Expressive Arts encompasses the subjects of Art, Drama, Music, and Media.

During their subject lessons Year 7 explore their own identity, culture, and creativity through the theme of 'Origins'. They investigate Welsh stories, study Welsh artists and musicians, and reflect on how Wales has developed into the diverse nation we know today.

The theme 'Interpretation', explores how stories are adapted across different art forms. Well-known examples like Wicked, Harry Potter and His Dark Materials, allow learners to explore how narrative, performance, design, and music work together to bring stories to life. They build skills in drawing, painting, mixed media, acting, characterisation, costume, and musical composition, creating their own layered soundscapes and performances.

As well as a subject in it's own right, the AoLE of Health and Wellbeing also includes Physical Education, and Food and Nutrition.

In Year 7, PE lessons are dynamic and varied, offering the chance to explore different sports and physical activities. As well as improving fitness, building strength, flexibility and co-ordination, learners also gain an understanding of personal health, and develop teamwork and strategy skills. There are also a host of extra-curricular sporting activities learners can get involved in, not to mention Sports Day!

Food and Nutrition lessons provide learners with practical skills and theoretical knowledge, so they can make informed choices about food and health. Topics include health, safety and hygeiene, developing confidence using kitchen tools, and understandig the role of vitamins and minerals in diet.

Health and Wellbing lessons take place in form classes, allowing learners to explore healthy friendships, resilience, and managng emotions.

The subjects Business Studies, Geography, History, Religion Values and Ethics, and Social Studies comprise the Humanities AoLE. The topics studied encourage learners to engage with important, real-world issues, whilst developing interpretation and analysis skills.

Overarching themes, including developing inquiry skills, the environment, and injustice and inequality are studied from religious, historical, geographical, economic and political perspectives.

In addition to the core study of English, Year 7 learners will begin their bi-lingual journey, receiving Welsh and Spanish language lessons. Themes of sentence structure, adjective and descriptions, and expressing opinions unite the three subjects.

English explores a range of themes and set texts. In 'Myths and Legends', learners build their vocabulary to create their own monster. Reading 'Boy' by Roald Dahl introduces key techniques of structure, form, and charater development. Exploring literature through the ages introduces learners to iconic pieces of writing. In addition, learners develop their discussion and debating skills through the topic of 'identity', using evidence to underpin opinions, idea, and reasoning.

For many Year 7 learners, this will be the first time they've studied a European language. Learners are provided with a crucial introduction to the Spanish alphabet and pronounciation patterns, before exploring Spanish customs and traditions (including Day of the Dead and Cinco de Mayo). Learners will also being to build their vocabulary, learning how to introduce themselves, express opinions, and using adjective to describe themselves.

In Welsh, Year 7 will build on their language skills from primary. This begins with a focus on the past tense to discuss activities, as well as using time-related adverbs to extend basic sentences. Then, the topic 'school life' allows learners to build a useful bank of sentence patterns and vocabulary to help them express opinions; these will form the basis for the next topic of focus, 'Media', where leaners are encouraged to use sophisticated sentences and ambitious adjective to discuss their favourite and least favourite music, film and TV choices. Of course, there are also lessons dedicated to preparing for the famous Pencoed Comprehensive Eisteddfod!

Maths and Numeracy lessons cover a host of mathematical concepts! As well as basic arithmetic operations, learners will explore decimals and fractions, number properties, alongside basic geometry and algebra.

Learners will be tested in October, and set into 6 classes; this will include a smaller 'intervention' class. However, these are not fixed, and learners will undertake a series of assessments throughout the year, allowing fluid movement between sets to ensure that all learners are appropriately supported and challenged.

Science, Design Technology, Textiles, and Computing make up this AoLE.

In Design Technology and Textiles, learners explore health and safety in the workshop environment, as well as developing skills using tools and machinary to create practical products. Across all subjects, learners develop problem-solving skills through iterative design processes.

Science lessons are divided to focus on concepts in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. This includes investigating cells, and the role of hormones in controlling biological processes; the arrangement of particles in states of matter, and how changes of state occur; and planning and conducting investigations to explore forces.

Computing introduces Year 7 learners to a number of fundamental concepts in IT, including coding, ethical hacking, and data analysis. Computational thinking such as pattern recognition, algorithms, decomposition and abstraction underpin practical learning, and provide learners with crucial transferable skills.

As well as discreet topics related to each subject, learners undertake a cross AoLE project, 'Space and the Universe', which includes creating a game with programmed variables and sprites, designing systems to reduce the speed of falling vehicles, and developing clothing concepts for space travel and extra-terrestrial environments.