Science
Science provides students with the knowledge and understanding to understand the world that is around them.
Our curriculum is designed to engage students of all abilities and to allow all to progress their understanding of science by receiving regular and personalised formative feedback, which will allow students to reflect and improve. We aim to inspire our students by relating the concepts they learn to real-life contexts. Our intent is to ensure that our students gain a wealth of scientific knowledge that allows them to continue to learn about Science in every stage of their lives.
Key Stage 3
Students will learn key scientific skills and knowledge in key stage 3 that will then allow them to develop and apply this to a range of concepts that will allow their success at GCSE level.
What will students learn?
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Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
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Term 1 B1 Cells C1 Changes of State P1 Forces and Motion
Term 2 B2 Reproduction C2 Compounds Mixtures and Separation P2 Energy Transfer
Term 3 B3 Ecosystems C3 Periodic Table and Atoms P3 Earth and Space
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Term 1 B4 Food and Digestion C4 Acids and Alkalis P4 Electricity and Static
Term 2 B5 Breathing and Respiration C5 Reactivity P5 Magnets and Electromagnets
Term 3 B6 Photosynthesis and the Environment C6 Chemical Reactions P6 Light and Sound
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Term 1 Working Scientifically:
Term 2 4.1 Cell Biology 4.2 Organisation
Term 3 5.1 Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table 6.1 Energy
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How will students be assessed?
Regular short form assessments, called PLCs, are used in KS3 to allow teachers and pupils to measure progress. There are usually 3 PLCs per topic, leading to low stakes but informative judgements of the pupil learning. The regular nature of these assessments removes the fear of assessments while preparing the pupils for the kinds of summative assessments they face at GCSE level.
Key Stage 4
All students will study Science at GCSE either studying Combined Science or Separate Biology. We follow the AQA specifications – Combined Science: Trilogy (8464) & Biology (8461.
The programme of study covers a wide range of topics, with Combined Science students taking 6 hours of lessons per week, and Biology students taking 3 hours of lessons per week. The course is examined entirely at the end of Year 11. Combined Science pupils sit 6 exams which are each 1hr 15m long, and Biology pupils sit 2 exams which are 1hr 45m long. Along with these exams, students are required to complete several practicals where they will learn all the necessary skills to become outstanding scientists. These will be undertaken in normal lesson time and assessed internally.
What will students learn?
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Year 10 |
Year 11 |
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Term 1 5.2 Bonding, Structure and the Properties of Matter 4.3 Infection and Response 6.2 Electricity
Term 2 5.3 Quantitative Chemistry 6.3 The Particle Model of Matter 4.4 Bioenergetics
Term 3 5.4 Chemical Changes 5.5 Energy Changes 6.3 The Particle Model of Matter 6.4 Atomic Structure
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Term 1 5.6 Rate and Extent of Chemical Reactions 6.5 Forces 4.5 Homeostasis and Response
Term 2 5.7 Organic Chemistry 5.8 Chemical Analysis 6.6 Waves 4.6 Inheritance, Variation and Evolution
Term 3 5.9 Chemistry of the Atmosphere 5.10 Using Earth’s Resources 4.7 Ecology 6.7 Magnetism and Electromagnetism |
How is the course assessed?
Students are given an internal end of topic assessment at the end of each topic to review and reflect on their learning. Mock exams are also used to judge the progress of each pupil and play a vital role in determining which tier of entry pupils will be submitted for. Regular homework is also plays a role in assessment and is designed to improve pupils understanding of the both the content and how it is presented in the GCSE exams.