Science
Key Stage 3 Information
Points to Note
Students in Science follow a 5 year ‘GCSE course’. This allows students to be better prepared for their final exams as the content is broken down to a level that is appropriate the students’ ability and age group. The assessment at key stage 3 also mirrors the requirements of the GCSE assessments, this allows students the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the final exams.
Year 7
Autumn term
• Particle Theory – solids, liquids and gases
• Cells – the structure and role of plant and animal cells
• Forces – types of forces, balanced and unbalanced forces
• Elements, atoms and compounds
Working scientifically and mathematical skills are delivered once a week to meet the demands of the new GCSE curriculum
Spring Term
• Structure and function of body systems – breathing, skeleton, joints and muscles
• Sound – waves, sound energy, echoes and ultrasound
• Animal Reproduction – adolescence, reproductive systems, the menstrual cycle
• Simple Chemical Reactions and Burning – features of reactions and combustion
Working Scientifically and Mathematical skills are delivered once a week to meet the demands of the new GCSE curriculum
Summer Term
• Light – reflection, refraction, the eye and the camera
• Plant reproduction – pollination, fertilisation and germination
• Acids and Alkalis – neutralisation and making salts
• Space – our Solar System and galaxies
Working scientifically and Mathematical skills are delivered once a week to meet the demands of the new GCSE curriculum
• End of Year Test assessing all topics learnt throughout the year
Year 8
Autumn Term
• Food and Digestion – balanced diet and breaking down food
• The periodic table – naming elements, making and naming compounds
• Electricity – series and parallel circuits
• Adaptation and Inheritance – adapting to change, variation, natural selection and extinction
Working Scientifically and Mathematical skills are delivered once a week to meet the demands of the new GCSE curriculum
Spring Term
• Energy – conservation of energy, conduction and radiation
• Separation techniques – solubility, evaporation, distillation and chromatography
• Keeping healthy – drugs, alcohol, smoking, fitness and health
• Geology and the Earth – the atmosphere, climate change and recycling
Working Scientifically and Mathematical skills are delivered once a week to meet the demands of the new GCSE curriculum
Summer Term
• Motion and Pressure – speed, pressure in solids, liquids and gases, moments
• Ecosystems – photosynthesis, respiration, chemosynthesis, food chains and webs
• Metals and Acids – displacement reactions, extracting metals, ceramics, polymers and composites
• Magnetism – magnetic field and electromagnets
Working Scientifically and Mathematical skills are delivered once a week to meet the demands of the new GCSE curriculum
• End of Year Test assessing all topics learnt throughout the year
Year 9
In Year 9 pupils attend four science lessons a week. Three of these lessons a week are used to deliver the new GCSE curriculum and embed key scientific concepts that will enable a greater understanding of KS4 topics in Year 10 and 11. Each term focuses on a particular area of science. The scheme of Learning is taken directly from the AQA Science Trilogy specimen.
Autumn Term
• Cell biology
Working scientifically and mathematical skills are delivered once a week to meet the demands of the new GCSE curriculum
Spring Term
• Atomic structure and the periodic table
Working Scientifically and Mathematical skills are delivered once a week to meet the demands of the new GCSE curriculum
Summer Term
• Electricity and Energy
Working scientifically and mathematical skills are delivered once a week to meet the demands of the new GCSE curriculum
• End of Year Test assessing all topics learnt throughout the year
Key Stage 4 Information
Points to Note
Students follow the AQA Trilogy Specification if doing the double award. This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course.
As this is a linear course, the following topics, in all 3 sciences, will be delivered over the course of year 10 and 11.
Year 10 & Year 11 – GCSE Combined Science
Biology
1. Cell biology
2. Organisation
3. Infection and response
4. Bioenergetics
5. Homeostasis and response
6. Inheritance, variation and evolution
7. Ecology
Chemistry
8. Atomic structure and the periodic table
9. Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter
10. Quantitative chemistry
11. Chemical changes
12. Energy changes
13. The rate and extent of chemical change
14. Organic chemistry
15. Chemical analysis
16. Chemistry of the atmosphere
17. Using resources
Physics
18. Energy
19. Electricity
20. Particle model of matter
21. Atomic structure
22. Forces
23. Waves
24. Magnetism and electromagnetism
Exam Board Specifications
Visit the website (http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-trilogy-8464).
Year 10 & Year 11 – Triple Science
Points to note
All 3 qualifications are linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course.
Biology
1. Cell biology
2. Organisation
3. Infection and response
4. Bioenergetics
5. Homeostasis and response
6. Inheritance, variation and evolution
7. Ecology
8. Key ideas
Chemistry
1. Atomic structure and the periodic table
2. Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter
3. Quantitative chemistry
4. Chemical changes
5. Energy changes
6. The rate and extent of chemical change
7. Organic chemistry
8. Chemical analysis
9. Chemistry of the atmosphere
10. Using resources
Physics
1. Energy
2. Electricity
3. Particle model of matter
4. Atomic structure
5. Forces
6. Waves
7. Magnetism and electromagnetism
8. Space physics
Exam Board Specifications
Visit the website (http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461).
Visit the website (http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462).
Visit the website (http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463).
