Science
Science Curriculum Intent
In Science, we plan, sequence and adapt our curriculum to meet the needs of all our students. By considering the different starting points of all our new students, we aim to deliver lessons that are engaging and challenging. During their journey in science, we would like our students to develop a great interest in learning new aspects about science and to be enthusiastic about the three disciplines of science taught. Students will develop their communitive, analytical and scientific problem-solving skills that they will encounter during their school career and beyond. During our lessons, we aim to maintain the awe and wonder our subject offers to our students by bringing real life situations to our classrooms.
At Key Stage 3, all areas of science are studied that continue to Key stage 4. The Key Stage 3 curriculum serves as a foundation for content that will be covered in Y10 and Y11. At Key Stage 4 we offer our students the opportunity to follow the separate science, or a mixed ability combined science curriculum. The mixed ability classes in combined science ensure that all abilities of students are challenged during lesson time. In Y10 and Y11, Science is taught by specialist teachers where a student will have a teacher for each discipline. Our broad and enriching Key Stage 4 curriculum ensures that our students are provided with sufficient opportunity to continue with science at A-level or IB.
All our science lessons take place in modern labs that have interactive whiteboards. With us having excellent facilities, it enables our students to effectively complete practical’s developing their scientific enquiry skills.
Literacy Intent statement
Scientific literacy is important because it helps in making informed decisions, assists in a better understanding and use of scientific terms, as well as helping with promoting and achieving scientific literacy. In our department, we achieve this by ensuring that all students are exposed to specific scientific keywords in every lesson. Students are given an opportunity to expand their literacy by completing an extending writing task per half term at KS3 where specific focus is placed on the command words used in the task. When students reach KS4, their improved scientific writing skills would be transferred and applied to questions that require practical writing skills and general 6-mark questions.
Key Stage 3 curriculum
Year 7
Y7 Autumn | Y7 Spring | Y7 Summer |
Biology | Chemistry | Physics |
Cell, Tissues, organs and systems | Atoms, elements and molecules | Forces |
Sexual reproduction | The particle model | Current electricity |
Muscles and bones | Mixtures and separation | Energy |
Ecosystems | Acids and Alkalis | Sound |
Year 8
Y8 Autumn | Y8 Spring | Y8 Summer |
Biology | Chemistry | Physics |
Unicellular and organisms | Metals and their uses | Fluids |
Plants and their reproduction | The Periodic table | Lights |
Breathing and respiration | Combustion | Energy transfers |
Food and nutrition | Rocks | Earth and space |
Year 9
Y9 Autumn | Y9 Spring | Y9 Summer |
Biology/Chemistry | Chemistry/Physics | Physics/GCSE |
Genetics and evolution | Making materials | Physics revision and projects Physics end of unit assessment |
Plant growth | Chemistry revision and projects Chemistry end of unit assessment |
Core Practical – GCSE practical tasks 1) Microscopes 2) Investigating acceleration 3) Osmosis 4) Preparing copper sulphate 5) Neutralisation 6) Investigating refraction |
Biology revision and projects Biology end of unit assessment |
Forces and motion | |
Reactivity | Force fields and electromagnets |
Key Stage 4 Curriculum
Y10
Autumn 2022 | Spring 2022-23 | Summer |
Separate Science | Separate Science | Separate Science |
C1 States of matter C2 Methods of separating and purifying substances P1 Motion P2 Forces and motion B1 Key biological concepts |
B3 Genetics C5 Ionic Bonding C6 Covalent Bonding C7 Types of Substance (1&2) C8 Acids and Alkalis P5 Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum |
B5 Health, Disease, and the Development of Medicine C13 Transition Metals, Alloys, and Corrosion C14 Quantitative Analysis C15 Dynamic equilibria, calculations involving gases P7 Astronomy |
B2 Cells and control P4 Waves P3 Conservation of Energy C3 Atomic structure C4 The periodic table |
B4 Natural selection and Genetic Modification C9 Calculations involving Masses (1&2) C10 Electrolytic Processes C11 Obtaining and Using Metals C12 Reversible Reactions and Equilibria P6 Radioactivity |
End of year exam prep |
Combined Science | Combined Science | Combined Science |
C1 States of matter C2 Methods of separating and purifying substances P1 Motion P2 Forces and motion B1 Key biological concepts |
B3 Genetics C5 Ionic Bonding C6 Covalent Bonding C7 Types of Substance (1&2) C8 Acids and Alkalis P5 Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum |
B5 Health, Disease, and the Development of Medicine C13 Transition Metals, Alloys, and Corrosion C14 Quantitative Analysis C15 Dynamic equilibria, calculations involving gases P7 Astronomy |
B2 Cells and control P4 Waves P3 Conservation of Energy C3 Atomic structure C4 The periodic table |
B4 Natural selection and Genetic Modification C9 Calculations involving Masses (1&2) C10 Electrolytic Processes C11 Obtaining and Using Metals C12 Reversible Reactions and Equilibria P6 Radioactivity |
End of year exam prep |
Y11
Autumn 2022 | Spring 2022-23 | Summer |
Separate Science | Separate Science | Separate Science |
P7 Astronomy B5 Health, Disease, and the Development of Medicine C14 Quantitative Analysis C15 and C16 Dynamic equilibria, calculations involving gases |
P12 and P13 Magnetism and the Motor Effect Electromagnetic induction B8 Exchange and transport in Animals C20 and C21 – Fuels and Earth Science |
B9 Ecosystems and materials P14 and P15 Particle model C25 and C26 – Qualitative Analysis |
P8 and P9 Energy and forces B6 Plant Structure and their function C17, C18 and C19 -Groups, Rates of reaction and Energy changes |
B8 Exchange and transport in Animals P12 and P13 Magnetism and the Motor Effect Electromagnetic induction C22, C23 and C24 – Hydrocarbons, alcohols, and Polymers |
P14 and P15 Particle model B9 Ecosystems and materials C25 and C26 – Qualitative Analysis |
P10 Motion and P11 Electricity and Circuits- static electricity B6 Plant Structure and their function C17, C18 and C19 -Groups, Rates of reaction and Energy changes |
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P10 Motion and P11 Electricity and Circuits- static electricity B7 Animal Coordination C20 and C21 – Fuels and Earth Science |
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Combined Science | Combined Science | Combined Science |
B6 Plant Structure and their function C9 Calculations involving Masses P7 and P8 Energy and forces |
B8 Exchange and transport in Animals C13, C14 and C15 -Groups, Rates of reaction and Energy changes P10 and P11 Magnetism and the Motor Effect Electromagnetic induction |
P12 and P13 Particle model B9 Ecosystems and materials C16 and C17 – Fuels and Earth Science |
B7 Animal Coordination C10 Electrolytic Processes C11 Obtaining and Using Metals C12 Reversible Reactions and Equilibria P7 and P8 Energy and forces |
B9 Ecosystems and materials C16 and C17 – Fuels and Earth Science P10 and P11 Magnetism and the Motor Effect Electromagnetic induction |
B9 Ecosystems and materials C16 and C17 – Fuels and Earth Science P12 and P13 Particle model |
P9 Electricity and circuits B7 Animal Coordination C10 Electrolytic Processes C11 Obtaining and Using Metals C12 Reversible Reactions |
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P9 Electricity and circuits B8 Exchange and transport in Animals C13, C14 and C15 -Groups, Rates of reaction and Energy changes |
Science Curriculum Plan – Click Here
Useful links
GCSE (9-11) |
Combined Science – Click Here |
Biology – Click Here |
Chemistry – Click Here |
Physics – Click Here |
Combined Science sample exam material – Click Here |
Biology sample exam material – Click Here |
Chemistry sample exam material – Click Here |
Physics sample exam material – Click Here |
Physics equation sheet – Click Here |
Science command words – Click Here |
Science Photo Gallery
Science-fair-2022-1
Science-Iceland-2022-3
Science-Paris-2022-1