Curriculum Vision and Intent
Our aim in teaching Science is to enable our students to appreciate how the complex and diverse phenomena of the natural and man-made worlds can be described in terms of a small number of key ideas. Through our knowledge-rich curriculum, students develop an understanding of the wonder of Science, the scientific method and the many and essential applications of Science.
Our intent is to stimulate curiosity about the world around us, produce resilient and independent learners, and to develop the next generation of doctors, scientists and engineers, unlimited by stereotype.
KS3 curriculum and assessment
All learners at all key stages are helped to appreciate the key idea that Science advances over time through a cycle of hypothesis, experimental observation, theory, prediction and peer review.
Practical work is at the heart of our curriculum and a large and diverse range of practicals and demonstrations are embedded throughout the learning. Students are regularly assessed through low stakes 10 mark landmark tests as well as longer 30 mark end of topic assessments.
Students in all year groups are provided with access to the kerboodle website which contains online textbooks and additional resources.
Years 7-8
Students study Biology, Chemistry and Physics topics selected to cover a broad range of scientific ideas. The aim is both to inspire students and give them a good foundation for the start of the GCSE course in Year 9.
Topics include
- Cells and Movement
- Space
- The Earth and the Atmosphere
- Human Reproduction
- The Particle Model
- The Periodic Table
- Ecology
- Chemical Reactions
- Forces
- Electrical Circuits
- Digestion and Respiration
- Inheritance and Variation.
Year 9
Students begin their GCSE science course with a module on Working Scientifically. Biology, Chemistry and Physics are taught separately and broadly follow the AQA Combined Science: Trilogy specification.
The topics covered in Year 9 include:
- Health and Non-infectious Disease
- Cell Structure
- Atomic Structure
- Separating Mixtures
- The Periodic Table
- Energy
- Energy Resources
KS4 curriculum and assessment
All students in Years 10 and 11 follow the AQA linear syllabus. We teach both Separate Science GCSEs and Combined Science. Both pathways offer access to all the A level sciences.
Biology, Chemistry and Physics continue to be taught separately to all students with approximately half the cohort following the AQA GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics separate Science specifications and approximately half following the AQA Combined Science: Trilogy specification.
AQA Combined Science: Trilogy
The majority of students follow the higher tier specification, which gives access to GCSE grades 9-3. Some students study the foundation tier specification, which gives access to GCSE grades 5 – 1. This course results in students gaining two GCSE qualifications.
Throughout the course students are assessed at regular intervals through low stakes 10 mark landmark tests as well as longer 30 mark end of topic assessments.
In the final assessment, students sit two 1 hour 15 minutes papers in each of the three sciences. There are a total of twenty one required practical activities across the three sciences which are linked to core content where they fit appropriately within the teaching to help develop understanding through hands-on experience.
Topics covered include:
Biology: cell biology, organisation, infection and response, bioenergetics, homeostasis and response, inheritance, variation and evolution and ecology
Chemistry: atomic structure and the periodic table, bonding, structure, and the properties of matter, quantitative chemistry, chemical changes, energy changes, the rate and extent of chemical change, organic chemistry, chemical analysis, chemistry of the atmosphere and using resources
Physics: energy, electricity, particle model of matter, atomic structure, forces, waves and magnetism and electromagnetism.
Separate Sciences: GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry, GCSE Physics
Students study all three Science GCSEs to gain three GCSE qualifications. Throughout the course students are assessed at regular intervals through low stakes 10 mark landmark tests as well as longer 30 mark end of topic assessments.
In the final assessment, students sit two 1 hour 45 minutes papers for each Science.
There are also ten required practical activities per discipline which are linked to core content where they fit appropriately within the teaching to help develop understanding through hands-on experience.
GCSE Biology: The majority of students follow the higher tier specification, which gives access to GCSE grades 9-3.
Topics covered include: Cell biology, organisation, infection and response, bioenergetics, homeostasis and response, inheritance, variation and evolution, ecology.
GCSE Chemistry: The majority of students follow the higher tier specification, which gives access to GCSE grades 9-3.
Topics covered include: atomic structure and the periodic table, bonding, structure, and the properties of matter, quantitative chemistry, chemical changes, energy changes, the rate and extent of chemical change, organic chemistry, chemical analysis, chemistry of the atmosphere, using resources.
GCSE Physics: The majority of students follow the higher tier specification, which gives access to GCSE grades 9-3.
Topics covered include: energy, electricity, particle model of matter, atomic structure, forces, waves, magnetism and electromagnetism, space physics.
Super-Curricular
Students are encouraged to attend the Senior Science Club. Open to Years 10 to 13, students have exciting opportunities to broaden their knowledge and understanding of Science. Activities include documentaries and discussions, lectures by internal and external speakers and supplementary practicals such as rat and eye dissection, building homopolar motors, microscale synthesis of aspirin and DNA separation by electrophoresis.
KS5 curriculum and assessment
We offer A Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
A Level Biology
Our aim in teaching Biology is to inspire students to pursue their interests in studying the world around them and to be prepared to take an active role as citizens in the many and important scientific debates going on today. Students are encouraged to ask questions and critically evaluate current scientific issues. Over the course of the two years, there are numerous opportunities to use practical work to link theory to reality, and enable students to become confident and competent in practical work. There continues to be a lack of female scientists in Britain today, and so we look to promote the achievement of women in Biology.
What will I Study?
We follow the OCR A Biology course and use a wide variety of approaches to deliver subject content – lectures, videos and practicals. Independent study is also hugely important. Students will be expected to give their own presentations on selected areas of the syllabus. There will also be the opportunity to attend external lectures.
- Content is split into six teaching modules::
- Development of practical skills in Biology
- Foundations in Biology
- Exchange and transport
- Biodiversity, evolution and disease
- Communication, homeostasis and energy
- Genetics, evolution and ecosystems
How will I be assessed?
There are 12 basic practical skills which will be covered over the two years, tested in the examination papers. In addition, students have the opportunity to gain a certificate of Practical Endorsement which is required by some universities and courses.
Paper 1 (2 hours 15 minutes) assesses Biological Processes and is worth 37% of the A-level.
Paper 2 (2 hours 15 minutes) assesses Biological Diversity and is worth 37% of the A-level.
Paper 3 (1 hour 30 minutes) assesses Unified Biology and is worth 26% of the A-level
All papers include synoptic content.
Combinations
Students wishing to pursue degree courses in sciences can choose Biology along with Chemistry and Physics. Students who study Chemistry will find that it enhances their understanding of many of the concepts covered in the Biology course. The subject is also a popular choice for students who wish to study a science to complement their other choices.
A Level Chemistry
Chemistry is integral in almost every aspect of day to day life, from caffeine addiction in the day to the gentle glow of liquid crystal displays at night. The A-level Chemistry course strives to challenge students to develop a depth of knowledge and understanding of the synopticity that draws together the Physical, Inorganic and Organic branches of Chemistry. We build on fundamental GCSE concepts such as Atomic Structure to evidentiate the existence of electron shells and to understand electronic configuration beyond the first 20 elements of the Periodic Table. In Organic Chemistry, students are introduced to the language of mechanisms which enable us to accurately predict synthetic routes and how carbon-based structures react. A combination of required and supplementary practicals demonstrate these theoretical concepts and allow for extensive opportunities to develop mastery in a wide range of complex practical techniques.
What will I Study?
We follow the OCR A Chemistry course and study Physical, Inorganic, Organic and Analytical as distinct branches of Chemistry in greater depth. We use a range of approaches to deliver subject content including individual and group-based problem solving, practicals, demonstrations and class discussion. Independent study is also hugely important.
There may also be the opportunity to attend external lectures.
The modules studied are:
- Practical Skills
- Foundations in chemistry
- Periodic table and energy
- Core organic chemistry
- Physical chemistry and transition elements
- Organic chemistry and analysis
How will I be assessed?
There are 12 basic practical skills which will be covered over the two years, tested in the examination papers. In addition, students have the opportunity to gain a certificate of Practical Endorsement which is required by some universities and courses.
Students are assessed via 3 terminal exams sat at the end of Year 13:
Paper 1: Periodic table, elements and physical chemistry (2 hours and 15 minutes) and is worth 37% of the A-level.
Paper 2: Synthesis and analytical techniques (2 hours and 15 minutes) and is worth 37% of the A-level.
Paper 3: Unified (1 hour and 30 minutes) and is worth 26% of the A-level.
The papers contain a mixture of multiple choice, structured questions and extended response questions, covering theory and practical skills
Combinations
As well as the obvious combinations with Biology, Physics and Mathematics, many pupils combine Chemistry with Economics, Geography, Psychology or a Language.
A Level Physics
The main goal of Physics is to try and understand how the Universe behaves. At A level, students are introduced to exciting new topics such as Particle Physics in which the fundamental building blocks of matter are studied and Quantum Phenomena in which the curious duality of sub-atomic particles and of light is explored. More familiar topics such as Waves, Mechanics and Electricity are studied in greater depth and the course is completed with the Turning Points in Physics which includes Einstein’s Special Relativity and touches on bizarre phenomena such as the Twin Paradox.
Practical activities are integrated throughout the course. The 12 Required Practicals are supplemented by further investigations and learning is accompanied by numerous fascinating demonstrations.
What will I Study?
We follow the AQA Physics course and use a wide variety of approaches to deliver subject content – individual and small group problem solving, videos, demonstrations and practicals. Independent study is also hugely important.
There may also be the opportunity to attend external lectures.
The topics studied are:
- Measurements and their errors
- Particles and radiation
- Waves
- Mechanics and materials
- Electricity
- Further mechanics and thermal physics
- Fields and their consequences
- Nuclear physics
- Turning points in physics
How will I be assessed?
There are 12 basic practical skills which will be covered over the two years, tested in the examination papers. In addition, students have the opportunity to gain a certificate of Practical Endorsement which is required by some universities and courses.
Paper 1 (2 hours) assesses content from modules 1 to 5 and 6.1, including practical skills and is worth 34% of the A-level.
Paper 2 (2 hours) assesses content from modules 6.2, 7 and 8, including practical skills and is worth 34% of the A-level.
Paper 3 (2 hours) assesses content from the option module, practical skills and data analysis and is worth 32% of the A-level
The papers contain a mixture of multiple choice, structured questions and extended response questions, covering theory and practical skills.
Combinations
Physics goes particularly well with all other sciences and Mathematics, but it can also provide a useful combination with any subject. Physics is very useful in medical applications. Combinations including Mathematics and Economics are also desirable for university finance courses. Physics and Mathematics A level are essential requirements for studying Physics and engineering subjects at university level.
Extra and super-curricular opportunities
Students are encouraged to engage with the extensive super-curricular clubs and competitions including:
Clubs
Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM): Years 7-9
Robotics: Year 8
Salters Chemistry: Year 8
Senior Science Club: Years 10-13
Medics Society: Years 11-13
Workshops and Challenges
Faraday Challenge: Year 8
Galactic Challenge: Year 8
Linnean Society Workshop: Year 9
King’s College Laboratory Day: Year 12
Perplexing Physics Problems: Year 13
Oxbridge Interview Practice: Year 13
Science Prefects: Years 12-13
Open Evenings (demonstrating Science to prospective students)
Termly Science newsletter
Mentoring
Future opportunities (careers, university courses)
All three Science A Levels are rigorous subjects highly respected for their academic challenge by top universities and courses.
A Level Biology is a desirable qualification for areas in medicine, pharmacy and various fields of research and paramedical professions such as physiotherapy, midwifery and radiography. In addition it could provide openings in publishing, scientific journalism or medical secretarial work.
A Level Chemistry is an essential requirement for those considering a career in medicine, dentistry and for some veterinary science courses. It is particularly useful for those seeking a career in other medical fields including biomedicine, pharmacy, pharmacology and drug research. It also opens up opportunities to study biochemistry, chemical engineering, art restoration and many other varied courses.
Physics is a highly valued A-level by both universities and employers. Employers actively seek out people who can prove their ability to think logically, understand complex ideas and apply them to the real world. A level Physics can give students the edge in Science, the media, education, business, architecture, medicine, finance or a host of other fields. It is essential for most engineering degrees.