Science

Approach to Teaching

To develop and promote the natural inquisitiveness, enthusiasm, passion and creative talents of students for learning Science.

 This approach is achieved by students:

• Setting own learning goals within each topic.
• Plan investigations and obtain sufficient data to support or refute a hypothesis.
• Observation and reflection on experimental data.
• Identifying and solving problems by thinking creatively.
• Assessing their own progress through extended writing tasks and exam questions.
• Assessing the progress of their peers by offering constructive feedback.

Key Stage 3 (Year 7-9)

Year 7 

Students will study a short introductory unit + six units throughout the year

• Introductory unit - Working Safely in a Lab
• 7B1 Cells and Reproduction
• 7B2 Plants for Photosynthesis and Food
• 7C1 Particle Model for solids, liquids, gases and Solutions
• 7C2 Simple Chemical Reactions
• 7P1 Energy
• 7P2 Forces and Space

 Year 8

Students will study six units throughout the year

• 8B1 Food, Digestion and Respiration
• 8B2 Feeding and Ecological Relationships
• 8C1 Atoms and Elements, compounds and Mixtures
• 8C2 Acid, Alkali and Metal Reactions
• 8P1 Energy and Electricity
• 8P2 Light, Sound and Hearing

Year 9

Students will complete six shorter units during the autumn and spring term

• 9B1 Cells, Inheritance and Selection
• 9B2 Fit and Healthy and Micro-organisms and disease
• 9C1 Patterns of Reactivity Energy Changes
• 9C2 Rocks and Rock Cycle and Environmental Chemistry
• 9P1 Magnets and Electromagnets and Electricity Production
• 9P2 Speeding Up and Pressure and Moments
• During the summer term students will prepare for their SATs and complete the first unit of their GCSE - Chemistry A Elements & Mixtures and the Periodic Table

Key Stage 4 (Year 10-11)

Exam board – EDQUAS

Content covered

The GCSE’s for both Combined and triple Science have been broken down into 12 units. Students studying triple Science will cover each topic in greater detail.

Biology A - Cells and Cell Processes

Biology B - Transport of substances, Photosynthesis, Ecological Relationships and Sampling techniques

Biology C - Cell Metabolism and Control

Biology D - Transport System and Health and Disease

Chemistry A - Elements & Mixtures and the Periodic Table

Chemistry B - Chemical Bonding, Displacement reactions and Electrolysis

Chemistry C - Rates of reactions, Acids and salt reactions

Chemistry D - Organic Chemistry and Atmosphere

Physics A - Energy and Magnetism

Physics B - Characteristics of Waves and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Physics C - Electricity and Atomic Structure

Physics D - Forces and Motion

Exam details

GCSE Combined Science (601/8765/7) – Examinations completed at the end of year 11.

4 exam papers – Concepts in Biology 1h45m (25%), Concepts in Chemistry 1h45m (25%), Concepts in Biology 1h45m (25%), Applications in Science 1h45m (25%). All papers to be sat at either Foundation tier grades 1-5 or Higher tier grades 4-9.

Triple Science

3 separate GCSE’s covering concepts in greater detail.

GCSE Physics (601/8624/0) – Examinations completed at the end of year 10.

Concepts in Physics 2h15m (75%) and Applications in Physics 1h15m (25%). Both papers to be sat at either Foundation tier grades 1-5 or Higher tier grades 4-9.

GCSE Biology (601/8660/4) – Examinations completed at the end of year 11.

Concepts in Biology 2h15m (75%) and Applications in Biology 1h15m (25%). Both papers to be sat at either Foundation tier grades 1-5 or Higher tier grades 4-9.

GCSE Chemistry (601/8640/9) – Examinations completed at the end of year 11.

Concepts in Chemistry 2h15m (75%) and Applications in Chemistry 1h15m (25%). Both papers to be sat at either Foundation tier grades 1-5 or Higher tier grades 4-9.