We have been learning all about the rainforests in Class 10C. Our work has focussed on the different animal and plant life that is found in this type of environment. We have made the connection with our own habitat, by holding a class discussion about what everyday items that we use that might have started off growing in the rainforests.

All pupils have completed a detailed worksheet, which shows the different layers of the environment, from the ground floor to the top canopy. We have added into this work the animal and insect life, and considered how different species can adapt to these surroundings. Our ICT work has also entered into this work. The students have completed an online workshop exploring their knowledge of the rainforest.

Our P.E. work in Class 10 has been all about basketball and improving our skills. This is a strong feature for our entry-level exams, which we are working towards in Class 10. In particular we have been focussing upon remembering the basic rules of the game, as well as how to work together as a team to improve our skills. You can watch a short video featuring the basketball talent of Class 10 in the video above.

As part of the leisure syllabus, Class 10 have been focusing on current affairs and recent news stories. We watched a short broadcast, and then answered some questions about the news agenda.

Areas covered included the environment, science stories and space travel. This is an important part of the curriculum in helping the Class 10 pupils to understand more about the world around them.

Later on during our leisure studies we will be planning our dream holiday. The pupils will be thinking of a worldwide location where they would like to visit, and then plan what they might need to take, as well as some of the activities that they can relax with.

As part of our D & T sessions in Class 10, we have been learning all about self-portraits throughout this term. The pupils have been finding how this form of artwork is a wonderful way in which to express our own personal feelings. Class 10 have experimented with a number of different artistic techniques that are used in different cultures and countries. These include traditional oil painting, as well as some clay tiles. We are proud to present in the picture gallery below a selection of the Class 10 self-portraits.

Plus excitement is building around the school ahead of the two end of term Kick football charity events. The Primary School Kick competition will take place on 7th April, with the Secondary School activities on the following afternoon. The idea is to raise money for a cancer charity through our love of football. This is an initiative that was set up by the pupils themselves, having an expressed an interest in becoming active with local charities. We will be raising money on both days by staging a number of fund raising games, as well as a penalty shoot out.

In preparation for the fund raising, many of the classes throughout the school have been using their PE sessions to practice their footballing skills. Class 10 have become experts in taking penalties, as you can see in the video below! We have also used this as an opportunity to talk about the importance of teamwork, and fair play. Parents and friends of the school are all invited to attend our fantastic Kick events and to lend some support.

We have been learning different apparatus techniques in Class 10 during our recent P.E. sessions. We start the sessions off with a thorough warm-up, having learnt the importance of making sure that our bodies are in the correct condition for the physical tasks ahead. We started off a recent session with a series of shuttle runs, varying these and adding in some new footwork moves. With a gentle stretching session to follow, Class 10 was then all prepared for some physical activity on the school apparatus.

We have been working in particular on the trampette and the springboard. Class 10 have been understanding how flexibility and balance are key skills when we are trying to master this equipment. Our pupils started off by gaining an extra spring and using their knees to land on the upper level. We then felt more confident and started to use our feet to land. The top advice that we picked up during this session was to keep our chins up when we are preparing to land! You can watch a selection of our Class 10 gymnastic moves in the video above.

We are concentrating our P.E. sessions throughout Turney School this term on the fun activity of trampolining. This is a wonderful exercise that pupils of all ages and abilities can participate in. Class 10 have a number of skilled pupils who are able to master the trampoline with ease. We have been introducing these pupils to new techniques, and encouraging them to create their own trampoline routine to demonstrate to their class friends.

An important part of using this resource if for all of our pupils to understand the importance of health and safety when using the trampoline. We start each session by asking the pupils to recount the basic rules: no shoes on the trampoline, and all jewelry must be removed. We also encourage a trusted friend to act as a spotter by the side of the trampoline and to offer encouragement.

Class 10 have been building up their confidence level, moving from remaining within the centre cross, to introducing some amazing star jumps into their own pantomime routine. You can watch some of our Class 10 trampoliners performing in the short video above.

We are concentrating our P.E. sessions throughout Turney School this term on the fun activity of trampolining. This is a wonderful exercise that pupils of all ages and abilities can participate in. Class 10 have a number of skilled pupils who are able to master the trampoline with ease. We have been introducing these pupils to new techniques, and encouraging them to create their own trampoline routine to demonstrate to their class friends.

An important part of using this resource if for all of our pupils to understand the importance of health and safety when using the trampoline. We start each session by asking the pupils to recount the basic rules: no shoes on the trampoline, and all jewelry must be removed. We also encourage a trusted friend to act as a spotter by the side of the trampoline and to offer encouragement.

Class 10 have been building up their confidence level, moving from remaining within the centre cross, to introducing some amazing star jumps into their own pantomime routine. You can watch some of our Class 10 trampoliners performing in the short video above.

We have continued to work on our basketball skills in Class 10 during our P.E. lessons. This is the primary team sport that the pupils have been working on this term, learning all about the rules, the skills required and how to work together as a team. But first our keen young basketball players were put through a demanding warm up. We laid out a simple cone course in the school, and asked the pupils to move in and out of the cones in random directions. This is a great skill to help us with the stop / start motion required for the sport. We then added in a basketball and worked on our throwing and catching skills. We have learnt that there are two main techniques used for this within basketball – a chest past and a bounce past. Finally we introduced a basketball hoop into the game, and got the pupils to think about a simple sequence of passing and shooting. You can watch some of the results in the video above.

Our young adults in Class 11 have been incredibly busy this week as part of their introduction to the world of work. The pupils have been taking on different assignments as part of work experience. We discussed with each pupils first their individual thoughts: what skills have they got to offer a potential employer, and what further training would they like to receive to help improve their job prospects? We were able to place all of our pupils in a work situation that we feel will benefit them. Examples include working in the school kitchen, carrying out practical work around the school, helping the younger children with their learning and working in the school office. You can watch a short video above of one of our Class 11 pupils being extremely busy in the workplace.

Plus: Back in the science lab and Class 11 have just completed part of the Entry Level Science papers. This particular topic looked at different fuels and what we use them for. The pupils have been revising hard, remembering why we need fuels, and how they can help us in our day-to-day lives. We are pleased to report that the exam period was a huge success, and we are incredibly proud of the results that all of our Class 11 pupils have received.

Class 10 have returned after the summer break to consider a very philosophical question during our humanities work: what does God look like? We have held class discussions based around this idea, using the stimulus of a number of different pictures and representations of God. The pupils have been able to find out more about different cultures and religions, by observing how different groups consider God to look like. We have been able to find out that God may be a man or a woman, young or old, as well as having a different skin colour within different cultures. We concluded our work by asking each pupil to draw a picture of what they think God looks like, and then to write a short paragraph to explain their thoughts. You can listen to some of the ideas in the podcast below.

We have been combining our maths work in Class 10 with our sporting athletic ability! The pupils have been exploring different ways of measuring and counting. We have focussed on the units that we use for measurement, as well as the methods that we can use to collect our data. We decided to put this to the test by devising the Turney School 100 meters sprint challenge! We first had to mark out our running track. Using a trundle wheel, we measured the length of the current Turney School running lanes. We found that this was 30m. We then worked out that three lengths of this would be 90m. We found that we then needed a further 10m to complete our 100m stretch.

With the maths calculations out of the way, the next part of our challenge was the sporting activity! We set Class 10 the challenge of running 100m in under a minute. Our pupils took it in turns, with our class friends timing their run on a stopwatch. We found that 20 seconds was the average time it took us to complete 100m. Class 10 then calculated that 20 seconds is the same as one third of a minute. This all means that the Turney School 100 metres challenge can be completed in a time period two thirds faster than what we first thought! You can watch the mathematical and athletic activity taking place in the video above.

Class 10 have been learning and researching all about the human digestive system during our science lessons. The pupils have been looking at what happens to the food we eat, once it has been chewed and swallowed. We have been finding out how our digestive system works hard to break down different food, and allowing our body to function with the goodness that is contained within. Class 10 have also been looking at the main food groups, and finding out how protein, carbohydrates and fruit and veg are so important to help us grown and function. You can listen to one of our Class 10 pupils explain more in the podcast below.

ICT session in Class 10 have involved the pupils planning, designing and then carrying out a piece of data research. Each pupil thought of a particular subject area that they wanted to research. These included favourite TV programmes, food or band. We thought of a suitable way to ask the question, and then offered a series of answers. Our surveys were designed during our ICT time, and then we went about the task of asking our questions to pupils and staff around the school. Once this data has been collected, Class 10 will be entering it into a database, and then producing some conclusions from our research using a series of graphs.

As part of our PHSCE work in Class 10, the pupils have been learning how to give clear instructions, as well as being good listeners. Working in pairs, we set the task for one class member to draw a simple image on a piece of paper. We then had to describe to our partner what we could see in front of us, without letting our friend see the original images. The challenge was for both partners to draw an identical image, using clear instructions, and careful listening. Particular attention was paid towards adding in as much detailed description as possible. Rather than simply say, “draw a boy,” the pupils extended their vocabulary to give instructions such as “draw a tall, thin boy who has long hair.” The end results from this artistic exercise were spectacular!