Science

The Science Department believes that our subject is a fundamental part of everyday life essential to our understanding of the world. The overarching intention of Science is to provide students with a rewarding and productive learning experience that leaves them with a lasting positive view of Science and its contribution to society.

The Science Learning Pathway consolidates and builds on prior learning from Key Stage 2. The Key Stage 3 programme of study focuses on developing essential content and skills, introducing and revisiting topics across 3 years to help to create engaging lessons and prepare learners for the demands of GCSE Science.

‘Big Ideas’ interlink topics with Key Stage 3 and 4 programmes of study. This Learning Pathway aims to support the development of transferrable life and employability skills.

How you can support your child’s learning in Science?

Question your child on what they have learnt in their Science lessons. How does it relate to the real world?
Ask them how the topics in their Science lessons will support them in getting a job in the future.
Encourage them to watch the news regularly to keep up to date with current scientific developments. Ask them how these developments link to their learning in their Science lessons.

This link will take you to a range of resources to support the curriculum- Useful Science Links

Key Stage 3

The Key Stage 3 science curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:

develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for future employment.

Yr 7 Units of Work	Yr 8 Units of Work	Yr 9 Units of Work
Cells	Diet & Exercise	Infectious Disease
Material Science	Solubility, Chemical & Change	Weathering & Erosion
Forces	Motion	Waves - Light
Inheritance & Organisation	Waves - Sound	Periodic Table
Substances & Mixtures	Biochemistry	More Electrical Circuits
Sound & Light	Chemical Reactions	Fuel Uses & Costs
Solar System and Beyond	Magnetism	Biodiversity & Human Impact
Variation	Acids& Alkalis	Rock Changes - Earth Resources
Health & Disease	Interdependence of Organisms	Floating & Sinking
Atoms, Elements, & Compounds	Evaporation & Water Cycle	Adaption & Evolution
Designing Materials	Energy & Reactions	Cell Biology
Heating & Cooling	Forces	Inheritance and the Genome
-	Static Electricity	Interdependence of Organisms & Classification
-	-	Atomic Structure & Periodic Table
-	-	Bonding
-	-	Energy & Moving Particles
-	-	Measuring and Calculating Motion

Key Stage 4

The GCSE Science course is based on the Key Stage 4 Programme of Study for Science. Students are given the opportunity to study either Combined Science: Trilogy or Separate Sciences. This qualification is linear meaning that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course.

The content is split into units relevant to students in their everyday life and the specification allows the opportunity to explore work-related learning in science where appropriate.

Content overview (Examination Board AQA):

Paper 1: Biology 1 (Foundation/Higher)

1. Cell biology

2. Organisation

3. Infection and response

4. Bioenergetics

Paper 2: Biology 2 (Foundation/Higher)

5. Homeostasis and response

6. Inheritance, variation and evolution

7. Ecology

Paper 3: Chemistry 1 (Foundation/Higher)

8. Atomic structure and the periodic table