Year 9

Here at Dormston we feel building on the successes of Year 7 and Year 8 is crucial, we recognise the increasing maturity of our students and ensure that the Year 9 curriculum represents a significant step-change in terms of our pupils learning journey, challenge and complexity. As well as this our pupils are expected to start taking a greater ownership of their learning, continue to build on prior knowledge, take greater responsibility and reflect on their own skills and achievements to ensure they are preparing themselves for their upcoming Option Choices, GCSE’s and life post 16. In Year 9 pupils can expect the following:

An increase in subject difficulty;
An increase in homework (40 to 50 minutes a night);
They must develop and apply critical thinking skills to solve unseen problems.

Main Components of the Strategy

The Year 9 strategy covers 3 main areas: The Curriculum, Pupils and Parents.

The CURRICULUM – Our aim is to:

I. Ensure that all subject teachers are preparing their pupils well for their future examinations through a clear mapped out overview of what they are teaching over the year.

II. Ensure all pupils have access to subject Knowledge Organisers.

III. Ensure pupils have the opportunity to extend their learning through the provision of Non-Required Work.

PUPILS – Our aim is to:

I. Prepare our pupils for their future examinations and GCSE choices.

II. Ensure pupils prepare and take responsibility of their own learning – study skills and time management.

IV. Ensure pupils see the value of education and how it can support their future career plans.

V. Identify any pupils who may be struggling with any of the above and provide bespoke intervention to support them.

We run a comprehensive, age appropriate and spiral PSHE programme that covers many topics to support the points above.

PARENTS – Our aim is to

I. Keep parents informed of their child’s progress so they can support their progress

II. Share key information with parents so that parents have a range of strategies which can be used to support their children throughout the year

III. Support individual parents as required

Reports and key information is shared with parents through Go4Schools. In addition to this there are a series of Parent Information Evenings & a Parents’ Consultation Evening during the year.

Key Dates for Year 9

Date N/A – Year 9 Strategy Launch to Parents
Overview of Year 9, including expectations, PSHE and Careers programme, Literacy Video Available on Website and Numeracy overview and key dates. Delivered by Year 9 Strategy leader Mrs Jones.

25/11/20 – Year 9 Data and Effort Scores Year 9 effort and current grades data collected for each subject. Will be shared with parents via Go4Schools. See Go4Schools.

10/02/21 – Year 9 Pupil Careers Fair
This is an opportunity for all pupils to meet a range of career pathways to support them when making their future Option Choices. Guest speakers from a variety of different professions and industries. See PSHE curriculum in drop down at the bottom of the page.

10/02/21- Year 9 Effort Data & Tutor Reports
Year 9 effort data will be collected for each subject. Will be shared with parents via Go4Schools. See Go4Schools.

01/03/21 – National Careers Week
Subjects across the school will discuss and promote different career options within their discipline.

03/03/21 – Year 9 Reports Year Reports will be shared with parents via Go4Schools in preparation for Parents Consultation Evening and Options Evening. See Go4Schools.

11/03/21 – Year 9 Options Evening
This is an opportunity for all parents & pupils to meet a range of subjects in order to help make informed choices about your child’s next steps and option choices. Pupil Option Booklet Copy of presentation will be uploaded here in due course.

25/03/21 – Year 9 Parent Consultation Evening
Pupils are to make appointment with subject teachers to discuss current effort and attainment. Access to post-16 pathways Appointment Timetable (Pupil Planner Page –)

WC 21/06/21- Exam Week Students will sit an end of year exam for each subject in exam Pupil Exam Week conditions. This is an opportunity for all pupils to showcase their progress made from year 8 to year 9 but also to place pupils in appropriate GCSE sets. Timetable/Study Tips (Pupil Planner Page 122) Knowledge Organisers

22/06/21 – Year 9/10 Work Experience Launch Evening
This is an opportunity for all parents & pupils to understand what to expect in preparation and during Year 10 Work Experience. Pupil WEX Booklet. Copy of presentation will be available here in due course.

08/07/21 – Final Year 9 Data and Effort Scores
Year 9 effort and current grades data collected for each subject. Will be shared with parents via Go4Schools. See Go4Schools

PSHE

Personal, Social, Health Education becomes statutory for all schools from September 2020 under the Children and Social Work Act 2017. At Dormston, PSHE is a planned, developmental programme of learning through which children and young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives now and in the future. As part of a whole-school approach, PSHE develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society. PSHE equips pupils to live healthy, safe, productive, capable, responsible and balanced lives. It encourages them to be enterprising and supports them in making effective transitions, positive learning and career choices and in achieving economic wellbeing. A critical component of PSHE is providing opportunities for children and young people to reflect on and clarify their own values and attitudes and explore the complex and sometimes conflicting range of values and attitudes they encounter now and in the future. PSHE contributes to personal development by helping pupils to build their confidence, resilience and self-esteem, and to identify and manage risk, make informed choices and understand what influences their decisions. It enables them to recognise, accept and shape their identities, to understand and accommodate difference and change, to manage emotions and to communicate constructively in a variety of settings. Developing an understanding of themselves, empathy and the ability to work with others will help pupils to form and maintain good relationships, develop the essential skills for future employability and better enjoy and manage their lives. Please see Learning Journey for specifics of what will be taught this year. Click here to view the PSHE learning journey.

Year 9 Strategy Launch to Parents