Science

Scientific understanding is changing our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity.

Our aim is to teacher essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. We want students to gain an appreciation of how the complex and diverse phenomena of the natural world can be described in terms of a small number of key ideas that relate to the sciences and that are both inter-linked and of universal application.

These key ideas include:

  • the use of conceptual models and theories to make sense of the observed diversity of natural phenomena

  • the assumption that every effect has one or more cause

  • that change is driven by differences between different objects and systems when they interact

  • that many such interactions occur over a distance and over time without direct contact

  • that science progresses through a cycle of hypothesis, practical experimentation,

  • observation, theory development and review

  • that quantitative analysis is a central element both of many theories and of scientific methods of inquiry.

We also aim to enable students to:

  • develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics

  • develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science, through different types of scientific enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.

  • develop and learn to apply observational, practical, modelling, enquiry and problem-solving skills in the laboratory, in the field and in other learning environments.

  • develop their ability to evaluate claims based on science through critical analysis of the methodology, evidence and conclusions, both qualitatively and quantitatively.

We want students to learn science in ways that help them to develop curiosity about the natural world, that give them an insight into how science works, in particular its reliance on experimental evidence, and that enable them to appreciate its relevance to their everyday lives.

 

‘Science makes sense.’

‘Science explains how our universe works and it links to many other subjects and is a vital part of an all-around education.’

During Years 7-9 the following topics are taught:

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Cells, tissues organs and systems

Sexual Reproduction in animals

Ecosystems

 Mixtures and Separation

 Acids and Bases

The Particle Model

Atoms Elements and Compounds

Electricity

Forces

Sound

Food and Digestions

Plants

Breathing and Respiration

Unicellular Organisms

Combustion

The Periodic Table

 Metals and their Uses

Fluids

Light

Energy Transfers

Earth and Space

Genetics and Evolution

Growing our Food

Making Materials

Reactivity

Force and Motion

Electricity and Magnetism

In the summer term of Year 9 students start the Key Stage 4 science syllabuses. The topics that are studied are:

Natural selection and Genetic modification

States of Matter

Methods of Separating and Purifying Substances

Conservation of Energy

The Science department runs two routes through Key Stage 4 Science. 

The two routes are:

  1. Combined Science

  2. Separate GCSEs in Biology, Physics and Chemistry. (Often called Triple Science)

Both routes through Key Stage 4 Science put equal emphasis on Biology, Physics and Chemistry and as Science is a core subject, all students must follow one of these two routes.

Combined Science

Students studying Combined Science at GCSE follow the PearsonSyllabus: GCSE (9-1) Combined Science

 During the course, the following topics are covered:

Year 10

Year 11

Biology

Key biological concepts

Cells and control

Genetics,

Health, disease and the development of medicines

 

Chemistry

Atomic structure

The periodic table

Ionic bonding

Covalent bonding

Types of substance

Calculations involving masses

Acids 

Electrolytic process

 

Physics

Motion

Forces and motion

Waves

Light and the electromagnetic spectrum

Radioactivity

Energy forces doing work

Forces and their effects

Biology

Plant structures and their functions

Animal coordination, control and homeostasis

Exchange and transport in animals

Ecosystems and material cycles

 

Chemistry

Obtaining and using metals

Reversible reactions and equilibria

Groups in the periodic table

Rates of reaction

Heat energy changes in chemical reactions

Fuels

Earth and atmospheric science

 

Physics

Electricity and circuits

Magnetism and the motor effect

Electromagnetic induction

Particle model

Forces and matter

For more detailed information about the course content and assessment requirements, please refer to the examination board website.

Students studying the Separate Science GCSEs  follow the Pearson: GCSE (9-1) Biology, GCSE (9-1) Chemistry, GCSE (9-1) Physics syllabuses.

Year 10

Year 11

Biology

Key biological concepts

Cells and control

Genetics,

Health, disease and the development of medicines

 

Chemistry

Atomic structure

The periodic table

Ionic bonding

Covalent bonding

Types of substance

Calculations involving masses

Acids 

Electrolytic process

Obtaining and using metals

Reversible reactions and equilibria

Transition Metals, alloys and corrosion

Quantitative analysis

Dynamic equilibria and calculations involving gases

 

Physics

Motion

Forces and motion

Waves

Light and the electromagnetic spectrum

Radioactivity

Energy forces doing work

Forces and their effects

Astronomy

Biology

Plant structures and their functions

Animal coordination, control and homeostasis

Exchange and transport in animals

Ecosystems and material cycles

 

Chemistry

Chemical cells and fuel cells

Groups in the periodic table

Rates of reaction

Heat energy changes in chemical reactions

Fuels

Earth and atmospheric science

Qualitative analysis

Hydrocarbons

Polymers

Alcohols and carboxylic acids

Bulk and surface properties of matter including nanoparticles

 

Physics

Electricity and circuits

Magnetism and the motor effect

Electromagnetic induction

Particle model

Forces and matter

Static electricity

For more detailed information about the course content and assessment requirements, please refer to the examination board website: 

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Students studying the subject at A Level follow the OCR Biology A specification.  During the course the following topics are covered.

Year 12

Year 13

Module 1 Development of practical skills

Module 2 Foundations in Biology

Module 3 Exchange and transport

Module 4 Biodiversity, evolution and disease

Module 1 Development of practical skills

Module 5 Communication, homeostasis and energy

Module 6 Genetics, evolution and ecosystems

For more detailed information about the course content and assessment requirements, please refer to the examination board website.

Students studying the subject at A Level follow the AQA A-LEVEL CHEMISTRY 7405 specification.  During the course, the following topics are covered.

Year 12

Year 13

Atomic structure

Bonding

Oxidation reduction and redox equations

Group 2, the alkaline earth metals

Group 7(17), the halogens

Periodicity

Chemical equilibria and Le Chatelier’s principle and Kc

Alcohols

Organic analysis

Introduction to organic chemistry including Empirical Formula.

Alkanes

Halogenoalkanes

Alkenes

Amount of substance

Energetics

Kinetics

Thermodynamics

Acids and Bases

Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells

Transition metals

Reactions of ions in aqueous Solution

Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides

Optical isomerism

Aldehydes and ketones

Carboxylic acids and derivatives

Rate equations

Aromatic chemistry

Amines

Polymers

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Amino acids, proteins and DNA

Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems

Chromatography

Organic synthesis

For more detailed information about the course content and assessment requirements, please refer to the examination board website.

Students studying the subject at A Level follow the OCR A Level Physics A specification. During the course the following topics are covered.

Year 12

Year 13

Module 1 Development of practical skills in physics

Module 2 – Foundations of physics

Module 3 – Forces and motion

Module 4 – Electrons, waves and photons

Module 1 Development of practical skills in physics

Module 5 Newtonian world and astrophysics

Module 6 – Particles and medical physics

For more detailed information about the course content and assessment requirements, please refer to the examination board website.