Curriculum
SCIENCE
Single Science
Science is a core GCSE subject as well as an essential requirement for most Science based career routes. In the Separate Science pathway students will be studying the disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics discretely and with greater depth. This programme of study will lead to separate GCSE qualifications for each of the disciplines. Students who wish to study Separate Science must demonstrate a high aptitude in their KS3 assessments as well as the ability to cope with the demands of this challenging course.
Students will develop the following skills:
•Communication
•Prediction
•Analysis
•Evaluation
•Problem solving
Curriculum Overview
| Year 7 | Year 8 |
|---|---|
|
•7 A Cells, tissues and organs |
•8B plants and reproduction8F The periodic table8J Light, |
| Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|---|
|
B1 Key Concepts |
B5 Health and disease C12 Reversible reactions and equilibria C13 Transition metals, alloys and corrosion P6 radioactivity B5 Health and disease C14 Quantitative analysis C15 Dynamic equilibria C16 Chemical cells and fuel cells P7 Astronomy , B6 Plants C17 Groups in the periodic table C18 Rates of reaction P8 Energy P9 Forces, B7 Homeostasis C18 Rates of reaction C19 Heat changes in chemical reactions P10 Electricity and circuits , B7 Homeostasis B8 Exchange and transport in animals C20 Fuels P11 Static electricity, B8 Exchange and transport in animals C21 Earth and atmospheric science P12 Magnetism and the motor effect |
B9 Ecosystems and material cycles C22 Hydrocarbons C23 Alcohols and carboxylic acids P13 Electromagnetic induction P14 particle model , B9 Ecosystems and material cycles C24 Polymers C25 Qualitative analysis C26 Nanoparticles P14 Particle model P15 Forces and matter |
Assessment
Internal assessments take place every half term. All students studying Separate Science will be entered for Higher tier, targeting grades 9-4. The assessment is 100% exam in Year 11, where students will take six written exam papers, two for each of the Science disciplines. Each exam paper will last 1 hour 45 minutes and will be scored out of 100 marks.
Exam Board Specification: Edexcel
Click here for Biology specification
Enrichment Offer
Intervention to maximise performance and consolidate prior learning is at the heart of our delivery model.
Useful Resources and Revision Support
www.edexcel.com
www.kerboodle.com
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/edexcel/
http://www.biologyinfo.co.uk/
https://www.senecalearning.com/
Combined Science
Science is a core GCSE subject as well as an essential requirement for most Science based career routes. In the Combined Science pathway students will be studying the disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics; this will lead to two GCSE’s. Teaching and assessment of this course will allow students to develop their practical skills in all three Science disciplines as well as deepening their understanding of scientific content. Students will develop the following skills:
•Communication
•Prediction
•Analysis
•Evaluation
•Problem solving
•Working with others
Curriculum Overview
| Year 7 | Year 8 |
|---|---|
|
•Introduction to Science |
•Plants and reproduction |
| Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|---|
|
•Begin GCSE course |
•C8 Acids and Alkali •C9 Calculations involving masses •B5 Health and disease •P6 Radioactivity •P7 Energy forces doing work •P8 Forces and their effects •C10 Electrolytic processes •C11 Obtaining and using metals •C12 Reversible reactions and equilibria •B6 Plant structures and their functions •B7 Animal coordination, control and homeostasis •P12 Particle model •P9 Electricity and circuits •C13 Groups in the Periodic table •C14 Rates of reaction •B9 Ecosystems and material cycles |
•B8 Exchange and transport in animals •P10 Magnetism and the motor effect •P11 Electromagnetic induction •P13 Forces and matter •C15 Heat energy changes •C16 Fuels •C17 Earth and atmospheric science •Revision |
Assessment
Internal assessments take place every half term. Exams will be assessed at two levels; standard tier to achieve grades 5 to 1 and higher tier for targeting grades 9 to 4. The assessment is 100% exam in Year 11, where students will take six written exam papers, two for each of the Science disciplines. Students entered for the combined science course will sit an exam which will last for 1 hour 10 minutes and will be scored out of 60 marks.
Year 11 students have access to two key online revision resources to support with their independent revision; My GCSE Science and Tassomai. My GCSE Science is an excellent online learning and revision platform that is fully updated for the 9-1 GCSE specifications. As well as video tutorials, the platform provides multiple-choice quizzes, exam-style questions and mark schemes on every topic. It covers both Foundation and Higher tier material and provides key material to develop practical and mathematical skills. Tassomai is an online revision resource whereby the syllabus has been broken down into quizzable micro-fact, covering everything students need to know for their exams. Tassomai’s unique algorithm adapts itself to the user, targeting their weaknesses, and tailors the quizzes accordingly.
Exam Board Specification: Edexcel
Enrichment Offer
Intervention to maximise performance and consolidate prior learning is at the heart of our delivery model. The Science department runs intervention sessions for our Key Stage 4 students, practical carousels after school on alternating Fridays and masterclasses focussing on content and exam technique. We are proud of our links with local universities and industries, therefore provide opportunities for students to visit campuses such as University of Birmingham, partake in regional competitions and invite guest speakers into school to run interactive sessions.
Useful Resources and Revision Support
www.edexcel.com
www.kerboodle.com
https://www.my-gcsescience.com/
https://app.tassomai.com/login
https://www.savemyexams.co.uk/
https://www.freesciencelessons.co.uk/