Year 7 Spring Term English

During the Spring term, Year 7 students will immerse themselves in the world of short stories. They’ll read a variety of classic tales from authors including Encyclopaedia Brown, Paul Jennings, Beatrix Potter, Winnie the Pooh, The Railway Stories, and Just William. Through these texts, students will learn about Freytag’s Pyramid—a model for understanding story structure—and explore the 7 Basic Plots that form the foundation of storytelling.

In the second half of term, students will apply what they’ve learned by writing their own short stories. They’ll focus on “writing for effect,” learning techniques for characterization and discovering the difference between “telling” and “showing” in creative writing. This practical approach helps students understand how professional authors craft engaging narratives.

Year 7 Spring Term Maths

This term, Year 7 pupils will continue to build their confidence and fluency in Maths by applying their knowledge to different areas of the curriculum. Key learning will include:

• Sequencing numbers – including ordinal numbers (first, second, third)
• Rounding and estimation – to support problem-solving
• Choosing the correct operation – pupils will learn to identify whether addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division is needed by spotting key words in questions

They will also explore shape, learning to name a variety of 2D and 3D shapes and describe their properties. Pupils will develop their understanding of position and direction, using related language when describing routes (for example, around the school).

Finally, they will consolidate their data handling skills from the Autumn term, ensuring a strong foundation for future learning.

Year 7 Spring Term Science

Year 7 Spring Term Religion and Ethics

Year 7 – Exploring Beliefs and Belonging

Spring Term – Christianity: What Do Christians Believe and Why?
Students study Christian beliefs about God, Jesus, creation, and the Bible, exploring how these shape moral choices and daily life. Key themes include:

• God as creator
• The life and teachings of Jesus
• Forgiveness, love, and kindness
• Importance of the Bible

They also learn about festivals such as Christmas and Easter.
Parent support: Encourage discussion about stories, symbols, and “being a good person.”

Year 7 Spring Term Art

In the Spring term our project is called ‘Express Yourself’ and pupils explore how other people express themselves using Art and culture. The focus to start with will be portraits and then we move onto study art from around the world. Talking about art and sharing their opinion is a large part of this project, which helps pupils with self reflection and appreciation for other’s perspectives. Pupils get the opportunity to use a range of materials and express themselves creatively in a range of ways.

Year 7 Spring Term Design Crafts

During the spring term students will have the opportunity to take part in a cross curricular project with the Dance and Drama department. After an initial research phase, students will co-create a range of Props, costumes and scenery that they will wear for an in-school performance. Year 7 students will be exploring a range of 2D and 3D techniques and materials, including print- making, textiles and upcycling.

Year 7 Spring Term Music

The music curriculum at Alfriston has been carefully designed to be therapeutic, and to promote confidence and a growth mindset for all our girls. We aim to be absolutely inclusive and to meet our girls whatever their level or need. Our Learning for Living skills of Engagement, Independence, Risk Taking, Resilience and Social Interaction are promoted in every lesson, and in some of our topics. Organisation will be an important focus.

Students will learn keyboard skills to improve dexterity, pair work skills, resilience in individual practice, and risk taking in performance. Lessons and methods are differentiated so that students work at their own level. The majority of students will perform solos and duets by this point in the year.

We then move to Improvisation and Composition on keyboards and rhythm instruments. The Elements of Music are taught here, through listening and composing. Instruments of the orchestra will be touched on via the Intentional Listening element of the course, which is formally introduced here too.

Year 7 Spring Term Expressive Arts

In the spring term pupils will have the opportunity to take part in a cross curricular project with the Arts Faculty.

Students will research around the theme of ‘Turn Back Time’ and will be involved in devising a live performance based on the theme.

Year 7 Spring Term PE

In the Spring term pupils will enjoy a variety of physical activities this term, including gymnastics, swimming, and team games.

• Swimming will take place every week. We’ll focus on building confidence in the water, improving stroke technique, and learning important water safety skills.
• In gymnastics, pupils will explore different equipment safely while developing body control, balance, and spatial awareness.
• Through team games like football, netball, and hockey, pupils will learn the basics of working together, attacking, and defending.

Our aim is to make these sessions fun and supportive, helping every child feel confident and capable.

Year 7 Spring Term Social & Emotional Skills

This area of the curriculum is focused on building self-awareness, emotional regulation, and positive relationships. Students learn to understand their feelings, manage stress, resolve conflicts, and communicate effectively. By developing empathy and resilience, students are better equipped to navigate social situations and contribute positively to their communities. These essential skills are transferable to their future employmen

Year 7 Spring Term PSHE

Spring 1
Students explore topics that build self-awareness and confidence, including belonging and friendships, understanding feelings, and working together positively. Lessons encourage empathy, kindness, and respect, while introducing strategies for managing emotions and solving problems calmly.

Spring 2
The focus shifts to healthy relationships, emotional wellbeing, and making informed choices. Students learn about respect, managing change, and developing independence, alongside communication and teamwork skills. Activities promote resilience, social awareness, and a sense of responsibility within the community.

Through discussion, creative tasks, and practical activities, students strengthen their sense of identity and learn essential life skills for wellbeing and positive relationships.

Year 7 Spring Term Food Technology

The pupils working in Food Technology will focus on basic cooking and food preparation skills. Pupils will learn how to work safely in the kitchen as well as developing, an understanding of what Home Economics is and learn the important hygiene and healthy eating rules. They will learn about basic nutrition and the importance of a balanced diet. Pupils will cook a wide range of dishes from a variety of simple recipes. Pupils will gain independence in the kitchen and begin to discuss the skills they are learning.

Pupils will continue to cooking from recipes provided. We will focus on how important it is to ensure that food safety and hygiene is being followed to avoid any accidents and minimise any risk of food poisoning. They will also be focussing on purchasing foods from a variety of sources; food labels provide information to the consumer. During these lessons the pupils will follow a project on ‘Breakfast’ and why it is important.

Year 7 Spring Term Forest School

The pupils working in Forest School will be outside in the woodland area having a hands-on opportunity to learn about the natural environment through directed tasks and exploration. They will be guided to use their own initiative to solve problems and cooperate with others. The students will be given a large amount of freedom in their learning.

In Year 7 there will be a large focus on organising ourselves and being prepared for each lesson as well as becoming familiar with the rules and ready for learning. The main theme throughout the lessons will be building relationships and team work. Some of the activities throughout the year will include den building, fire lighting and exploration.

Year 7 Spring Term Humanities

History: The Olympic Games – Then and Now

This term, pupils will study the history of the Olympic Games, starting with their origins in Ancient Greece. They will discover:

• Why the Ancient Greeks created the Olympics and what the Games meant to them.
• What the events were like — including running, wrestling, and chariot racing!
• How the Olympic values of excellence, respect, and friendship have lasted through time.

Pupils will compare the ancient and modern Olympics, learning how sport can reflect the culture, values, and beliefs of society.

Geography: The World Around Us

Pupils will explore how people and the environment are connected across the globe. They will learn about:

• The key natural processes that shape our planet, such as the water cycle and erosion.
• How people adapt to different environments — from deserts to cities.
• Why some parts of the world are richer or poorer than others.

This topic encourages pupils to think about fairness, sustainability, and the choices people make about how they live.

Year 7 Spring Term Employability

As part of our employability curriculum, students take part in a wide range of practical activities designed to develop the skills they need for the world of work.

Communication and teamwork are built through role-play scenarios, group tasks, and learning how to follow and give instructions. Workplace behaviours are introduced through timekeeping, dressing appropriately, understanding health and safety, and completing routine tasks like filing, sorting, and basic admin.

Practical experiences such as food preparation, cleaning, and using simple tools help build confidence and independence. Digital skills are developed through activities like creating a CV, job searching online, and using computers for word processing, emails, and spreadsheets.

Year 7 Spring Term Home Management

In Year 7, students take part in our Home Management curriculum, which is designed to help them develop essential life skills for greater independence at home and in the community.

The curriculum includes practical activities such as household tasks like cleaning and laundry, and learning about personal hygiene and safety in the home. Lessons are hands-on and adapted to meet the needs of each learner, helping to build their confidence, responsibility, and self-care skills.