Science
Our vision...
We intend to give students a wide range of experiences learning science with practical and investigation work at the core of our teaching. The entire key stage three curriculum has practical work at the centre of each topic area, with an additional investigation skills unit each term that encourages students to think as independent scientists, developing the necessary transferable skills and scientific method they will need throughout their science learning. Through promoting high learning expectations from year seven, we aim for our students to take a science learning journey from year seven through to year eleven, where assessment and content dovetail together, forming five years of learning rather than two separate stages, allowing our students to make links within and across subject areas, promoting a deeper understanding of the fundamental subject knowledge. We aim to educate students about career choices throughout the curriculum and also develop them as individuals socially, morally and culturally. This will enable them to make informed choices and decisions in their future lives, as they will have a greater understanding of the world around them.
Subject areas
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
Year seven
Course overview
In year seven students study a combination of biology, chemistry and physics each term. We aim to provide a stimulating and exciting curriculum with scientific investigation being at the centre of their learning. In the autumn term we start by introducing our students to the basics of scientific lab work, including using a microscope to look at cells. They learn to safely use acids, alkalis and bunsen burners and in physics they study the wonder of space. In the spring term students study the topics of reproduction, the earth, geology and electricity. In the summer term students study DNA and variation in biology, particles in chemistry and in physics they investigate magnets, forces and their effects. There is a skills unit that runs alongside these core content units in which students are taught scientific investigation skills such as detailed planning, collecting data, presenting data in tables and graphs and writing conclusions as well as evaluating methodology.
Useful Information
Students are given the opportunity to buy a revision guide at the start of year seven. The contents of this guide cover all of the work that students will learn in years seven, eight and nine. The guide also contains practise questions at the back which students should complete when preparing for assessments. Students will be assessed on their learning for each topic area by a formal test at the end of the topic and by teacher assessment throughout the topic. Useful tools to use for help with homework and extra learning are the BBC Bitesize website and the CGP revision app. If students decide to buy a revision guide practising the questions and checking the answers will further help them prepare for assessments. There is also a homework club for key stage three which is held on Tuesday after school between 3.10pm and 3.40pm in Lab 33. Here students can get extra help with any topics they are finding difficult.
Year eight
Course overview
In year eight students study a combination of biology, chemistry and physics each term. We aim to provide a stimulating and exciting curriculum with scientific investigation being at the centre of their learning. In the autumn term topics studied include human body systems, atoms, elements & compounds and light & sound. In the spring term students study health and diet, separating mixtures and heat transfers. In the summer term students spend time investigating energy in biology and in physics learn about electricity production and energy resources. In chemistry students delve deeper into the complexities of chemical reactions and how atomic structure can affect reactivity. There is a skills unit that runs alongside these core content units in which students are taught scientific investigation skills such as detailed planning, collecting data, presenting data in tables and graphs and writing conclusions as well as evaluating methodology.
Useful information
Students are given the opportunity to buy a revision guide at the start of year seven. The contents of this guide cover all of the work that students will learn in years seven, eight and nine. The guide also contains practise questions at the back which students should complete when preparing for assessments. Students will be assessed on their learning for each topic area by a formal test at the end of the topic and by teacher assessment throughout the topic. A minimum of two homework tasks are set per topic area. Useful tools to use for help with homework and extra learning are the BBC Bitesize website and the CGP revision app. There is also a homework club for key stage three which is held on Tuesday after school between 3.10pm and 3.45 pm in Lab 33.
Year nine
Course overview
During the autumn term of year nine pupils consolidate their key stage three knowledge and prepare to start learning the new GCSE sciences. After the christmas holiday pupils began learning content for the GCSE with all subjects starting with key concepts and ideas. This is to ensure that pupils have a depth of understanding ready to build on in years ten and eleven. In biology topics studied include cell structure, prokaryotic cells, osmosis, diffusion and active transport. In chemistry topics covered include the periodic table, electronic structure, reactivity of metals and non-metals, ion formation and types of bonding. In physics pupils learn about energy, energy stores and transfers and electricity, additionally they also practising using equations to allow them to complete calculations to help them apply their physics knowledge effectively.
Useful Information
The GCSE course we follow is AQA, the new specification from 2016. This links well into our A-Level specification which is also AQA. Past papers and revision materials are becoming available to download from the AQA website. Revision guides will be available to buy through school in September.
Year ten biology
Exam board : www.aqa.org.uk
Specification : 8461
Final assessment : 100% external examination, comprising of two exam papers (50% each).
Pupils will study a range of topics at either higher (grades 9-4) level. There is no longer a coursework element to the Biology GCSE, however pupils are required to complete twelve compulsory practicals which will be assessed as part of the final exam. 10% of each exam paper will be mathematics applied in a biological context.
Autumn term
Moving and changing material
Osmosis, enzymes, digestion, how materials are exchanged in plants and animals, the heart and circulatory system.
Health Matters
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, diseases, antibiotic treatments, the defence system of the body, antibodies.
Spring term
Genetics
DNA and the human genome, meiosis, genetic inheritance and genetic disorders.
Variation and evolution
Theories of evolution, fossils, adaptations, forming new species, selective breeding, cloning, ethics in biology.
Summer term
Co-ordination and control
Homeostasis, the eye, reflexes and the brain, diabetes, the kidney, reproduction, IVF and plant hormones.
Internal assessment
Pupils will be formally assessed at the end of each topic. Pupils will sit a GCSE style paper as part of the End of Year 10 Examinations.
Year ten chemistry
Exam Board : www.aqa.org.uk
Specification : 8462
Final Assessment : 100% external examination, comprising of two exam papers (50% each).
Pupils will study a range of topics at higher (grades 9-4) level. There is no longer a coursework element to the Chemistry GCSE, however pupils are required to complete 11 compulsory practicals which will be assessed as part of the final exam. 20% of each exam paper will be mathematics applied in a biological context.
Autumn term
Chemical quantities and calculations
Conservation of mass, amount of substance and using moles.
Chemical changes
Reactivity series, metal oxide, neutralisation, salt production, acids, electrolysis.
Spring term
Energy changes
Endothermic and exothermic reactions.
Summer term
The rate and extent of chemical change
Measuring rate of reaction, calculating rate, factors affecting rate of reaction, equilibrium and concentration.
Internal assessment
Pupils will be formally assessed at the end of each topic. Pupils will sit a GCSE style paper as part of the end of year ten examinations.
Year ten double science
Exam Board : www.aqa.org.uk
Specification : 8464
Final assessment : 100% external examination, comprising of two exam papers (50% each).
Pupils will study a range of topics at either higher (grades 9-4) or foundation (grades 5-1) level. There is no longer a coursework element to the Combined science GCSE, however pupils are required to complete twelve compulsory practicals per subject which will be assessed as part of the final exam.
Autumn term
Moving and changing materials
Osmosis, enzymes, digestion, how materials are exchanged in plants and animals, the heart and circulatory system.
Health matters
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, diseases, antibiotic treatments, the defence system of the body, antibodies.
Chemical quantities and calculations
Conservation of mass, amount of substance and using moles.
Chemical changes
Reactivity series, metal oxide, neutralisation, salt production, acids, electrolysis.
Particle model of matter
Particles, density, latent heat.
Atomic structure
Isotopes, radiation, half life, fission and fusion, risks and radiation
Spring term
Genetics
DNA and the human genome, meiosis, genetic inheritance and genetic disorders.
Forces
Weight, mass, gravity, springs, moments, levers, Newton's laws, velocity, speed, graphs.
Energy changes
Endothermic and exothermic reactions
Summer term
The rate and extent of chemical change
Measuring rate of reaction, calculating rate, factors affecting rate of reaction, equilibrium and concentration.
Variation and evolution
Theories of evolution, fossils, adaptations, forming new species, selective breeding, cloning, ethics in biology.
Internal assessment
Pupils will be formally assessed at the end of each topic. Pupils will sit a GCSE style paper as part of the end of year ten examinations.
Year ten physics
Exam board : www.aqa.org.uk
Specification : 8463
Final assessment : 100% external examination, comprising of two exam papers (50% each).
Pupils will study a range of topics at higher (grades 9-4) level. There is no longer a coursework element to the Physics GCSE, however pupils are required to complete twelve compulsory practicals which will be assessed as part of the final exam. 30% of each exam paper will be mathematics applied in a biological context.
Autumn term
Particle model of matter
Particles, density, latent heat.
Spring term
Atomic structure
Isotopes, radiation, half life, fission and fusion, risks and radiation.
Summer term
Forces
Weight, mass, gravity, springs, moments, levers, Newton’s laws, velocity, speed, graphs.
Internal Assessment
Pupils will be formally assessed at the end of each topic. Pupils will sit a GCSE style paper as part of the end of year ten examinations.
Year eleven biology
Exam board : www.aqa.org.uk
Specification : 8461
Final assessment : 100% external examination, comprising of two exam papers (50% each).
Pupils will study a range of topics at either higher (grades 9-4) level. There is no longer a coursework element to the Biology GCSE, however pupils are required to complete twelve compulsory practicals which will be assessed as part of the final exam. 10% of each exam paper will be mathematics applied in a biological context.
Autumn term
Ecology in action
Food chains and energy transfers, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, global warming, sustainability and land use, biotechnology.
Spring term
Co-ordination and control
Homeostasis, the eye, reflexes and the brain, diabetes, the kidney, reproduction, IVF and plant hormones.
Summer term
Revision and exam preparation.
Year eleven chemistry
Exam Board : www.aqa.org.uk
Specification : 8462
Final Assessment : 100% external examination, comprising of two exam papers (50% each).
Pupils will study a range of topics at either higher (grades 9-4) level. There is no longer a coursework element to the Chemistry GCSE, however pupils are required to complete 11 compulsory practical which will be assessed as part of the final exam. 20% of each exam paper will be mathematics applied in a biological context.
Autumn term
Hydrocarbons
Crude oil, cracking, combustion, polymers and polymerisation.
Chemical analysis
Chromatography, tests for gases, flames tests, scientific method.
Sustainable development
Water treatment, the Haber process, corrosions and alloys.
Spring term
The atmosphere
Gases in the Earth's atmosphere, humans activity and the effect on the Earth, carbon footprint and climate change.
Summer term
Revision and Exam Preparation.
Year eleven double science
Exam board : www.aqa.org.uk
Specification : 8464
Final assessment : 100% external examination, comprising of two exam papers (50% each).
Pupils will study a range of topics at either higher (grades 9-4) or foundation (grades 5-1) level. There is no longer a coursework element to the combined science GCSE, however pupils are required to complete twelve compulsory practicals per subject which will be assessed as part of the final exam.
Autumn term
Ecology in action
Food chains and energy transfers, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, global warming, sustainability and land use, biotechnology.
Chemical analysis
Chromatography, tests for gases, flames tests, scientific method.
Hydrocarbons
Crude oil, cracking, combustion, polymers and polymerisation.
Waves
Types of wave, light, sound, refraction, reflection, diffraction.
Spring term
Co-ordination and control
Homeostasis, the eye, reflexes and the brain, diabetes, the kidney, reproduction, IVF and plant hormones.
Magnetism and Electromagnetism
Magnetism, dynamos, transformers, electricity generation
Sustainable Development
Space physics
Life cycle of stars, the solar system, red shift, big bang.
Summer term
Revision and exam preparation
Year eleven physics
Exam Board : www.aqa.org.uk
Specification : 8463
Final assessment : 100% external examination, comprising of two exam papers (50% each).
Pupils will study a range of topics at either higher (grades 9-4) level. There is no longer a coursework element to the Physics GCSE, however pupils are required to complete twelve compulsory practicals which will be assessed as part of the final exam. 30% of each exam paper will be mathematics applied in a biological context.
Autumn term
Waves
Types of wave, light, sound, refraction, reflection, diffraction
Magnetism and electromagnetism
magnetism, dynamos, transformers, electricity generation.
Spring term
Space physics
Life cycle of stars, the solar system, red shift, big bang.
Summer term
Revision and exam preparation.