The Foundation Years
The Year 7 and 8 curriculum is designed to give students a firm foundation based on the broad curriculum of 15 subjects. Students study the core subjects, i.e. English, Maths, Science in 6 lessons per fortnight and MFL in 5 lessons. The school recognises the importance of self-expression and believes that the performing arts subjects contribute towards increasing the students’ confidence hence all students study dance, drama and music in 4 lessons. We encourage all students to become enterprising young adults; the Business and Enterprise course teaches our students about the world of business and entrepreneurship.
The Personal Opportunities Programme (POP) is a unique feature of our curriculum which embed enrichment in school life for every Invicta students. Fifty clubs and societies run by teachers from Musical Theatre to Creative Photography, from Bee Keeping and Gardening to Body Balance and Lacrosse are enjoyed by students and teachers alike.
The table below summarises the subjects studied by students in Year 7 and 8, and the number of lessons per fortnight.
English | 6 lessons |
Mathematics | 6 lessons |
Science | 7 lessons |
MFL (French) | 5 lessons |
MFL (German) | 5 lessons |
MFL (Spanish) | 5 lessons |
History | 3 lessons |
Geography | 3 lessons |
Art | 2 lessons |
Design and Technology | 2 lessons |
Food Preparation and Nutrition | 1 lessons |
Business and Enterprise | 2 lessons |
Computing | 2 lessons |
Religious Education | 2 lessons |
Performing Arts (rotation of Dance and Drama) Dance | 2 lessons |
Performing Arts (rotation of Dance and Drama) Drama | 2 lessons |
Music | 2 lessons |
Physical Education | 2 lessons |
Personal Opportunities Programme (POP) | 2 lessons |
English
Subject: English |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
• Poetry • Knowledge About Language • Dystopian Fiction (2 Terms) • Journeys • Shakespeare |
Recommended Extra Resources |
Visit the theatre to see a live performance; read as much variety of fiction and non-fiction as possible |
Recommended Reading List |
• See Year 7 reading list on the IGS website; students will also be given a booklet at the start of the year in which they can find a recommended reading list • Students should also access the Visual Search area of the Library site (available through the Student Portal) as this has termly reading lists which tie in with the topics studied in class |
Useful Tips |
• Be confident in offering your opinions and reactions to the texts you read • Always justify your ideas from the text • Remember to plan and proof-read any extended answers |
Subject: English |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
• Poetry • Women • Gothic Literature (2 Terms) • Childhood • Shakespeare |
Recommended Extra Resources |
Visit the theatre to see a live performance if possible; read as much variety of fiction and non-fiction as possible |
Recommended Reading List |
• See Year 8 reading list on the IGS website; students will also be given a booklet at the start of the year in which they can find a recommended reading list • Students should also access the Visual Search area of the Library site (available through the Student Portal) as this has termly reading lists which tie in with the topics studied in class |
Useful tips |
• Be confident in offering your opinions and reactions to the texts you read • Always justify your ideas from the text • Remember to plan and proof-read any extended answers |
Maths
Subject: Maths |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
|
Recommended Extra Resources |
Revision Guides CGP KS3 Maths Study Guide – Higher (ISBN: 978 1 84146 030 7) CGP KS3 Maths Complete Study & Practice (ISBN: 978 1 84146 383 4) Websites www.mrbartonmaths.com (online e-book) www.mathsisfun.com (good explanations) www.corbettmaths.com (videos and worksheets) |
Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Subject: Maths |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Revision Guides CGP KS3 Maths Study Guide – Higher (ISBN: 978 1 84146 030 7) CGP KS3 Maths Complete Study & Practice (ISBN: 978 1 84146 383 4) Websites www.mrbartonmaths.com (online e-book) www.mathsisfun.com (good explanations) www.corbettmaths.com (videos and worksheets) |
Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Science
Subject: Science |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Subject: Science |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
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Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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MFL (French)
Subject: French |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Workbooks based on our textbook to reinforce what it is taught in lessons. Websites :
YouTube :
|
Recommended Reading List |
Ask your French teacher to borrow a book from our library. Here is a sample of what you can find.
|
Useful Tips |
Make sure you learn your vocabulary regularly, using a variety of memorising techniques- a little bit everyday, is better than two hours the night before the spelling test !! |
Subject: French |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
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Workbook based on our textbook to reinforce what it is taught in lessons and challenge students. Websites :
YouTube :
|
Recommended Reading List |
Ask your French teacher to borrow a book from our library. Here is a sample of what you can find.
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Useful Tips |
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MFL (German)
Subject: German |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Stimmt 1 Workbook by Malcom Pacey |
Recommended Reading List |
|
Useful Tps |
Spread your homework time over a number of days so that you learn your vocabulary little and often. When learning vocabulary, remember to listen, say, cover and write the words to help you practice all four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing). Use the electronic textbook to go over reading and listening exercises done in class and use the marked one done in class to check your new answers. When revising for a speaking assessment, practice asking and answering questions with a friend without looking at your answers. Create revision posters for particular grammar points. Use mind maps to help revise topics (think of headings such as Grammatical concepts, Verbs, Nouns, Phrases, etc…). |
Subject: German |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
|
Recommended Extra Resources |
Stimmt 2 Workbook by Malcom Pacey German Grammar 11-14 by Oliver Gray and Trevor Stevens Key Stage Three German CGP Revision Guide |
Recommended Reading List |
|
Useful Tips |
Spread your homework time over a number of days so that you learn your vocabulary little and often. When learning vocabulary, remember to listen, say, cover and write the words to help you practice all four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing). Use the electronic textbook to go over reading and listening exercises done in class and use the marked one done in class to check your new answers. When revising for a speaking assessment, practice asking and answering questions with a friend without looking at your answers. Create revision posters for particular grammar points. Use mind maps to help revise topics (think of headings such as Grammatical concepts, Verbs, Nouns, Phrases, etc…) |
MFL (Spanish)
Subject: Spanish |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
|
Recommended Extra Resources |
Claro 1 Workbook |
Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Subject: Spanish |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Mira 2 Workbook |
Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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History
Subject: History |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
|
Recommended Extra Resources |
Recommended Websites: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zk26n39 http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/history/middle_ages/ http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/sessions-and-resources/?time-period=medieval |
Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Subject: History |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Recommended Websites http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/history/20th_century/ |
Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Geography
Subject: Geography |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
• Global knowledge - atlas skills, global culture and food, introduction to sustainability and eco buildings. • Map skills – grid references, direction, scale and reading contour lines. • Fieldwork skills – local and in St Omer France. • Globalisation – global connections, trade, evaluation of TNC activity. • How does the weather and climate have an impact upon people and environment? • Weather around the world – weather and climate, climate graphs, climate zones and biomes, extreme weather. • What is the link between the human and physical geography of Russia - • Appreciation of physical characteristics- climate, landscape, resources. • Link between population patterns, economic activity and the physical characteristics. • Rivers - Key features of the hydrosphere, location of the world’s main rivers, key processes of erosion transportation and deposition and key landforms. • The water cycle, drainage basins and water scarcity. • Young Geographer of The Year Competition - Independent work for the Key stage 3 diploma task. |
Recommended Extra Resources |
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Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tps |
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Subject: Geography |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
• Why do we need environmental protection? What actions can I take? - Ecological footprints, individual waste diaries and plastic pollution. • Is Antarctica worth saving? - Interdependence of food chain and the environment including climate, Impacts of tourism and scientific research, Viewpoints on conservation. • Can we ever know enough about earthquakes and volcanoes to live safely? - Tectonic hazards basic causes -plate boundaries, Pangea, continental drift. Why live in tectonic areas and how the risks can be monitored and managed for earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. • What is development? - Development definitions and indicators, spatial patterns of development. Reasons for poverty applied to Asia. Economic and urban growth and impact upon lives – positive and negative – focus upon China and India, Sustainable Development goals • What are the challenges and opportunities within Africa? - Key countries, climates zones and physical landscapes within Africa. Physical and social challenges focussing upon horn of Africa. Links between china and Africa. Introduction to the complexity of sustainable development and impact of individual decisions explored though flower plantations in Kenya. • How developed is the Middle East? - Location and countries, key features of the physical geography -landscape, tectonic zones and resources. Analysis of opportunities and challenges and the contrasts in development – Yemen versus UAE. • What is the future of the planet – a geographer’s view? - Focus upon climate change as a controversial issue. Causes, effects and evaluation of differing viewpoints. |
Recommended Extra Resources |
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Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Art
Subject: Art |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Revision Guide on Student Portal. |
Recommended Reading List |
|
Useful Tips |
Practice observational drawing by looking at the object for 80% of the time. Draw only what you see. Enhance written analysis by using PEE. |
Subject: Art |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Revision Guide on Student Portal. |
Recommended Reading List |
|
Useful Tips |
Practice observational drawing by looking at the object for 80% of the time. Enhance written analysis by using PEE. |
Design and Technology
Subject: Design and Technology |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
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Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Subject: Design and Technology |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
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Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Food Preparation and Nutrition
Subject: Food Preparation and Nutrition |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Online: BBC Good food: www.bbcgoodfood.com Food miles: http://www.foodmiles.com Change for life, BBC: https://www.nhs.uk/change4life Understanding the science of food: http://www.thecookeryteacher.com Marine conservation society: https://www.mcsuk.org British cheese: http://britishcheese.com/education YouTube Fun kitchen food science clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0USi4DbRVVQ BBC bitesize KS3: https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/zb8jmp3 Stefan Gates, Gastronauts, food science made fun! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0f5hnnSGWXhNQxDJdxlPsQ Keeping abreast of stories in the news relating to food |
Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Subject: Food Preparation and Nutrition |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Online: BBC Good food: www.bbcgoodfood.com Food miles: http://www.foodmiles.com Change for life, BBC: https://www.nhs.uk/change4life Understanding the science of food: http://www.thecookeryteacher.com Marine conservation society: https://www.mcsuk.org British cheese: http://britishcheese.com/education YouTube Fun kitchen food science clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0USi4DbRVVQ BBC bitesize KS3: https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/zb8jmp3 Stefan Gates, Gastronauts, food science made fun! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0f5hnnSGWXhNQxDJdxlPsQ Keeping abreast of stories in the news relating to food |
Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Business and Enterprise
Subject: BEN and Business and Enterprise |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Websites: BBC Bitesize Website Stay up to date with news TV Programmes: Dragons Den (BBC iPlayer) Journals: Real Business: https://realbusiness.co.uk/ Apps: BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business |
Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
Flashcards Learn key terms early on |
Subject: BEN and Business and Enterprise |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Websites: BBC Bitesize Website Stay up to date with news. TV Programmes: Dragons Den (BBC iPlayer) The Apprentice (BBS iPlayer) How to Save the Highstreet (BBC iPlayer) Journals: Real Business: https://realbusiness.co.uk/ Apps: BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business |
Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
Flashcards Learn key terms early on |
Computer Science
Subject: Computer Science |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
Digital Citizen
Computer Hardware
Drawing Shapes
Flowcharts and Pseudocode
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Website: BBC Bitesize KS3 Computer Science Website: W3 schools |
Recommended Reading List |
|
Useful Tips |
Redo questions from the previous topics without looking at the solution when revising. Make use of revision resources on Student Portal. Use Gap Analysis after each assessment to identify key areas to work on before the next assessment. Ask your teacher if you are not sure about something. |
Subject: Computer Science |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
Data Representation
Scratch Animation
Web Design
Boolean Logic
|
Recommended Extra Resources |
Website: BBC Bitesize KS3 Computer Science Website: W3 schools |
Recommended Reading List |
|
Useful Tips |
Redo questions from the previous topics without looking at the solution when revising. Make use of revision resources on Student Portal. Use Gap Analysis after each assessment to identify key areas to work on before the next assessment. Ask your teacher if you are not sure about something. |
Religious Education
Subject: RE |
Year 7 |
Course Content
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3 religious, philosophical and ethical units focusing on the shape of religion in the UK today and across the world. Thematic focus provides links between religious traditions and expands understanding of contemporary context and issues. |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Each unit contains a Topic Checksheet with links to relevant websites and publications. Students can supplement this with:
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Useful Tips |
Every lesson is built around specific skills – Knowledge, Understanding and Evaluation. These skills provide the framework for engaging with complex issues to do with belief in contemporary society and across the world. Make sure you are aware of the different ways of thinking and writing for each of the skills. This will help you to use the knowledge you already have and apply it to new and confusing ideas with confidence. |
Subject: RE |
Year 8 |
Course Content | 3 religious, philosophical and ethical units focusing on the shape of religion in the UK today and across the world. Thematic focus provides links between religious traditions and expands understanding of contemporary context and issues. |
Topics Covered |
|
Recommended Extra Resources |
Each unit contains a Topic Checksheet with links to relevant websites and publications. Students can supplement this with:
|
Useful tips |
Every lesson is built around specific skills – Knowledge, Understanding and Evaluation. These skills provide the framework for engaging with complex issues to do with belief in contemporary society and across the world. Make sure you are aware of the different ways of thinking and writing for each of the skills. This will help you to use the knowledge you already have and apply it to new and confusing ideas with confidence. |
Performing Arts - Dance rotation
Subject: Dance |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Online dance lessons for young people delivered by:
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Recommended Reading List |
Definition sheets and reading materials provided on Student Portal.
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Useful Tips |
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Subject: Dance |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Online dance lessons for young people delivered by:
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Recommended Reading List |
Definition sheets and reading materials provided on Student Portal.
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Useful tips |
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Performing Arts - Drama Rotation
Subject: Drama |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
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Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Subject: Drama |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Support materials posted on the portal
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Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Music
Subject: Music |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
BBC Radio 3 https://www.teoria.com/ (for aural skills) |
Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Subject: Music |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
Revision Guide
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Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Physical Education
Subject: PE |
Year 7 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
www.kentnetball.co.uk - Netball http://www.kcaa.org.uk - Athletics http://www.suttonvalencehockey.com - Hockey http://www.paddockwoodac.co.uk - Athletics |
Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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Subject: PE |
Year 8 |
Topics Covered |
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Recommended Extra Resources |
www.kentnetball.co.uk - Netball http://www.kcaa.org.uk - Athletics http://www.suttonvalencehockey.com - Hockey http://www.paddockwoodac.co.uk - Athletics |
Recommended Reading List |
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Useful Tips |
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