Science
Welcome to the Science Department
"To inspire young people to think and behave like scientists."
Head of Department:
Mr Vallance
e-mail: mvallance2.310@parkhighstanmore.org.uk
Introduction
Our vision is to inspire our young people to think and behave like scientists.
-
By inspiring our young people to be confident and successful learners in science: through the teaching of both science content and science skills.
-
By helping students to understand the relevance of their studies and make the connection between their learning in school and the wider world outside and ultimately to make a positive contribution to society as responsible citizens.
Key Stage 3
In Key Stage 3 we teach the Activate course (OUP) which follows the National Curriculum. Science topics such as Cells, Reactions and Forces are introduced and serve as a foundation for the later topics such as Ecosystem Processes, The Periodic Table, Motion and Pressure. By fulfilling the ambitious nature of the National Curriculum we ensure that our curriculum is broad and knowledge-rich and equips our students with cultural capital and the pre-requisite knowledge and skills to take the next step on their academic journey from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4. Concepts such as Respiration and Photosynthesis introduced at Key Stage 3 feature in the GCSE specification. Reaching beyond the National Curriculum we include ‘Enrich and Engage’ lessons in Year 7 and a bespoke Forensics topic in Year 8 to help students to make connections between their learning in school and the wider world outside.
Disciplinary knowledge such as practical skills and key scientific terms are taught explicitly during two ‘Working Scientifically’ topics and consolidated through experiments linked to the substantive knowledge embedded throughout the Key Stage 3 curriculum.
Year 7
| Autumn | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|
|
An introduction to working scientifically |
Elements, Atoms & Compounds |
Reactions |
|
Cells |
Sound |
Reproduction |
|
Particles and their behaviour |
Structure and function of body systems |
Space |
|
Forces |
Light |
Enrich and Engage |
|
Acids & Alkalis |
|
Assessment takes place through a variety of means including: half-termly assessed home-learning tasks with whole class feedback, half-termly practical assessments, half-termly on-line multiple-choice tests and termly topic tests.
In the Summer Term, students sit a formal, internal exam which consists of all the topics taught throughout the year. Following tests, Directed Improvement and Reflection Time (DIRT) tasks are carried out during lessons and mark schemes are shared with students via SharePoint.
All students have an individual account on the science VLE www.kerboodle.com giving them access to the digital textbook and a wealth of other resources for their course. Any students experiencing any difficulties with their work or with accessing resources are encouraged to contact their class teacher using the school e-mail system.
Knowledge Organisers:
Year 8
| Autumn | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|
|
Health and lifestyle |
Energy |
Metals and acids |
|
The periodic table |
Ecosystem processes |
The Earth |
|
Electricity and magnetism |
Adaptation and inheritance |
Forensics |
|
Separation Techniques |
Motion and Pressure |
Revision |
Assessment takes place through a variety of means including: half-termly assessed home-learning tasks with whole class feedback, half-termly practical assessments, half-termly on-line multiple-choice tests and termly topic tests.
In the Summer Term, students sit a formal, internal exam which consists of all the topics taught throughout the year. Following tests, Directed Improvement and Reflection Time (DIRT) tasks are carried out during lessons and mark schemes are shared with students via SharePoint.
All students have an individual account on the science VLE www.kerboodle.com giving them access to the digital textbook and a wealth of other resources for their course. Any students experiencing any difficulties with their work or with accessing resources are encouraged to contact their class teacher using the school e-mail system.
Knowledge Organisers:
Year 9
| Autumn | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|
|
Working scientifically revisited |
GCSE Chemistry |
GCSE Biology GCSE Chemistry |
|
GCSE Biology |
GCSE Physics |
GCSE Biology Revision |
Science is taught is a spiral curriculum where topics are revisited in increasing complexity in each key stage and so before students embark on the GCSE course there is a consolidation period during Year 9 of key stage 3 content and skills. Students will be reminded of how to plan a scientific investigation, key scientific terminology, graph skills and practical write-up skills. In addition, a required practical activity for each subject (Physics – Hookeʼs Law, Biology – Reaction time and Chemistry – Rates of reaction) will be completed during this time to apply these skills.
After the October half-term, students will begin the GCSE course content covering topics from the Combined Science course (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) schemes of learning.
Assessment takes place through a variety of means including: half-termly assessed home-learning tasks with whole class feedback, half-termly practical assessments, half-termly on-line multiple-choice tests and termly topic tests.
In the Summer Term, students sit a formal, internal exam which consists of all the topics taught throughout the year. Following tests, Directed Improvement and Reflection Time (DIRT) tasks are carried out during lessons and mark schemes are shared with students via SharePoint.
All students have an individual account on the science VLE www.kerboodle.com giving them access to the digital textbook and a wealth of other resources for their course. Any students experiencing any difficulties with their work or with accessing resources are encouraged to contact their class teacher using the school e-mail system.
Key Stage 4
In Key Stage 4 we teach the AQA Combined Science (Trilogy)/Separate Sciences course (OUP) which follows the National Curriculum. We teach a spiral curriculum building on the topics first introduced in Key Stage 3 but with increased complexity, for example Cell Structure and Transport, Structure and Bonding, Forces in Balance.
Students apply the substantive and disciplinary knowledge gained at Key Stage 3 and 4 to at least 22 GCSE Required Practical Activities which help them acquire hands-on experience and to further appreciate the relevance of their studies.
Year 10
| Autumn | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|
|
GCSE Biology |
GCSE Physics |
GCSE Biology |
|
GCSE Chemistry |
GCSE Required Practicals Review |
GCSE Chemistry |
All students will follow the Combined Science course until the end of Year 10.
Based on their progress at the end of Year 10, students will be routed towards the Separate Sciences course or remain on the Combined Science course. All students will continue to study Biology, Chemistry and Physics however those entered for the Separate Sciences course will cover one third more content and receive three GCSE certificates instead of the two GCSE certificates on the Combined Science course.
Students are encouraged to carry out wider reading either from the recommended websites, the textbook or as directed by their classroom teacher.
KS4 Assessment:Assessment takes place through a variety of means including: half-termly assessed home-learning tasks with whole class feedback, half-termly on-line multiple-choice tests and termly topic tests.
In the Summer Term, students sit a formal, internal exam which consists of all GCSE topics taught up to that point. Following tests, Directed Improvement and Reflection Time (DIRT) tasks are carried out during lessons and mark schemes are shared with students via SharePoint.
All students have an individual account on the science VLE www.kerboodle.com giving them access to the digital textbook and a wealth of other resources for their course. Any students experiencing any difficulties with their work or with accessing resources are encouraged to contact their class teacher using the school e-mail system.
Examination Board:
Useful Reading Material:
AQA Biology third [edition] Oxford University Press AQA Chemistry third [edition] Oxford University Press AQA Physics third [edition] Oxford University Press
CGP GCSE Biology for AQA (Grade 9-1) The Revision Guide Higher
CGP GCSE Biology for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Workbook Higher
CGP GCSE Biology for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Answer Book Higher
CGP GCSE Chemistry for AQA (Grade 9-1) The Revision Guide Higher
CGP GCSE Chemistry for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Workbook Higher
CGP GCSE Chemistry for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Answer Book Higher
CGP GCSE Physics for AQA (Grade 9-1) The Revision Guide Higher
CGP GCSE Physics for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Workbook Higher
CGP GCSE Physics for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Answer Book Higher
CGP GCSE Combined Science for AQA (Grade 9-1) The Revision Guide Higher or Foundation
CGP GCSE Combined Science for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Workbook Higher or Foundation CGP GCSE Combined Science for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Answer Book Higher or Foundation
Year 11
Students will work towards qualifications in either Separate Sciences (Three GCSE certificates) or Combined Science (Two GCSE certificates).
Combined Science students will have finished the majority of the course content in the Autumn term, allowing the rest of the time to be spent on revision of the Required Practical Activities, reflection on content and exam technique practice.
Students being entered for the Separate Sciences course will complete the Separate Only content of Biology, Chemistry and Physics until the Summer term.
KS4 Assessment:Assessment takes place through a variety of means including: half-termly assessed home-learning tasks with whole class feedback, half-termly on-line multiple-choice tests and termly topic tests.
Both the Combined Science and Separate Sciences courses complete external GCSE examinations which take place in May / June (the breakdown of these exams is found below).
All students have an individual account on the science VLE www.kerboodle.com giving them access to the digital textbook and a wealth of other resources for their course. Any students experiencing any difficulties with their work or with accessing resources are encouraged to contact their class teacher using the school e-mail system.
GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy)
6 terminal examinations (2x Biology, 2x Chemistry and 2x Physics).
Higher tier or foundation tier.
Each paper is 1hr 15mins long and is worth 16.7%
Separate Sciences:
GCSE Biology
2 Biology terminal papers
Higher tier
Each one is 1 hr 45mins, worth 50%
GCSE Chemistry
2 Chemistry terminal papers
Higher tier
Each one is 1 hr 45mins, worth 50%
GCSE Physics
2 Physics terminal papers
Higher tier
Each one is 1 hr 45mins, worth 50% each
Examination Board:
Course Specification:
Combined Science
AQA 8464 GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy)
Separate Sciences
AQA 8461 GCSE Biology
AQA 8462 GCSE Chemistry
AQA 8463 GCSE Physics
Qualification obtained:
GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy)
GCSE Biology
GCSE Chemistry
GCSE Physics
Useful Reading Material
AQA Biology third [edition] Oxford University Press AQA Chemistry third [edition] Oxford University Press AQA Physics third [edition] Oxford University Press
CGP GCSE Biology for AQA (Grade 9-1) The Revision Guide Higher
CGP GCSE Biology for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Workbook Higher
CGP GCSE Biology for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Answer Book Higher
CGP GCSE Chemistry for AQA (Grade 9-1) The Revision Guide Higher
CGP GCSE Chemistry for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Workbook Higher
CGP GCSE Chemistry for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Answer Book Higher
CGP GCSE Physics for AQA (Grade 9-1) The Revision Guide Higher
CGP GCSE Physics for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Workbook Higher
CGP GCSE Physics for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Answer Book Higher
CGP GCSE Combined Science for AQA (Grade 9-1) The Revision Guide Higher or Foundation
CGP GCSE Combined Science for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Workbook Higher or Foundation CGP GCSE Combined Science for AQA (Grade 9-1) Exam Practice Answer Book Higher or Foundation
Additional information:
Enrichment
The department offers a range of enrichment opportunities including the British Science Week - Science fair, Year 13 three day Biology field trip to Dorset, Year 13 Chemistry Olympiad, Year 12 Brunel Biomedical Science visit and Year 12 UCL Day in the life of a university Chemistry student.
Useful Websites
|
|
|
|---|