Year 7 – Choosing Subject Options for Year 8

In Year 8, pupils will be able to study a second Modern Foreign Language, either Spanish or German, in addition to continuing with French. They will also choose between Latin or Classical Civilisation and between Three-Dimensional Design or Food Preparation and Nutrition. 

Pupils make their choices for Year 8 whilst they are in the Spring term of Year 7. To help with their decision-making further, summaries of the curricula for the optional subjects are given below. 

We will do our very best to meet pupils’ preferences, subject to room and class sizes. 

Classical Civilisation 
This is an innovative course for those pupils who enjoy reading about Greek myths and legends, such as Hercules and Theseus and the Minotaur, as well as exploring Aesop’s Fables. Pupils will also study major festivals such as the Olympics.
Classical Civilisation is a stimulating blend of English, History, Drama, Philosophy, Art and Archaeology all mixed into one subject. Pupils do not need to know any Latin and will not be learning any Latin. They just need an enthusiasm for the ancient world and its immense contribution to the world in which we live today. 

Latin 
Pupils continue to study the Cambridge Latin Course with its gripping description of the eruption of Vesuvius amongst other exciting adventures encountered by Caecilius and friends. Learning of the grammar and vocabulary is made fun by the use of technology in lessons as well as project-based lessons. Study of the language is supplemented by exploration of life in Roman Britain during the 1st century AD, including Boudica’s rebellion as well as gladiators and amphitheatre. 

Three-Dimensional Design
Pupils undertake a “box project” for which nature is the theme. In doing so, they learn skills in a variety of woodworking tools and machinery, as well as how to decorate and finish wood. They subsequently create a series of flower drawings as inspiration to design and make their own clay flowers. The pupils then move on to using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) to design paper jewellery in three dimensions. References to the work of a number of designers are made during the year. 

Food Preparation and Nutrition 
The focus in Food is to build on the practical cooking skills pupils have started learning in Year 7. Emphasis is placed on Health, Safety and Hygiene and the importance of using systems to enable safe and efficient working methods. By the end of the year, pupils should have a greater understanding of nutrition and food provenance and have begun to think about the characteristics of food as a material and the science that makes it all work.