Geography News – Spring Term 2021

Welcome back Geographers! It has been fantastic to be back in lessons and tackling some really interesting topics. This is another opportunity to say a huge “well done” to you for your home learning efforts; the Geography team were blown away by some of the work we received and the way in which so many of you engaged with the lessons that we produced. It was also a pleasure to see many students work independently to take their Geography curiosity further and attempt extension and enrichment tasks.

 Year 11 – the home straight!

So, here we are on another journey into the unknown! Over the course of the next half term, Year 11 GCSE Geographers will be sitting a range of assessed tasks covering all six topics of the GCSE syllabus to produce evidence for the grades that the department will be awarding in June.

Students have been provided with an assessment programme so they know what topics are being assessed at each stage of the process, and we will be working together in class on our exam technique in preparation for these. As a group, you have faced up to many challenges over the last 12 months, so I believe you are more than ready to face this one head on. Follow the advice of your Geography teacher carefully and work hard on your preparations. You can do this!

Year 10

The return of face-to- face teaching has coincided with a new unit of study for Year 10 who are looking at the availability, use and management of energy resources. Once again, the department has been impressed with your attitude and commitment during lockdown and hope to see you keep this momentum going now that we are back in the classroom.

Lower School

The shift round in classes has meant it’s been a pleasure for us Geography teachers to meet a few new faces. Years 7, 8 and 9 are tacking units of study on Migration, Mountain Landscapes and Tectonics respectively and the standard of work produced so far has been very good.

Towards the end of home learning there was some excellent work produced, with the Department feeling the Geography of Fashion Geo-catwalks were a particular highlight. There are some examples of work below from Ella & Evie, Jessica, Skye, Amber, Isabella & Aasiya.

Another piece that really caught our attention was the creative writing task we set on World Book Day, asking Year 8 to write creatively about mountains. Here are just a couple of examples – well done to Bethany & Laila.

Mr Bowles

Year 11 GCSE Design & Technology

The year 11 Design & Technology students have been working extremely hard throughout lockdown and since returning to school to complete their NEA. I extremely impressed with the standard and quality of the work which students are producing and the dedication which all students have demonstrated throughout the last few months. Here is a little glimpse of some of the outstanding work being produced in Design & Technology this year. Well done everyone!!

Mrs Freer

Year 10 GCSE Design & Technology: Textiles

Students in GCSE Textiles have been having lots of fun this week experimenting with style and structure of garments. The students worked in teams to create a garment based on an image of a natural form out of recycled materials and paper.

The students produced some very original and creative designs, whilst developing their knowledge and understating of garment construction.

Mrs Freer

Design and Technology ‘Inspiration Station’: Items wanted!

Have you got an old mobile phone tucked away in a drawer? A Nokia 3310 from 2001 (probably still with battery life in it!) A Gameboy or other hand-held console? The D&T department are wanting to develop an inspiration station of ‘small’ electronics and tech items from yesteryear. If you are able to donate any small products (not working is fine of course!), please drop off at reception or hand to a member of the D&T department (in a Covid safe plastic bag please).

Mrs Gornall

Year 9 Design & Technology: Fashion & Textiles

Year 9 students have made an excellent start in their Eco-Fashion project. Students have been experimenting with a range of different fabrics and fibres through a fabric testing activity, along with having a go at making their own different weave patterns.

After Easter, students will be asked to bring in a piece of clothing they no longer want, to redesign, restyle and remake into a new, creative design based on one of the following artists or designers;

  • Vivienne Westwood

  • Alexander McQueen

  • Coco Chanel

  • William Morris

  • Mary Quant

I can’t wait to see what new and innovative designs our budding fashion designers in year 9 come up with and hopefully in the summer term, we can showcase all their hard work through a PGHS fashion show!!! Watch this space.

Mrs Freer

Design Technology KS3 Update

Design Technology KS3 Update

Year 7

Students have been learning all about Fairtrade foods and other products, including cotton, gold and even footballs! They have made some wonderful, detailed leaflets explaining the benefits of going Fairtrade. They have also been given the opportunity to further develop their food and nutrition skills by making a Fairtrade recipe at home. This can be done over Easter and we would love to see pictures of any cooking or baking done!

Year 8

In year 8, students have been designing a solution based on the theme of ‘Home’ as part of the V&A Innovate competition.

All completed research and design sheets will be entered into the competition and will receive a certificate.
Selected finalists will be invited to attend the annual V&A Innovate Pitching & Awards Day in the Summer Term 2021. A selection of prizes, including plaques, trophies and workshops with designers, will be awarded to winning students.

Here are just a few of the original and creative responses to the brief.

Mrs L. Gornall

Design and Technology/STEM

Computing Update – Spring Term 2021

Year 9 Computing

Year 9 are continuing with creating websites for a music festival. They have learnt a range of creative skills including logo design, merchandise creation and website development skills. There have been some amazing websites created.  Well done, girls! Next term, we will be looking into the programming language, ‘Python’, that will enable the girls to learn a range of programming techniques. We will also be looking at potential option areas of computing including Media.

Year 8 Computing

Year 8 have been learning about binary and hexadecimal.  Next term they will be learning about an introduction programming using ‘Python’. This will be the first experience of programming language for the girls and I am excited to watch them learn about the opportunities it can open up.

Year 7 Computing

Year 7 are currently in the process of learning a range of scratch skills including variables. They will go onto designing and creating their own game about healthy eating and educating others about being healthy. The games will need to include a variety of scripts, sprites and variables. These games will be evaluated and then assessed. I am looking forward to seeing the girls develop their imagination and see what they can achieve. Good luck, girls!

GCSE Computer Science

Year 10 have been completing an assessment about the environmental and ethical impact of computing in everyday lives.  They have produced some amazing results.  Well done, girls!

Next term, they will be learning about networks and how different networks operate.

Year 11 have been completing exam papers after they walked through various exam papers last term. We have recapped pseudocode again to build confidence in this area.  This has clearly worked as the girls are more confident at answering these questions. They are now preparing for the mini-assessment window that will begin next term.  Good luck, ladies!

BTEC Creative Media and Productions

Year 11 are in the process of gathering all the evidence needed to complete component 3. They can either produce a publishing document or website for ‘Green for Teens’, to raise awareness about sustainability and look at a variety of ways they can change their lives to help the environment and climate change. They have to research ideas and then plan their product before creating this. There is, as always, some incredible work produced. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished products.

Mrs Bennett

Curriculum Leader for the C.A.T. Faculty

Life Skills

A big focus for Year 7 since our return has been looking at their values, opinions and worries. This has been completed using the new Collins resources. Here is a lesson on worries and anxieties with some of the work that 7G have been completing in class.

After the Easter break, students at KS3 will be continuing with their Life Skills course. There will be the usual topic update and sources of support and advice for continuing the discussion at home. This will be in the first newsletter after the Easter holiday.

Mrs Cahill

Life Skills Co-ordinator

C.A.T. Faculty / Design and Technology Social Media News

Check out the brand-new D&T@PGHS YouTube channel! Find out about GCSE Product Design and Textiles by watching the options videos. More videos to be added in the next few weeks including tutorials, careers advice and much more!

https://youtube.com/channel/UC_UP3An6fFsQBsz_3OqgoCg

Plus, for computing, arts and technology news please follow @CATfacultyPGHS on Twitter.

Mrs L. Gornall

Design and Technology/STEM

Feature Artists: Leisa Rich

Leisa Rich uses old materials and fiber art techniques in new ways – transforming new materials and techniques in ways they were not originally intended for.  She works with free motion stitching, otherwise known as machine embroidery, as a way of ‘painting’ and building texture with sewing thread on a sewing machine and manipulating a fascinating material called Fosshape®.

She also dyes, paints, burns, melts and hand embroiders her pieces.  Further examples of the artist’s work can be found on the website below:

www.monaleisa.com

  • Artsmark Platinum Award - Awards by Arts Council England
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • UNICEF
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award
  • Artsmark Platinum Award - Awards by Arts Council England
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • UNICEF
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award