Year 8 Curriculum Summary for Parents Term 2 • 2025/26
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This information represents a summary of plans for the term. Please understand that all plans are flexible; there is always the possibility that fewer (or more) topics will be covered than those stated. In Year 7/8, the Common Entrance (CE) syllabi of the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) constitute the main influence on teaching and learning at Peponi House. The CE syllabi are closely aligned to the programmes of study for Key Stage 3 of the English National Curriculum (NC).
Subject
Topics
Reading & Comprehension • •
Read widely across genres including dystopian fiction, graphic novels, gothic fiction, and poetry. Develop comprehension, inference, and deduction skills; analyse language, author’s purpose, structure, and viewpoint; compare texts and justify responses with evidence.
Key Texts • • •
Dystopian Fiction: City of Ember, Noughts and Crosses, Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm, The Giver,
Among the Hidden, Hunger Games, War of the Worlds. Graphic Novels: When Stars are Scattered, Breadwinner. Gothic Fiction: Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, A Christmas Carol, Frankenstein, Mr. Creature, The Signalman.
Writing
English
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Write for varied purposes including descriptive passages, narratives, persuasive speeches, articles, blogs, newspapers, and letters. Develop narrative writing in dystopian and gothic contexts; compose persuasive and discursive texts; use tone, style, and vocabulary suited to audience and purpose. Use varied sentence structures and wide vocabulary. Organise writing into logical paragraphs and follow the full writing process: plan, draft, revise, edit, and self-assess independently.
SPAG • • • •
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Maths
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Science
Apply knowledge of parts of speech, verb tenses, sentence types, and active/passive voice. Use accurate punctuation (full stops, commas, apostrophes, colons, semicolons, speech marks, ellipses, brackets, hyphens/dashes) and apply direct/reported speech correctly. Spell high-frequency and ambitious vocabulary accurately, including thematic words from dystopian, gothic, poetry, and graphic novel contexts. Learn and apply common spelling rules and exceptions regularly.
Number: calculate percentages of amounts, percentage increase and decreases, percentage change, one number as a percentage of another all with and without a calculator. Algebra: expand and factorise single brackets; solve equations involving brackets and division; continue or find missing values in arithmetic, geometric and other sequences, including Fibonnaci-related patterns; derive and use the nth term of linear sequences; plot straight lines. Geometry: transform shapes by reflection, translation, rotation and enlargement; describe transformations; solve problems with linear and area scale factors. Measure: calculating and problem solving with speed, distance and time. Statistics: read and interpret different statistical charts; read and interpret pie charts given angles, percentages or fractions. Additional Curriculum (only for those sitting this extra assessment at CE): Rearrange formulae; cancel an algebraic fraction by factorising; form and solve simultaneous equations; round numbers to significant figures; calculate reverse percentages; calculate the average speed of multi-part journeys; plot curves.
Combustion Reactions • Burning as a chemical reaction and the role of oxygen • Fuels and the products of combustion • Fire safety and controlling combustion (including complete and incomplete combustion) Purity and Mixtures • Identifying pure substances and recognising impurities • Solutions, concentration, and practical separation techniques • Selecting appropriate methods for separating common mixtures,
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French
Talking about your town/village (including sustainability and environmental vocabulary) Giving directions Talking about where you go Asking someone to go somewhere Saying what you can do in town Learning facts about French history Talking about your holidays and where others go. Talking about getting ready to go out Buying drinks and snacks Talking about holiday plans Saying what you would like to do
Last Holiday • Say where you went on holiday • Share the activities you did there • Describe your holiday experience using the past tense • Say, how did you get there (means of transport) • Explore Costa Rica as a Holiday Destination
Spanish
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Kiswahili
Travelling Travel terminals Means of travel (pros and cons) Travel documents Buying tickets Boarding process The journey
Year 8 Extra Swahili • In the city • Visiting the game park • Visiting the local park • At the sports club • In the classroom • In the kitchen Level 1 • Revision: puella, servus and bellum; sum, eram, fui, amo, amabam, amavi [present, imperfect and perfect of sum and regular verbs). Revision of all Level 1 vocabulary. Practice CE Level 1 papers including focus on simple English to Latin sentences. Level 2 • Revision of 1st, 2nd and 3rd declension nouns like rex, regis. Revision of future and pluperfect tenses for sum and regular verbs. Revision of comparative and superlative adjectives. Practice of Level 2 papers with focus on translation section.
Latin
Level 3 • Verb eo I go; hic haec hoc; ille illa illud; passive verbs: present, future, imperfect, future, pluperfect; indirect statement [acc+inf]; verbs volo and nolo and fero (I want, I don’t want, I carry); qui quae quod, ipse ipsa ipsum; idem eadem idem; expressions of time and place; c. 60 new vocab words. •
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Geography •
Natural Resources Pupils investigate Earth’s natural resources, distinguishing between renewable and non-renewable resources. They explore how humans depend on resources for food, energy, and water, and analyse sustainability challenges. The Food–Energy–Water Nexus Students examine how food production, energy generation, and water supply are interconnected. Real-world examples are used to show how pressure on one resource can impact the others, particularly in rapidly developing regions. Fieldwork: Elsamere & Lake Naivasha A residential fieldwork visit to Elsamere and Lake Naivasha forms a key part of the course. Pupils collect primary data on land use, water management, energy, and conservation. The term culminates in a group presentation worth 25% of the annual grade, designed to develop collaboration, communication, and teamwork skills.
The Cold War (1946-1991) – *Selected aspects visited
Mr. S. Tetley
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What was the Cold War? Introduction to Post War Europe (Causes of Conflict) Different ways of thinking – Ideologies (Capitalism v Communism) The Berlin Blockade and Airlift (1948-49) The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall (1961-1989) The Nuclear Arms Race (1945-1991) The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) The Space Race – key points in evolution/development End of the Cold War
T.P.R
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Introduction to other world religions: Catholicism and Mormonism Human and Universal Rights An Introduction to Ethics and different types of ethics Religious Festivals celebrated in different religions
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Study Marlene Dumas and respond to her work ‘The Rejects’ through critical analysis and creative interpretation. Develop portrait photography techniques focusing on composition and lighting. Experiment with ink, tonal drawing, collage, and layering to create expressive outcomes. Explore painting skills inspired by Jenny Saville and Elle Smallwood, exploring gesture and form. Learn colour mixing and compositional processes to create a personal response
History
Art
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Research Phase: • •
Explore architectural styles and structural systems. Study foam board properties and best practices for model making.
Design Brief: •
Create a house or structure that meets specific criteria (e.g., sustainable design, aesthetic appeal, functional layout).
Concept Development: • •
Design Technology
Sketch floor plans and elevations. Plan dimensions and scales (e.g., 1:50 or 1:100).
Digital Design: •
Use CAD software for precise modeling and cutting templates.
Construction: • •
Learn techniques for cutting, scoring, and joining foam board. Reinforce joints for stability and neatness.
Finishing: •
Add details like windows, doors, and landscaping for realism.
Testing & Evaluation:
Computing
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Assess accuracy, structural integrity, and visual appeal.
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Developing a product in 3D using mixed media and digital design Use of Tinker CAD to design 3D printable objects. Use of SketchUp – rendering and architectural design that is suitable for 3D printing Independent project in SketchUp
Music
Drama
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Everything is Rhythm: Polyrhythms & Global Influences; Sound Ideas: Impressionism & Minimalism; Digital Music Portfolios and Notation Software Literacy
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This term, Year 8 Drama students will engage in the exploration and production of complex scripts, ranging from Shakespearean texts to modern plays. The curriculum emphasizes both performance and production roles, ensuring that every student contributes meaningfully to the creation of a staged piece.
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Health Related Fitness: Developing knowledge of the importance of healthy living, endurance, strength, flexibility, speed & agility and their benefits in sports. Gymnastics & Skipping: develop gymnastics movements by gaining an understanding of factors which influence quality in performance including extension, body tension and clarity of body shape. Vaulting; handsprings and headsprings · Team Ball Skills – Movements on and off the ball, active spatial awareness, group attack and defense strategies.
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P.E.
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Cross Country • •
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This term our focus moves to Hockey. We will be working on developing the core skills of our pupils, whilst encouraging them to engage in tactical sessions to help grow their ability to plan and react to game situations. The children will be able to focus on dribbling, tackling, passing, shooting and working in different positions on the pitch.
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Year 8 children will focus on swimming more fluently, as well as improving all four competitive strokes, coordination, breathing techniques and starting to introduce speed.
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Relationships This unit focuses on helping pupils build healthy, respectful and supportive relationships as they move through adolescence. The content is age-appropriate and grounded in safeguarding and wellbeing. Changing Me This unit focuses on puberty, body changes, self-image, and emotional wellbeing during adolescence. It is delivered sensitively, factually, and in line with statutory Relationships & Sex Education guidance.
Games
Swimming
P.S.H.E.
Develop and improve endurance and aerobic fitness through progressively longer-distance running activities with paced efforts. Introduce strategic racing concepts, including pacing strategies, overtaking techniques, and finishing strategies
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