Science
Scientific understanding is changing our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity.
Our aim is to teacher essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. We want students to gain an appreciation of how the complex and diverse phenomena of the natural world can be described in terms of a small number of key ideas that relate to the sciences and that are both inter-linked and of universal application.
These key ideas include:
- the use of conceptual models and theories to make sense of the observed diversity of natural phenomena
- the assumption that every effect has one or more cause
- that change is driven by differences between different objects and systems when they interact
- that many such interactions occur over a distance and over time without direct contact
- that science progresses through a cycle of hypothesis, practical experimentation,
- observation, theory development and review
- that quantitative analysis is a central element both of many theories and of scientific methods of inquiry.
We also aim to enable students to:
- 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 scientific enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.
- develop and learn to apply observational, practical, modelling, enquiry and problem-solving skills in the laboratory, in the field and in other learning environments.
- develop their ability to evaluate claims based on science through critical analysis of the methodology, evidence and conclusions, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
We want students to learn science in ways that help them to develop curiosity about the natural world, that give them an insight into how science works, in particular its reliance on experimental evidence, and that enable them to appreciate its relevance to their everyday lives.
‘Science makes sense.’
‘Science explains how our universe works and it links to many other subjects and is a vital part of an all-around education.’
KEY STAGE 3
During Years 7-9 the following topics are taught:
|
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
|---|---|---|
|
Cells, tissues organs and systems Sexual Reproduction in animals Ecosystems Mixtures and Separation Acids and Bases The Particle Model Atoms Elements and Compounds Electricity Forces Sound |
Food and Digestions Plants Breathing and Respiration Unicellular Organisms Combustion The Periodic Table Metals and their Uses Fluids Light Energy Transfers Earth and Space |
Genetics and Evolution Growing our Food Making Materials Reactivity Force and Motion Electricity and Magnetism In the summer term of Year 9 students start the Key Stage 4 science syllabuses. The topics that are studied are: Natural selection and Genetic modification States of Matter Methods of Separating and Purifying Substances Conservation of Energy |
KEY STAGE 4
The Science department runs two routes through Key Stage 4 Science.
The two routes are:
- Combined Science
- Separate GCSEs in Biology, Physics and Chemistry. (Often called Triple Science)
Both routes through Key Stage 4 Science put equal emphasis on Biology, Physics and Chemistry and as Science is a core subject, all students must follow one of these two routes.
Combined Science
Students studying Combined Science at GCSE follow the PearsonSyllabus: GCSE (9-1) Combined Science
During the course, the following topics are covered:
|
Year 10 |
Year 11 |
|---|---|
|
Biology Key biological concepts Cells and control Genetics, Health, disease and the development of medicines Chemistry Atomic structure The periodic table Ionic bonding Covalent bonding Types of substance Calculations involving masses Acids Electrolytic process Physics Motion Forces and motion Waves Light and the electromagnetic spectrum Radioactivity Energy forces doing work Forces and their effects |
Biology Plant structures and their functions Animal coordination, control and homeostasis Exchange and transport in animals Ecosystems and material cycles Chemistry Obtaining and using metals Reversible reactions and equilibria Groups in the periodic table Rates of reaction Heat energy changes in chemical reactions Fuels Earth and atmospheric science Physics Electricity and circuits Magnetism and the motor effect Electromagnetic induction Particle model Forces and matter |
For more detailed information about the course content and assessment requirements, please refer to the examination board website.
Separate GCSEs in Biology, Physics and Chemistry. (Triple Science)
Students studying the Separate Science GCSEs follow the Pearson: GCSE (9-1) Biology, GCSE (9-1) Chemistry, GCSE (9-1) Physics syllabuses.
|
Year 10 |
Year 11 |
|---|---|
|
Biology Key biological concepts Cells and control Genetics, Health, disease and the development of medicines Chemistry Atomic structure The periodic table Ionic bonding Covalent bonding Types of substance Calculations involving masses Acids Electrolytic process Obtaining and using metals Reversible reactions and equilibria Transition Metals, alloys and corrosion Quantitative analysis Dynamic equilibria and calculations involving gases Physics Motion Forces and motion Waves Light and the electromagnetic spectrum Radioactivity Energy forces doing work Forces and their effects Astronomy |
Biology Plant structures and their functions Animal coordination, control and homeostasis Exchange and transport in animals Ecosystems and material cycles Chemistry Chemical cells and fuel cells Groups in the periodic table Rates of reaction Heat energy changes in chemical reactions Fuels Earth and atmospheric science Qualitative analysis Hydrocarbons Polymers Alcohols and carboxylic acids Bulk and surface properties of matter including nanoparticles Physics Electricity and circuits Magnetism and the motor effect Electromagnetic induction Particle model Forces and matter Static electricity |
For more detailed information about the course content and assessment requirements, please refer to the examination board website:
BIOLOGY A LEVEL
Students studying the subject at A Level follow the OCR Biology A specification. During the course the following topics are covered.
|
Year 12 |
Year 13 |
|---|---|
|
Module 1 Development of practical skills Module 2 Foundations in Biology Module 3 Exchange and transport Module 4 Biodiversity, evolution and disease |
Module 1 Development of practical skills Module 5 Communication, homeostasis and energy Module 6 Genetics, evolution and ecosystems |
For more detailed information about the course content and assessment requirements, please refer to the examination board website.
CHEMISTRY A LEVEL
Students studying the subject at A Level follow the AQA A-LEVEL CHEMISTRY 7405 specification. During the course, the following topics are covered.
|
Year 12 |
Year 13 |
|---|---|
|
Atomic structure Bonding Oxidation reduction and redox equations Group 2, the alkaline earth metals Group 7(17), the halogens Periodicity Chemical equilibria and Le Chatelier’s principle and Kc Alcohols Organic analysis Introduction to organic chemistry including Empirical Formula. Alkanes Halogenoalkanes Alkenes Amount of substance Energetics Kinetics |
Thermodynamics Acids and Bases Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells Transition metals Reactions of ions in aqueous Solution Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides Optical isomerism Aldehydes and ketones Carboxylic acids and derivatives Rate equations Aromatic chemistry Amines Polymers Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy Amino acids, proteins and DNA Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems Chromatography Organic synthesis |
For more detailed information about the course content and assessment requirements, please refer to the examination board website.
PHYSICS A LEVEL
Students studying the subject at A Level follow the OCR A Level Physics A specification. During the course the following topics are covered.
|
Year 12 |
Year 13 |
|---|---|
|
Module 1 Development of practical skills in physics Module 2 – Foundations of physics Module 3 – Forces and motion Module 4 – Electrons, waves and photons |
Module 1 Development of practical skills in physics Module 5 Newtonian world and astrophysics Module 6 – Particles and medical physics |
For more detailed information about the course content and assessment requirements, please refer to the examination board website.