Old Grammar CURRICULUM GUIDE
JUNE 2020
Contents
The Lower School...... 2 Old Grammar...... 3 Subjects...... 5 Subject Information...... 7 Art and Design...... 8 Classics...... 9 Core Learning & Survival Skills...... 9 Drama...... 10 English...... 12 Linguistics...... 13 French...... 14 Geography...... 15 History...... 16 IT and Computing...... 17 Mathematics...... 18 Music...... 19 Physical Education and Games...... 20 Swimming...... 21 PSHE and Citizenship...... 21 Religion and Philosophy...... 22 Science...... 24 School Library...... 26 Great novels for young adults - A Reading list...... 29 The Lower School
Your child is about to experience a significant change in their schooling and the prime objective of this booklet is to familiarise you and your child with what they will be enjoying over the next academic year.
My role, as Head of Lower School, will be to ensure that this new chapter of your child’s education is a fruitful one. I want them to thoroughly enjoy all that they encounter and become familiar with what it means to be a pupil at CLS. I will be closely monitoring their progress both inside and outside of the classroom and ensure that they are on the right path.
As they progress through this exciting year of secondary school, your child will be gently encouraged to take greater responsibility for organising themselves and their work. They will be guided by their Form Tutor and subject teachers on how to present work, organise themselves, use a locker correctly and manage their time well. They will still require guidance from home, but we encourage pupils to be independent learners and responsible citizens.
It is very important to us that your child makes the most of the numerous and wide-ranging extra-curricular opportunities at CLS. Whatever their passion may be, CLS will endeavour to cater for it, encourage it and allow it to flourish. Opportunities to represent their form or school are commonplace. We believe that providing scope for pupils to develop outside of the classroom is of great importance and encourage them all to live a full school life. Old Grammar provides a great platform for pupils to find their interests outside of the classroom at a young age and often the youngest pupils provide the most enthusiasm for learning outside of the classroom.
I hope that you will find this booklet helpful and that it is useful in helping your child to settle into his exciting new life here at City of London School.
Mr Chris Apaloo
HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL [email protected] Old Grammar
Starting at a larger school can be daunting and frequent communication with staff is important. It is helpful if parents contact their son’s Form Tutor with any concerns they might have. Similarly, Form Tutors will be in touch with you if they think there is a difficulty with which you can help. This is the normal expectation and parents are urged neither to worry about contacting the school nor to feel excessive apprehension if contacted by the school. Such early informal contact can often avoid subsequent misunderstandings and potential distress for your son.
Boys entering the school in Old Grammar are split into two mixed ability forms. We aim to have as few boys as possible from the same previous school in the same Form, so that they get a fresh start and the boys will be mixed up again at the end of Old Grammar, as they progress into the First Form.
During the year, there will be two School Reports for Old Grammar - one at the end of the Autumn Term and one at the end of the Summer Term. You will also receive a Progress Card which will summarise your son’s progress at various intervals throughout the year and a card in the Summer Term containing exam results. The first one will be just as we break up for October half-term and it will be on the Parent Portal for you to access.
There will be an opportunity early in the Autumn Term to meet with your son’s Form Tutor and get to know other new parents. There will also be a formal Parents’ Evening later in the year when you will be invited to meet the staff who teach your son (boys do not attend Parents’ Evening until Fourth Form).
As a pupil at CLS, your son will be expected to do regular homework and the amount will increase as he advances through the school. Each boy has a Homework Diary which parents (and Form Tutors) are asked to sign once a week and add comments if appropriate. You will receive a copy of your son’s timetable and homework timetable early in the Autumn Term. He will find his progress being tested periodically by his teachers and, near the end of the academic year, there will be a more formal examination period. My role as Head of Year is to work closely in collaboration with subject teachers to support and monitor the progress of every pupil in Old Grammar. This ensures that they succeed with their studies and are equipped with all the necessary tools to achieve their best in every subject.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch, should you have any immediate concerns or questions, and I look forward to meeting you all in due course.
Miss Emma Pollock
HEAD OF OLD GRAMMAR [email protected] Subjects
■ Art and Design ■ IT & Computing IT: Information Technology ■ Classics ■ Mandarin Purple ■ Mathematics ■ Drama Orange Music English ■ ■ Lavender Grey ■ PSHE ■ French (+ ■ Fr. vocab) PSHE: Personal, Social & Health Education Light Green / Pink ■ PE, Games & Swimming PE: Physical Education ■ Geography Religion and Philosophy Light Blue ■ Yellow ■ History ■ Science Red Dark Green
The colours above (■■■■■■■■■■ ) refer to the colours of exercise books you will be given for these subjects. Boys will get a print out of this for either their locker or homework diary and a poster is also in the form room. These colours remain in place until the end of the Third Form.
Subject Information 8 Art and Design
Art and Design
The Art and Design Department aims to encourage creative thinking, develop design skills and increase artistic ability in all our students.
Members of staff in the department are enthusiastic, multi-skilled and very keen to pass on their own passion for art and design. Boys will experience a variety of media, processes, techniques and technologies, and will begin to develop proficiency in many of the basic skills of Art and Design.
The boys will experience the following areas of practice: drawing and painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture and workshop practice where students work with materials such as hard and soft woods, pewter and acrylic; work is often produced using IT and the laser cutter.
Old Grammar are split into two and taught by two members of staff (one Art teacher and one D&T teacher). The groups switch between Art and D&T approximately halfway through the year. Boys attend two periods a week in the department, are taught in small groups and teaching in Old Grammar is generally project based. In Art lessons, work is focused on the theme ‘Fantastical and Strange: Myths, Legends, Fairy tale and Folklore’. In D&T the focus is on applying skills and making products, such as Victorian style pewter topped wooden boxes.
Homework is set fortnightly, and is used to build on and enhance classroom work. Occasionally they will receive more demanding extended homework projects, which will be completed over a longer period of time. Each boy will have a sketchbook which he is encouraged to use properly, recognising the importance of the sketchbook in both art and design activities.
Over the course of the year, boys will be introduced to basic studio and workshop techniques and safety practices, and will experience ‘resistant materials’ such as wood, metal and plastic as well as a range of mark- making media such as paint, pencil, markers, charcoal and pastel. They will also have the opportunity to experience working in a three- dimensional medium, such as clay or Modroc. Core Learning & Survival Skills 9
Boys’ work is featured in exhibitions to coincide with parents’ evenings and school events such as concerts. Work by Old Grammar boys is also exhibited in the Old Grammar and First Form corridor, and in other parts of the school.
In OG the boys will begin to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to enable their self-expression and creativity to develop in a satisfying, enjoyable and disciplined fashion, giving them a solid base on which to develop as they progress through the school.
Classics
Old Grammar has three periods of Classics each week. During this time our aim is to provide a general introduction to the culture of the Greeks and the Romans.
In particular we do this through the medium of mythology, by retelling and talking about the myths and legends of the Greeks and Romans. Many of these stories provide not only entertainment but thought- provoking material which is still of relevance today.
In addition to regular classroom work, we devise projects of various kinds, and we set an appropriate amount of homework. Whatever the activity, our aim is always to make the study of the ancient world enjoyable.
Core Learning & Survival Skills
Boys in Old Grammar are fortunate enough to study a tailor-made Core Learning and Survival Skills (CL&SS) syllabus designed to help boys develop the necessary skills to thrive at City of London School. The syllabus will cover the important foundations to successful secondary education and will encourage boys to develop a keen interest in their own development. 10 Drama
Core Learning & Survival Skills will cover the following topics and more throughout the year:
• Organisation • Routines • Time Management • Information Processing • Handwriting • Touch Typing • Study Skills • Team Building Exercises • Mindset Awareness
Boys should be doing a 30 minutes per week touch-typing course at home; they will be given a log in from IT&C to a programme that develops their skills in this area. We actually recommend you put plasters over the keys to enhance their practice and so they move from pecking at the keys to proficiency.
Drama
Drama is a practical artistic subject, a specialist area with its own discipline, methods, language and body of skills and knowledge. All lessons are practical, using improvisation and text to extend the pupil’s imaginative and expressive range. Lessons focus on three key areas of a pupil’s development.
Personal Development Drama develops personal skills that have a wider application than ‘acting’ and social skills that are not only ‘playmaking’ but valuable life skills, by exploring and learning to respond to a variety of situations.
Personal Skills Promoting confidence, self-esteem, concentration, self-reliance and discipline; ordering ideas and feelings and communicating them Drama 11
effectively; developing a wide range of modes of expression, verbal and non-verbal.
Social Skills Presenting work in a public forum; working practically as a team, organising, leading, negotiating ideas and action; giving and accepting advice and criticism; learning the value of reliability and commitment.
Expressive Skills Body language, use of space, movement, gesture, facial expression, vocal variety and clarity.
Arts/Aesthetic Education Drama is also an art form and an important part of pupils’ arts education, giving them an understanding of excellence and quality in artistic achievement and a chance to participate in and appreciate the principal forms of creation and creative communication. We explore ways of seeing and listening, by discussion and analysis of our own work, as well as widening appreciation against the background of work with professional performers through workshops and performances by visiting companies.
Creativity and Imagination In common with other arts, Drama concerns itself directly with creativity and imagination, together with the areas of the feelings and the senses. It allows pupils to develop their potential in artistic imagination and enhances their capacity to explore and understand their emotional responses and to make new patterns and structures through innovation and improvisation.
Theatre The more overtly theatrical side of Drama is encouraged as an extra- curricular activity. Boys will be given the opportunity to audition for the annual Junior School Production. 12 English
English
Reading The emphasis in this year is the development of the pupils’ increasing independence as readers, their understanding and response to what they have read and their growing ability to read to find things out. Pupils follow a programme of shared readers which will provide the basis for discussion and written responses. Opportunities will be provided for supervised independent reading and all pupils will be taught how to use the school library classification systems. Reading will include stories, plays, tables, poems, myths, novels.
Writing The syllabus is concerned with the development of pupils’ ability to construct and convey meaning in written Standard English. Pupils will be taught to use compositional skills demonstrating their ability to develop ideas and communicate meaning to a reader, using a wide-ranging vocabulary and an effective style, organising and structuring sentences grammatically.
Pupils will be given opportunities to write for varied purposes and for a range of audiences. They will write in response to stories, plays, poems, their interests, experiences and classroom activities. They will be taught to use the different characteristics of writing e.g. persuasion, commentary, narrative, dialogue, and description, and in such forms as poetry, drama scripts, stories, letters, diaries and reports.
In grammar the emphasis will be on the use of paragraphs and the linking of sentences coherently. They will be taught how to use correctly nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs. In punctuation the correct use of full stops, commas, apostrophes, semi-colons and exclamation marks will be taught. We aim to ensure that pupils will gradually acquire proficiency in spelling. They will be encouraged to check spellings and meanings using a dictionary, and to use a thesaurus effectively. Linguistics 13
Listening and Speaking Pupils will be encouraged to use the vocabulary and grammar of spoken Standard English to express their ideas clearly, listen, understand and respond appropriately to others. Activities to help achieve this will include:
1. group work and discussion 2. prepared talks to the class and answering questions on the talk 3. reading aloud stories and poems 4. role play.
Homework There are two homeworks set each week. One is usually a written assignment, the other a reading, drafting or learning task.
It is our expectation that every boy reads for twenty minutes (minimum) a day at home; it is clear that this has an impact on future external exam performance.
Linguistics
Boys in Old Grammar will have one lesson a week of Linguistics. The aim of the course will be to introduce boys to an analytical approach to language, and to help them see patterns, rules and irregularities inherent in all languages. We will look at how words are formed, how sentences are structured and how language enables us to communicate effectively.
We will look at a whole range of languages, both real and invented, as we attempt some of the basic level problems set by the UK Linguistic Olympiad. Whilst formal homework will not be set, boys will be encouraged to do their own research on, for example, the etymology of interesting or unusual words, and to share the results of their research with other boys during lessons. 14 French
We will not be teaching any specific language in these periods, even though there will doubtless be reference to Latin and French which all boys will be taught in the First Year. It is hoped, however, that the introduction to linguistics will give boys a head start in these two subjects by giving them a greater awareness of grammatical terms and of how words are formed. It is also hoped that the course will give boys a sense of the fun that can be had from playing with words, and to this end we shall also be looking at a range of word games including simple cryptic crosswords.
French
Not a reference to what we teach the boys but merely a reminder that there is no French on the curriculum for this year group.
Discussions have taken place regarding the introduction of a Modern Foreign Language at Old Grammar, but we shall not be doing so at present. We cannot possibly set the First Form for French yet were we to teach them French in Old Grammar, then this would be necessary. This is because KS2 in state primary schools requires only the teaching of a language, which may not necessarily be French. We are yet to be convinced about the usefulness and adequacy of French teaching at KS2 as there is a lack of expertise, written work and rigour in some schools. Setting would be crucial, and this is not possible. The idea of some Spanish or German teaching was rejected by the Academic Planning Committee as these are language options later in the school.
If we were to try to set in First Form French one very likely knock-on effect would be to limit flexibility in timetabling for Modern Languages further up the school, where boys currently have the opportunity to study up to five languages (modern and classical) at GCSE. Although the linguistic experience we offer in Years 6-8 may be narrower in range than some schools, we feel that this is more than balanced out by the wider choice from Third Form (Y9), something which few of our competitor schools can match. Geography 15
Geography
The aim of the Geography Department is to give boys an understanding of the world in which they live, to enable pupils to create links between the physical and human worlds, and to give each student the chance to formulate his own ideas and opinions on a varied diet of human, physical and environmental geographies. Boys will follow a multi-disciplinary program incorporating a wide range of skills in order to further their knowledge of the world around them.
The Geography curriculum attempts to bring key stage two material into the secondary school environment. Although each student is given a text book (This is Geography 1), the delivery of the material uses a range of tailor made resources.
Boys will have three Geography lessons per week and one homework of no more than thirty minutes. A new topic is taught each half term and culminates in an extended assessment piece which may include the use of ICT, fieldwork, and presentations.
Topics studied include:
• Survivor: Could Geography help you survive an island adventure? Boys are asked to identify the key ‘ingredients’ for survival and begin to explore how geographical knowledge can be applied in the real world. • What a load of rubbish: What should we do with all our waste? Boys are encouraged to formulate their own opinions on one of the most serious environmental issues facing the United Kingdom. The different methods of waste disposal are introduced, and this topic involves a re-cycling workshop to explore these themes further. • Manchester- past, present, future: Why do people come to live in cities? Here basic map work will provide an understanding of the growth of cities. Boys will be asked to consider the processes of migration and ethnicity, using Manchester as an example of a modern day city. 16 History
• The Geography of Crime: How can we map crime? This unit serves as an introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and how modern mapping is used to map, track and prevent crime. This approach is complemented by looking at how traditional policing can be used alongside computing in the 21st century. • Fantastic places: Where places are The final unit in the year allows the boys to explore a sense of place and identify a variety of locations around the world, analysing how they differ in both physical and human geography.
All boys are encouraged to read around the topics they are studying, and to follow current affairs. The school library contains a well-stocked selection of Geography books, and boys also have the opportunity to use a wide variety of IT during the course. The Old Grammar syllabus also looks to expand student’s geographical horizons beyond the classroom through examining issues using a sense of place, and the use of fieldwork. These themes are explored further as the boys move into senior years.
History
The pupils spend the year studying World War Two. This comprises spending half a term undertaking a detailed examination of the causes of the war, which covers a number of quite high level concepts such as nationalism, fascism, communism and democracy. This part of the course culminates in an essay in which the boys are required to evaluate the relative importance of the key causal factors.
The remainder of the year is spent examining the war itself. This is done in such a way as to develop a number of historical skills, such as source evaluation, analysing the relative importance of events, turning points and thematic based learning. The course is wrapped up with an examination of whether or not the dropping of atomic weapons on Japan was justified. This is a poignant subject but one which always generates intelligent and insightful debate. IT and Computing 17
A wide variety of teaching methods are employed in the teaching of the course, including discussion, group-based work, project work, development of computer skills and research-based learning. Great store is placed on pupils’ grammar, spelling and presentation.
A trip to the Bletchley Park is undertaken in February.
There are regular displays of work in the history corridor. Every year gifted Lower School historians are recognised through the award of the James Harley History Prizes.
The department also produces a resources guide to promote use of the excellent School library and pupils are strongly encouraged to delve into the resources on offer here to assist with their wider learning of the course. Holiday homework will encourage the reading of historical fiction; advice on titles will be given.
History during the Old Grammar year seeks to nurture enquiring minds, provide pupils with a range of valuable study skills and instil a love of History.
IT and Computing
One of the most important skills for boys leaving school over the next decade will be their ability to use Information Technology confidently and effectively at work and at home.
At CLS, all Old Grammar boys have opportunities for using IT in a wide range of contexts. However, a thorough grounding in basic applications is essential and all boys in Old Grammar have dedicated IT & Computing lessons. In addition, all boys are introduced to Programming. Boys are taught the difference between Graphical Programming and Text-based Programming. Problem solving is also taught.
The Old Grammar programme of study enables the boys to develop excellent IT skills in software applications. Boys have 2 single period 18 Mathematics
lessons every week. Boys are encouraged to use their IT skills in other aspects of their education at the school.
Initially, the boys are introduced to the school network. Touch-typing is considered a necessary skill that enhances all areas of IT and is the first module the boys learn.
Specific skills in word processing, spreadsheet design, safe internet use, desktop publishing and simple web page design are taught in the Old Grammar programme of study. In addition to being taught programming skills, boys can join a programming club. All students are taught to programme external devices, using MicroBit computers.
Mathematics
Mathematics is the subject of understanding. It has been studied for thousands of years and deals with absolutes, logic and reasoning. In lower school, we teach a huge range of numerical and algebraic tools to help solve problems, but also develop the pupils into understanding problems, thinking about them mathematically and selecting an appropriate and rigorous method to solve. Perseverance and practice with Mathematics breeds success.
Curriculum In Old Grammar we do not allow the use of calculators. This is to promote the use of quick written and mental arithmetic and to hone the skills from previous years’ work. We introduce arithmetic with fractions, decimals and negative numbers and practice and develop these skills. We introduce factors, multiples and primes and use these to find highest common factors and lowest common multiples of larger numbers. Pupils learn about the negative coordinates on the xy plane and plot points accordingly. They also develop the ideas of transforming shapes covering rotation, reflection symmetry and enlargement. Averages and range are also introduced. Music 19
In an academically selective school such as City of London School, there is a smaller range of ability. Hence, we do not set pupils in this year group and all pupils cover the same work. Pupils are extended by being given extra work or questions designed to push their understanding in class and are supported with one to one help and encouragement in class.
Pupils are set further up in the school to help support individual needs.
Preparation Pupils should attend every lesson with a ruler, protractor and compasses. All of these are sold in our school bookshop. A calculator is not needed in lessons.
Homework is set twice a week. The activities set in homework will vary: a selection of questions from an exercise, a difficult problem, an online activity, revision for a test. In addition to this, pupils are expected to continue to enjoy or persevere with Mathematics in their own time: JMC papers, Olympiad mentoring problems, further online or written practice.
Music
Old Grammar have three periods of Music per week. Two lessons a week are spent in the traditional areas of Performing, Composing and Listening. In OG, this is through the study of a number of very accessible works from the standard repertoire. Lessons focus on the instruments being used and the mood that the music evokes. Boys also learn, or revise standard staff notation on the treble and bass clefs. Boys learn about keyboard instruments through the school’s harpsichord, pianos and organ. Some time is also spent in our Music Technology room learning the basics of Logic and Sibelius. Lessons are designed to be suitable for boys with little prior musical experience as well those who join City with considerable expertise.
In the Autumn and Spring Terms, boys learn to play an orchestral instruments with one of the visiting music teachers, during one of their 20 Physical Education and Games
three Music lessons. The school has a large collection of instruments and in most cases boys are able to borrow an instrument to take home to practise. During the Spring Term, parents will be advised by letter if this experiment is thought sufficiently successful to justify individual lessons starting in the following April. The chances of success are greater if boys are encouraged to do regular daily practice at home.
City has a very large number of musical ensembles listed in the termly Calendar. They are open to any boy in the school and players are selected according to their technical ability rather than their age. Thus, once a minimum of technique has been acquired, a boy can play in a group music activity throughout his school career. For many boys this is an important part of their life at City.
Any boy who plays an instrument should consider entering the School Music Prizes, which are held in the Spring Term. There are classes of varying standard from Intermediate to Open. Details are available from the Director of Music.
There are two Lower School Concerts a year in February and June which form a focal point for Second Orchestra, Swing Band and the many other ensembles featuring lower school boys. Parents and friends are always most welcome to attend these and other school concerts and recitals.
Requests for individual instrumental lessons may be made to the Director of Music at any time via the Music Administrator, Mrs Polly Manser– [email protected]
Physical Education and Games
Old Grammar have one P.E. period per week. The boys follow a wide programme which is based on participation and aims to develop skills and interest in physical activities.
Old Grammar enjoy Games on a Friday afternoon. The majority of session take place on-site, but there are also opportunities for the boys to take place in football fixtures and other activities too. Football is the PSHE and Citizenship 21 major field sport during the Autumn and Spring terms while cricket and athletics are the main activities in the Summer term.
Inter-form competitions are organised in a range of activities throughout the year on a half-termly basis. A number of activities operate at Club level and provision is made for those who train to have the opportunity to represent the school. Parents are very welcome to support their sons at all the inter-school fixtures.
If your son is unable to participate in a lesson for any reason please write a note explaining the reason and requesting that he be excused. Your son should present this to his teacher at the beginning of the appropriate lesson.
Please ensure that all items of clothing are clearly marked with your son’s name. Any items of clothing which appear in lost property and are marked with a name will be returned via the Form Tutor.
Please refer to the Parent Portal to purchase Games Kit. The link is there for the supplier: https://www.clubwebshop.com/a-z/clubs/ cityoflondonschool/club-bundles
Swimming
Please ensure that all swimming kit is also clearly marked.
Any parents or pupils seeking further information are more than welcome to contact Mr Neil Cornwell (Head of Physical Education) on the school email : [email protected]
PSHE and Citizenship
The role of PSHE is to enhance the examined curriculum that the student follows in order to encourage development of a socially and morally 22 Religion and Philosophy
aware individual. There is no doubt that a student who is happy, well- informed and able to make the right decisions will go on to achieve higher. It is especially important that the modern adolescent is aware of the potential dangers that face them as citizens of a large City and are taught how to cope with the problems that may arise.
The programme of study has been developed alongside feedback from the boys to make sure that we are tackling what they want to know about, as well as developing essential skills and attitudes. The majority of the sessions are taught by the form tutor in a once a week timetabled lesson, with occasional specialists coming in to cover important areas such as drugs awareness and street safety.
There are numerous talks for boys and parents throughout the year to supplement the usual PSHE programme.
Old Grammar spends 40 minutes a week with guidance from the form tutor on a number of topics including:
• Settling in • Rules and Regulations • Friendships and Bullying • Being Fair • Street Safety • Online Safety
Religion and Philosophy
At the City of London School the syllabuses take into account the diverse backgrounds of our pupils, and instruction is not in a particular faith. Our aim is that, through the study of religions, a boy will recognise and appreciate the nature and importance of religion and its influence on our ways of life and our values.
Boys in Old Grammar have three periods of RP per week and one homework a week. Boys are introduced to a variety of interesting topics Religion and Philosophy 23 to stimulate their interest in the subject and reflect the width of subject matter which is relevant.
Autumn Term – Signs and Symbols, Fables and Stories. Sikhism This unit of study considers the ways in which religions can use a variety of methods to convey important ideas and beliefs. In fables, boys consider the use of myth and metaphor. In studying symbols, boys consider the ways people use these and this informs their understanding of worship later in their study. This is followed by a systematic study of Sikhism.
Spring Term – Structure of the Bible and Old Testament Characters A short introduction to the Bible which aims to teach the boys how to look up biblical references and to think of the Bible as a whole library of books.
The study of some big characters from the Old Testament (The Tenakh) introduces the boys to key ideas and stories. Pupils study characters such as Abraham, Jacob and Esau, David and Moses.
Summer Term – Religion and the Environment Pupils study a range of contemporary environmental concerns and the way in which Religions respond to these problems with ideas such as stewardship and the world being a gift. Pupils will also study the Gaia Hypothesis. 24 Science
Science
The ethos of the courses is one of discovery through practical investigation with an integrated approach encompassing, but going beyond, the National Curriculum and Common Entrance. The courses assume little prior knowledge of Science, as the boys come from such diverse backgrounds.
One double and two single periods of Science are allocated per week, plus one homework of about 30 minutes. The current syllabus is under review, but the topics covered at the moment include:
1. Safety 2. The Scientific Mind 3. Senses 4. Astronomy 5. Food and Health 6. Acids and Alkalis 7. Electricity 8. Plants, Animals and Microbes 9. Atoms and Reactions 10. Project Work
Old Grammar has a textbook called ‘So You Really Want To Learn Science’, Book One. This is supplemented by booklets produced by the Science Department, and with hand-outs and DVD’s as appropriate to the topic being studied. There is emphasis on planning, carrying out investigations and analysis to develop the boys scientific skills and to help them really get to grips with this exciting subject.
Tests are set at intervals, usually at the end of a topic. Parents can help their son’s revise by helping them to do mind maps or use card indexes or similar so that they build up a body of information to help them in future tests. Tests are always returned so that errors can be analysed and avoided in future. There is a common examination at the end of the year for both Old Grammars. Science 25
Science homework for Old Grammar may include writing up experiments, making things, plotting graphs from data, performing simple experiments at home or planning work for future lessons. Boys are encouraged to use the library and the internet to find information. They may use word processors and spreadsheets to help them their in their work. Parents may help by encouraging visits to the School or local library, as well as visits to the Science or Natural History Museums and other places of technological interest which would give added relevance to the work done at School.
The School runs a Scientific Society, STEM Soc. and an Astronomy Society to which the boys are welcome to attend when the subject matter is appropriate. It also runs small projects in which the boys follow a topic of interest to them. In Science week these projects may be presented to a wider audience. Mr George Dawson, who has overall responsibility for the Lower School Science curriculum, can be contacted at [email protected], if you have any questions. 26 School Library
School Library
The School Library is located in the Levene Learning Centre on Level 3.
Library Cards All Pupils are automatically registered as Library Readers when they join the School. The School ID Card serves as a Library Ticket for borrowing Library items.
Library Opening Hours The Library opens at 8 am and closes at 5.50 pm. The Library is closed during Morning Registration. Occasionally the Library will need to close early for Special Events.
Library Stock The Library has more than 20,000 books, DVDs and CDs. There are also newspapers, magazines and access to many online information resources such as encyclopaedias.
New books are displayed in the Library and Suggested Reading Lists are available. The Library Catalogue, Heritage Online, can be searched either in the Library or via Firefly or the Heritage CIRQA app. Laptops are available for use in the Library. Printing, scanning and photocopying facilities are also available in the Library.
Library Rules Pupils are expected to work quietly in the Library and not to bring in food or drinks. Most of the books can be borrowed for a period of 3 weeks and must then be returned or renewed. Fines are charged for the Late Return of Library Loans and a Replacement Charge will be made for items that are damaged or lost. Pupils below Sixth Form may have a maximum of Five items on loan at any one time. 27
Library Induction When they join the School, new pupils will be shown in their English Lessons how to make best use of the Library.
Library Helpers Boys may also apply to be Library Helpers and, if their application is successful, they will be given a period of training.
Author Visits and the Trinity Schools Book Awards During the School Year the Library arranges visits and talks by both new and popular authors of Children’s and Young Adult books. Pupils will also be encouraged to read books from the Short List for the Trinity Schools Book Awards. This involves a competition to submit the best Book Review and Creative Response and an opportunity to vote for their favourite book. 28 29
Great novels for young adults Reading list (OG to Third Form)
This is not an exhaustive list; it is merely a list of suggestions to get you going!
NB The level column is a rough guide to the increasing difficulty of the text and/or emotional maturity required, with *** being the most challenging.
Title : Author : Description Level
Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams When Ingrid accidentally leaves her favourite football sneakers at a murder scene, she is sucked into the mysterious case. It's all her fault that the police are on the wrong track, so Ingrid swears to hunt down Cracked-up Katie's killer herself. When the clues lead her to the new member of the theatre group, Vincent, she doesn't realize the danger until it's too late…
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams The intergalactic adventures of Arthur Dent begin in the first volume of the ‘trilogy of five’, Douglas Adams’ comedy sci-fi classic. It’s an ordinary Thursday lunchtime for Arthur Dent until his house gets demolished. The Earth follows shortly afterwards to make way for a new hyperspace bypass and his best friend has just announced that he’s an alien. At this moment, they’re hurtling through space with nothing but their towels and an innocuous-looking book inscribed with the big, friendly words: DON’T PANIC. The weekend has only just begun …
Unique by Alison Allen-Grey Dominic has always been a disappointment to his ambitious father, but he has never understood why. Then he discovers that he had an older brother who died before he was born. Dominic decides to try to find out about his brother, but he discovers more than he bargained for. Their father had Dominic's dead brother cloned, and Dominic is the result…
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher Clay Jensen returns home from school one day to find a mysterious box, with his name on it, lying on the porch. Inside he discovers 13 cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate - who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she did what she did - and Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list - and it'll change Clay's life forever.
Genesis by Bernard Beckett The island Republic has emerged from a ruined world. Its citizens are safe but not free. Until a man named Adam Forde rescues a girl from the sea. Fourteen-year-old Anax thinks she knows her history. She'd better. She's sat facing three Examiners and her five-hour examination has just begun. The subject is close to her heart: Adam Forde, her long-dead hero. In a series of startling twists, Anax discovers new things about Adam and her people that question everything she holds sacred. But why is the Academy allowing her to open up the enigma at its heart? An original and fascinating novel. 30
Noughts and Crosses (Trilogy) by Malorie Blackman Sephy and Callum have been best friends since childhood, and now they are older and they realise they want more from each other. But the harsh realities of lives lived in a segregated society are beginning to take their toll: Callum is a nought – a second-class citizen in a world dominated by the Crosses – and Sephy is a Cross, and the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country. The barriers they would have to cross to be together at first seem little more than minor obstacles to the two idealistic teenagers, but soon those barriers threaten not only their friendship but their lives.
Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne Bruno is nine years old, and the Nazis’ horrific Final Solution to the ‘Jewish Problem’ means nothing to him. He's completely unaware of the barbarity of Germany under Hitler, and is more concerned by his move from his well-appointed house in Berlin to a far less salubrious area where he finds himself with nothing to do. Then he meets a boy called Shmuel who lives a very different life from him – a life on the opposite side of a wire fence.
Road of the Dead by Kevin Brooks Late one night, two brothers learn that their sister has died in the worst way imaginable. She's found, strangled, in a desolate place hundreds of miles from their East London home. Ruben is the smarter of the two, with a gift for getting into other people's hearts; Cole may be older, but he's a devil's angel who doesn't care if he lives or dies. Together, they set out to find their own answers and retrace Rachel's final journey.
The Sword of Shannara (Series) by Terry Brooks Long ago, the world of the Four Lands was torn apart by the wars of ancient Evil. But in the Vale, the half-human, half- elfin Shea Ohmsford now lives in peace - until the mysterious, forbidding figure of the druid Allanon appears, to reveal that the supposedly long dead Warlock Lord lives again. Shea must embark upon the elemental quest to find the only weapon powerful enough to keep the creatures of darkness at bay: the fabled Sword of Shannara.
Looking For JJ by Anne Cassidy A gripping and emotionally searing novel from a talented author, Looking for JJ explores the circumstances and motives behind the murder of a child - by her friend. Six years later, JJ has now been released, and has a new identity. But is there any way that she can lead a "normal" life?
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. There comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor…
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie Ten strangers, apparently with little in common, are lured to an island mansion off the coast of Devon by the mysterious U.N.Owen. Over dinner, a record begins to play, and the voice of an unseen host accuses each person of hiding a guilty secret. That evening, former reckless driver Tony Marston is found murdered by a deadly dose of cyanide. The tension escalates as the survivors realise the killer is not only among them but is preparing to strike again… and again…
Stolen by Lucy Christopher Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? 31
Halo by Zizou Corder Washed ashore as a baby in ancient Greece, Halo is discovered by a family of centaurs. Although her true identity remains a mystery, she is loved as one of their own. But when Halo is dragged away by fishermen, her wild adventure begins . . . Halo soon realizes that if she is to survive then she must live in disguise – as a boy. A violent war is threatening to erupt and Halo is at the mercy of the mighty Spartan warriors. And as she battles to hide her secret, Halo never forgets her quest to find out who she is – and where she really came from.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Katniss Everdeen is a survivor. She has to be; she's representing her District, number 12, in the 74th Hunger Games in the Capitol, the heart of Panem, a new land that rose from the ruins of a post-apocalyptic North America. To punish citizens for an early rebellion, the rulers require each district to provide one girl and one boy, 24 in all, to fight like gladiators in a futuristic arena. The event is broadcast like reality TV, and the winner returns with wealth for his or her district.
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle The Hound of the Baskervilles is the classic detective chiller. It features the world’s greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes, in his most challenging case. The Baskerville family is haunted by a phantom beast “with blazing eyes and dripping jaws” which roams the mist-enshrouded moors around the isolated Baskerville Hall on Dartmoor. Now the hound seems to be stalking young Sir Henry, the new master of the Baskerville estate. Is this devilish spectre the manifestation of the family curse? Or is Sir Henry the victim of a vile and scheming murderer? Only Sherlock Holmes can solve this devilish affair.
I Am The Cheese by Robert Cormier Robert Cormier's dark, psychological thriller is one of the most chilling and disturbing books of its kind. As Adam Farmer begins to reveal his darkest fears to a faceless and nameless psychiatrist, he is forced to look deep into his memory to discover why he made such a treacherous journey to get to this point. As the events and suspicions that led Adam to the psychiatrist’s chair begin to form more clearly in his mind, he is obliged to face the undeniable truth about the fearful secrets and nightmares that his mind has chosen to erase. [See also any of Cormier’s other novels – he is great!]
Boy/Going Solo and Deception, Cruelty, Lust, Madness by Roald Dahl / Roald Dahl wasn’t always a writer. Once he was just a schoolboy. Have you ever wondered what he was like growing up? In Boy you’ll find out why he and his friends took revenge on the beastly Mrs Pratchett who ran the sweet shop. He remembers what it was like taste-testing chocolate for Cadbury’s and he even reveals how his nose was nearly sliced off. Then in Going Solo you’ll read stories of whizzing through the air in a Tiger Moth Plane, encounters with hungry lions, and the terrible crash that led him to storytelling. If you’re feeling more grown-up, try Dahl’s short story collections instead – Deception, Cruelty, Madness and Lust…
When I Was Joe by Keren David When Ty witnesses a stabbing, his own life is in danger from the criminals he’s named, and he and his mum have to go into police protection. Ty has a new name, a new look and a cool new image – life as Joe is good, especially when he gets talent spotted as a potential athletics star, special training from an attractive local celebrity and a lot of female attention. But his mum can’t cope with her new life, and the gangsters will stop at nothing to flush them from hiding. Joe’s cracking under extreme pressure, and then he meets a girl with dark secrets of her own. An extremely popular and acclaimed novel.
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens This novel contains many classic Dickensian themes - grinding poverty, desperation, fear, temptation and the eventual triumph of good in the face of great adversity. Oliver Twist features some of the author's most enduring characters, such as Oliver himself (Who dares to ask for more), the tyrannical Bumble, the diabolical Fagin, the menacing Bill Sykes, Nancy and 'the Artful Dodger'. 32
A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly It's 1906 and 16-year-old Mattie Gokey is at a crossroads in her life. She's escaped the overwhelming responsibilities of helping to run her father's broken-down farm in exchange for a paid summer job as a serving girl at a fancy hotel in the Adirondacks. At the hotel, Mattie gets caught up in the disappearance of a young woman, Grace Brown. When Grace is found drowned, Mattie reads the letters and finds that she holds the key to unravelling the girl's death… A great novel!
Auslander by Paul Dowswell A tense and dramatic story of growing up in Berlin during World War Two. When Piotr’s parents are killed he is taking to an orphanage in Warsaw. But Piotr is a ‘volksdeutscher’ – of German blood with the result that he is adopted by a German family and taken to live at the heart of the Nazi power, in Berlin. How Piotr becomes Peter and adapts to the new life and particularly how he discovers that behind the apparent adulation of Hitler there are many dissenters taking great risks is a thrilling story which also offers fascinating insight into the lives of young Germans during the Second World War.
My Family And Other Animals by Gerald Durrell When the unconventional Durrell family can no longer endure the damp, gray English climate, they do what any sensible family would do: sell their house and relocate to the sunny Greek isle of Corfu. My Family and Other Animals was intended to embrace the natural history of the island but ended up as a delightful account of Durrell’s family’s experiences.
Moonfleet by John Meade Falkner First published in 1898, ‘Moonfleet’ is a riveting adventure story full of drama, mystery, revenge, pursuit, smuggling, pirates and romance, with a place in the literary canon alongside ‘Treasure Island’ and ‘Kidnapped’. The tiny village of Moonfleet nestles on the English coast, and every one of its inhabitants lives off the sea in one way or another. When local young man John Trenchard accidentally stumbles upon treasure stashed in the local crypt, he unknowingly enters the murky world of the smuggling trade and the local secret of Colonel John Mohune’s treasure. Trenchard is soon forced to flee England with a price on his head, leaving behind his wife and the life he hoped for…
The Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank First published over sixty years ago, Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl has reached millions of young people throughout the world. In July 1942, thirteen-year-old Anne Frank and her family, fleeing the occupation, went into hiding in an Amsterdam warehouse. Over the next two years Anne vividly describes in her diary the frustrations of living in such close quarters, and her thoughts, feelings and longings as she grows up. Her diary ends abruptly when, in August 1944, they were all betrayed.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family . . . See also Coraline.
Once by Morris Gleitzman For three years and eight months Felix has lived in a convent orphanage high in the mountains in Poland. But Felix is different from the other orphans. He is convinced his parents are still alive and will come back to get him. When a group of Nazi soldiers come and burn the nuns' books, Felix is terrified that his Jewish, bookseller parents will also be in danger. After escaping from the orphanage, Felix embarks on a long and dangerous journey through Nazi occupied Poland 33
Lord of the Flies by William Golding A plane crashes on an uninhabited island and the only survivors, a group of schoolboys, assemble on the beach and wait to be rescued. By day they inhabit a land of bright fantastic birds and dark blue seas, but at night their dreams are haunted by the image of a terrifying beast. The boys' delicate sense of order fades, and their childish fears are transformed into something deeper and more primitive...
The Vanishing of Katharina Linden by Helen Grant It’s December 1998, and 10-year-old Pia Kolvenbach and her family are living happily in the quaint German town where her father grew up, until Pia’s grandmother accidentally sets herself on fire and burns to death. A rumour erupts that her grandmother exploded, and, overnight, Pia becomes an outcast. Her only friend from then on is the most unpopular boy in her class, nicknamed StinkStefan. The two of them attempt to solve the decades-old mystery of a number of local girls who have gone missing.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon Christopher is an intelligent youth who lives in the functional hinterland of autism - every day is an investigation for him because of all the aspects of human life that he does not quite get. When the dog next door is killed with a garden fork, Christopher becomes quietly persistent in his desire to find out what has happened and tugs away at the world around him until a lot of secrets unravel messily.
Dr. Franklin’s Island by Ann Halam What's it like to see your friend transformed into a raven before your very eyes, and to know it's your turn next? How does it feel to morph into a manta ray or slide into the body of a snake? This is what happens to Miranda, Semi and Arnie, three friends who are the sole survivors of a plane crash. They find themselves on a tropical island of azure waters and white sands. But beyond the palm-fringed beaches lies the hospital run by the sinister Dr Franklin, and the three teenagers are about to become his next patients. Perfect candidates for his experiments in genetic engineering. . .
Fly By Night Series by Francis Hardinge Mosca Mye and Eponymous Clent are in trouble again. Escaping disaster by the skin of their teeth, they find refuge in Toll, the strange gateway town where visitors may neither enter nor leave without paying a price. By day, the city is well-mannered and orderly; by night, it’s the haunt of rogues and villains. Wherever there’s a plot, there’s sure to be treachery, and wherever there’s treachery, there’s sure to be trouble - and where there’s trouble, Clent, Mosca and the web-footed apocalypse Saracen the goose can’t be far behind. But as past deeds catch up with them and old enemies appear, it looks as if this time there’s no way out . . .
Rowan the Strange by Julie Hearn How does a doctor examine a person's brain? They won't use any knives on me, will they? Rowan knows he is strange. But dangerous? He didn't mean to scare his sister. In his right mind, he wouldn't hurt a fly. But there's a place he can go where they say they can fix his mind . . . Beyond the bars on the window, England is at war. Behind them, Rowan's own battle is only just beginning.
The Enemy by Charlie Higson They'll chase you. They'll rip you open. They'll feed on you...When the sickness came, every parent, policeman, politician - every adult - fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. Only children under fourteen remain, and they're fighting to survive. Now there are rumours of a safe place to hide. And so a gang of children begin their quest across London, where all through the city - down alleyways, in deserted houses, underground - the grown-ups lie in wait. But can they make it there - alive? 34
Redwall (series) by Brian Jacques What can the peace-loving mice of Redwall Abbey do to defend themselves against Cluny the Scourge and his battle-seasoned army of rats? If only they had the sword of Martin the Warrior, they might have a chance. But the legendary weapon has long been forgotten-except, that is, by the bumbling young apprentice Matthias, who becomes the unlikeliest of heroes. Teeming with riddles, humor, unforgettable characters, and high-bounding adventure.
Crusade by Elizabeth Laird Two boys - two faiths - one unholy war ...When Adam's mother dies unconfessed, he pledges to save her soul with dust from the Holy Land. Employed as a dog-boy for the local knight, Adam grabs the chance to join the Crusade to reclaim Jerusalem. He burns with determination to strike down the infidel enemy. Salim, a merchant's son, is leading an uneventful life in the port of Acre - until news arrives that a Crusader attack is imminent. To keep Salim safe, his father buys him an apprenticeship with an esteemed, travelling doctor. But Salim's employment leads him to the heart of Sultan Saladin's camp - and into battle against the barbaric and unholy invaders.
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee A truly moving and profound novel that has sold millions. It is the Deep South in the US, and Scout Finch and her brother Jem are growing up. Childhood adventures develop into something more profound as an African-American man is accused of rape and their lawyer father, Atticus, has to prove his innocence. And the mysterious Boo Radley haunts the night…
The Call of the Wild / White Fang by Jack London Jack London's tale of a dog's fight for survival in the harsh and frozen Yukon is one of the greatest animal stories ever written. It tells of a dog born to luxury but sold as a sledge dog, and how he rises magnificently above all his enemies to become one of the most feared and admired dogs in the North.
Fearless by Tim Lott The smartly painted exterior of the City Community Faith School hides a disturbing secret. Behind its walls, one thousand girls are forced to labour in the city's laundry, separated from their families and deprived of their freedom. One of these girls is Little Fearless, a courageous spirit who never gives up hope that one day they will be rescued. Unafraid of the punishment she will face, Little Fearless escapes the institute to tell her story to the world. But why does nobody believe she's telling the truth?
Just Henry by Michelle Magorian It's 1949 and life is bleak for Henry. He misses his father who died a war hero, and he escapes from his annoying stepfather and stepsister whenever he can and goes to the cinema - his passion. One day in the cinema queue he meets Mrs Beaumont who also loves films, and lends Henry a camera for his school project. Henry is disgusted that he's been put in a group with Jeffries, the son of a man who went AWOL, and Pip, who was born illegitimate; but he's about to learn that tolerance and friendship are more important than social stigmas. Henry will need his new friends when he processes the film and makes an alarming discovery. Like a bomb waiting to explode, Henry's world is about to unravel.
Company of Liars by Karen Maitland England, 1348, and the shadow of the plague has become a terrible reality. It has spread like wildfire, destroying people, animals, crops, pervading everything. We meet the narrator, Camelot, at a Midsummer Fair, where the plague is just starting to claim its first English victims. Truth and rumour have blurred edges, and panic accelerates an exodus, heading for safer parts. Camelot is joined by a variety of travellers, each with a reason to become a part of the group. They all share a driving force; they have to keep moving to avoid the plague… 35
The Declaration (trilogy) by Gemma Malley In the year 2140, it is illegal to be young. Children are all but extinct. The world is a better place. Longevity drugs are a fountain of youth. Sign the Declaration, agree not to have children and you too can live forever. Refuse, and you will live as an outcast. For the children born outside the law, it only gets worse – Surplus status. Not everyone thinks Longevity is a good thing, but you better be clear what side you’re on. . . . Surplus Anna is about to find out what happens when you can’t decide if you should cheat the law or cheat death.
Kai-ro by Graham Marks In the year 2499, a strange new city has risen, hot and dusty, dotted with half-built pyramids and ruled over by a dark army. Beneath it all, forgotten statues of ancient gods lie waiting to wreak their power on an unsuspecting world. One boy will stand up and become a hero.
The Death Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughr-ean When Pepper Roux was born his aunt foretold that he would not live past 14 years of age. Throughout his childhood his parents haven't bothered with him much, knowing that his life would be short-lived. So when Pepper wakes up on his 14th birthday he knows this will be the day that he'll die. But as the day wears on, and Pepper finds himself still alive, he decides to set off to sea in an attempt to try and avoid death for as long as possible. As time goes on Pepper steps into many roles and personas and has numerous outrageous adventures. But can he stay one step ahead of death?
Blood Ties / Girl Missing by Sophie McKenzie When Theo discovers the father he thought died when he was a baby is still alive, he's determined to find him. The clues lead him to the lonely Rachel, who has problems of her own, including parents who compare her unfavourably to her long-dead sister. But when Rachel and Theo are attacked by men from RAGE - the Righteous Army against Genetic Engineering - at Rachel's school disco, they are rescued by strangers and taken to meet a mysterious figure. There, they both make some startling discoveries about their identities, which will affect their past, present, and future in dramatic and life-altering ways...
Black Swan Green by David Mitchell January, I982. Thirteen-year-old Jason Taylor – covert stammerer and reluctant poet – anticipates a stultifying year in his backwater English village. But he hasn’t reckoned with bullies, simmering family discord, the Falklands War, a threatened gypsy invasion and those mysterious entities known as girls. Charting thirteen months in the black hole between childhood and adolescence, this is a captivating novel, wry, painful and vibrant with the stuff of life.
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness Imagine you're the only boy in a town of men. And you can hear everything they think. And they can hear everything you think. Imagine you don't fit in with their plans... Todd Hewitt is just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man. But his town has been keeping secrets from him. Secrets that are going to force him to run...
Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell / Fuelled by Orwell's intense disillusionment with Soviet Communism, Animal Farm is a nearly perfect piece of writing--both an engaging story and an allegory that actually works. When the downtrodden beasts of Manor Farm oust their drunken human master and take over management of the land, all are awash in collectivist zeal. Everyone willingly works overtime, productivity soars and for one brief, glorious season, every belly is full. Too soon, however, the pigs, who have styled themselves leaders by virtue of their intelligence, succumb to the temptations of privilege and power. 36
Wolf Brother: The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness (Series) by Michael Paver The book begins dramatically with the death of Torak’s father, the mage, Fa, from mortal wounds inflicted by a giant, possessed bear. Fa’s dying words bind Torak to a quest to find the mythical Mountain of the World Spirit. Only there will Torak find the strength needed to defeat the demonic creature and killer of men.
Tamar by Mal Peet In the final winter of the second world war, two young Dutchmen, trained in England by the Special Operations Executive, parachute into the heart of the occupied Netherlands, one charged with coordinating the disparate and dissenting resistance groups in the area, the other a wireless operator maintaining contact with London. A tale of love and betrayal, courage and human tragedy, the storyline dips backwards and forwards from wartime Holland to a young girl's journey in 1995 to discover the truth. A great novel!
Triskellion by Will Peterson Rachel and Adam are sent to stay with their grandmother, following their parents' divorce. But the quiet English village is a sinister, unsettling place. Is there a dark heart beating beneath the thatched roofs of Triskellion? It is a place protected by an ancient, three-bladed artefact; a village where crops never fail and where the war memorial is blank; a community with much to protect. With the help of the mysterious Gabriel, Rachel and Adam begin to unearth centuries-old secrets and make a shocking revelation about their family’s past – and their own future...
Nation by Terry Pratchett When a giant wave destroys his entire Nation - his family and everyone he has ever known - Mau finds himself totally alone. Until he meets Daphne, daughter of a colonial Governor and the sole survivor from a shipwreck. They have no common language, no common culture - but together they discover some remarkable things - like how to milk a pig and why spitting in beer is a good idea - and must try and forge a new kind of Nation. Then other survivors arrive to take refuge on the island, and not all of them are friendly.
Northern Lights (His Dark Materials Trilogy) by Philip Pullman Lyra's life is already sufficiently interesting for a novel before she eavesdrops on a presentation by her uncle Lord Asriel to his colleagues in the Jordan College faculty, Oxford. The college, famed for its leadership in experimental theology, is funding Lord Asriel's research into the heretical possibility of the existence of worlds unlike Lyra's own, where everyone is born with a familiar animal companion. Philip Pullman's lively, taut story is a must-read for fantasy lovers of all ages.
Fever Crumb/Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve The author of the best-selling and critically beloved Mortal Engines quartet has written a stunning prequel. Fever Crumb is set a generation before the events of Mortal Engines, when cities are just beginning to devour each other. Is the mystery of Fever, adopted daughter of Dr Crumb, the key to the secret that lies at the heart of London?
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood. I never asked to be the son of a Greek God. I was just a normal kid, going to school, playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. That's when things started really going wrong. Now I spend my time fighting with swords, battling monsters with my friends, and generally trying to stay alive. This is the one where Zeus, God of the Sky, thinks I've stolen his lightning bolt - and making Zeus angry is a very bad idea. Can Percy find the lightning bolt before a fully-fledged war of the Gods erupts? 37
Just In Case / How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff After finding his younger brother teetering on the edge of his balcony, fifteen-year-old David Case realizes the fragility of life and senses impending doom. Without looking back, he changes his name to Justin and assumes a new identity, new clothing and new friends, and dares to fall in love with the seductive Agnes Day. With his imaginary dog Boy in tow, Justin struggles to fit into his new role and above all, to survive in a world where tragedy is around every corner. He's got to be prepared, just in case.
Divergent (series) by Veronica Roth Divergent follows the story of Beatrice (Tris) Prior in a new dystopian world. In an attempt to proven the outbreak of war, humankind broke into five different 'factions'. Children grow up in whichever faction their parents belong to, but at the age of 16, they go through an aptitude test to show them which faction they belong in and the following day, at the Choosing Ceremony, they must decide the path for the rest of their lives. For sixteen-year-old Tris, the world changes in a heartbeat when she is forced to make a terrible choice. Turning her back on her family, Tris ventures out, alone, determined to find out where she truly belongs.
Magyk: Septimus Heap Book One (Series) by Angie Sage A baby girl is rescued from a snowy path in the woods. A baby boy is stillborn. A young Queen is taken ill. An ExtraOrdinary Wizard mysteriously resigns from his post. And all on the same night. A string of events, seemingly unconnected, begins to converge ten years later, when the Heap family receive a knock at the door. The evil Necromancer DomDaniel is plotting his comeback and a Major Obstacle resides in the Heap family. Life as they know is about to change, and the most fantastically fast-paced adventure of confused identities, magyk and mayhem, begin.
My Swordhand is Singing by Marcus Sedgwick In the bitter cold of an unrelenting winter Tomas and his son, Peter, arrive in Chust and despite the inhospitability of the villagers settle there as woodcutters. When a band of gypsies comes to the village Peter's drab existence is turned upside down. He is infatuated by the beautiful gypsy princess, Sofia, intoxicated by their love of life and drawn into their deadly quest. For these travellers are Vampire Slayers and Chust is a dying community - where the dead come back to wreak revenge on the living.
Unwind by Neal Shusterman Set in America in the near-future, this outstanding novel tells of Unwinding – whereby a parent may choose to retroactively ‘abort’ their teenage children and harvest their organs. Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together through desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing all the while that their lives are hanging in the balance.
Grasshopper Jungle by John Steinbeck In the small town of Ealing, Iowa, Austin and his best friend Robby have accidentally unleashed an unstoppable army. An army of hungry, six-foot-tall praying mantises. This is the truth. This is history. It’s the end of the world. And nobody knows anything about it. Funny, intense, complex and brave, Grasshopper Jungle is a groundbreaking, genre-bending, coming-of-age stunner. ‘If you only read one book this year about sexually confused teens battling 6 foot tall head- chomping praying mantises in small town America, make it this one’, says Charlie Higson. 38
Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck Drifters in search of work, George and his childlike friend Lennie, have nothing in the world except the clothes on their back - and a dream that one day they will have some land of their own. Eventually they find work on a ranch in California’s Salinas Valley, but their hopes are dashed as Lennie - struggling against extreme cruelty, misunderstanding and feelings of jealousy - becomes a victim of his own strength. Tackling universal themes of friendship and shared vision, and giving a voice to America’s lonely and dispossessed, Of Mice and Men remains Steinbeck’s most popular work
Treasure Island/Kidnapped by RL Stevenson Spirited, romantic, and full of danger, Kidnapped is Robert Louis Stevenson's classic of high adventure. Beloved by generations, it is the saga of David Balfour, a young heir whose greedy uncle connives to do him out of his inherited fortune and plots to have him seized and sold into slavery. But honour, loyalty, and courage are rewarded; the orphan and castaway survives kidnapping and shipwreck, is rescued by a daredevil of a rogue, and makes a thrilling escape to freedom across the wild highlands of Scotland.
Brother in the Land by Robert Swindells Danny is one of the survivors of a nuclear strike - one of the unlucky ones. Set in Shipley, an ordinary town in the north of England, this is a powerful portrayal of a world that has broken down. Danny not only has to cope in a world of lawlessness and gang warfare, but he has to protect and look after his little brother, Ben, and a girl called Kim. Is there any hope left for a new world? See also Stone Cold.
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien Poor Bilbo Baggins! An unassuming and rather plump hobbit (as most of these small, furry- footed people tend to be ), Baggins finds himself unwittingly drawn into adventure by a wizard named Gandalf and 13 dwarves bound for the Lonely Mountain, where a dragon named Smaug hordes a stolen treasure. Before he knows what is happening, Baggins finds himself on the road to danger...
Montmorency by Eleanor Updale Who is Montmorency? Some say he's a dangerous villain. To others he's a hero. How do a terrible accident and an ambitious young doctor forge his two identities? And how long can he sustain them without getting caught?
Talking in Whispers by James Watson A book about courage, nationhood, friendship and hope. Set in Chile, and based closely on events surrounding Pinochet's military coup, Watson's book follows the fortunes of Andres - a young musician with a dream that soon his country will be free. However his hopes are dashed in a security ambush on a lonely road which leaves his uncle dead and his father a prisoner of the secret police. Andres himself is forced to go into hiding whilst the military junta impose a brutal dictatorship. Those who question are tortured and murdered. They become 'the disappeared'...
Code Name: Verity by Elizabeth Wein In a cell in Nazi-occupied France, a young woman writes. She dribbles out information— “everything I can remember about the British War Effort”—in exchange for time and a reprieve from torture. But her story is a lot more than a listing of wireless codes or aircraft types…
The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall Chas McGill has the second-best collection of war souvenirs in Garmouth, and he desperately wants it to be the best. When he stumbles across the remains of a German bomber crashed in the woods - its shiny, black machine-gun still intact - he grabs his chance. Soon he’s masterminding his own war effort with dangerous and unexpected results . . . A classic novel! 39
Uglies by Scott Westerfield Tally lives in a world where your sixteenth birthday brings aesthetic perfection: an operation which erases all your flaws, transforming you from an 'Ugly' into a 'Pretty'. She is on the eve of this important event, and cannot wait for her life to change. As well as guaranteeing supermodel looks, life as a Pretty seems to revolve around having a good time. But then she meets Shay, who is also fifteen - but with a very different outlook on life. Shay isn't sure she wants to be Pretty and plans to escape to a community in the forest - the Rusty Ruins - where Uglies go to escape ' turning'...
Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer A group of emotionally fragile, highly intelligent teenagers gather at a therapeutic boarding school where they are mysteriously picked for 'Special Topics in English'. Here, they are tasked with studying Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar and keeping a journal. Each time the teens write in their diaries they are transported to a miraculous other world called Belzhar, a world where they are no longer haunted by their trauma and grief - and each begins to tell their own story. Belzhar is a breathtaking and surprising story about first love, deep sorrow, and the power of acceptance.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Here is a small fact - you are going to die. 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier. Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall. Some important information: this novel is narrated by Death himself. NOTES There are clever Apps that show this and also do it in MIRROR format! Do e-mail Noeleen Murphy, Director of Studies and Senior Mistress with any questions: [email protected] Old Grammar CURRICULUM GUIDE
JUNE 2020