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Curriculum Intent
The aim of our Science curriculum is to enable students to understand, enjoy and marvel at the world around them, through enquiry-based lessons that challenge their thinking. We aim to provide a broad curriculum which challenges students to develop their curiosity, key scientific skills, and link their knowledge and understanding with practical application. Students are encouraged to articulate scientific concepts clearly and precisely.
Our curriculum delivers an accessible pathway for all students which can provide a gateway into a wide range of career opportunities related to Science.
Science vision
To empower all students with the skills and scientific knowledge to achieve their best outcome in a supportive and inspiring setting.
Open Evening Flyer
Aims
Within the Science department, we aim to guide the students through the various elements of the Science curriculum to provide a strong foundation of knowledge and skills which is broad and balanced across all 3 sciences.
This enables the students to pursue their future goals in any direction they choose. Our curriculum is designed to enrich students’ knowledge and passion for Science through understanding its impact and influence locally, nationally and globally. We use practical investigation and associated activities to engage students to make them excited and engaged about learning Science while also providing high quality teaching.
Learning Journey
Our learning journeys give a visual overview of the curriculum content covered in each subject. They will help you understand how students make progress in different topics over the years they are with us.
Key Stage 3 Curriculum Overview
The KS3 curriculum we have designed builds on the skills, knowledge and understanding that students secured at KS2. We have designed a curriculum which builds upon the KS3 national curriculum, motivates, and challenges our students. The curriculum aims to build a strong foundation for GCSE by developing a secure understanding of the core concepts in biology, chemistry and physics.
Key Stage 4 Curriculum Overview
All students study Science at GCSE. Students will either study the AQA Separate Science course or the AQA Combined Science Trilogy course.
The separate Science course will provide students with 3 GCSE grades and the Combined Science course will provide students with 2 GCSE grades. The GCSE Science curriculum will provide students with a broad and balanced understanding of all 3 sciences. Both pathways will provide opportunities for students to study science related courses in the future.
Exams for AQA Separate Science:
Each of the Separate GCSE Science Subjects (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) will have the following:
Two papers: each paper will assess different topics.
Duration of each paper: 1 hour 45 minutes.
Tiers: Foundation and Higher.
Weighting: the papers are equally weighted. Each is worth 50% of the grade and has 100 marks available.
Question types: multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open response.
Exams for AQA Combined Science:
Six papers: 2 for Biology, 2 for Chemistry and 2 for Physics. Each paper will assess different topics.
Duration of paper: 1 Hour 15 minutes
Tiers: Foundation and Higher.
Weighting: the papers are equally weighted. There are 70 marks available.
Question types: multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open response.
Learning Pathway in Science
Our learning pathway gives a visual overview of the curriculum content covered in each year group. They will help you understand how students make progress in different topics over the years they are with us.
Key Words
We aim to support students in their literacy across all curriculum subjects. We provide key word lists as a teaching and learning tool to support student understanding of the technical vocabulary needed to articulate their learning about a particular subject.
Staff
Miss J Church BSc (Hons) – Curriculum Leader of Science
Mr N Griggs BSc (Hons) – Assistant Leader in Science
Mr T Ratcliffe BSc (Hons) – Teacher of Science
Mr A Clarke BSc (Hons) – Teacher of Science
Mr I Salisbury BEng & MSC – Teacher of Science
Mrs J V Walt BSc (Hons) – Teacher of Science
Mrs C Gamble BSc (Hons) – Teacher of Science
Mr D Turner BA (Hons) – Teacher of Science and Pupil Premium Lead
Ms M Perry BA (Hons) – Teacher of Science
Miss H Rogers – Senior Science technician
Links to Revision and Additional Study
GCSE Specifications – https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse
