Science Faculty

Faculty Introduction:

Students in Year 7 begin their introduction to KS3 Science through exploring and developing an understanding of the fundamental building blocks in science; cells, atoms and forces. Students learn how to carry out a number of interesting practical activities, whilst learning how to assess hazards and risks. Science in Year 7 serves as a foundation to support our students' understanding of science in subsequent years.

Topics / Modules to be covered:

Biology:

• Cells
• Structure and function of body systems
• Reproduction

Chemistry:

• Particles and their behaviour
• Elements, atoms and compounds
• Reactions
• Acids and alkalis

Physics:

• Forces
• Sound
• Light
• Space

Assessment:

The students will be assessed through a variety of tasks that involve a range of strategies which include:

• Starter activities to start students thinking from the moment they walk into the lab.
• End of chapter questions and termly tests.

Faculty Introduction:

Students in Year 8 continue KS3 Science in a number of interesting and exciting ways. Students are able to investigate how lifestyle can impact our health, how animals are adapted to their environments and learn about the structure of the Earth. Students are taught to carry out a number of practical activities that will help them to understand the Periodic Table, discover the properties of acids and metals and start tackling more complex ideas surrounding electricity and the force of magnetism.

Topics / Modules to be covered:

Biology:

• Health and Lifestyle
• Eco system processes
• Adaptation and inheritance

Chemistry:

• The Periodic Table
• Metals and acids
• The Earth

Physics:

• Electricity and Magnetism
• Energy
• Motion and pressure

Assessment:

The students will be assessed through a variety of tasks that involve a range of strategies which include:

• Starter activities to start students thinking from the moment they walk into the lab.
• End of chapter questions and termly tests.

Faculty Introduction:

Students in Year 9 complete their study of KS3 Science in a way that will set them up for starting their GCSEs in the best way possible. Throughout the year, students will tackle a variety of scientific ideas with lessons divided into biology, chemistry and physics, often with separate teachers. Students will conduct practical's and spend time developing their understanding of key scientific principles which they should find both challenging and rewarding.

Topics / Modules to be covered:

Biology:

• Biology 1 – Cells
• Biology 2 - Organisation

Chemistry:

• Chemistry 1 – Atoms
• Chemistry 2 – Periodic Table and Structure and Bonding

Physics:

• Physics 1 – Energy
• Physics 2 – Energy Transfers and Resources

Assessment:

The students will be assessed through a variety of tasks that involve a range of strategies which include:

• Starter activities to start students thinking from the moment they walk into the lab.
• End of chapter questions and termly tests.

Faculty Introduction:

In Years 10 and 11, students study either AQA Trilogy Combined Science, which provides two GCSE grades, or AQA Separate Sciences (“Triple Science”), which provides students with individual GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

The specification breakdown can be found on the AQA website: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-trilogy-8464/specification-at-a-glance

There is now greater emphasis on the application of students’ scientific knowledge and maths in science. Students are taught to apply mathematical reasoning to the scientific processes learned, and also how these relate to the wider world. Students will be required to not only learn facts, but also analyse and explain patterns and trends in scientific data.

Topics / Modules to be covered:

Biology:

• Infection and Response
• Bioenergetics
• Homeostasis and response
• Inheritance, variation and evolution
• Ecology

Chemistry:

• Quantitative chemistry
• Energy changes
• The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change
• Organic chemistry
• Chemical Analysis
• Chemistry of the Atmosphere
• Using Resources

Physics:

• Electricity
• Atomic structure
• Forces
• Waves
• Magnetism and Electromagnetism

Faculty Introduction:

A-level Biology is a challenging, rewarding course that helps students develop skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career. We follow the AQA course for GCE A level in Biology. During the study of the course, students will gain an understanding of the link between the central concepts of Biology and the way in which scientists undertake investigations. Students will also see how far the contributions of science apply to modern society and the developments taking place every day.

Topics / Modules to be covered:

Year 12

• 1 Biological molecules
• 2 Cells
• 3 Organisms exchange substances with their environment
• 4 Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms

Year 13

• 5 Energy transfers in and between organisms (A-level only)
• 6 Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (A-level only)
• 7 Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems (A-level only)
• 8 The control of gene expression (A-level only)

Assessment:

The students will be internally assessed through a variety of tasks which include; Essays, Topic Tests, Assessed Homework, PPE, end of Y12 internal exam.

External Exams

Paper one

What's assessed
Any content from topics 1–4, including relevant practical skills

Assessed
Written exam: 2 hours (91 marks)

Questions
76 marks: a mixture of short and long answer questions. 15 marks: extended response questions

Paper two

What's assessed
Any content from topics 1–4, including relevant practical skills

Assessed
Written exam: 2 hours (91 marks)

Questions
76 marks: a mixture of short and long answer questions. 15 marks: comprehension question

Paper three

What's assessed
Any content from topics 1–8, including relevant practical skills.

Assessed
Written exam: 2 hours (78 marks)

Questions
38 marks: structured questions, including practical techniques. 15 marks: critical analysis of given experimental data. 25 marks: one essay from a choice of two titles

Homework:

Students should be studying for at least 5 hours per subject. This will be a mix of formally set homework, independent study assignments and self-directed study.

Homework is set by the class teacher and will be based around the learning students have completed in the lesson. The tasks within the homework will endeavour to encourage students to apply their knowledge and also encourage their interest in the subject.

Homework will be marked in a number of ways which can involve teacher assessment which will be returned within two weeks. Students will then be provided with feedback that they can act on.

Students will also be allowed the chance for immediate feedback by checking over homework during the lesson either as a self-assessed or peer assessed task.

Faculty Introduction:

A-level Chemistry is a challenging, rewarding course that helps students develop skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career. We follow the AQA course for GCE A level Chemistry. Students will develop their interest in and enthusiasm for chemistry, and explore how the sciences contribute to the success of the economy and society. Plenty of practical experience is included to encourage enjoyment of the study of chemistry and enhance understanding.

Topics / Modules to be covered:

• 1 Physical chemistry
• 1.1 Atomic structure
• 1.2 Amount of substance
• 1.3 Bonding
• 1.4 Energetics
• 1.5 Kinetics
• 1.6 Chemical equilibria, Le Chatelier’s principle and Kc
• 1.7 Oxidation, reduction and redox equations
• 1.8 Thermodynamics (A-level only)
• 1.9 Rate equations (A-level only)
• 1.10 Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems (A-level only)
• 1.11 Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells (A-level only)
• 1.12 Acids and bases (A-level only)
• 2 Inorganic chemistry
• 2.1 Periodicity
• 2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
• 2.3 Group 7(17), the halogens
• 2.4 Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides (A-level only)
• 2.5 Transition metals (A-level only)
• 2.6 Reactions of ions in aqueous solution (A-level only)
• 3 Organic chemistry
• 3.1 Introduction to organic chemistry
• 3.2 Alkanes
• 3.3 Halogenoalkanes
• 3.4 Alkenes
• 3.5 Alcohols
• 3.6 Organic analysis
• 3.7 Optical isomerism (A-level only)
• 3.8 Aldehydes and ketones (A-level only)
• 3.9 Carboxylic acids and derivatives (A-level only)
• 3.10 Aromatic chemistry (A-level only)
• 3.11 Amines (A-level only)
• 3.12 Polymers (A-level only)
• 3.13 Amino acids, proteins and DNA (A-level only)
• 3.14 Organic synthesis (A-level only)
• 3.15 Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (A-level only)
• 3.16 Chromatography (A-level only)

Assessment:

The students will be internally assessed through a variety of tasks which include; Essays, Topic Tests, Assessed Homework, PPE, end of Y12 internal exam.

External Exams

Paper one

What's assessed
Relevant physical chemistry topics (sections 3.1.1 to 3.1.4, 3.1.6 to 3.1.8 and 3.1.10 to 3.1.12)
Inorganic chemistry (section 3.2)
Relevant practical skills

Assessed
written exam: 2 hours (105 marks)

Questions
105 marks of short and long answer questions

Paper two

What's assessed
Relevant physical chemistry topics (sections 3.1.2 to 3.1.6 and 3.1.9)
Organic chemistry (section 3.3)
Relevant practical skills

Assessed
written exam: 2 hours (105 marks)

Questions
105 marks of short and long answer questions

Paper three

What's assessed
Any content
Any practical skills

Assessed
Written exam: 2 hours (90 marks)

Questions
40 marks of questions on practical techniques and data analysis. 20 marks of questions testing across the specification. 30 marks of multiple choice questions.

Homework:

Homework is set by the class teacher and will be based around the learning students have completed in the lesson. The tasks within the homework will endeavour to encourage students to apply their knowledge and also encourage their interest in the subject.

Homework will be marked in a number of ways which can involve teacher assessment which will be returned within two weeks. Students will then be provided with feedback that they can act on.

Students will also be allowed the chance for immediate feedback by checking over homework during the lesson either as a self-assessed or peer assessed task.

Faculty Introduction:

A-level Physics is a challenging, rewarding course that helps students develop skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career. We follow the AQA course for GCE A level Physics. During the study of the course, students will gain an understanding of the link between theory and experiment and will develop skills in designing and completing complex investigations and analysing their results. They'll also develop an appreciation of the importance of physics in a social, philosophical, economic and industrial context.

Topics / Modules to be covered:

Core content

• 1 Measurements and their errors
• 2 Particles and radiation
• 3 Waves
• 4 Mechanics and materials
• 5 Electricity
• 6 Further mechanics and thermal physics
• 7 Fields and their consequences
• 8 Nuclear physics

Options

• 9 Astrophysics
• 10 Medical physics
• 11 Engineering physics
• 12 Turning points in physics
• 13 Electronics

Assessment:

The students will be internally assessed through a variety of tasks which include;
Essays, Topic Tests, Assessed Homework, PPE, end of Y12 internal exam

External Exams

Paper one

What's assessed
Sections 1 to 5 and 6.1 (Periodic motion)

Assessed
written exam: 2 hours (85 marks)

Questions
60 marks of short and long answer questions and 25 multiple choice questions on content.

Paper two

What's assessed
Sections 6.2 (Thermal Physics), 7 and 8
Assumed knowledge from sections 1 to 6.1

Assessed
written exam: 2 hours (85 marks)

Questions
60 marks of short and long answer questions and 25 multiple choice questions on content.

Paper three

What's assessed
Section A Compulsory section: Practical skills and data analysis
Section B: Students enter for one of sections 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13

Assessed
Written exam: 2 hours (80 marks)

Questions
45 marks of short and long answer questions on practical experiments and data analysis. 35 marks of short and long answer questions on optional topic.

Homework:

Students should be studying for at least 5 hours per subject. This will be a mix of formally set homework, independent study assignments and self-directed study.

Homework is set by the class teacher and will be based around the learning students have completed in the lesson. The tasks within the homework will endeavour to encourage students to apply their knowledge and also encourage their interest in the subject.

Homework will be marked in a number of ways which can involve teacher assessment which will be returned within two weeks. Students will then be provided with feedback that they can act on.

Students will also be allowed the chance for immediate feedback by checking over homework during the lesson either as a self-assessed or peer assessed task.

Exam Resources:

Year 12 Past Paper

Year 13 Past Paper

In Years 7 to 10, pupils receive a weekly knowledge quiz set on Microsoft Forms. This tests knowledge and understanding of content they have seen in Science and provides pupils with quick, useful feedback. Class teachers use the results of these homework tasks to identify topics which may need to be covered in more detail or revisited; and to identify pupils who may benefit from individual support.

In Year 11, pupils receive a centrally set homework on Century Tech, an online learning platform. This assignment is based around “nuggets”; a short lesson and set of questions. Century Tech is self-marking, so pupils receive instant feedback; nuggets are chosen to reinforce and revisit content seen earlier in the GCSE course in preparation for exams. Teachers are able to see detailed results from Century Tech to identify topics which may benefit from being revisited in lessons or intervention.