Welcome to Year 10
Starting Key Stage 4
All students in Year 10 will have access to an ambitious curriculum to support their aspirations in life, as well as a variety of enrichment opportunities to help build their confidence, skills and self esteem. Moving from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4 is a huge step in students educational journey at Beckfoot, and we expect a lot of our young people. We want them to be successful and take responsibility for their learning and attitude.
Key Stage 4 uniform
In Year 10, students will wear a black sweatshirt and black polo shirt, both with the school logo. Other uniform and appearance expectations will remain the same and can be found here.

Your Team
Our team will be here to support Year 10 students through the first year KS4 and the beginning of their GCSE exams.
- Mrs Powell – Head of Year 10
- Mr Wheeler – Pastoral Manager
- Mrs Wade – Assistant Head/Head of Key Stage 4
- Mr Wade – Headteacher
- Mrs Denham – Deputy Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Mr Barnes – SENDCO
Should you ever have concerns or queries, please contact the school on 01274 771444.
Wider Opportunities
Year 10 Enrichment – We are committed to providing as many enrichment activities as possible for our students.
Trips and enrichment experiences run throughout the year and can range from residential trips, subject-specific trips and reward trips.
Work Experience: In Year 10, students will have the opportunity to source a work experience placement. This will give them the opportunity to engage in a placement interesting to them, and understand the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a sector of interest to them.
Year 10
Subject | Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 | Cycle 3 |
---|---|---|---|
Art | Fine Art – Mechanical objects: Experimentation – x5 surface textures, observations – x5 drawings Graphics – Pop culture convention: Artist research Photography – Forces: Research, nature, chemical | Fine Art – Mechanical objects: Artist studies (Michael Lang, Nicola Tilley and Kerby Rosanes) and development 1, preliminary grid and embellishment Graphics – Pop culture convention: Artist studies (Justin Maller, Mike Mahle) Photography – Forces: Applied and movement – research, analysis and trip prep | Fine Art – Mechanical objects: Further developments – abstract prisma drawing, abstract acrylic transfer and ceramic sculpture and design Graphics – Pop culture convention: Techniques, supporting research and logo development Photography – Forces: Artist studies (Aaron Yeomen and Helder Santos) |
Computer Science | Fundamentals of Algorithms: Students will learn how algorithms are used to solve problems and how they can be represented Fundamentals of Programming: Students will learn core programming principles including data types, operations, file handling, and string processing | Fundamentals of Programming: Students will explore data structures, Boolean logic and random number generation Data Representation: Students will learn about how data represented in computers | Computer Systems: Students will explore the different components of computer systems including hardware and software |
English | Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: Students will develop a confident overview of the plot, narrative devices, themes and characters in the play. Frankenstein (sets 1&2): Students will develop a confident overview of the plot, narrative devices, themes and characters in the play. A Christmas Carol: Students will develop a confident overview of the plot, narrative devices, themes and characters in the play. | Language paper 2: Students will become familiar with the format of questions 1-5 on the exam paper and understand how to approach them. Romeo and Juliet characters and themes: Students will develop a detailed knowledge about the development of key characters in the play and be confident in answering a character based questions. Language paper 1: Students will become familiar with the format of questions 1-5 on the exam paper and understand how to approach them. | Literature paper 2 – Power and Conflict: Students will understand the content and context of all 15 poems and learn to write basic comparisons of them. Spoken language: Students will research a topic of their choice in detail and deliver a 3-5 minute presentation about it to their class. |
Geography | Living world: Tropical Rainforests – Understanding the economic and environmental issues of deforestation and how to manage this. Living world: Cold Environments – How the development of cold environments creates opportunities and challenges and how they’re at risk from economic development. | The challenge of natural hazards: tectonic hazards – understanding the primary and secondary effects of a tectonic hazard, that effects and responses to them vary according to wealth, and that management can reduce the hazard. The challenge of natural hazards: weather hazards: understanding that tropical storms develop because of particular physical conditions, their effects, and the impact of them in the UK. Psychical landscapes in the UK: river landscapes – distinctive fluvial landforms and management strategies for flooding. | Urban issues and challenges: Understanding that urban growth creates opportunities and challenges for cities in LICs and NEEs, how urban changes leads to social, economic and environmental challenges and how urban sustainability requires management of resources and transport. An overview of the UK population and the major UK cities. |
GCSE Health and Social Care | Life Stages Impacts of life events | Sources of support The rights | Person-centred values Effective communication |
History | Part 1 – American People and the ‘Boom: Students will learn about the reasons America experienced an economic boom in the 1920s and the cultural changes this caused. Part 2 – Bust – Americans’ experiences of the Depression and New Deal: Students will learn about America in the great depression and their recovery. Part 3 – Post war America: Students will learn about American society after WW2, ideological tension after WW2 and racial tension and the civil rights movement. | Part 1 – The Korean War: Students will learn about the causes of the Korean War and follow the events of the war up until 1951. Part 2 – Escalation of tension in Vietnam: Students will learn the background to the Vietnam war and the US early intervention in the war. | Part 3 – The ending of the conflict in Vietnam: Students will learn about how the Vietnam war changed after Nixon became president and opposition to the Vietnam war under Nixon. They will also learn about how peace was achieved. Part1 – Elizabeth’s court and parliament: Students will learn about Elizabeth 1’s early life, how she ran the country and the difficulties she faced as a female ruler. |
PSHCE | Living in the world: Careers – Goal setting, preparation for WEX, WEX, rights and responsibilities in work, contracts, financial risk, county lines Health and wellbeing: Physical health – Screen time, link between sleep, diet and exercise, stem cells, eating disorders, alcohol, screening, impact of alcohol and drugs | Health and wellbeing: Mental health – Balance, sleep, responding to setbacks, depression and coping strategies, body image Relationships: Online relationships, relationship breakdowns, pornography, hostile sexism, intimacy and pregnancy | Relationships – Drugs and alcohol, gang crime, law on sexual consent, stereotyping, sexual bullying, online vs physical work Living in the wider world: Beckfoot, Britain and beyond – GCSE final year, democracy, power of the government, SMSC in Britain and beyond, the UK’s relationship with the rest of the world |
Business | Enterprise and entrepreneurship Spotting a business opportunity | Putting a business idea into practice Making the business effective | Understanding external influences |
Maths | Foundation Number – fractions and decimals, percentages Geometry and measure – angles, area and perimeter Algebra – working with symbols Higher Number – fraction and decimals Geometry and measure – angles and area, Pythagoras, area and volume, trigonometry Algebra – working with symbols, equations and formulae Ratio, proportion and rates of change – ratio | Foundation Algebra – equations, coordinates and graphs, formulae Geometry and measure – constructions, loci Ratio, proportion and rates of change – similarity Probability Number – indices and standard form Higher Geometry and measure – Properties of polygons, reflection, rotation and translation, properties of circles, enlargement, construction, loci Algebra – real life graphs Ratio, proportion and rates of change – proportion, compound measures | Foundation Geometry and measure – transformations, Pythagoras, measures, properties of polygons Algebra – quadratics, simultaneous equations Ratio, proportion and rates of change – proportion Higher Algebra – quadratic equations, cubic, circular and exponential functions, transforming functions Geometry and measures – vectors, trigonometry, area and volume Ratio, proportion and rates of change – similarity Statistics – scatter graphs |
German | Grammar: The main aim is to ensure basics, using high frequency present tense verbs and identifying patterns in the 4 tenses. Free time and activities: Free time activities such as sport, live events, film and TV. | Identify relationships with others: Family, descriptions and relationships with others. Environment, healthy living and festivals: Students will identify environmental problems, how they can stay healthy and festivals and German traditions. | Where people live: Students will talk about their town/village/neighbourhood, discussing what there is to see and do and the weather. They will also describe their ideal town and use prepositions to say where things are. Travel and tourism: Talking about holidays in present, past and future and describing an idea holiday. Destinations, transport, accommodation, weather, activities and opinions. |
Music | Building blocks of music: Students will review key musical concepts, focusing on DR SMITH (Dynamics, Rhythm, Structure, Melody, Instrumentation, Texture and Harmony) as they develop listening and appraising skills and learn how to structure essay responses Forms and devices: Students will explore musical forms from Baroque, Classical and Romantic period, analysing compositional techniques used in these styles | Music for ensemble: Students will study textures and sonority in different ensemble settings including chamber music, jazz and musical theatre Film Music: Students will explore how music enhances storytelling, studying leitmotifs, thematic development, and minimalist techniques, students will also compose film music using software like MixCraft or Sibelius | Popular music: Students will cover pop, rock, bhangra and fusion, analysing how composers combine instrumental and vocal elements with recording techniques |
Engineering | Students will develop their understanding of engineering drawings and work on their practice assignment of a mobile phone holder. They will also begin their NEA, which is externally set by the exam board each year (worth 30% of their GCSE) | Students will work on a series of 12 different mini projects, each project will focus on the core principles of engineering – Engineering materials, engineering processes, and engineering requirements | Students will work on a series of 12 different mini projects, each project will focus on the core principles of engineering – Engineering materials, engineering processes, and engineering requirements. Students will also work on their use of CAD software and fusion. |
French | Grammar: Ensure basics of grammar using high frequency present tense verbs and identifying patterns regarding 4 tenses. Free time and activities: Talking about free time activities – sports, reading, film and TV | Identity and relationships with others: Family, descriptions and relationships with others are covered this half term Environment, healthy living and festivals: Students will identify environmental problems and discuss how they help the planet, they will discuss what they do in order to stay healthy, and focus on festivals related to French traditions and customs | Where people live: Talking about your town, village or neighbourhood, discussing what you see and do and discussing plans and the weather, describe and ideal town Travel and tourism: Talking baout holidays in the past, present and future tense and practicing the conditional tense, destinations, transport, accommodation, weather, activities and opinions |
PE | Core: Striking and fielding in rounders and cricket and development of core skills in softball. CNAT:Performance of skills and techniques, participating in activities, decision making during performance, managing and maintaining performance in individual activities, strengths and weaknesses of sports performance and methods and measures to improve performance. Organisation of a sports activity session, safety considerations, objectives to meet the needs of the group, leading a sports activity session. GCSE: Skeletal system – students will learn the structure and function of the skeletal system and apply it to sport. | Core: Badminton, basketball, football, netball, rugby, volleyball, table tennis, fitness and cheerleading CNAT: 6 weeks practical (action plan – badminton), session plan and risk assessment, student lead sessions, review of leadership and sports activity session GCSE: Muscular system, movement analysis, the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and effects of exercise on the body | Core: Athletics CNAT: Distinguish between different media sources and how they cover sport, the positive relationship between the media and sport GCSE: Components of fitness, applying the principles of training, prevention of injury and engagement patterns of different social groups in physical activities and sports |
Performing Arts | Acting styles intro: Learners will be introduced to two acting styles as they develop their understanding of the role of the actor and director by examining practitioners work and the processes used to create a performance – Frankenstein extract, Cinderella extract, a Curious Incident of the God in the Night-Time extract, Hairspray extract | Frankenstein: Build on students knowledge of design elements and their knowledge and understanding of the stylistic qualities in Frankenstein, now adding set design Pantomime Project: Students will have the opportunity to rehearse and prepare for a performance working in a production tole, they will have first-hand experience of the production process and performing to a live audience | Hairspray: Builds on students knowledge of design elements from previous half term, now adding costume design, students will develop their understanding of stylistic qualities of musical theatre and the processes needed to create a performance Curious Incident: Builds on knowledge of design elements from Frankenstein, now adding lighting design and their understanding of the stylistic qualities of Curious Incident |
RE | Crime and Punishment: Students should study religious teachings and religious teachings and religious, philosophical and ethical arguments, relating to the death penalty, corporal punishment and forgiveness Christian beliefs: Students should study the beliefs, teachings and practices of Christianity specified below and their basis in Christian sources of wisdom and authority | Relationships: Students should study religious teachings and religious, philosophical and ethical arguments relating to homosexuality, sex outside of marriage and contraception Muslim beliefs: Students should study the beliefs, teachings and practices of Islam and their basis in Islamic sources of wisdom and authority | Peace and conflict: Students should study religious teachings and religious, philosophical and ethical arguments relating to weapons of mass destruction, violence and pacifism |
Science | Energy Chemical changes Energy changes | Electricity Infection and response Forces | Rate of chemical change Homeostasis and response Using resources Forces |
Hospitality and Catering | Introduction to dishes project – complex knife skills, upskilling meals, complex sweet and savoury garnish, professional presentation techniques. Service providers in hospitality and catering – commercial, residential facilities, success criteria, costings, advertisement. Service operations – front and back of house, equipment, routines) Macro and micronutrients functions and sources customer types, target ages, needs and dietary requirements Practical work – fresh pasta, tomato reduction, carbonara roux, cinnamon swirls, own dish adaptation, focaccia,/fougasse bread adaptation, lemon posset, ginger biscuits, short crust jam tarts, quiche lorraine, lemon meringue pie, chocolate roulade | Service operations – job roles, personal attributes, customer service Health and safety in hospitality – legislation, record keeping, risk assessments, control measures Cooking methods – factors affecting dish/customer choices Practical work – Deboning/jointing whole chicken, homemade garlic butter, chicken kiev, Texan BBQ sticky thighs, salt and pepper drummers, chicken noodle soup, herby bread rolls, profiteroles and chocolate ganache, mini steak bakes, meringue kisses, swiss roll, guacamole coleslaw | Upskilling, time plan (quality control), H&S, contingencies Practical work – prior recipe adaptations, own ideas, mini chicken kievs, profiteroles, quiche, ravioli and sauce, side dishes (two vegetable and two potato) |