Science

Through their lessons in Science, students will have the opportunity to:

• Take part in practical experiments and investigations
• Learn about Science through being challenged
• Achieve academic success in line with their ability and aspirations
• Develop an increased awareness of the relevance and significance of Science in today’s world and of its social, economic and environmental applications and implications
• Be encouraged to become scientifically literate members of society by improving their knowledge and understanding of Science
• Develop the scientific skills such as observing, criticising and evaluating information

 

The Curriculum

Key Stage 3

Years 7-9 follow the Pearson ’Exploring Science’ scheme which was introduced in September 2015 to meet the requirements of the new National Curriculum.

Year 7: The topics of study are:

Biology

7A            Cells, tissues, Organs and Organ Systems

7B            Sexual reproduction in animals

7C            Muscles and bones

7D            Ecosystems

Chemistry

7E             Mixtures and Separation

7F             Acids and Alkalis

7G            The particle model

7H            Atoms, elements and molecules

Physics

7L             Energy

7J             Current electricity

7K            Forces

7L             Sound

 

Year 8: The topics of study are:

Biology

8A            Food and nutrition

8B            Plants and their reproduction

8C            Breathing and respiration

8D            Unicellular organisms

Chemistry

8E             Combustion

8F             The periodic table

8G            Metals and their uses

8H            Rocks

Physics

8L             Fluids

8J             Light

8K            Energy transfers

8L             Earth and space

 

Year 9: The topics of study are:

Biology

9A            Genetics and Evolution

9B            Plant growth

9C            Biology revision and projects

9D            Biology transition to GCSE

Chemistry

9E             Making materials

9F             Reactivity

9G            Chemistry revision and projects

9H            Chemistry transition to GCSE

Physics

9L             Forces and motion

9J             Force fields and electromagnets

9K            Physics revision and projects

9L             Physics transition to GCSE

 

Key Stage 4

All pupils study Science at Key Stage 4.  

Students completing the GCSE in 2017 are studying the OCR Gateway Science B course, which contains an element of coursework style assessment (controlled assessment) and is graded from A* to G, with A* being the highest.

Module B1: Understanding Organisms

Module C1: Carbon Chemistry

Module P1: Energy For The Home

Module B2: Understanding Our Environment

Module C2: Chemical Resources

Module P2: Living For The Future (Energy Resources)

 

September 2016 onwards

Students study the new GCSE route which is assessed only by terminal examinations and will be graded from 1-9, with 9 being the highest grade.

Students will study Pearson Ed-Excel GCSE Chemistry.

● Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry

● Topic 2 – States of matter and mixtures

● Topic 3 – Chemical changes

● Topic 4 – Extracting metals and equilibria

● Topic 5 – Separate chemistry 1

 

● Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry

● Topic 6 – Groups in the periodic table

● Topic 7 – Rates of reaction and energy changes

● Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth science

● Topic 9 – Separate chemistry 2

 

Paper 1

Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes

50% of the qualification

100 marks

Content  - Topics 1 - 5

 

Paper 2

Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes

50% of the qualification

100 marks

Content – Topic 1 and 6-9

 

Assessment overview

Both papers will contain a mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions.