Public Examinations
IGCSE ESL
IGCSE
AS level/
Advanced level
4. 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!
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YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
5. TUTORIALS / COMMUNICATIONS VIA THE WEB
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.
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.
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.
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YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
6. ASSESSMENTS & REPORTS>>>
In Year 8 there are three assessment periods. At the At the end of the year, all pupils who fail to achieve at
end of each one, parents will receive a report with the least a grade C in any subject will be required to sit an
grades achieved by their child in both academic per- exam in August.
formance and effort.
Grades:
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.
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
There are exams at the end of every term, and final achievement heading in the direction of improvement
exams in the third term in the core subjects. They towards the next grade, whereas a C- serves to illusmake up 30% of the final year grade in the Brit- trate that the student is falling short of a grade.
ish subjects, and 20% of the year grade in the
Spanish subjects.
<<<Examinations and Tests
If a student misses an exam or tests, they
date knowledge and to gain an objective pic-
must provide a medical certificate. If not,
ture of a child’s progress.
Exams are very important in order to consoli-
they will receive a zero mark.
They also prepare students for future external
British examinations.
If a student has an unjustified absent the
day before or the day of an examination,
Parents should bear in mind that students may
not repeat examinations except in very serious
they will not be allowed to sit the exam,
and they will receive a zero grade.
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.
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YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
7. <<<Criteria for Progression from Year 8 to Year 9
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.
A pass grade at this level
represents grades A to C
students in their first year in the school as
regards Spanish and Social Sciences.
In addition:
Students will only be allowed to progress to the
next year with a maximum of one subject failed.
Special consideration will be given to foreign
In order to sit subjects failed in June, there is a
Students must demonstrate an adequate level of
study skills, behaviour and effort for entering the
following year group.
re-sit evaluation at the end of August.
<<<Monitoring of “At Risk”
students
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.
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.
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YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
8. SUBJECT INFORMATION
From Years 7 to 9 students study
Religion or Ethics
the following subjects:
Science
English Language & Literature
Career
Mathematics
Skills
(Personal
Development)
A Foreign Language (French or
German)
Physical Education
PSHE (Formación Humana)
Art, Music & ICT
Spanish Language & Literature
British History and Geography
Spanish History & Geography
ENGLISH>>>
Head of Department: Stephen Miller
First Term
Advertising
Literary Non-Fiction:
“Shackleton”
Second Term
Third Term
Prose: Cirque de Freak:
Darren Shan
Communication unit
Poerty (ballads & lyrics)
Short stories and
detective writing
Genre: Diary writing
“Noughts and Crosses”
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.
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.
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.
Web Pages:
Nº of classes per 2-week cycle: 8
- www.bbc.co.uk/KS3bitesize/english
- www.revisionaid.co.uk
- www.channel4.com/learning
- www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites
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YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
9. Recommendations:
Helping with written homework:
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.
Always ask your child if they have checked punctuation,
Remember that talking about reading is very important, so
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.
discussing a book will also help to develop their reading
comprehension skills .
A thesaurus can also help your child to broaden and vary his
Keep reading time relaxed, comfortable and pleasurable; a
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.
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.
or her vocabulary .
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
First Term
Second Term
Third Term
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.
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.
Nº of classes per 2-week cycle: 8
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 closely and changes made as and when required throughout the year.
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YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
10. 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.
SCIENCE>>>
Head of Key Stage 3: Nicola Porch
First Term
Second Term
Third Term
The Periodic Table
Light
People & the Environment
Heating and Cooling
Sound
Inside materials
Acids & metal reactions
Digestion & nutrition
*Order may vary within year group.
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. :
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/
ks3bitesize/
www.school.discovery.com
www.scifun.chem
Nº of classes per 2-week cycle: 8
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.
There
is
a
“Scientific
Experiments”
workshop
available during clubs time on
Wednesdays.
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YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
11. <<<Forming Groups in the Core British Subjects
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
Science
outlined below.
In Years 7 to 9 students are taught in tutor groups.
However, in Years 10 and 11 there are two high
English
In English, Years 7—9 have 2 support groups, with a ability groups, where students have achieved A or
maximum number of 10 students in each, which high B grades the previous year.
allows for more intensive support. The rest of the
pupils are distributed in groups of different mixed Maths
levels.
From the moment students start in Secondary, they
The support groups are decided within the are taught in ability groups according to the
department, and are based upon different criteria:
following criteria:
In Year 7:— the information provided by their In Year 7: information provided by their Year 6
Year 6 teachers, including the results of KS2
teachers, taking in to account work and internal
SATs.
and external assessments done during the year.
In Year 8 & 9:— data from previous years, In Year 8, 9, 10 & 11: internal assessment data,
including internal assessments, teachers’
teacher observations and end of year exams.
observations and end of year exams.
Students in all groups will all use the same
In Years 10 & 11:— the results of the ESL
textbooks.
external exam from year 9 are taken into
account.
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YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
12. SPANISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE>>>
Head of Department: Mar González
First Term
Unit 1: Communication;
Keeping a diary;
Nouns
Second Term
Unit 9: Poetry and its
themes;
Unit 5: Dialogues;
Adverbs
Word structures
Unit 2: Descriptions;
Unit 6: Presentations;
Qualifying adjectives
Sentences
Unit 3: Narrative;
Articles and
determinative adjectives.
Unit 4: Journalistic texts;
Verbs
Third Term
Unit 7: Literary language;
Subjects & predicates
Unit 10: Stories; prefixes &
suffixes
Unit 11: Narrative subgenres;
Lexical families
Unit 12: Dramatic language;
Unit 8: Poetry and prose
Synonyms, antonyms,
homonyms & polysemy.
Homework: Once a week. It is
important for the work to be
supervised at home.
Web pages:
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.
Caxtoncollegetic
Real Academia de la Lengua:
www.rae.es
Nº of classes per 2-week cycle: 8
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.
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.
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YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
13. SOCIAL SCIENCES>>>
Head of Department: Mª Carmen López
First Term
Second Term
The Iberian peninsula in Ancient
times
Feudal Europe
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.
Assessment
Policy:
evaluations plus final exam.
three
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
Third Term
The Hispanic
kingdoms during the
Middle Ages
Nº of classes per 2-week cycle: 3
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.
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
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YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
14. RELIGION/ETHICS>>>
Students are free to choose one of these subjects,
but they will not be allowed to change once the year has started.
Religion>>>
Head of Department: Almudena Cózar
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.
First Term
Second Term
Third Term
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
Homework: to be handed in once a week.
www.enciclopediacatolica.com (reference page)
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.
www.anayadigital.com
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.
Nº of classes per 2-week cycle: 2
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.
Web pages:
Ethics>>>
Head of Department: Almudena Cózar
First Term
Second Term
- Rules & fairness, rights &
Responsibilities
Communities & identities
Being a global citizen
Living together in communities
Images of rich and poor countries in the
- Most important religions of the world
Developing research skills
world
Developing debating skills
Third Term
The impact of tourism
Homework: Required once a week, which usually consists of unfinished class work.
It is important for students to realise that not handing in
the project means they will fail the subject.
Assessment Policy: The evaluation consists of handing
in a project to be set by the teacher. Apart from the project, the work during class time and homework will be
evaluated. Participation and the pupil’s effort during lessons will also add to the final grade at the end of the term.
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 .
Nº of classes per 2-week cycle: 2
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YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
15. 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.
Head of Department: Carolina Cebrián
First Term
Second Term
Third Term
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
Coursework: We will follow the in-house PSC exercise
handbook
such as tolerance and diversity using the app “Vivir los
Valores” (Living Values).
Homework: to be handed in when set, on the day that they
have class.
Nº of classes per 2-week cycle: 2
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
Career Skills>>>
Head of Department: J J Wisden
First Term
Election of form representatives
Study skills– focus on testing, memory
activities, how to be successful
Working together – Project on looking
after the School Grounds
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.
Second Term
Your future: Research project on
careers within their families or friends
Research project – working together
looking at the influence of the media
Third Term
Civil Eights and impact on
prejudice and discrimination
Cyber safety
Review of skills acquired
throughout the year
Assessment: Students will be assessed on their ability to
engage in public speaking activities, contributions in class
and from their workbooks.
-Students will be focusing on different issues within society
that they can debate and discuss- then form presentations
around these issues.
Nº of classes per 2-week cycle: 2
-To focus students on what they would like to do in the
future (Careers)
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 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 leader."- John Quincy Adams
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YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
16. 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>>>
First Term
Head of Department: Cathy Desbois
Second Term
Third Term
Family
Going out
Travel and holidays
Home
Jobs
Countries
Free time
Food & Drinks
Friends
Clothing
At the restaurant
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
w o r k (W o rk b o ok ) an d o r a l
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
origina l man ner: t o 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
teacher for login code).
(see
Nº of classes per 2-week cycle:
4
Recommendations: Students’
continuous effort will ensure
progress in this subject; thus the
importance of completing
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
conversation
club
on
Wednesdays if they wish.
15
YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
17. German>>>
Head of Department: Melissa Baxter
First Term
Second Term
Third Term
Holidays
Shopping & Food
Health
Past tenses
After school
Going out
An exchange visit
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).
Nº of classes per 2-week cycle: 4
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.
“He who speaks two languages
also doubles his worth.”
16
YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
18. ART>>>
Head of Department: Liz Edwards
First Term
Second Term
Third Term
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
Nº of classes per 2-week cycle: 3
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.
www.artcyclopedia.com
www.finesite.webart.ru
www.tate.org.uk
17
YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
19. GEOGRAPHY>>>
Head of Department: Jo Mattingley-Nunn
First Term
Second Term
Third Term
Brazil
Coasts
Environmental Issues
Ecosystems
Crime
Climate change
Homework: 1 per two-week cycle. Homework may be longer,
combined tasks.
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/11_16/site/
geography.shtm
Assessment Policy: Tests after each unit and continual
assessment over a range of tasks.
www.census.gov/ipc/www/popclockworld.html
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:
First Term
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
www.swgfl.org.uk/jurassic/coastal3.htm,
HISTORY>>>
Number of lessons per two-week cycle: 3
Head of Department: Jeanette Nugent
Second Term
Third Term
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
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.
range of marks in line with the English National Curriculum
for History.
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.
www.historyonthenet.com
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
Web pages:
www.bbc.co.uk/history
www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk
www.schoolhistory.co.uk
www.historylearningsite.co.uk
Nº of classes per 2-week cycle: 3
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
20. ICT>>>
Head of Department: Stephen Neville
First Term
Second Term
Third Term
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
Homework:
Pupils will
occasionally, when necessary.
receive
homework
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
Students in Key Stage
3 will learn to
integrate computer
applications
developed on the
computer and export
and edit them on iPad
devices.
- 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).
Nº of classes per 2-week cycle: 3
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).
19
YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
21. MUSIC>>>
Head of Department: Gerry Paci
First Term
Second Term
Third Term
African Music
Variations
Indian Music
Reggae & syncopation
Jazz improvisation
Music & space
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.
Web pages:
Assessment Policy: Listening and appraising, performing
and composing are assessed through class work, homework &
regular written tests in individual and group activities.
www.audacity.softonic.com
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.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION>>>
First Term
www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/4_11/music/
mm/orchestra01.shtml
www.earmaster.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
Head of Department: Sheryl Howells
Second Term
Third Term
Invasion Game I
Invasion Game 2
Net Game 2
Net Game
Gymnastics
Striking Fielding
Fitness
Dance
Athletics
Swimming
*Order may vary within year group.
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.
20
YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
22. 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.
This will help maintain the professional atmosphere of the
class and keep students who are unable to take part physically 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.
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.
“The struggle is more
important than the victory.”
VALENCIAN LANGUAGE >>>
Head of Department: Pilar Tortonda
First Term
Second Term
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.
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
Third Term
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.
21
YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
23. <<<Complementary Activities
Drama
Special Days:
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 ExtraCurricular Activities.
Book Day:
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 InterHouse 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.
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.
22
YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
24. Training Healthy
Adolescents
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
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.
HOMEWORK
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
WEEK B
WEDNESDAY
Spanish
WEEK A
TUESDAY
Social
Sciences
Maths
Religion or
Ethics
Maths
Music
English
Spanish
Arte
PSHE
THURSDAY
Science
History
Social
Sciences
French/
German
FRIDAY
English
Science
Geography
23
YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
25. <<<School Material
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.
The fee for school material in Secondary is designated
for general school resources and includes the cost of
laboratory and art resources and photocopies.
Exercise books are available through the school since
they are personalised for our centre.
It does NOT cover the costs of individual materials.
<<<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.
24
YEAR 8 HANDBOOK
