Science

Overview

Students are taught in mixed ability groups in Year 7 and Year 8 and with ability groups set for Year 9. During Key Stage 3 students are taught science through six main topics covering Biology, Chemistry and Physics content. In addition, there is also a focus on scienctific enquiry including practical, analytical and mathematical skill development. In Year 9, students develop a range of practical skills throughout the year to prepare students for their GCSE studies.

All students complete two assessments per topic, and these are a combination a practical assessments which check for competency in how science works and end of unit tests assessing scientific theory. 

Curriculum Content

Assessment Criteria

Please find below the assessment benchmarks for Science.
A child progresses across the grid (from A-I) when they demonstrate a deeper knowledge and wider range of skills in each assessment carried out.

Overview

Students follow two different pathways at Key Stage 4 depending on outcomes in Year 9. The first, where students who are on or above track at Key Stage 3, are eligible to study Triple Science (GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics) where students achieve three GCSE qualifications and this can be chosen as an option. The second is Combined Science for all other students where two GCSE qualifications will be achieved. Either pathway does not limit choices after Key Stage 4. All work covered continues from the topics covered at Year 9.

Students study either the triple route AQA GCSE biology, chemistry and physics or the combined science route, AQA trilogy. At KS4 combined science, students are placed into groups based on higher and foundation tiers.

The science department’s guiding principle is to ensure that all students are fully prepared for external examinations at the end of Year 11 by ensuring that each pupil has the knowledge and skills to succeed. This is achieved through regular exam practice for assessment, practical experience to apply scientific knowledge through up to 30 required experiments and skills based learning building literacy and numeracy skills in Science.

Exam board and course

Triple Science

AQA GCSE Biology (8461)

AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462)

AQA GCSE Physics (8463)

Combined Science

AQA Combined Science: Trilogy (8464)

Curriculum Content

All students, irrespective of following the Triple or Combined route cover the same topics. However, there is more in-depth content in Triple Science.

Overview

Sciences at KS5 continues on from the studies students have completed at KS4. All sciences follow the AQA exam board and exams are completed at the end of year 13. 

Students can study sciences at A level with either triple or combined science GCSEs. 

Students study a range of topics in all science specialisms to extend their understanding further from GCSEs. Another key focus across all science specialisms is experimental skills. Students have numerous opportunities to develop these essential skills and apply these ideas to theory and real-world examples. 

Students are awarded a separate practical endorsement of practical skills alongside their A level. This is assessed by teachers and will be based on observations during practical lessons and students' written work to assess students' competency in a range of skills. 

For the written exams students are assessed on the science content they have studied and practical skills. Exam questions can also have a key focus on maths skills and exam papers feature a range of questions including, extended answer and multiple-choice. For biology A level, students also have an essay question to complete in their exam. 

Exam board and course 

• AQA A level biology (7402)
• AQA A level chemistry (7405)
• AQA A level physics (7408)

Curriculum Content