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.
Activity | Target | Description |
RSC Top of the Beach | Year 7 | Chemistry competition run by the University of York |
Space Dome | All Year 7 | Visit to the space dome.
This was augmented by other activities within school such as:
|
Leeds University Festival of Science | Year 8 | Visit to Leeds University for
Hesco Engineering Challenge, Proof of the Pudding Sponsored by M&S |
Leeds University Festival of Science
Physics is Fun |
Year 10 | Full day of activities including using light to make art.
Speaker from CERN discussing physics of the Hadron collider |
Salters Festival of Chemistry | KS3 | Practical chemistry based at Leeds University |
STEM Physics | Top set year 10 to engage in year 11 work | Nuclear fusion and nuclear fission |
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.