Essential Vocabulary
Essential Vocabulary Overview
For every learning cycle, the content for each subject is distilled into a knowledge organiser. This provides key fingertip knowledge for each subject. For each cycle, all the knowledge organisers are collated into an Essential Vocabulary book which each student receives. These Essential Vocabulary books underpin mapped revision homework, alongside regular skill-focused homework.
Students are also set self-quizzing homework, which they must complete in order to test themselves on the knowledge in their Essential Vocabulary books; self-quizzing is one of the most effective revision strategies to embed key knowledge. Students are taught how to use the read, cover, write, check revision strategy and question and answer flashcards to test themselves. This encourages students to take ownership of their learning, and to support them in developing good learning habits. Embedding this content is critical for long-term success and effective retrieval from long-term memory.
What does effective self-quizzing look like?
Read, cover, write, check
Students learn key information from their Essential Vocabulary books by reading a small section, covering it up, saying the definitions to themselves, writing out those key terms and definitions in their exercise books, then checking to see if they got them right. They should correct any errors in green pen, then repeat the process.
Essential Vocabulary Books
Linked below is each year group’s Essential Vocabulary book. This contains the core knowledge that students must know for the subjects that they study in order to access the curriculum. We call it a ‘Essential Vocabulary book’ because these are essential vocabulary, we expect all students to know to support them accessing the curriculum.
Every week, students are set definitions for every subject to self-quiz and memorise. Parents can help by taking their child’s Essential Vocabulary book and testing their child on the definitions that they’ve been asked to learn. If your child has self-quizzed successfully, they should be able to repeat back the definition to you.
Autumn term
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11
Spring term
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11
