Year 9 Term 3 Overviews

Term 3 Overviews 

English Year 9

In Term 3, students will complete a comparative study of the biographical narrative Night by Elie Wiesel and Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation. This unit will run alongside the Humanities World War II unit and will explore how Holocaust survivor stories, particularly those of Jewish individuals, are represented through different forms of storytelling.

Students are required to have their own copy of Night to support reading, revision, and further study at home. Throughout the unit, students will complete detailed notes and annotations in class to develop their understanding of key events, ideas, and themes. Students will explore themes including dehumanisation, questioning of faith, survival, and ethical and moral decision-making across both texts.

Throughout the unit, students will complete weekly readings and written responses that analyse how these themes are developed and represented. These responses will strengthen students’ analytical skills and prepare them to write a comparative essay at the end of the term, where they will evaluate the similarities and differences between the two texts.

Health Year 9 

This term, Year 9 students will be learning about Sexual Health. This will entail how to stay safe physically, emotionally and socially during relationships when it comes to sex. Students will be continuing to reinforce their knowledge around consent.

PE Year 9 

This term, students will engage in territory games including basketball, netball, soccer, and handball. They will focus on creating and defending space, applying attacking and defensive strategies, and understanding team roles and transitions. Students will further develop their ability to make effective decisions in dynamic and competitive environments. 

Mathematics Year 9 

This term in Year 9 Mathematics, students will explore and deepen their understanding of measurement, space and algebra through the study of similarity, scale, Pythagoras’ theorem, trigonometry and quadratic relationships. Throughout this unit of learning, students will develop their problem-solving skills by applying similarity, ratio, scale factor and geometric reasoning to solve practical spatial problems. They will investigate the relationships between the sides and angles of right-angled triangles using Pythagoras’ theorem and the trigonometric ratios of sine, cosine and tangent.

Students will also extend their algebraic understanding by identifying, graphing and solving quadratic relationships using graphical, numerical and algebraic methods. They will explore how changes to equations affect the shape and position of quadratic graphs and use digital technologies to investigate these patterns. Across the term, students will apply mathematical modelling to solve authentic problems involving scale, proportion, measurement and simple financial contexts. They will interpret and evaluate their solutions, communicate their reasoning and refine their mathematical thinking using a range of strategies and digital tools.

Science Year 9 

Term 3 will see Year 9 students diving into the model of the atom and follow the evolution of the structure of the atomic model as discoveries of electrons, protons and neutrons shaped our understanding.

Students will also be introduced to the concept of isotopes and radioactive decay as atoms move from the unstable to a stable state. They will also review the organisation of the elements in the periodic table which is related to the structure and properties of atoms; look at patterns and trends including the significance of rows and periods, metallic and non-metallic properties, atomic size and reactivity.

Moving into the term, they will investigate the Law of Conservation of Mass, discovering how atoms are rearranged—but never lost or gained—during chemical reactions. They will represent these changes using word and balanced chemical equations and explore how matter is conserved in everyday and industrial processes.

Next, students will delve into Physics, where students will analyse how energy is conserved and transformed, particularly into electrical energy. They will explore the Law of Conservation of Energy, assess energy efficiency in real-life systems, and model how energy moves and changes form—from sunlight powering solar panels to energy use in household appliances.

Throughout these units, students will plan and conduct fair and reproducible investigations, use digital tools to collect and analyse data, and communicate their findings using scientific models, vocabulary, and formats suitable for different audiences.

They will also reflect on how science is shaped by and influences society, considering the role of ethics, technology, and sustainability. Students will examine how scientific knowledge evolves over time and how values and societal needs influence the direction of scientific research. This term will encourage critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and informed decision-making skills; essential for both science and life beyond the classroom.

Visual Arts Fiona Year 9 

ART 2D Visual Art

2D Visual Art, students expand their technical and creative abilities through a focused exploration of drawing and printmaking. Students will develop confidence using a wide range of markmaking tools and mediums, experimenting with graphite, charcoal, conte, and soft pastels to produce expressive and observational drawings. They will learn and apply a variety of drawing techniques, such as blending, hatching, crosshatching, tonal rendering, and expressive mark making, to communicate mood, texture, and form. The course introduces students to dry point etching where they will learn how to prepare a plate, create incised line work, and produce a series of prints that show refinement and craftsmanship. Visual diaries are used to document experimentation, artist research, reflections, and the development of personal artistic ideas. By the end of the course, students will demonstrate improved technical skill, creativity, and confidence in expressing ideas through 2D art forms.

Visual Art 3D Year 9

3D Visual Art,  students explore sculptural processes through handson experimentation with form, texture, and construction techniques. The course begins with the creation of a papier-mâché form, where students learn to build strong armatures and embellish their finished surface using natural materials such as twigs, twine, and fibres to enhance visual and tactile qualities. Students are then introduced to paper clay, learning how to mix and prepare their own clay body and use it to create a vessel or small sculpture. They explore methods of modelling, joining, carving, and refining their forms with a focus on craftsmanship and structural stability. Throughout the semester, students investigate artists who work with papiermâché, paper clay, and natural materials, examining how these artists use the elements of art; form, texture, space, shape, and colour, to communicate ideas and meaning. Students learn how to discuss sculpture using appropriate terminology and develop confidence in analysing both their own work and the work of others.