1. Year 10 Independent Learning Support
“Independent learning is pupils having an understanding of their learning; being motivated to take responsibility for their learning; and working with teachers to structure their learning environment.” (DFSC).

2. ‘Consistent actions create consistent results’
Independent Learning
‘Consistent actions create consistent results’
It is our intention that in year 10 we encourage our students to go ‘above and beyond’ to exceed their own expectations and the expectations of others. We encourage independence and consistency in our approach to learning, with the hope that students achieve consistent results they can be proud of.
Consequently, as a school we are looking to promote and develop the skills needed to become a successful independent learner. Evidence suggests that independent learning has many benefits, including improved academic performance, enhanced confidence and increased self motivation. These are all highly desirable characteristics for further education and employers alike.
It is crucial that students have the opportunities to learn and develop their knowledge at their own pace and it is our job to provide them with the foundations to do so. It is with this in mind that we have created this booklet to empower parents and students by providing the resources and opportunities to test their own learning outside the classroom. This in turn will help them to develop a true understanding of their subjects.
We hope that you can support us in encouraging your child to take full advantage of the opportunities provided and highlight the benefits of dedicating even just a little extra time each week to focus on the areas they feel less confident in.

3. Independent learning opportunities at Nottingham Academy
Revision Timetable
Subject
Room
Day
Time
Homework club (all subjects)
A173
Every day
3:20 – 4:00
Business
A176
Wednesday & Thursday
Lunch & after school
Computer Science
A180
Thursday
3:20 – 4:20
CiDA
B103
Wednesday
Maths
B166
Tuesday & Thursday
Every lunch or afterschool
Maths Higher –
exam paper DRT support
Tuesday
After school
Music instrumental sessions
B119
Variable
French
A172
Lunch
Spanish
A171
A168
Monday
Art
B159
Weds, Thurs, Fri
Wed & Thurs
After School
Independent learning sessions
Literacy
Past papers and exam questions
History support
Career guidance
Friday
Lunch & afterschool
Lunch only

4. Art Key information Exam board AQA Topics
Natural Form (artist research, observational drawing and developing ideas)
Specification:
Homework
Once a week plus a catch up session at
Revision/ catch up sessions
Every lunchtime.
After school Wed, Thurs and Fri.
Revision books
Sketchbooks given to students for free. Students able to work at home.
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites

5. Business Key information Exam board Edexcel Topics Topics to cover
Unit 1 – Enterprise in the Business World (Year 10)
Unit 2 – Finance for business exam in (Year 11)
Unit 3- Promoting a brand (Year 10)
Unit 6 – Introducing retail business- (Year 11)
Specification:
Homework
Homework is set weekly for students to complete their coursework to the deadlines. Support is available for them to do this.
Students can access Moodle from home where they can improve coursework and upload onto the system link:-
Revision/ catch up sessions
Any lunch time & after school on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Other business teachers are available for drop in sessions.
Revision books
Students have the opportunity to buy revision books for unit 2 in year 11 at a cost of £3.00.
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites

6. (Certificate in Digital Applications)
CiDA
(Certificate in Digital Applications)
Key information
Exam board
Edexcel
Topics
This course promotes the creative use of digital applications, covering imaging, multimedia, website and computer game development.
Unit 1: Developing web products (mandatory)
Unit 2: Creative multimedia (optional)
Unit 3: Artwork and imaging (optional)
Unit 4: Game making (optional)
Specification:
Homework
Once a week
Revision/ catch up sessions
Wednesday and Thursdays afterschool (B103)
Revision books NA
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites

7. Computer Science Key information Exam board OCR Topics
Computer systems
Memory
Programming languages
Translators
Specification:
Homework
Homework is set most weeks
Revision/ catch up sessions
After school on Thursday.
Revision books
Python IDLE book
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites
If students have access to a computer at home they may want to install the Python IDLE - there are lots of resources available online, as well as a lot of books available too.

8. English Key information Exam board AQA Topics
English language - creative reading and writing Shakespeare - either Macbeth or Romeo and Juliet
Poetry anthology – poems from Conflict and Power.
Specification:
Homework
Homework is set at the teacher’s discretion. Minimum once every two weeks.
Revision/ catch up sessions
A poetry revision session is run by HIM on Thursday afterschool (more will be added in January).
Revision books
Please see page 6 for a comprehensive list of revision books and prices. These can also be ordered from Amazon or WH Smiths.
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites

9. English Guide Price English Literature: Drama
An Inspector Calls – Text Guide
£2.75
An Inspector Calls Workbook (includes Answers)
A Christmas Carol – Text Guide
A Christmas Carol Workbook (includes Answers)
Blood Brothers – Text Guide
Blood Brothers – Workbook (includes Answers)
English Literature: Shakespeare
Macbeth – The Complete Play
Macbeth – Text Guide
Macbeth Workbook (includes Answers)
Romeo & Juliet – The Complete Play
Romeo and Juliet – Text Guide
Romeo and Juliet Workbook (includes Answers)
English Literature: Poetry
Poetry Power & Conflict Anthology Guide
Poetry Power & Conflict Anthology Workbook
Poetry AQA Unseen Poetry Guide
English Language:
English Language Complete Revision & Practice
£5.50
English Language AQA Revision Guide: Grades 9-1
English Language AQA Workbook: Grades 9-1
English Language AQA Study & Exam Practice: Grades 5-1
£3.25
English Language AQA Answers for Study & Exam Practice: Grades 5-1
£1.00
English Language AQA Practice Papers: Grades 9-1
GCSE English Writing Skills Study Guide
£2.25
SPaG
Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar for GCSE Complete Study & Practice
Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar for GCSE Study Guide
Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar for GCSE Workbook (includes answers)

10. French Key information Exam board AQA Topics
Theme 1: Identity and culture.
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest.
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment.
Specification:
Homework
Homework set once a week. Students are expected to access whenever possible to boost their grammar skills.
Revision/ catch up sessions
Every lunchtime in A172 for anyone who would like further tutoring in French, on topic content or grammar.
A specific year 10 session is held on Wednesday lunchtime.
Revision books
Pearson AQA French 9-1 Revision guide and revision workbook can be bought from the Department or directly from Amazon for the same price of around £5.99.
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites
- login: password: ng2 4gl
Quizlet/ Games/ vocab 
verb trainer/ workouts/ games
set yourself 5/10 minutes a day/ set yourself a daily challenge
Improve your listening comprehension and practice with different accents interacting with the best musical videos, filling the gaps in the lyrics and using the Karaoke. 

11. Geography Key information Exam board AQA Topics
UK physical landscapes, river landscapes in the UK, Urban issues and challenges in an LIC/NEE.
Resource management, water, the changing economic world: development and LICs/NEEs.
Costal landscapes in the UK, The changing Economic World: UK economy.
Specification:
Homework
Once a week
Revision/ catch up sessions
Wednesday A182 afterschool.
Revision books
Available from the class teacher £5.50
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites

12. History Key information Exam board AQA Topics
Medicine from Medieval to Modern, Conflict and tension from 1918 to 1939, Elizabethan England, Germany
Specification:
Homework
One a week.
Revision/ catch up sessions
Lunch time A143
Revision books
'CGP GCSE AQA History Grade 9-1 Course Revision Guide' £5 WHSmith and amazon.
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites

13. Maths Key information Exam board AQA Topics Foundation grades 1-5
Higher grades 4-9
Specification:
Homework
Homework is set weekly on Maths Watch. Every student has been given a login by their teacher.
Mr Gordon's groups are also doing a weekly DRT (Direct Response Task) exam paper. This will be extended to other groups as the year progresses.
Revision/ catch up sessions
Any lunch time & Tuesday & Thursday afterschool Ms Bird and Mr Gordon.
Other maths teachers are available for drop in sessions on request.
Revision books
These can be ordered in WH Smiths or online by visiting:
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites
Maths watch -
Maths Genie -
PIXL maths app -

14. Media Key information Exam board Pearson’s Edexcel Topics
Digital media sectors and audiences.
Planning and pitching a digital media product.
Digital moving image production.
Website Production.
Homework
homework is set specifically by the teacher at their discretion, however, all student are encouraged to consume a wide variety of media products in their own time.
Revision/ catch up sessions
Monday lunch times A179
Revision books
N/A
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites

15. Psychology Key information Exam board OCR Topics Year 10
Criminal Psychology
Development
Psychological Problems
Research Methods
Year 11
Social Influence
Memory
Sleep and Dreaming
Specification
Homework
Minimum once every two weeks and will often involve revision for assessments
Revision/ catch up sessions
Independent learning room – read class notes, practice 8 mark questions, create flashcards for topics, create quizzes for topics.
Revision books
Revision books provided by department
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites
This is a new course so there are very few up to date resources online. However, articles and resources may be found on individual studies if searched on google.

16. Photography Key information Exam board AQA Topics Year 10 Detail
Out of Place
Motion
Assembled
Creative landscape
Architecture
Shelter
Specification
Homework
Once per week plus a catch up session at lunch or after school.
Revision/ catch up sessions
 Any lunch time & after school on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Other business teachers are available for drop in sessions.
Revision books
N/A sketchbooks are provided and can be used at home.
Past exam papers and mark schemes
N/A
Useful websites
Pinterest at home. Goole is useful for most research and the AQA Art and design website for examples and grade boundaries.

17. Religious Education Key information Exam board Edexcel Topics
Syllabus A Religious Studies
Islam - Beliefs, Practices, Sources of Wisdom and Authority, Living the Muslim Life, Christianity: Beliefs and practices, Philosophy and Ethics through Islam
Syllabus B Religious Studies
Christianity -beliefs, practices, Marriage and the family, Matters of life and death, living the Christian way of life, Muslim beliefs and practices, Peace and Conflict through Islam
Specification:
Homework
Once every 2 weeks, exam questions, or every week at the discretion of the teacher. Students should also complete exam questions at end of the topic which are in the booklets provided.
Revision/ catch up sessions
Monday after school Wed Lunch in A142 Ms Khan
Revision books
Revision book will be given by the department - no fee.
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites

18. Science Key information Exam board AQA Double Science Topics
Homework
Every two weeks
Revision/ catch up sessions
Thursday after school
Revision books
£5:50 for combined science, £8.25 for three triple science books. Cash deposit needed to the science department and orders are made regularly.
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites

19. Spanish Key information Exam board AQA Topics
Theme 1: Identity and culture.
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest.
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment.
Specification:
Homework
Homework set once a week. Students are expected to access whenever possible to boost their grammar skills.
Revision/ catch up sessions
Ms Sanjurjo every Monday in A171 with a focus on grammar.
MS Geary every Wednesday in A168 with a focus on vocabulary.
Revision books
can be loaned out from MFL department or purchased from Amazon.
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites
(Click on Oyé for Spanish link)
login:1523 password: ng2 4gl
- Spanish account ID: 1436 Pupil password: gwdschool
Quizlet/ Games/ vocab 
verb trainer/ workouts/ games
set yourself 5/10 minutes a day/ set yourself a daily challenge
Improve your listening comprehension and practice with different accents interacting with the best musical videos, filling the gaps in the lyrics and using the Karaoke

20. Sport Key information Exam board OCR Topics
Coursework units: Sport Psychology (R044); The principles of training (R042); Sports nutrition (R045)
Exam units: (Sports injuries R041) topics and revision can be found on Quizlet.com > Search NACPE > Classes R041 (see below).
Specification:
Homework
Expected every week or every other week. Also dependent on how well CW is done and up to date.
Revision/ catch up sessions
Catch up sessions are down to individual teacher.
Revision books
There are no revision guides for this course to buy. Only resources that staff and pupils create. Some past exam papers and mark schemes can be found on
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites
(search for ‘NACPE’)

21. Urdu Key information Exam board AQA Topics
Relationships and choices – Family, pets, friends, feelings, plans, racism, poverty and opinions.
Free time and the media - Sports activities, hobbies, shopping, clothes, technology and opinions.
Home and local area- Houses, rooms, furniture, birthdays, shops, buildings, town, region, areas and descriptions.
School/college and future plans - Subjects, buildings, meals, rules, rooms, problems and opinions.
Holidays - Plans, preferences, experiences, places, transports.
Specification:
Homework
Homework set every week.
Revision/ catch up sessions
Lunch times available on request.
Revision books
No specific revision books available. See Mr Khan for revision materials.
Past exam papers and mark schemes
Useful websites