Year 7

Overview

In Year 7, English builds the foundations your child will need throughout their time at Arnewood and beyond. They will read widely - from Dickens and Shakespeare to contemporary fiction and poetry - and develop confidence as writers, thinkers and communicators. By the end of the year they will write in well-structured paragraphs, analyse language with supporting evidence, and adapt their writing for different audiences and purposes.

Topics this year

1.  This is me

Personal writing and formal letter structure - building voice and communication skills from the very start of secondary school

2.  Trash

Andy Mulligan's novel - exploring justice, power and inequality through character, language and narrative

3.  Discovering Shakespeare

Hamlet and Henry V - dramatic language, soliloquy, characterisation and performance

4.  The craft of crime

Sherlock Holmes extracts - inference, tension, genre conventions and creative detective writing

5.  Dickens and injustice

Oliver Twist - Victorian context, setting, language analysis and evidence-based writing

6.  Poetry from different cultures

Voices, identity and inequality - comparing poems, exploring context and developing independent analysis

Why study this?

Studying English in Year 7 will inspire your child to become a more confident communicator and creative thinker. The skills they develop - reading closely, writing persuasively, speaking and listening thoughtfully - are the foundation for GCSE success and for life beyond school.

Key vocabulary

Audience  ·  Purpose  ·  Theme  ·  Tension  ·  Soliloquy  ·  Tragedy  ·  Convention  ·  Atmosphere  ·  Victorian  ·  Identity  ·  Injustice  ·  Empathy  ·  Symbolism  ·  Enjambment  ·  Structure  ·  Characterisation

Assessment

Six assessed units across the year, including a formal letter, persuasive writing, a Shakespeare-inspired speech, a detective story opening, an analytical essay on Dickens, and a poetry analysis task.

Enrichment

Reading groups  ·  Creative writing club  ·  Drama workshops  ·  School performances

Overview

English Plus gives every student a dedicated weekly lesson focused on either expanding their vocabulary or sharpening their sentence construction and punctuation - building a rich word bank that supports writing across all subjects, or working on technical accuracy.

Topics this year

1.  Building better vocabulary (Groups 1-4)

A weekly programme exploring ambitious words with roots in literature, ethics and the humanities

2.  Fix it writing (Groups 5-6)

Focused revision of sentence construction, punctuation and paragraphing - building precision for GCSE

Why study this?

Students who can communicate clearly and accurately using ambitious vocabulary have an advantage in every subject and career. English Plus closes gaps early and raises the ceiling for every student.

Key vocabulary

superstition  ·  compassion  ·  abundance  ·  morality  ·  omniscience  ·  patriarchy  ·  malevolent  ·  zealous  ·  juxtaposition  ·  relentless  ·  topic sentence  ·  relative clause  ·  conjunction  ·  formality

Assessment

Formative assessment each lesson through short writing tasks. Reading progress benchmarked three times a year through Star Reader assessments.

Overview

Maths in Year 7 builds fluency, reasoning and problem-solving skills that students will draw on throughout their education and working lives. All content builds carefully from KS2, extending what students already know through frequent practice and real-world application.

Topics this year

1.  Number 1 - Number skills

Significant figures, prime factors, HCF, LCM and worded problem solving

2.  Geometry 1 - Angles and area

Angles on parallel lines, interior angles in polygons, properties of shapes and the area of a trapezium

3.  Number 2 - Fractions and percentages

Reciprocals, multipliers, percentage increase/decrease, and real-world applications including VAT

4.  Algebra 1 - Expressions and equations

Solving equations, expanding and simplifying expressions, plotting straight-line graphs in all four quadrants

5.  Statistics 1 - Data handling and probability

Averages from frequency tables, stem and leaf diagrams, pie charts and probabilities

6.  Proportion 1 - Ratio

Sharing in a ratio and real-world proportion problems including recipes and currency conversion

Why study this?

The problem-solving and numeracy skills developed in Year 7 can be applied to any career path. Students are supported on their journey into GCSE Maths, and high-attaining students will have the opportunity to enter the Junior Mathematical Challenge.

Key vocabulary

significant figures  ·  indices  ·  reciprocal  ·  HCF  ·  LCM  ·  perpendicular  ·  parallel  ·  improper fraction  ·  expression  ·  equation  ·  gradient  ·  intercept  ·  frequency  ·  probability  ·  proportion  ·  currency

Assessment

End of unit tests after each topic to check retention and application of knowledge.

Enrichment

Junior Mathematical Challenge

Overview

Biology in Year 7 is a high-challenge, knowledge-rich course blending KS3 and introductory GCSE content. Students explore the building blocks of life - from cells and movement to reproduction and ecosystems - with retrieval practice built into every lesson.

Topics this year

1.  Cells

Cell structures and functions, plant vs animal cells, unicellular organisms, and lab skills

2.  Movement

The human skeleton, joints, muscles, biomechanics and antagonistic muscle pairs

3.  Variation and adaptation

Classification of species, continuous/discontinuous variation, adaptation and biodiversity

4.  Human reproduction

Reproductive systems, puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and lifestyle impact on foetal development

5.  Ecosystems

Food webs, interdependence of organisms, toxic materials, and preserving biodiversity

6.  Plant reproduction

Plant reproductive systems, pollination, seed dispersal, food security and pesticides

Why study this?

Your child will develop the confidence, knowledge and skills needed to succeed at GCSE Biology, fostering genuine scientific curiosity about the living world.

Key vocabulary

cell membrane  ·  nucleus  ·  mitochondria  ·  chloroplast  ·  unicellular  ·  antagonistic muscles  ·  variation  ·  adaptation  ·  biodiversity  ·  gamete  ·  fertilisation  ·  menstruation  ·  placenta  ·  ecosystem  ·  pollination  ·  decomposer

Assessment

"Feedback that Moves Forward" tasks (10 multiple choice questions) after key units. End of year summative assessment.

Enrichment

KS3 Science Club

Overview

Chemistry in Year 7 introduces atoms, elements and reactions through a knowledge-rich programme blending KS3 and introductory GCSE content. Students develop scientific thinking and practical skills alongside their theoretical knowledge.

Topics this year

1.  Particle model

States of matter, particle movement, changes of state, melting/boiling points, diffusion and gas pressure

2.  Atoms, elements and compounds

Building blocks of all substances, the Periodic Table, chemical formulae and conservation of mass

3.  Pure and impure substances

Separation techniques — filtration, evaporation, distillation and chromatography

4.  Periodic table

Properties and patterns of elements, metals vs non-metals, alkali metals, halogens, and Mendeleev's discovery

5.  Chemical reactions

Word and symbol equations, reactants/products, combustion, oxidation, thermal decomposition, displacement and catalysts

Why study this?

Chemistry opens doors to careers in pharmaceuticals, chemical engineering, environmental science, materials development, forensics and medicine.

Key vocabulary

solid  ·  liquid  ·  gas  ·  diffusion  ·  atom  ·  element  ·  compound  ·  formulae  ·  filtration  ·  distillation  ·  chromatography  ·  periodic table  ·  alkali metals  ·  halogens  ·  reactants  ·  products  ·  combustion  ·  oxidation

Assessment

"Feedback that Moves Forward" multiple choice tasks during each topic. Half-termly summative assessments.

Enrichment

KS3 Science Club

Overview

Physics in Year 7 connects the world students experience every day to the scientific principles that explain it - from why the Moon orbits the Earth to how sound waves carry music across a room.

Topics this year

1.  Space physics

Planets, moons, stars, galaxies - movements explaining day/night, seasons and phases of the Moon

2.  Forces introduction

Pushes, pulls, Newtons, gravity, weight, friction - problem solving with force diagrams

3.  Magnetic fields

Magnetic materials, poles, field patterns - links to electricity and engineering

4.  Energy stores and resources

How energy is stored, transferred and used - renewable vs non-renewable, sustainability

5.  Matter

States of matter, particle behaviour, density, conservation of mass

6.  Waves and sound

Longitudinal and transverse waves, how sound travels, pitch, volume and ultrasound in medicine

Why study this?

Physics develops the analytical and mathematical skills valued across engineering, medicine, energy, robotics and space science.

Key vocabulary

solar system  ·  orbit  ·  gravity  ·  weight  ·  resultant force  ·  magnetic field  ·  attraction  ·  repulsion  ·  kinetic energy  ·  renewable  ·  non-renewable  ·  density  ·  longitudinal  ·  transverse  ·  frequency  ·  wavelength  ·  ultrasound

Assessment

"Feedback that Moves Forward" multiple choice tasks during each topic. Half-termly summative assessments.

Enrichment

KS3 Science Club

Overview

French in Year 7 gives students the tools to introduce themselves and communicate confidently in a new language, developing secure pronunciation, key grammar and growing independence - alongside genuine insight into French-speaking cultures.

Topics this year

1.  Here I am! (Autumn)

Introducing yourself, numbers, where you live, descriptions and personality. Gender, nouns, adjectives, intensifiers.

2.  Family and pets (Spring)

Talking about family and friends, avoir and être, pronouns and adjectival agreements.

3.  Sport and technology (Summer)

Sports, free time, technology - present tense, justifying opinions, complex comprehension.

Why study this?

French opens doors for travel, work and understanding the wider world. Students develop language learning strategies and cultural awareness that transfer to every subject.

Key vocabulary

grammar  ·  gender  ·  noun  ·  adjective  ·  cognate  ·  false friend  ·  subject pronoun  ·  possessive adjective  ·  intensifier  ·  infinitive  ·  present tense  ·  conjugate  ·  justify  ·  article  ·  regular verb

Assessment

Language aptitude test at start of term. Regular vocabulary tests. End of topic assessments in listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Enrichment

Year 7 Film Club  ·  Online language enrichment resources

Overview

German in Year 7 follows the same rich curriculum as French, introducing students to the language and culture of the German-speaking world. Students build confidence across all four skills throughout the year.

Topics this year

1.  Here I am! (Autumn)

Introducing yourself, numbers, where you live, descriptions and personality. Gender, nouns, adjectives, intensifiers and word order.

2.  Family and pets (Spring)

Talking about people and colours, modal verbs, German word order rules, possessive adjectives and expressing opinions.

3.  Sport and technology (Summer)

Sports, free time, technology - verb variety, subordinating conjunctions, adverbs of frequency.

Why study this?

German is one of Europe's most widely spoken languages, valued by employers and universities. Students develop language learning strategies and cultural awareness.

Key vocabulary

pronunciation  ·  phoneme  ·  grammatical gender  ·  noun  ·  adjective  ·  cognate  ·  false friend  ·  modal verb  ·  word order  ·  conjugate  ·  infinitive  ·  present tense  ·  possessive adjective  ·  regular verb  ·  irregular verb

Assessment

Language aptitude test at start of term. Regular vocabulary tests. End of topic assessments in all four skills.

Enrichment

Year 7 Film Club  ·  Online language enrichment resources

Overview

History in Year 7 develops cause and consequence, change and continuity, and significance skills - while building a rich understanding of Britain's story from its origins to the Elizabethan age. Students learn to work with sources, challenge interpretations and construct evidence-based arguments.

Topics this year

1.  Are we a nation of immigrants?

The origins of Britain and migration - tolerance, empathy and how historians work.

2.  Were the middle ages really measly?

Lives of ordinary men and women - evaluating a historian's interpretation using evidence.

3.  Where did power lie in the Middle Ages?

Thomas Becket, Peasants' Revolt, Wars of the Roses, Queen Matilda, Joan of Arc and Magna Carta.

4.  How far did religion cause conflict?

The Crusades, the Tudor religious rollercoaster, and the 17th century witch craze.

5.  How far did Elizabethans lead the World?

The concept of Empire, Elizabethan global impact, comparison with the Spanish Empire and source analysis.

Why study this?

History inspires critical thinking and opens doors to law, politics, the Civil Service and business. Possible trips include Bovington Tank Museum, Hampton Court, Windsor Castle and the London Dungeons.

Key vocabulary

migration  ·  immigration  ·  emigration  ·  persecution  ·  feudal  ·  villein  ·  monarchy  ·  parliament  ·  democracy  ·  crusade  ·  protestant  ·  catholic  ·  misogyny  ·  empire  ·  colony  ·  expedition  ·  significance

Assessment

Knowledge recall, source inference, extended writing and hypothesis-testing. Building progressively towards independent historical judgements.

Enrichment

Bovington Tank Museum  ·  Hampton Court  ·  Windsor Castle  ·  London Dungeons

Overview

Geography in Year 7 helps students understand their place in the world - from map-reading and grid references to climate change and international development - developing geographical skills and a genuine sense of global citizenship.

Topics this year

1.  What is Geography?

Map skills, grid references, latitude/longitude, and the big questions Geography asks.

2.  Australia - Physical and human processes

The water cycle, tropical cyclones, extreme environments, wildfires and climate change.

3.  Is Thailand a paradise lost?

Tourism's impact - TNCs, government responses, deforestation and coral bleaching.

4.  Climate refugees – Maldives and Tuvalu

Causes and impacts of climate change on island nations, sea level rise and responses.

Why study this?

Students will be inspired to appreciate the world and understand the challenges facing it. Geography opens pathways to careers in climatology, environmental science, urban planning, marine biology and aid work.

Key vocabulary

physical geography  ·  human geography  ·  latitude  ·  longitude  ·  grid reference  ·  climate change  ·  tropical cyclone  ·  greenhouse effect  ·  water cycle  ·  deforestation  ·  coral bleaching  ·  sustainability  ·  sea level rise  ·  thermal expansion  ·  refugee  ·  TNC

Assessment

Two knowledge tests per topic. End of topic assessments using skills tasks, oracy presentations and decision-making exercises.

Enrichment

Career links: climatologist, meteorologist, marine biologist, environmental scientist, aid worker

Overview

Students experience four specialist areas in rotation. By the end of Year 7 they will safely use an oven, hob, sewing machine and hand tools, design and make their own products, and explore the formal elements of art.

Topics this year

1.  Mechanical toy (Workshop)

Designing and making - hand tools, machines, cams and mechanisms. Develops confidence for Year 8.

2.  Food and nutrition

Kitchen equipment safety, nutrition, healthy eating and preparation of healthy snacks.

3.  Textiles - Pencil case

Introduction to the sewing machine, embroidery stitches, buttons and sequins. Students keep their pencil case.

4.  Art – Colour, shade and tone

Formal elements of art - colour, texture, line, tone, shape, pattern. Eight significant artists studied.

Why study this?

DT teaches students to take risks, think creatively and become resourceful and capable. Careers range from fashion and architecture to engineering, hospitality, prosthetics and furniture design.

Key vocabulary

tenon saw  ·  try square  ·  cam  ·  mechanism  ·  bench hook  ·  pillar drill  ·  macronutrients  ·  micronutrients  ·  cross contamination  ·  seam  ·  hem  ·  appliqué  ·  sewing machine  ·  shade  ·  tone  ·  colour wheel  ·  composition  ·  hatching

Assessment

Practical assessments during making and on completion. End of rotation theory test (20 marks) for each area.

Enrichment

After-school art workshops  ·  Creative skills enrichment sessions

Overview

Drama in Year 7 introduces students to making, performing and responding through a rich programme using Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as their first play, devising original work, and exploring mask work, physical theatre and technical design.

Topics this year

1.  Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Exploring plays

Script structure, stage directions, devices creating meaning, the 4Cs of Drama.

2.  Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Performing plays

The Drama 6s of vocal and physical skills. Playing characters and demonstrating emotion.

3.  Dramatic techniques and devising

Storytelling, devising strategies, characterisation - foundation skills for GCSE.

4.  Mask work and physical theatre

History of masks, Trestle techniques, exaggerated characterisation and physical theatre.

5.  Theatre design - Set and costume

Lighting design (Fresnel, profile, floodlight, gobo), set design terminology, designing a set.

Why study this?

Drama provides skills for any career requiring communication, teamwork and empathy - performance, teaching, law, marketing and leadership alike.

Key vocabulary

script  ·  characterisation  ·  stage directions  ·  hot seating  ·  status  ·  improvisation  ·  soliloquy  ·  devising  ·  stimulus  ·  narration  ·  flashback  ·  climax  ·  unison  ·  physical theatre  ·  Fresnel  ·  gobo  ·  cyclorama  ·  intensity

Assessment

Assessed every lesson across Making, Performing and Responding. Vocabulary recall tests at the end of each unit.

Enrichment

Annual school production  ·  After-school drama workshops  ·  School performances

Overview

Music in Year 7 gives students the opportunity to perform, compose and listen to music from different parts of the world. By the end of the year they will read rhythmic notation, perform in ensembles, and compose using techniques including phase shifting and layering.

Topics this year

1.  Here comes treble

Rhythmic notation - semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver. Basic keyboard skills. Ensemble performance.

2.  Finding your voice

Beatboxing, soundscapes, unison and harmony - skills used across all future units.

3.  Rap and Hip Hop

The hip hop movement context - semiquavers and ensemble rap performance.

4.  Minimalism

Ostinatos, phase shifting, layering and composing original patterns. Music technology introduced.

5.  Reggae

Bob Marley and the Wailers, reggae's global journey, rhythmic syncopation.

Why study this?

Experiencing the work of professional musicians inspires students to see what is possible in creative fields. Year 7 Music connects learning to real cultures and careers in music technology, performance and production.

Key vocabulary

stave  ·  semibreve  ·  minim  ·  crotchet  ·  quaver  ·  notation  ·  pitch  ·  metre  ·  rhythm  ·  diaphragm  ·  texture  ·  dynamics  ·  harmony  ·  ostinato  ·  phase-shifting  ·  semiquaver  ·  syncopation  ·  composition  ·  riff  ·  sonority

Assessment

Individual and ensemble performances each unit. Composition tasks. Opportunity to contribute to school production, orchestra, choir and New Milton Music Festival.

Enrichment

School Orchestra (Autumn)  ·  School Choir (Spring & Summer)  ·  New Milton Music Festival  ·  Termly music concerts  ·  Annual school production

Overview

PE in Year 7 gives students a broad experience across team sports, individual activities, aquatics and outdoor adventurous activities - developing coordination, balance, control, and a strong awareness of personal fitness and wellbeing.

Topics this year

1.  Team sports (Autumn/Spring)

Multi-Sports, Netball, Tag Rugby, Basketball, Football, Volleyball - communication, teamwork and leadership

2.  Individual and fitness activities

Tennis, Athletics, Gymnastics, Dance, Creative Movement - personal confidence and healthy lifestyle

3.  Aquatics

Swimming - buoyancy, body position, breathing technique and aquatic confidence

4.  Summer sport

Rounders and Cricket - batting, bowling, fielding and game tactics

5.  OAA

Teamwork, decision making, leadership through outdoor challenges - building resilience

Why study this?

PE plants the seed for a lifetime of active, healthy living. Students are sign-posted to internal and external clubs, developing teamwork, communication and leadership skills.

Key vocabulary

coordination  ·  teamwork  ·  resilience  ·  cardiovascular endurance  ·  muscular endurance  ·  explosive power  ·  formation  ·  choreography  ·  motif  ·  aesthetically pleasing  ·  buoyancy  ·  balance  ·  sequence  ·  transition  ·  umpire

Assessment

Ongoing assessment through modelling, peer assessment and self-assessment.

Enrichment

School football and netball teams  ·  Athletics competitions  ·  Local and regional competitions

Overview

PSHE builds on KS2 foundations, helping students navigate the secondary school transition with confidence. Topics cover relationships and identity, health and safety, digital life, money, and future preparation.

Topics this year

1.  Getting to know myself and others

Navigating change, healthy relationships, rights and responsibilities, challenging bullying and discrimination.

2.  Keeping myself and others safe and healthy

Substances, online safety, extremism awareness, HPV, vaccines and respectful relationships.

3.  My future health and self

Decision-making, financial literacy, influencer marketing, workplace laws and goal setting.

Why study this?

By the end of Year 7, students will be well-rounded, informed individuals with the tools to make positive choices for themselves and their communities.

Key vocabulary

respect  ·  identity  ·  resilience  ·  empathy  ·  consent  ·  wellbeing  ·  diversity  ·  bullying  ·  safety  ·  prejudice  ·  conflict  ·  health  ·  decision-making  ·  influence  ·  responsibility  ·  finance  ·  workplace  ·  goals

Assessment

Formative discussion and reflection tasks throughout each topic.

Overview

RS in Year 7 builds on prior learning and encourages students to reflect on their beliefs and values. Through six connected units, students explore Christianity, Buddhism and Judaism - examining big questions about God, suffering, community and memory.

Topics this year

1.  Why does what we believe matter?

Theism, atheism, agnosticism and the problem of evil.

2.  What does sacred mean to me?

Why objects and places matter - from personal to shared religious significance.

3.  How do we find true happiness?

The story of the Buddha, the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

4.  Why is community important?

Lay Buddhists and monks, the monastic community and what community means at Arnewood.

5.  What deal did the Jews make with God?

The covenant, commandments, monotheism and Brit Milah.

6.  Why do we remember the past?

The Exodus, the Promised Land, refugees, the Holocaust and Passover.

Why study this?

RS inspires students to consider different perspectives on life and think deeply about meaning and purpose - developing critical thinking and empathy valuable in every walk of life.

Key vocabulary

theist  ·  atheist  ·  agnostic  ·  omniscient  ·  omnipotent  ·  omnibenevolent  ·  sacred  ·  enlightenment  ·  Buddhism  ·  impermanence  ·  meditation  ·  dharma  ·  dukkha  ·  sangha  ·  covenant  ·  Judaism  ·  monotheism  ·  Passover  ·  seder  ·  Holocaust

Assessment

Multiple choice knowledge tests. Understanding questions. Extended scaffolded evaluation tasks. Oracy assessment in final unit.

Overview

Computing in Year 7 gives students the knowledge and skills to use technology responsibly, understand how computers process information, write and debug code, and manage data effectively - progressing from block-based to text-based programming.

Topics this year

1.  E-safety and file management

Online risks — cyberbullying, grooming, scams. Password security and organised folder structure.

2.  Intro to data representation

Units of memory, binary vs denary number systems and converting between them.

3.  Enquiry project

Text-based coding in Small Basic - controlling turtles, drawing shapes and building a chatbot.

4.  Small Basic coding

Sequences, selection and iteration. Variables, input/output. Independent coding challenges.

Why study this?

Understanding how technology works builds foundations for a world where digital skills are essential. Year 7 Computing opens doors to software development, data science, cybersecurity and game design.

Key vocabulary

cyberbullying  ·  grooming  ·  password security  ·  folder structure  ·  bit  ·  byte  ·  kilobyte  ·  megabyte  ·  gigabyte  ·  binary  ·  denary  ·  conversion  ·  sequence  ·  selection  ·  iteration  ·  variable  ·  assignment  ·  input  ·  output  ·  string

Assessment

End of unit exams covering theory and practical skills. Coding challenges monitored throughout.

Enrichment

Pathway to GCSE Computer Science