Year 10 pre-arrival curriculum information

Moving into Year 10 can feel like a big step, particularly if a pupil is joining us from another school or education system, and we want to ensure all pupils feel confident, prepared, and well supported from the very start.

To help with this transition, we have put together this Year 10 subject page, which brings together guidance and resources across a range of subjects and includes:

An overview of subjects, including the GCSE or IGCSE exam board being studied
Key topics and concepts that pupils have already met in Years 7–9 (where relevant), so you can see what knowledge is built upon in Year 10
Content covered in the first term of Year 10, to give a clear sense of what learning will look like when term begins – in some cases teachers have provided content for the whole year.
Important subject-specific vocabulary and glossaries, which can be particularly helpful if pupils are new to the UK curriculum or studying in English
Links to additional resources

Please be reassured that this information is not a checklist of work to be completed. Its purpose is simply to help pupils feel more comfortable and informed, and to remove some of the uncertainty that can come with starting a new school or a new stage of study. Teachers will revisit key ideas in class and will be on hand to support pupils carefully as they settle in.

Subject and Exam specification	Related Topics and Vocabulary (Years 7-9)	GCSE content covered in Year 9 (if any)	Content covered in first term of Year 10	Key vocabulary (Year 10)	Contextual knowledge and other resources (if any)
Ancient History OCR	Persia – Cyrus the Great Word list \| Key topics vocab	–	Persian Empire Emperors Cyrus the Great, Cambyses II, Darius I, Xerxes I	Glossary	Year 9 – 11 Wakelet
Art OCR (Fine Art)	General overview of History of Art 45,000 BCE to 2026 Glossary	–	Unit (01) Personal investigation Autumn rotation of techniques	Printmaking, 3D Art Movements Fine Art	GCSE Wakelet
Biology Edexcel	–	Living organisms (nature & variety) Cell structure Biological molecules Movement in/out of cells Human nutrition	Plants (nutrition, gas exchange, Transport) Food production Human gas exchange	Topic 1 Topic 2 Topic 3 Topic 4	–
Chemistry Edexcel	–	Topic 1 States of Matter, Particle Theory, ECM & Separating Techniques Topic 2 Atomic Structure & Periodic Table Topic 3 Ionic bonding, Structure & Properties Topic 4 Covalent bonding, Structure & Properties Topic 5 Metallic Bonding, Structure, Properties & Reactivity Series Topic 6 Formulae & Equations Topic 7 Periodic Table (Groups 1, 7)	Topic 8 – Crude Oil & Hydrocarbons Topic 9 – Acids, Bases & Salts Topic 10 – Quantitative Chemistry Topic 11 – Chemical Testing Topic 12 – Gases in the atmosphere Topic 13 – Rates of Reaction	Glossary	–
Computer Science	Digital Literacy Programming Computer Systems Glossary	–	Topic 1 & 6 – Programming Topic 4 – Networking	Glossary	GCSE / A level – Wakelet
Divinity	A study of the Abrahamic religions	–	Each of the The Six Beliefs of Sunni Islam The Five Roots of Usul-ad Din for Shia Muslims	Key Words (Muslim beliefs)	Content Support
Drama Edexcel	Devising Script Work Group Work Technical and Design based theatre Key Terms	–	Component 1- Devising Component 3 – Written paper: Section A: An Inspector Calls Section B: Live Theatre Evaluation	An inspector Calls: Set text guideKey Terms	Wakelet: Year 7 & 8 Wakelet: Year 9 Wakelet: Year 10 & 11
English IGCSE Language & Literature	Language including descriptive writing, similes / metaphors Literary Glossary (Year 9) Analytical writing skills PEA / PETAL paragraphs Non-fiction text development Shakespeare: Twelfth Night, The Tempest, Much Ado about Nothing Language Glossary	English Language non-fiction anthology – the first 4 texts	Creative Writing (Language coursework) Modern Drama (coursework)	Literary Glossary (whole course)	WW2 including Kindertransport Early 20th America the Great Depression Early Modern / Elizabethan Theatre Sparknotes Cliff Notes York Notes
French Edexcel (International GCSE)	Year 7 Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7 Year 8 Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4 Year 9 Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4	–	Family, friends and festivals Town and region	–	Languages Online
Geography AQA	Year 7 – Coasts Year 9 – Resource Management Living World (Rainforest and Deserts)	Living World including local/global ecosystems, tropical rainforests and hot deserts	Natural Hazards	Natural Hazards	Internet Geography (Living World and Natural Hazards revision) Digital textbook copy Year 9 – 11 Wakelet UK Geography – basic knowledge of physical geography (coastlines / cities e.g. London / Cambridge location)
German	Year 8 School Free time Year 9 Holidays and past tense Food and meals Life at home	–	School Free time and the Media	School Free time and the Media	Past, Present and Future tense Adjectival agreements (accusative case) Subordinating conjunctions Year 10 -11 Wakelet Languages Online
History AQA	20th Century British History Year 7 \| Year 8 \| Year 9	–	Russia 1905 March 1917 Provisional Government November 1917 Lenin Civil War War economy Stalin’s rise to power Stalinist USSR	Glossary	Wakelet
Maths Edexcel (IGCSE)	Algebra consolidation Sequences Prime factorisation Fractions, percentage, ratio Trigonometry Volume and surface area Straight line graphs Set theory Year 9 – 10 Glossary	–	Algebra consolidation Simultaneous equations Set theory Probability	Glossary	–
Music Edexcel	Elements of music (rhythm, melody, bass lines) Orchestral instruments Ground bass World music Music for TV and film Music Glossary	–	Music theory Area of Study 1 set works: 1. Bach Brandenburg Concerto no. 5 in D major, 3rd movement 2. Beethoven Piano Sonata no. 8 in C Minor ‘Pathetique’, 1st movement	Topic terms Key Words (First Year)	GCSE Music – Edexcel – BBC Bitesize
Physical Education OCR	–	–	Skeletal, Muscular Cardiovascular and Respiratory system Components of fitness	Glossary	Physical Education – OCR – BBC Bitesize Revision Cards
Physics Edexcel	–	Movement and Position Mains Electricity Properties of Waves Energy Transfers Density and pressure Magnetism Radioactivity Motion in the Universe	Forces and Movement Energy and Voltage in Circuits The Electromagnetic Spectrum	Forces Electricity Waves Energy Solids, Liquids & Gases Magnetism and Electromagnetism Radioactivity & Particles Space	Year 9 – 11 Wakelet Edexcel IGCSE – Science Doctor
Spanish Edexcel	Vocabulary Booklet	–	Describing your house and activities at home School Life, routine, rules, pressures & trips Immediate future, Present & Preterite tense	Glossary	–

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Year 10 pre-arrival curriculum information