ACADEMIC
KS3 Curriculum
At Hayesfield Girls’ School, our Key Stage 3 curriculum is designed to empower students with the essential communication and language skills they’ll need for successful interactions throughout their lives. We believe that strong literacy skills are at the heart of this, fostering not only the ability to express themselves effectively with a rich vocabulary, but also developing crucial listening skills to understand both spoken words and subtle social cues.
By building a robust foundation in these areas, we aim to free up mental space, allowing students to engage more deeply with their subjects and gain a more profound understanding of the world around them. Ultimately, our goal is to nurture well-rounded individuals who are prepared to lead happy and healthy lives and become contributing members of a diverse society.
Our KS3 Curriculum Subjects
Design and Technology & Enterprise
The Design and Technology curriculum at Hayesfield aims to inspire, engage and enthuse by designing and making products that solve real and relevant problems, allowing students to learn iteratively using up to date technologies and processes, ensuring success for all by raising all students’ aspirations to prepare them for career pathways suited to the 21st century.
School Activities to Support Progress:
Design and Enterprise Weekly Club:
Provides hands-on experience and fosters entrepreneurial skills.
Hayesfield Bake Off (for the Christmas Fair):
Encourages practical application of design and technology in a fun, festive context.
Sewing Bee Weekly Club:
Develops sewing skills and creative design.
How You Can Support Your Daughter’s Progress:
Homework Completion:
Ensure she submits all homework on time to keep up with class topics.
Attend LEAP Activities:
Encourage participation in Period 6 Design & Enterprise LEAP activities.
Watch Relevant TV Programmes: Tune into shows like The Great British Bake Off, Grand Designs, The Repair Shop, and How Things are Made to inspire and educate.
Engage in Practical Activities:
– Upcycle or repair items.
– Assist with DIY projects, flat-pack furniture assembly, or meal preparation.
– Create new products from single-use plastics.
– Apply the 6 Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, Refuse, Rethink).
English
In English, it’s vital for students to grasp the world around them. We explore diverse texts and encourage students to extend their learning beyond the classroom by visiting the cinema and theatre, including opportunities at Bath’s Royal Theatre and The Little Theatre cinema. They should also read widely on every topic to enrich their understanding of Literature and Language. Additionally, we ensure each year group benefits from an author visit, where authors give talks, run Q&A sessions, and offer students the chance to purchase signed novels and meet them.
Activities to Support Progress:
Debate and Public Speaking:
Includes BANES and Literature Festival debate clubs and competitions, as well as the ESU Churchill Public Speaking Competition.
Literacy Events & Competitions:
Encompasses International Literacy Day, World Book Day, Bath Literature Festival Competitions, and the in-house Battle of the Books.
Reading & Literature Support: Covers KS4 Literature support, various author visits, reading clubs (Battle of the Books, The Centurion Award, Carnegie), Readathon, and the Hayesfield 100 reading list.
Performing Arts Exposure:
Features Theatre Club and Poetry Live.
How You Can Support Your Daughter’s Progress:
Promote Extensive Reading: Encourage daily, wide-ranging reading, utilizing school and local libraries, online catalogues, and even university resources to broaden literary horizons.
Engage with Writing and Competitions:
Encourage participation in writing for school or local publications and entering creative or essay writing competitions at various levels.
Utilize Diverse Media for Learning: Advise listening to Radio Four plays and arts programs, solving crosswords, and accessing undergraduate-level lectures through platforms like GULP, BRSLI, iTunesU, and YouTube.
Participate in Literary and Creative Activities:
Encourage involvement in Hayesfield Library events like book awards, joining or establishing book circles, fan fiction workshops, and film clubs, and experiencing live theatre.
Maths
We aim to enable students to develop a love of learning for the subject and an understanding that there are no limits to their own development in Maths and Computer Science.
Activities to Support Progress:
Maths Challenges and Competitions:
Participate in the UKMT Junior (Years 7 & 8), Intermediate (Years 9 & 10), and Senior (Years 11-13) Maths Challenges, FMSP Maths Feast Competitions, Cypher Challenge, and the Alan Turing Cryptography Challenge.
Enrichment Lectures and Workshops:
Attend Royal Institution Mathematical Masterclasses, Maths Inspiration Lectures, and “Taking Maths to the Limit” Lectures, and engage with the Wells Mathematical Circle.
In-School Maths Events and Further Study:
Engage in Number Week, the Multiplication Bee, Finance Day, and consider taking Further Maths GCSE.
How You Can Support Your Daughter’s Progress:
Show Active Interest & Engagement:
Take a keen interest in what she’s learning in Maths lessons, regularly ask to see her completed homework, and encourage her to explain recent topics to you.
Foster a Positive Mindset:
Don’t let your own anxieties about Maths hinder her learning. Instead, offer plenty of praise for her efforts and achievements to build her confidence, which is crucial for success in the subject.
Utilize Available Resources:
Make use of key resources like the Mathswatch VLE, which provides accessible videos for home use.
Collaborate and Seek Support:
Work through revision lists together that are issued to students, and don’t hesitate to ask for resources specifically designed for parents to help with her Maths work.
Humanities
In Humanities, we help students understand the world through various experiences. We organize field trips across the UK for Geography, and explore different cultures and religions through visits to temples, churches, and mosques. Our LEAP program offers a wide range of activities and discussion groups, including a Politics group, Sociology Cafe, and Happiness Club, giving all students diverse opportunities.
Geography
Geography helps students understand our rapidly changing world by revealing the interconnectedness of human and natural systems. It’s not just about facts; it’s a unique perspective that teaches you to make sense of patterns and phenomena, fostering a deeper understanding of sustainability and transforming your way of thinking.
Activities to Support Progress:
Small scale local fieldwork
Local fieldwork in Bath
Coastal fieldwork on Dorset coast
How You Can Support Your Daughter’s Progress:
Engage with Media and Current Events:
Watch relevant documentaries (e.g., “Green Planet,” “Planet Earth,” “Climate Change the Facts”) and regularly read or watch the news for discussion.
Explore Geographical Locations (Local):
Visit nearby places of interest like Bristol Harbourside, Bath Skyline Walk, Cheddar Gorge, Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, and Swanage.
Explore Geographical Locations (Wider):
Plan trips to broader destinations such as London, The Gower, Snowdonia, and The Peak District.
Subscribe to Educational Periodicals:
Consider subscribing to magazines like National Geographic to broaden understanding.
History
Hayesfield’s History department believes that students deserve an expansive and ambitious history curriculum that exceeds the remit of the national curriculum. Our offer is rich in subject-specific knowledge that ignites curiosity and skills that prepare students well for future learning and employment.
Activities to Support Progress:
Guided local history walks for enrichment week including “Secrets of Bristol” tour of Bristol with a trip to the M Shed. A “Medical history” and “Georgian fashion“ tour
Ignite day: Bath’s black history and connections with the past activity
Hayesfield’s Horrible History club where students create their own scripts and performances
How You Can Support Your Daughter’s Progress:
Horrible Histories:
It serves as an engaging introduction to historical subjects, paving the way for deeper learning.
Diverse historical films and series complement our curriculum:
For instance, the film Suffragette can support the Year 8 study of the History of Women, and Harriet can be used when covering the topic of slavery.
Enriching local historical visits are available:
We recommend exploring The Fashion Museum, The Roman Baths, The Holburne Museum, The American Museum, No.1 Royal Crescent, and The Museum of Bath at Work.
Further afield, significant historical sites offer additional learning opportunities:
These include the M-Shed Museum, the SS Great Britain, Chepstow Castle as a nearby Norman example, and Montacute House, an excellent Tudor manor.
Philosophy and Beliefs
In order to reflect the different worldviews that our students have and which we teach them about we have named our subject Philosophy and Beliefs. This is an inclusive title which reflects that whilst we teach the main world religions, we also include other worldviews such as Humanism.
Activities to Support Progress:
Diverse clubs and activities foster well-being and critical thinking:
These include the Happiness Club (linking to Mindfulness) and the Philosophy Club, alongside the inter-year group Philosophon competition.
Cultural and spiritual enrichment opportunities are integrated into the curriculum:
This is exemplified by the Year 8 visit to a place of worship during an Ignite Day and the Enrichment Week’s India Day.
Creative expression is encouraged through competitions:
Students have the opportunity to participate in the Spirited Arts Competition.
How You Can Support Your Daughter’s Progress:
Stay informed about global social, moral, and ethical issues:
Actively engage with current events by watching the news and reading newspapers.
Engage in discussions about religious, ethical, and moral topics:
Foster open conversations about these issues with others.
Explore religions through documentaries and share insights:
Watch documentaries about various religions and discuss the information learned in class.
Experience diverse religious practices firsthand:
Visit religious buildings together or participate in local religious festivals.
PSHCE
The key aim of our PSHCE curriculum is to ensure that every one of our students is able to lead a happy, healthy and rewarding life. Regardless of their starting point, we want all of our students to know more, remember more and understand more about how to play a positive and successful role within our society, both as a young person and as an adult.
Our PSHCE Curriculum Aims To:
- provide a safe and secure environment for students to be informed and to create discussion on important health, personal wellbeing, sex and relationship issues
- empower students to communicate their ideas, views, and opinions over a wide range of topics clearly, confidently, and respectfully
- support our students in developing tools and strategies to promote positive mental wellbeing so that they can understand and then deal with exams related anxiety
- provide a significant amount of time for careers, in line with our school moto of ‘achieving ambitions’ so that our students see that all doors are open to them for future employment possibilities
Performance and Arts
Art
At Hayesfield, we champion creativity and visual literacy, believing they are essential in our image-rich world. Our innovative curriculum aims to inspire a lifelong love for the arts, deepen practical skills, and challenge students to achieve their best. We also foster creative problem-solving, support mental well-being, and help students gain qualifications for their future.
How You Can Support Your Daughter’s Progress:
Attend Period 6 LEAP support sessions:
These sessions are designed to boost her confidence and further develop her skills.
Ensure she has the right equipment:
Please make sure she brings a 4B pencil, sharpener, and eraser to her lessons.
Encourage cultural experiences:
Support her in visiting museums, galleries, and exhibitions to broaden her cultural awareness whenever possible.
Dance
Dance is a powerful subject that boosts creativity, physicality, emotional expression, and intellectual growth, regardless of prior experience. It helps students develop socially, promoting fitness, well-being, confidence, self-esteem, and teamwork. Through performance, choreography, and critical appreciation, students gain a deep understanding of dance.
Activities to Support Progress:
Lower School Dance Club
Hayesfield Dance Showcase (takes place in Term 2 of each academic year)
Evening of Dance (takes place in Term 4 of each academic year)
How You Can Support Your Daughter’s Progress:
Attend Period 6 LEAP Dance activities:
Get more involved and enhance your dance skills during these sessions.
Perform in Dance Showcases:
Volunteer to perform solos or in groups at the many Dance Showcases and Evenings of Dance held throughout the year.
Bring the correct kit and equipment:
Always come prepared for your lessons with the necessary gear.
Make healthy food choices and live actively:
Support your well-being by eating nutritious foods and participating in an active lifestyle.
Drama
We believe that students deserve a broad and ambitious Drama curriculum, rich in skills and knowledge, which ignites curiosity, is culturally enriching and, for many, prepares them well for future learning or employment.
How You Can Support Your Daughter’s Progress:
Encourage attendance at Period 6 LEAP support sessions:
These sessions are designed to boost her confidence and expand her skills.
Support engagement with theatre and performances:
Where possible, encourage her to attend live theatre or watch online performances to broaden her experience and appreciation.
Music
The Music department, part of the beating heart of Hayesfield, delivers a broad and ambitious curriculum with a strong focus on practical music making. We seek to develop the core skills of singing, performing, composing and listening and through this engender a lifelong love of music and an understanding of how music works.
Activities to Support Progress:
Ensembles and Clubs:
Students can join the Music Theory Club (Grades 1-6), Steel Pans, String Orchestra, Wind Band, and Hush Choir.
Performance Opportunities:
There are numerous chances to perform throughout the year, including the Piano Recital, Autumn Showcase, Christmas Concert, Spring Showcase, and Summer Gala.
Wider Musical Engagement:
We also offer experiences like working with local groups such as the Bath Festival, Bath Carnival, and Bath Philharmonia, as well as engaging with Visiting Musicians and participating in Masterclass choir and ensembles.
How You Can Support Your Daughter’s Progress:
Engage with “Piece of the Week!”:
Encourage active listening and appreciation of diverse musical works by tuning into the weekly featured piece.
Utilize the Hayesfield PandA Website:
This online resource can provide valuable support and materials for musical learning.
Consider Instrumental Music Lessons:
Investing in instrumental music lessons can significantly enhance musical skills and understanding.
Explore Music Software for Home Use:
Many free and web-based music software options are available, such as Garage Band (Mac), Logic Pro (Mac), Bandlab, Soundation, Soundlab, Amped Studio, Audio tool, Soundbridge, Internet Daw, Audio Sauna, Drumbot, and Viktor NV-1, which can aid in musical creation and exploration.
PE
At Hayesfield, we aim to nurture and grow a lifelong love of physical activity in all our students and equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to support good physical and mental health, which is imperative in the current climate.
Activities to Support Progress:
Diverse Sports Clubs:
Students can participate in a wide range of clubs including Hockey, Netball, Football, Athletics, Cross Country, Rounders, Indoor Athletics, Cricket, and Trampolining.
Competitive Opportunities:
There are regular opportunities to compete, including participation in Swimming Galas and all B&NES (Bath and North East Somerset) tournaments.
Regular Fixtures:
The school organizes Weekly Sporting Fixtures, providing consistent chances for students to engage in competitive play.
How You Can Support Your Daughter’s Progress:
Promote Participation in LEAP Sporting Activities:
Encourage her to attend the Period 6 LEAP sporting activities to further develop her skills and passion.
Ensure Proper Equipment and Healthy Habits:
Make sure she has the correct kit for lessons, especially essential safety gear like mouth guards and shin pads for Hockey. Additionally, foster healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle.
Share Your Enthusiasm and Support Alternative Roles:
Share your passion for sports with her. In cases of injury or illness, support her in taking on coaching or officiating roles during lessons to maintain her involvement.
Maintain Communication and Support GCSE Requirements:
Stay in touch with the PE department via the school bulletin and her planner. For GCSE students, actively support her in collecting and submitting regular video evidence of her practical performance.
Sciences
At Hayesfield, we aim to inspire a lifelong love of science in all our students and equip them with the knowledge they will need to navigate an ever more scientific world. We believe that all students should have the scientific literacy to be able to evaluate critical evidence – this way, they can explain the world around them and make healthy choices whilst becoming responsible citizens.
Activities to Support Progress:
Academic Support & Socials:
Chemistry Café, Biology Bistro, Physics Phyiesta, Southside Support
Creative & Gaming:
Dungeons and Dragons, Minecraft
Hands-on Science & Engineering:
DIY Science, Build an Electric Car
How You Can Support Your Daughter’s Progress:
Active Learning and Discussion:
Encourage her to explain scientific topics she’s covered and engage in general discussions about science with her. This fosters deeper understanding and critical thinking.
Real-World Science Engagement:
Prompt her to stay current with scientific discoveries by reading daily newspapers and discuss these new findings together. This connects classroom learning to practical, ongoing developments.
Experiential Learning through Museums:
Plan visits to renowned scientific institutions like the Herschel Museum in Bath, and the Natural History and Science Museums in London. These visits offer immersive and inspiring educational experiences.
Community and Workshop Participation:
Suggest joining local scientific organizations such as the BRSLI (Bath Royal Scientific and Literary Institute) and attending their workshops. This provides opportunities for hands-on learning, networking, and exposure to diverse scientific topics.
Languages
Our Languages Curriculum is designed to ensure that all students make quick progress to reach their personal best. At the start of Y7 all girls sit a ‘Swedish test’, so we can quickly see the linguistic competency of each girl. We also want our students to have a much wider understanding of the world around them. In the curriculum we offer French and Spanish to our girls as these are the countries they are most likely to visit with their families or have experienced in their primary schools.
It is important that students get a sense of the world in which they live. There are trips to different parts of Europe and also immersion week with France and Spain. We also encourage our Sixth Form students to attend local conferences such as the Bath University Spotlight into Languages day.. We have French and Spanish Language Assistants work with our students to improve their confidence and speaking skills.
Staff are involved in the Extra Curricular LEAP programme and the Masterclass programme.
Our activities include:
- International Ambassadors (for our native speakers to be involved in helping others in our
community) - Extension languages (enabling students to sit A Levels and GCSEs in their native language)
- Visits to Bath University (translating and interpreting suite)
Year 7 Masterclass
Masterclass is a distinctive curriculum offer that complements the values of Hayesfield and are coordinated to ensure breadth and challenge. Year 7 students at Hayesfield are given the opportunity to master a new skill, take up a challenge and develop confidence in something new.
Students are able to choose which class to follow and are encouraged to develop their performance, creativity, sport and leadership qualities. Masterclass happens every Friday Period 5.
Students will need to select from the following options:
- Choir (All year) or select 3 options from the list below and rotate every two terms
- Mastering Choir (2 terms only)
- Mastering Cycling
- Mastering Dance
- Dangerous Masterclass for Daring Girls
- Enterprise @ Hayesfield
- Mastering German
- Hayesfield Masterchef
- PE Leaders – Mastering Leadership Skills