Year 11 students will see many topics come together this year and they will begin to encounter questions which contain 2 or more different topics, this is why confidence and fluency in the the skills learnt over the previous years is vital to being able to apply them to solve complex problems. Students will encounter some final topics before preparing for their exams, including vectors and reciprocals.  Foundation students will investigate indices and standard form and the students aiming for the higher GCSE will solve direct and inverse proportion problems by building formulae. All students will need to be able to apply any skill to solve problems and reason accurately which will also be worked on throughout the year 

BIOLOGY: In genetics and reproduction we will discuss DNA, genes and alleles and take a look at how gametes are formed in meiosis. We will explore genetic diagrams to predict inheritance outcomes and look at how selective breeding and genetic engineering can be used to our advantage.  Ecology will investigate distribution and abundance of a species and we will discuss the forces of natural selection in relation to competition and adaptation of species.  Material cycling, population explosion and food security will conclude our ecology topic.

CHEMISTRY: Rates of reaction will apply the particle model to chemical reactions and help you to explain what catalysts and activation energy are.  We will calculate balanced symbol equations and predict reactants and products of chemical reactions as we study chemical equilibrium.  Using Earth’s Resources will analyse data on finite resources and carry out life cycle assessments and the impact of making new materials.

PHYSICS: By measuring wavelength and frequency of waves, you will calculate speed and also understand how Electromagnetic waves can carry information and form images.  We will reflect and refract waves. We will link electromagnets to motors and generators and discuss orbits, satellites, and stars.

Students complete a study of Elizabethan England, considering the impact of the recent religious upheavals by the Tudor dynasty and the challenges that Elizabeth faced during her reign. Some time is dedicated to a site study which is set annually by the exam board.  

Students will also consolidate their KS4 learning. Topics are re-visited with a focus on the development of the specific exam skills for each topic and the application of knowledge to generate success in their final exams.

Year 11 GCSE Option students continue their learning journey exploring relationships, sexuality, family and identity. This is carried out primarily with a Theological and Sociological Lens. This then leads onto Human Rights and social justice which incorporates more of a Philosophical approach. We then explore the ways beliefs can shape attitudes to key questions of the 21st Century. This undertaking involves all the skills of all three Lens. The aim is to prepare students for the ever changing world they are stepping closer into and enable them to have religious literacy.

Year 11 World Views (statutory and non-examined) This is a fortnightly lesson which introduces students to concepts and ideas that they would not normally come across in everyday life. For example we begin the course by exploring morality and this introduces students to thinkers like Bentham, John Stuart Mill and Kant. It gives students an opportunity for discussion and debate. The aim of the course is to ensure that when students reach the end of their time at the Colne they are able to engage in the sharing of ideas on a level, which shows a knowledge and understanding that there is not one type of Muslim, Christian, atheist etc. That there is a multiplicity of beliefs within every tradition.  This should equip them as they go out from here with a deeper awareness and ability to communicate with respect and religious literacy. 

The final year needs to be taught with care, flair and passion. Students return from the summer holidays in controlled assessment conditions for their comp 1 devising exam. This includes, a devised performance, portfolio work and a written evaluation. Students will protect their information from Hard to Swallow by Mark Wheeler with revision lessons and example exam questions. This will be thread throughout the year finishing in a scripted performance to an examiner.

Mock Exam

Based on previous year’s externally set theme. Theory covers all aspects of food science, carbon footprint and food miles.

Practical Mock exam

Practice of dishes  - Recipe trials – experimenting with flavours. Nutritional analysis of recipes, Dovetailed time plan for three hour practical exam. Modifying recipes to meet customer needs.

Externally Set Assignment

A theme set by our exam board. Planning, preparation, and creating three dishes linked to the theme. Building a portfolio of evidence

GCSE Study

The Present, Past and Future Tenses (e.g. ‘escucho la música’, ‘escuché la música’, ‘voy a escuchar la música’) are further developed with the inclusion of the Conditional Tense. Complex structured sentences are actively encouraged within all four disciplines, using connectives, intensifiers, idioms and uncommon language, to assist Spanish comprehension and writing in becoming more fluid (e.g. ‘¡Qué rollo!’/ ‘Vale la pena’). Extended speaking answers are practised to ensure that pronunciation is accurate, and also that translation skills are further progressed through the use of equivalent expressions (e.g. ‘se debería…’/’hay que…’). 

Engineering:  The course is around 50% practical work and 50% theory and written coursework. 

There are two parts to the written coursework, called Unit 1 and Unit 2.  This coursework makes up the majority of the marks for the course and consists of practical tasks, written up along with the theory of what the student’s method and research into the tools and materials they are using.

Unit 3 is a written exam and includes the theory of Engineering, materials, tools and how they are used to manufacture products.  It includes elements on Sustainable Design and modern materials and methods including CAD/CAM.

Mathematics -  Practical mathematics skills are an essential part of the Engineering course.  In the written exam students are given real life questions, like working out the volume of a piece of metal needed to make a sign.  Understanding who to calculate the scale of a drawing is needed.

Design & Technology:  The course consists of one large piece of coursework and an exam in Year 11.

Coursework:  Students investigate Designers and analyse products, materials and their manufacture.  Students are taught how to design and make their own products, following a design brief.  Students complete research and gather data before undertaking their own design during Year 11 to produce a comprehensive coursework project.  Students then decide on a single project in Year 11 which they then prototype and build, producing the coursework to back-up their design work.

Exam:  The written exam requires a large avout of subject information on how products are designed and manufactured.  The theory which is worked on practically and with research in Year 10 makes up a large part of this learning.  Students need a thorough understanding of design, materials and manufacture to pass the exam. 

Students will commence their final coursework assignment, this being Component 2 - Planning for and Running an Enterprise. This will involve introducing students to the concept of business planning.

Assignment 1 will encourage the students to research three viable business ideas, considering their associated benefits and drawbacks. They will then select one of these ideas and develop it into a full blown business plan, which will require the undertaking of market research in terms of developing the associated functional areas of their marketing mix, production/operations, finance and HR. This business plan will be written as a comprehensive report, divided into multiple sections, reviewing the research completed and turning their findings into a plan of action.

Assignment 2 and 3 are inextricably linked in that they will need to produce a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitch based upon their plan of action as set out in their business plan. To support this they will need to produce an appropriate presentation summary, be prepared to answer a variety of questions based upon their work and will have the option of providing samples of their work and related promotional material. Assignment 3 will follow on from this and will be a comprehensive review of their pitch in terms of what went well and what they could improve upon, thinking about their presentation style, interpersonal skills and props etc.

Finally, students will have an opportunity to retake their component 3 exam if they so wish. This will include revision material and lessons closer to the time of the final take. Students will also have an opportunity towards the end of their course to make any final adjustments to both coursework components before final submission and sampling.