Knowledge Organisers

Dear Parent/Carer,

We are trialling a new approach to homework this term and will be asking for your feedback. Our approach has been designed as a consequence of extensive research into how students acquire and successfully recall knowledge and from learning about the successful practice of other schools.

The aim of our new approach to homework is for students to:

Consolidate newly-acquired knowledge, revise prior learning and practise skills, so they can master powerful knowledge for each subject
Develop the self-discipline, perseverance and confidence to study independently
Involve you in their learning, so you know how to support independent learning and revision
Improve understanding, increase recall and retention as well as reduce test-anxiety
Allow students and teachers to pinpoint what is known and not yet known, so that this can be targeted.
Make it easier for everyone to understand what must be learnt by making the required knowledge visible.

To assist students in this, we are providing them with a knowledge organiser pack for term 1. At the front of the pack are instructions about how to complete the homework activities they will be set (see document attached), including examples of how to set out their homework. Students will have the knowledge organiser explained to them by their tutor and their subject teacher will explain what they want them to do for their homework.

What is a knowledge organiser?

Knowledge organisers contain essential, fundamental knowledge that students MUST know in order to be successful. They will help students recap, revisit and revise what they have learnt in lessons, enabling them to move the knowledge from their short-term memory to their long-term memory. Knowledge organisers are designed to help learn a wide range of knowledge which in turn will mean they are more prepared for their lessons as well as their GCSEs.

What should they do with their knowledge organiser?

Each subject area has created a knowledge organiser for the topics students will cover each term and these have been put into a pack. In addition to the print version, these will shortly be uploaded onto our school website in digital form. They may wish to print them out, or you might prefer to save them in their documents and use them on screen. It is really important that students keep all printed knowledge organisers somewhere safe and look after them.

How will the knowledge organisers be used?

Students will use knowledge organisers at times in class and to assist with homework tasks. Most of the time, teachers will give students specific tasks focused around the knowledge organiser for homework, but sometimes they may allow students to pick a way of using them to help revise for a topic. They will be very useful in developing student confidence at home with topics they have covered in class.

Please see below Knowledge Organisers for each year group.

YEAR 7

Knowledge Organiser - Term 1 2022

Knowledge Organiser - Term 2 2022

Knowledge Organiser - Term 3 2023

Knowledge Organiser - Term 4 2023

YEAR 8
Knowledge Organiser - Term 1 2022

Knowledge Organiser - Term 2 2022

Knowledge Organiser - Term 3 2023

Knowledge Organiser - Term 4 2023

YEAR 9
Knowledge Organiser - Term 1 2022

Knowledge Organiser - Term 2 2022