Faculty Leader

Mr D. Pollock – Head of Faculty Science

Teaching Staff

Mr K Whitehead – Assistant Head of Faculty

Mr D Deacon – Lead Practitioner

Mr R Gouland – Teacher of Science & Head of Upper School

Ms S Bibi – Teacher of Science

Ms A Gadek – Teacher of Science

Support Staff

Mrs C Brown – Senior Technician

Mr S Hartley – Technician

Introduction

The aim of the Science department is to develop and maintain students’ curiosity, interest and enjoyment of science by providing inspiring lessons and stimulating learning. We believe that if we can achieve this, students are better equipped to make sense of the world and understand current issues. Throughout the Science curriculum students will develop transferable skills they will need throughout life such as problem solving, teamwork, communication and numeracy.

These essential skills will arm students for the challenges of the working world. Our curriculum model strives to ensure that all students achieve their potential either in line with or exceeding National standards.

Curriculum

KS3

Year 7

In Year 7 we use the Collins scheme of work, which we use as a basis to write our own in- house schemes. We ensure that within our schemes they include exciting, engaging and effective lessons which meet the demands of the new programme of study.

Topics that are studied include;

• Introduction & baseline testing
• Cells
• Eating, drinking and breathing
• Mixing, dissolving and separating
• Forces and their effects
• Elements, compounds and reactions
• Plants and ecosystems
• Energy transfers and sound
• Exploring contact & non-contact forces

The teaching group your child is in dictates the order of the topics studied. Please see the long term plans attached.

Year 7 Teaching Sequence View

Year 7 Topic Breakdown View

Assessment

We assess our pupils using a range of classwork, homework and formal end of topic tests. We also have developed formative skills assessments which are then re-assessed in the end of topic tests. This enables pupils to develop the skills required for GCSE. The topics for the skill assessments are; Hypothesis and planning, Scientific numeracy and Analysis and Evaluation.

Year 8

In Year 8 we have used the Collins scheme of work to develop our own engaging in-house schemes and resources.

Topics that are studied include;

• Variation for Survival
• Explaining Physical Changes
• Magnetism and Electricity
• Explaining Chemical Changes
• Waves and Energy Transfer
• Getting the Energy your Body Needs
• Obtaining useful materials
• Motion on Earth and in Space
• Using our Earth Sustainably

The teaching group your child is in dictates the order of the topics studied. Please see the long term plans attached.

Year 8 Teaching Sequence View

Year 8 Topic Breakdown Sequence View

Assessment

We assess our pupils using a range of classwork, homework and formal end of topic tests. We also have developed formative skills assessments which are then re-assessed in the end of topic tests. This enables pupils to develop the skills required for GCSE. The topics for the skill assessments are; Hypothesis and planning, Scientific numeracy and Analysis and Evaluation.

KS4

Year 9 to 11

At KS4 we offer a range of courses to match the needs of our pupils.

Most of our pupils will study Edexcel Combined Science. This is a two-GCSE sized (double award) qualification covering the three science disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Students are awarded two grades based on their overall performance across these three disciplines.

In year 8 pupils are given the option to study three separate sciences, which gives three GCSEs: GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics. Students are awarded individual grades for each discipline.

We have a small number of pupils that we identify for the completion of the OCR entry level certificate in Year 9.

The Entry Level Certificates are a suitable choice for students who may find the GCSE (9-1) Combined Science course challenging. Covering the Key stage 4 programme of study, the course will provide a progression route to GCSE Combined Science in Years 10 and 11.

Subject Specifications

Most Edexcel Combined Science GCSE (2 GCSE’s). For further information click here. 

Option Edexcel GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics. For further information click here.

Some Edexcel Entry Level Certificate. For further information click here. 

Year 9

Please see the following long term plans for detail of the topics studied.

Edexcel Combined Science GCSE (2 GCSE’s)

Teaching Sequence View

Formative Assessment

Pupils are assessed by regular progress tests which have been carefully planned into the delivery of the course.

Edexcel Separate Science

Biology

Teaching Sequence View

Chemistry

Teaching Sequence View

Physics

Teaching Sequence View

OCR Entry level certificate

Teaching Sequence View

Pupils will then go on to begin the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science course at approximately the end of April and cover the following units:

• B1 Overarching concepts in Biology
• C1 States of matter
• C2 Methods of separating and purifying substances
• P1 Motion
• P2 Forces and motion

Year 10

Please see the following long term plans for detail of the topics studied.

Edexcel Combined Science GCSE (2 GCSE’s)

Teaching Sequence View

Edexcel Separate Science

Biology

Teaching Sequence View

Chemistry

Teaching Sequence View

Physics

Teaching Sequence View

Year 11

Edexcel Combined Science GCSE (2 GCSE’s)

Teaching Sequence View

Combined science students will sit six exams at the end of the course as shown here.

Biology 1 – 1hr 10, 60 marks

Chemistry 1 – 1hr 10, 60 marks

Physics 1 – 1hr 10, 60 marks

Biology 2 – 1hr 10, 60 marks

Chemistry 2 – 1hr 10, 60 marks

Physics 2 – 1hr 10, 60 marks

Paper 1: Biology 1 Content overview Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology, Topic 2 – Cells and control, Topic 3 – Genetics, Topic 4 – Natural selection and genetic modification, Topic 5 – Health, disease and the development of medicines

Paper 2: Biology 2 Content overview Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology, Topic 6 – Plant structures and their functions, Topic 7 – Animal coordination, control and homeostasis, Topic 8 – Exchange and transport in animals, Topic 9 – Ecosystems and material cycles

Paper 3: Chemistry 1 Content overview Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry, Topic 2 – States of matter and mixtures, Topic 3 – Chemical changes, Topic 4 – Extracting metals and equilibria

Paper 4: Chemistry 2 Content overview Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry, Topic 6 – Groups in the periodic table, Topic 7 – Rates of reaction and energy changes, Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth science

Paper 5: Physics 1 Content overview Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics, Topic 2 – Motion and forces, Topic 3 – Conservation of energy, Topic 4 – Waves, Topic 5 – Light and the electromagnetic spectrum, Topic 6 –

Paper 6: Physics 2 Content overview Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics, Topic 8 – Energy – Forces doing work, Topic 9 – Forces and their effects, Topic 10 – Electricity and circuits, Topic 12 – Magnetism and the motor effect, Topic 13 – Electromagnetic induction, Topic 14 – Particle model, Topic 15 – Forces and matter

There will be Foundation tier and Higher tier papers, and students must sit all six exams at the same tier. Foundation tier is for students who are aiming for grades 1–5, and Higher tier is for students who are aiming for grades 4–9.

As it’s a double award qualification, students will receive two grades. These grades could be the same number, e.g. 6, 6 or 7, 7. However, some students may receive a grade with adjacent numbers, e.g. 6, 7. This will signify a student who is at an intermediate point between the standard required for a 6, 6 grade, and the standard required for a 7, 7 grade.

Assessments will all follow the same format, regardless of subject or tier.

They will have a mix of question types which will include a mix of multiple choice questions, short answers, and longer extended answers (worth up to 6 marks).

Edexcel Separate Science

Separate science students also sit six exams at the end of the course in Year 11.

These six exams, at 1hr 45 minutes, are slightly longer than the Combined Science exams. Each exam will cover half of the content for that discipline.

There will be Foundation tier and Higher tier papers. Foundation tier is for students who are aiming for grades 1–5, and Higher tier is for students who are aiming for grades 4–9. In the separate science pathway, students can choose different tiers for different disciplines. So, for example, a student may choose to sit Physics and Chemistry at Higher tier and Biology at Foundation tier.

Students will receive a grade between 1 and 9 for each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSEs.

Biology

Teaching Sequence View

Chemistry

Teaching Sequence View

Physics

Teaching Sequence View

Extra-Curricular

We offer a range of enrichment activities aimed at inspiring and motivating our pupils. Below is an example of some of the activities that we have took part in.

Useful Links

• GCSE Pod which contains excellent revision materials.
• SharePoint. Here pupils can access revision materials such as revision mats and revision checklists etc.
• Focus E Learning  Here pupils can find interactive animations covering the core practicals in the specification.
• Seneca learning  Here pupils can access interactive tasks. Students can sign in and create their own profile or their teacher can do this on their behalf.
• Active learn  Here pupils can access interactive tasks set by their teachers as well as support materials.
• Interactive revision timetable Available on SharePoint. This has links which will take pupils directly to resources for example BBC Bitesize.