| Subject: | Science |
| Subject Overview:
The main aim of the science department is to engage and inspire our learners to think scientifically throughout KS3 and KS4. We teach learners the skills required to investigate scientific concepts through practical experiments, whilst developing their understanding of the subject. Learners will get the chance, at the end of each half term, to focus on inspirational science that has recently been in the news. This keeps learners up to date with current scientific affairs in the real world and allows them to explore careers, within science, that they may wish to pursue in the future. Homework is set on a Learners at KS3 cover a variety of biology, chemistry and physics topics focussing on the key ideas behind each topic, whilst also having the experience of developing their practical skills during investigations. All content covered at KS3 provides the basic science that is needed to ensure success at GCSE level, along with the basic practical skills that can be built upon from year 7 onwards. During KS4 we run GCSE combined science and GCSE separate sciences in biology, chemistry and physics. Learners will follow one of these pathways from year 10 that is based upon their achievement in science throughout KS3. Each course requires students to further develop their skills in specific practical investigations that are set by the exam board and cover a wide range of content across the three science subjects. At GCSE level, students will study for: Either Edexcel Combined Science OR Edexcel Separate Sciences in Biology, Chemistry and Physics |
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| Key Stage 3 | |||
| Content: | Year 7: | Year 8: | Year 9: |
| Autumn Term 1: | Introduction to science
Roald Dahl Day Energy and Space Particles in Matter International Space Week Inspirational science in the news and wider reading |
Introduction to science
Electricity Wider academic reading around electricity Nutrition and digestion International Space week Year 8 topic assessment 1 – electricity and nutrition and digestion topics Science in the news week |
Biology – Cellular respiration
Chemistry – States of matter and separating techniques Topic assessment 1 on Cellular respiration and States of matter and separating techniques Inspirational science in the news and wider reading |
| Autumn Term 2: | Cells and organisation
Forces Atoms elements and compounds Wider reading Inspirational science in the news and wider reading |
Pure and impure substances
Wider academic reading around pure and impure substances Energy Wider academic reading around energy Year 8 assessment 2 – pure and impure substances and energy topics Gas exchange Science in the news |
Physics – Forces and Energy
Biology – Genetics Topic assessment 2 on Forces, Energy and Genetics Test 1 which covers everything that has been taught so far this academic year. Learners will have one weeks worth of revision lessons in class before this test. Inspirational science in the news and wider reading |
| Spring Term 1: | Atoms elements and compounds continued
Year 7 Test 1 Reproduction Electricity and magnetism Inspirational science in the news and wider reading |
Gas exchange continued
Test 1 – there will be one week of revision in lessons for this test. It will cover content taught since September Acids and alkalis Wider academic reading around acids and alkalis Year 8 topic assessment 3 – gas exchange and acids and alkalis topics Science in the news |
Chemistry – Chemical reactions
Physics – Waves and the Electromagnetic spectrum Inspirational science in the news and wider reading |
| Spring Term 2: | Electricity and magnetism
British Science week (2 weeks) Inspirational science in the news and wider reading |
Waves
Wider academic reading around waves British science week across two weeks Science in the news |
Topic assessment 3 on Chemical reactions, Waves and the Electromagnetic spectrum
Biology – Evolution British Science week Test 2 which covers everything that has been taught so far this academic year. Learners will have one weeks worth of revision lessons in class before this test. Inspirational science in the news and wider reading |
| Summer Term 1: | Chemical and physical changes
Year 7 Test 2 Inspirational science in the news and wider reading |
Health and disease
Wider academic reading around health and disease Year 8 assessment 4 – waves and health and disease topics Test 2 – there will be one week of revision in lessons for this test. It will cover content taught since September. Earth and atmosphere Science in the news |
Chemistry – Reactivity
Topic assessment 4 on Evolution and Reactivity Physics – Electricity Inspirational science in the news and wider reading |
| Summer Term 2: | Ecosystems
Skeletal system Inspirational science in the news and wider reading |
Earth and atmosphere continued
Wider academic reading around earth and atmosphere Motion Year 8 assessment 5 – earth and atmosphere topic and motion topic The Amazon Science in the news |
Biology – Plants
Topic assessment 5 on Electricity and Plants Chemistry – Atomic structure Physics – Astronomy Biology – The menstrual cycle and sexual health Inspirational science in the news and wider reading |
| Key Stage 4 | |||
| Content: | Year 10: | Year 11: | Year 11 Separate Pathway: |
| Autumn Term 1: | Biology – Microscopes, Cells and Enzymes
Chemistry – Atomic structure, The Periodic table review and Bonding Physics – Motion and Forces A Biology, Chemistry and Physics assessment on what has been taught this half term |
Biology – Cell division, Stem cells and The nervous system
Chemistry – A review of key concepts of Chemistry to start then covering Acids and bases. Physics – Magnetism and Electricity A Biology, Chemistry and Physics assessment on what has been taught this half term |
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| Autumn Term 2: | Biology – Food tests, Respiration, The circulatory system
Chemistry – Testing for ions and calculations in chemistry Physics – Forces and their effects Mock exam week. Learners will receive a mock exam paper to assess the content they have learnt so far this term. |
Biology – Genetics
Chemistry – Rates of reaction and Groups of the Periodic table Physics – Transformers and Atomic models Mock exam week. Learners will receive a mock exam paper to assess the content they have learnt so far this term. |
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| Spring Term 1: | Biology – Health and disease
Chemistry – Fuels and Alkanes and alkenes Physics – Energy A Biology, Chemistry and Physics assessment on what has been taught this half term. |
Biology – Natural selection, Evolution and Hormones
Chemistry – Electrolysis and Reactivity Physics – Radioactivity and Density A Biology, Chemistry and Physics assessment on what has been taught this half term. |
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| Spring Term 2: | Biology – Vaccinations and antibiotics. Plants and photosynthesis
Chemistry – Earth and atmospheric science Physics – Electricity and circuits A Biology, Chemistry and Physics assessment on what has been taught this half term. |
Biology – Structured revision
Chemistry – Extraction of metals and Dynamic equilibrium Physics – Calculations A Biology, Chemistry and Physics assessment on what has been taught this half term. |
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| Summer Term 1: | Biology – Adaptations of plants
Chemistry – Acids and bases Physics – Light waves, Sound and hearing Mock exam week. Learners will receive a mock exam paper to assess the content they have learnt so far this term. |
GCSE exams
6 GCSE papers to sit over a four week period 2 Biology papers, 2 Chemistry papers and 2 Physics papers Each paper will be 1 hour and 10 minutes long and will be out of a total of 60 marks each. |
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| Summer Term 2: | Biology – Ecosystems
Chemistry – Neutralisation with titration calculations Physics – The Electromagnetic spectrum and colour A Biology, Chemistry and Physics assessment on what has been taught this half term. |
GCSE exams
6 GCSE papers to sit over a four week period 2 Biology papers, 2 Chemistry papers and 2 Physics papers Each paper will be 1 hour and 10 minutes long and will be out of a total of 60 marks each. |
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| Personalised Learning Checklist: | |||
| Click the links below to download your personalised learning checklist: |
| Revision Links for GCSE Course:
Combined science: https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/examspecs/zqkww6f |
How can parents support their child’s progress in this subject?
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| Extra-Curricular Activities:
Robotics club runs after school for years 7 to 9. |
| Additional Information:
If you have a question about the Science curriculum you can use the form below to contact the Science department.
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