Curriculum

SCIENCE

| Education | Curriculum | Science
Our aim in Science is to enable pupils to understand, enjoy and marvel at the natural world, through enquiry-based lessons that challenge their thinking. We aim to encourage our pupils to be curious about the world around them and to develop a positive and practical approach to scientific learning.  We build understanding of the ‘Big Ideas’ in science that are relevant to pupils’ lives during and beyond school. We achieve this through a wide and varied curriculum in which pupils are regularly challenged and reviewed.

At KS4, depending on their academic ability, pupils will either study Combined Science (which leads to the award of two GCSEs) or Separate Sciences (which leads to the award of three GCSEs). All pupils will study key aspects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, but pupils taking Separate Sciences will follow a more in-depth and intensive programme of study.

Curriculum Overview
Year 7 Year 8
  • Passport to science
  • Y7 Kick start to practical skills
  • Movement
  • Cells
  • Particle model
  • Separating mixtures
  • Metals and non-metals
  • Acids and alkalis
  • Speed
  • Gravity
  • Current
  • Voltage and resistance
  • Interdependence
  • Plant reproduction
  • Earth structure
  • Universe
  • Energy costs
  • Energy transfer
  • Sound
  • Light
  • Variation
  • Human reproduction
  • STEM activities
  • Passport to science
  • Y8 kick start to practical skills
  • Breathing
  • Digestion
  • Periodic table
  • elements
  • Types of reaction
  • Evolution
  • Inheritance
  • Chemical energy
  • Work
  • Heating and cooling
  • Climate
  • Earth resources
  • Magnetism
  • Electromagnets
  • Contact forces
  • Pressure
  • Waves
  • STEM activities
KS4 Curriculum – GCSE Combined Science
Year 9 Year 10 Year 11
Biology

  • Cell structure and transport
  • Cell division
  • Organisation and the digestive system
  • Organisation in animals and plants
  • Communicable diseases
  • Preventing and treating disease
  • Non-communicable diseases
  • Photosynthesis

Chemistry

  • Atomic structure and the periodic table
  • Bonding, structure and the properties of matter
  • Quantitative chemistry
  • Chemical calculations
  • Chemical changes
  • Structure and bonding
  • Electrolysis

Physics

  • Energy changes
  • Conservation and dissipation of energy
  • Energy transfer by heating
  • Energy resources
  • Electrical circuits
  • Electricity in the home
  • Molecules and matter
  • Radioactivity
 Biology

  • Biogenetics
  • Homeostasis and response
  • Organisation and the digestive system
  • Organisation in plants and animals
  • Communicable diseases
  • Preventing and treating disease
  • Bioenergetics (Photosynthesis and respiration)
  • Cell division
  • Non communicable diseases
  • Organising and ecosystem
  • Adaptations, interdependence and competition

Chemistry

  • Chemical changes
  • Energy changes
  • Conservation and dissipation of energy
  • Energy transfer by heating
  • Electrolysis
  • The rate and extent of chemical change
  • Atomic structure
  • The periodic table
  • Structure and bonding
  • Chemical changes
  • Molecules in matter
  • Crude oil
  • Polymers

Physics

  • Particle model of matter
  • Atomic structure
  • Forces
  • Waves
  • Electromagnetic waves
  • Forces in balance
  • Energy resources
  • Motion
  • Forces and motion
 Biology

  • Inheritance, variation and evolution
  • Ecology
  • Simple inheritance in plants and animals
  • Energy from respiration
  • Proteins and enzymes
  • Energy from the nucleus

Chemistry

  • Organic chemistry
  • Chemical analysis
  • Chemistry of the atmosphere
  • Using resources
  • Chemistry calculations
  • Rates of reaction
  • Acids, bases and electrolysis

Physics

  • Waves
  • Magnetism and electromagnetism
  • Current electricity
  • Mains electricity
  • Work, energy and momentum
  • Radioactivity
  • Motion
  • Forces
KS4 Curriculum – GCSE Separate Sciences
Biology
Year 9 Year 10 Year 11
Cell biology

  • Eukaryotes and prokaryotes
  • Animal and plant cells
  • Cell specialisation
  • Cell differentiation
  • Microscopy
  • Culturing microorganisms
  • Mitosis and the cell cycle
  • Stem cells

Organisation

  • Principles of organisation
  • Animal tissues, organs and organ systems
  • The heart and blood vessels
  • Blood
  • Coronary heart disease: a non-communicable disease
  • Health issues
  • Plant tissues, organs and systems

Infection and response

  • Communicable diseases
  • Monoclonal antibodies
  • Plant disease
 Bioenergetics

  • Photosynthesis
  • Respiration
  • Aerobic and anaerobic respiration
  • Metabolism
  • Response to exercise

Homeostasis and response

  • Homeostasis
  • The human nervous system
  • Control of body temperature
  • Hormonal coordination in humans
  • Hormones in human reproduction
  • Contraception
  • Plant hormones

Infection and Response

  • Communicable diseases
  • Vaccination
  • Antibiotics and painkillers
  • Discovery and development of drugs
  • Monoclonal antibodies
  • Plant disease
 Inheritance, variation and evolution

  • Reproduction
  • Meiosis
  • Advantages and disadvantages of sexual and asexual reproduction
  • DNA and the genome
  • Content Key opportunities DNA structure
  • Genetic inheritance

Ecology

  • Organisation of an ecosystem
  • Adaptations, interdependence and competition
  • Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems
  • Trophic levels in an ecosystem
  • Food production
Chemistry
Year 9 Year 10 Year 11
Atomic structure and the periodic table

  • A simple model of the atom, symbols, relative atomic mass,
  • electronic charge and isotopes
  • The periodic table
  • Properties of transition metals

Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter

  • Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic
  • How bonding and structure are related to the properties of
  • Substances
  • Structure and bonding of carbon
  • Bulk and surface properties of matter including nanoparticles

Quantitative chemistry

  • Chemical measurements, conservation of mass and the quantitative
  • Interpretation of chemical equations
  • Use of amount of substance in relation to masses of pure substances
  • Yield and atom economy of chemical reactions
  • Using concentrations of solutions in mol/dm3
  • Use of amount of substance in relation to volumes of gases
 Energy changes

  • Exothermic and endothermic reactions
  • Chemical cells and fuel cells

The rate and extent of chemical change

  • Rate of reaction
  • Factors which affect the rates of chemical reactions
  • Collision theory and activation energy
  • Reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium

Organic chemistry

  • Carbon compounds as fuels and feedstock
  • Reactions of alkenes and alcohols
  • Synthetic and naturally occurring polymers
 Chemical changes

  • Reactivity of metals
  • Reactions of acids
  • Electrolysis

Chemical analysis

  • Purity, formulations and chromatography
  • Identification of common gases
  • Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means

Chemistry of the atmosphere

  • The composition and evolution of the Earth’s atmosphere
  • Carbon dioxide and methane as greenhouse gases
  • Common atmospheric pollutants and their sources
Physics
Year 9 Year 10 Year 11
Energy

  • Energy changes in a system, and the ways energy is stored before
  • and after such changes
  • Conservation and dissipation of energy
  • Efficiency
  • Energy transfers in a system

Electricity

  • Current, potential difference and resistance
  • Series and parallel circuits
  • Domestic uses and safety
  • Energy transfers
  • Static electricity

Particle model of matter

  • Changes of state and the particle model
  • Internal energy and energy transfers
  • Particle model and pressure
 Atomic structure

  • Atoms and isotopes
  • Atoms and nuclear radiation
  • Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background
  • Radiation
  • Nuclear fission and fusion

Forces

  • Forces and their interactions
  • Work done and energy transfer
  • Forces and elasticity
  • Moments, levers and gears
  • Pressure and pressure differences in fluids
  • Forces and motion

Waves

  • Waves in air, fluids and solids
  • Electromagnetic waves
  • Black body radiation
 Magnetism and electromagnetism

  • Permanent and induced magnetism, magnetic forces and fields
  • The motor effect
  • Induced potential, transformers and the National Grid

Space physics

  • Our solar system
  • The life cycle of a star
  • Solar system; stability of orbital motions; satellites
  • Orbital motion, natural and artificial satellites
  • Red-shift
Assessment

Internal assessments take place every half-term.

KS4 Exam Board Specification (Combined Science): AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (8464)

KS4 Exam Board Specifications (Separate Sciences): AQA GCSE Biology (8461), AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462), AQA GCSE Physics (8463)

Enrichment Offer

The Department runs a series of out of Academy learning experiences, including museum and fieldwork trips. Pupils participate in a number of experiments during lesson time. Intervention sessions to consolidate prior learning and ensure maximum progress are at the heart of our delivery model.

Useful Resources and Revision Support