Welcome to Team Kestrel

At the express level, pupils should encounter learning in a range of contexts and be supported to be able to develop and express their own opinions across the curriculum.  This stage is about experimenting with concepts and ideas. It is about being courageous and innovative.  It is about encouraging pupils to find their own voice and develop their identity.  We encourage pupils to respect and accept others’ opinions and individuality.  Drama, communities of inquiry and immersive experiences are the vehicles for learning. We take every opportunity to extend learning in real life situations through visits and visitors. Staff are facilitators of pupil-led learning at this stage through challenge and support, and creating a safe environment for every pupil to express themselves.

This is the foundation for empowering our pupils to take on the world.

In Kestrel, our Year 9/10 pupils will continue to learn through a combination of whole class, group work and individual work.  Kestrel will have the same theme topic as the Assert Year 9/10 classes to ensure progression and also belonging in their year group. Kestrel pupils need a nurturing approach to teaching and learning, with multi-sensory activities and repetition of key skills. There will be opportunities within the classroom to practice skills through practical activities and pupils will put their learning in to real life contexts by taking opportunities to go out of school. Learning will be pupil led and link to topic areas and our whole school themes. Staff talk will be minimal and about facilitating learning; instead we will support pupils to learn to and through talk

Autumn 1 - Community - Topic Theme 'Urban Explorers'

This topic is all about art and our communities!  Through an active exploration of urban art, we will learn about our local areas and all the different people and places around us!  We will create pieces of art that represent our communities and who they are as people.  We will use buildings as inspiration and use media to create digital art.  Different artists will be studied to create art that is inspired by famous local artists and urban artists: Banksy, Phlegm (Sheffield), Kid Acne (Sheffield), Pete McKee, Lowry.  These artists will be studied in a way that enables us to learn about communities and life in Britain today, such as by looking at the political messages portrayed in Banksy’s art work, with particular reference to social class, careers and the changing nature of UK politics.  We will be encouraged to use their voice to say what we believe in and to be active citizens.

The oracy focus is Inform and Explain. Pupils will develop their presentational skills over the half term, with progressively more demanding expectations (eg formality, tone, gestures, audience), part of the Physical Strand. The topic will lead up to the Celebrate Activity – an Art Gallery – year 9 and 10 pupils will present their art work to an audience. Each pupil will be ‘an artist’ and will present their work, explaining how it was made and what it represents.

Pupils will need to learn to ‘talk like an artist’, part of the Cognitive Strand. Pupils will watch documentaries in order to learn how to do their own.