Science

Vision statement

Through consistently excellent teaching, accurate and timely formative and summative assessment give students an opportunity to achieve an outcome they are proud of, an enable them to take the next steps in their careers.

To build a strong relationship of trust between staff and students, focussed on the enjoyment of inquiry, nurturing curiosity, and bringing current, relevant and real-world science into the classroom experience, preparing students to become educated citizens capable of comprehending and analysing global issues

Intent

In year 9 we work closely with our feeder schools to ensure all KS3 objectives are met and pupils are supported in the transition to GCSE.

Students follow the AQA Combined Trilogy or Separate Science (Biology/ Chemistry/ Physics) specification.

For Combined Science, students follow topics in Biology, Chemistry and Physics and sit Combined Science exams at the end of Y11 to be awarded 2 GCSE’s in Science.

For Separate Sciences, each subject is awarded as a separate GCSE

Students are placed in groups appropriate to their needs to make differentiation more efficient, there being constant opportunity for students to move from class to class as their needs change.

GCSE Trilogy Science offers grades from 9 to 1 but students may be entered for Higher or Foundation Tier depending on their progress.

Students need to complete a list of “required practicals”. Questions in the written exams will draw on this knowledge and these questions will count for at least 15% of the overall marks.

Students will study towards the foundation or higher examination using exam resources supported by the exam board.

There are regular end of topic tests which allow students to measure their progress through the course. End of year examinations are used as summative assessment in the summer term.

KS4 End of Course Assessment

GCSE Examinations

AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy (8464)

Foundation Level – Grades 1 – 5

Higher Level – Grades 4 – 9

Link for further information about this specification. 

Students sit all their examinations at the end of year 11.

Science is externally assessed by six, 1 hour 15-minute exams; two Biology, two Chemistry and two Physics papers. Students will sit either Higher (grades 4-9) or Foundation papers (grades 1-5).

KS5

Sixth form students can choose to study for AQA Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

There are regular end of topic tests which allow students to measure their progress through the course. End of year examinations are used as summative assessment in the summer term.

Science subjects are always a very popular subject choice at A level, partly because pupils have enjoyed their experience in previous years and partly because Science is seen as a rigorous subject, well respected by employers and universities.

KS5 End of Course Assessment

A-level Examinations

 

Long term planning

Link to the KS4 long term plan showing lesson by lesson content
Click here

Independent Learning (Sam Learning)

To support learning in school pupils will regularly be set homework, this may be via ‘Sam Learning’ a web-based activity program.

Details of how to log in are shown below. Sam Learning can also be used to select and science (and any other subject) content for independent learning eg. Catch up/ revision/ correcting misconceptions.

Centre id:  ST1WC (Caps)
Username and password: 6 digit date of birth and two initials (Caps) eg John Brown 13th May 2009= 130509JB

Supporting pupils progress at home

The Science Department have been using a number of retrieval practice techniques during lessons with the aim of helping students to improve their learning and study habits, along with their base knowledge and understanding. All of these strategies can be used for revision and consolidation at home and best of all, they’re free! Although, they do require a bit of effort.

For more information, please click here

Extra-curricular activities

Biology Olympiad

Y13 biology students are invited to compete in the British Biology Olympiad. This is a competition run in association with the Royal Society of Biology. The competition is designed to stimulate students with an interest in biology to expand and extend their talents. Pre-university students from colleges all over the country must complete supervised online examinations. The competition is the first stage in selecting a team to represent the UK in an international competition.

Y12 biology students can compete in an international, A-level Biology competition – the Intermediate Biology Olympiad. This allows them to compete against students from all over the world by taking an examination involving 68 multiple choice questions, on core biological principles and problem solving, in 60 minutes.

Young Engineer of the Year

The Young Engineer of the Year competition is run by KMF and this year the challenge is to launch a weather balloon with a module attached to it, with the aim of sending a science experiment to the edge of Space.

Our team have decided upon two investigations. The first is a novelty experiment involving filling small water balloons with different gases and powder paint to see which balloon expands/explodes first as the altitude increases. The second involves sending a CO2 monitor up to measure the levels of CO2 at different heights through the atmosphere. Both investigations will be filmed using GoPro style cameras attached to the module. The team also have to record produce and edit a video of their progress from start to finish. The competition has several categories where prizes can be awarded including: Best scientific experiment, best photo of the Earth, best video, best team etc

Eco School

We are a club passionate about engaging young people in environmental education and action. We do this by following a simple, seven-step framework that guides, empowers and motivates pupils to drive change and improve environmental awareness in our school, local community and beyond.

After completing the seven-step process, we plan to apply for Eco-Schools Green Flag accreditation, which recognises, rewards and celebrates the environmental achievements of young people.

Learning Journey

Biology Learning Journey Year 9

Biology Learning Journey Year 10

Biology Learning Journey Year 11

Physics Learning Journey Year 9

Physics Learning Journey Year 10

Physics Learning Journey Year 11

Chemistry Learning Journey Year 9

Chemistry Learning Journey Year 10

Chemistry Learning Journey Year 11