To provide stimulating and exciting science lessons to enable all students to make the best possible progress and develop a passion for science that encourages them to have a career in the sciences.
This is achieved by our highly motivated and enthusiastic staff that challenge and engage all students through investigative, practical and modelling tasks.
Pupils are encouraged to respect and take pride in their own work as well as that of others. They are encouraged to develop and support their own views on ethical issues by studying related information and considering a range of views. By using critical thinking, creative insight, and their current scientific knowledge, students collaborate, investigate, solve problems, communicate, innovate, discover, and increase their understanding of science through hands-on experience.
KS3 students are taught 10 Big Ideas over three years that cover various aspects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics with a focus on Practical and Working Scientifically Skills.
After an initial Introduction to KS3 students will cover the following topics:
Students will be assessed on their ability to communicate scientific ideas, practical skills, as well their ability to present and analyse evidence and mathematical skills. Students will complete several Subject Knowledge Checks (SKC’s) throughout the year reflecting on the topics they have learnt about in each term.
All KS4 Students will follow the AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy course (8464). This qualification is linear, meaning that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course.
The Combined Science GCSE is examined by six 1 hour 15 min written examinations, each of which is worth 16.7%. There are two examinations on each subject – Biology, Chemistry and Physics. There are 21 required practical’s that are delivered throughout the course. There will be questions relating to these practical’s on the written examination papers.
Link to specification below:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-trilogy-8464/specification-at-a-glance
Mathematics skills are included in the assessment of all GCSE science qualifications. A minimum percentage of marks must be allocated to assessing mathematical skills at an appropriate level of difficulty, in line with new rules and guidance from the Department for Education. Basic Practical skills developed in KS3 will be needed to complete a series of ‘required practical’s’, which all students must complete over the duration of the course, and which are tested along with theoretical science content in the six examinations.
During year 10 the students will cover a wide range to topics to prepare for their GCSE exams at the end of year 11. Throughout the year they will rotate through Biology, Chemistry and Physics topics with an emphasis on developing investigative skills throughout the course. Topics from previous years are built on and new more challenging concepts are introduced. Students will also practice their exam technique on a range of worked examples with the teacher as well as independent work.
During year 11 students will learn any additional content required for the AQA GCSE specification. After this they focus on revision and exam practice, they are encouraged to review their own work to highlight areas where they do not understand the content or require more support and teachers respond with lessons tailored to these topics.
Students will be assessed on their ability to communicate scientific ideas, practical skills, as well their ability to present and analyse evidence and mathematical skills. Students will complete several Subject Knowledge Checks (SKC’s) throughout the year reflecting on the topics they have learnt about in each term. KS4 students will also complete Mock examinations at the end of Year 10 as well as in the Autumn and Spring Term in Year 11.
Students who meet the entry requirements for sixth form can choose to enrol onto the following courses.
The A Level science curriculum aims plan to inspire, develop curiosity and nurture a passion for the subject for a solid foundation for a successful journey into higher education and employment. We ensure concepts are linked with how the world is enriched with the applications of chemistry, biology and physics.
Assessments are a continuous part of the course and are frequent with an internal mock exam in the autumn and spring Term.
For A Level. there will be three final examinations, each two hours in length to examine all the content of the course covered over the two years which include all practical work. To be awarded the practical endorsement, students must pass all skills criteria by the end of the course. For BTEC assessment will be by exams and coursework.
Curriculum Enrichment
Students should spend time reading around the subject and looking for ways to extend their knowledge away from what is done in the classroom to a more complete context. Students should try to partake in opportunities within and external to school to enrich their science-based knowledge using trips, university master classes lectures, open days, STEM activities, career workshops, webinars, podcasts, Olympiads, museums, clubs and work experience. This will also enable students to reflect on and provide an enriched UCAS statement to support their applications. University interviews will be stronger if students can talk about other experiences in support of the courses that they are studying.
Course Content:
Topics covered in Year 12 A Level Chemistry:
Topics covered in Year 13 A Level Chemistry:
Topics covered in Year 12 A Level Biology:
Topics covered in Year 13 Biology:
Topics covered in Year 12 A Level Physics:
Topics covered in Year 13 A Level Physics:
Topics covered in BTEC L3 Applied Science Year 12 and 13:
The units below deliver core chemistry, biology and physics content:
Optional units include: Physiology of Human Body Systems, Biological Molecules and Metabolic pathways, Electrical Circuits and their Application, Medical Physics Applications, Forensic Evidence, collection and Analysis.
Exams: January with opportunity to resit in May.
