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

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

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

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

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.

Curriculum

SCIENCE

In this Section:

Curriculum Overview

KS4 Curriculum – GCSE Combined Science

KS4 Curriculum – GCSE Separate Sciences

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Assessment

Enrichment Offer

Useful Resources and Revision Support