Science
Welcome to the Science Department
"Science helps us to better understand ourselves and our place in the universe..."
Head of Department:
Mr Vallance
e-mail: mvallance2.310@parkhighstanmore.org.uk
Introduction
The scientific method fosters thinking skills. The very basis of science is a system of thought and experiment called the scientific method. It's where you start with an idea, create a concrete way to prove or disprove your idea, and objectively show what you have learned. Learning to follow this process helps you to think logically. Seeing the relationship between empirical evidence and your theory helps you to think critically. These important thinking skills can be applied in many areas of study. To give a child practice with these thinking skills nourishes a developing mind.
Science feeds a natural love for learning. One of the greatest things we can teach our children is to love learning. Science is a great medium to do so. Children are inquisitive explorers by nature and science offers lots to explore. Because much of science is hands-on, it appeals readily to most children. Nothing makes a child sit up and take notice like the “WOW!” of a great science experiment. Science can encourage a love for learning that will spill over into other subjects.
Science opens doors to many disciplines. Building an aptitude for science can be helpful in other areas of study; science encourages maths. An interest in science is an interest in how things were once understood compared to how they are understood now. Thus studying science lends itself easily to studying history. And hand-in-hand with every lab experiment is the lab report – thus writing becomes a crucial part of science. Even the study of language itself is a part of science; its specialist terminology can be traced back to Latin or Ancient Greek.
Science prepares for the future. Science is the basis for much of our life. Agricultural science dictates how our food is produced, biomedical science keeps us healthy, physics and mechanical science takes us from place to place, even our beds are constructed according to scientific principles. We almost literally eat, sleep and breathe science! As we prepare the next generation of consumers, voters, creators, and policy makers it is critical to ensure they are not only comfortable in science but that they are adept.
Key Stage 3
In Key Stage 3, students learn via a mix of theory and practical lessons, covering ideas as diverse as the smallest cells to the largest reaches of space. The scientific method fosters thinking skills. The very basis of science is a system of thought and experiment called the scientific method. Seeing the relationship between empirical evidence and a given theory helps one to think critically. Assessment takes place through a variety of means including home-learning, with detailed written feedback, and termly end of topic tests. “Engage” class debates and discussions provide opportunities for students to progress in their knowledge from simpler details to more complex ideas, encouraging students to achieve mastery of their science. Students in Year 7 and 8 have 4 weekly lessons while Year 9 have 5 lessons.
Year 7
| Autumn | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|
|
An introduction to working scientifically |
Sound |
Space |
|
Cells |
Structure and function of body systems |
Philosophy for Children |
|
Particles and their behaviour |
Light |
|
|
Forces |
Reactions |
|
|
Acids & Alkalis Elements, Atoms & Compounds |
Reproduction |
Knowledge Organisers:
KS3 Assessment:
Home-learning is allocated on a weekly basis. It may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it. Students will complete an end of topic test in each term covering the content recently studied. In addition, students will be set an Assessed Home-Learning task (AHL) each half term, on which they will receive written feedback from their class teacher.
In the Summer Term, each student will sit a formal, internal exam which will consist of all elements taught throughout the course. 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 courses. Appropriate preparation in the form of revision should be taken seriously with sufficient planning and organisation to ensure each student fulfils their potential.
Year 8
| Autumn | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|
|
Health and lifestyle |
Ecosystem processes |
The Earth |
|
The periodic table |
Adaptation and inheritance |
Metals and acids |
|
Electricity and magnetism |
Motion and Pressure | Forensics |
|
Separation Techniques |
||
|
Energy |
Knowledge Organisers:
KS3 Assessment:
Home-learning is allocated on a weekly basis. It may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it. Students will complete an end of topic test in each term covering the content recently studied. In addition, students will be set an Assessed Home-Learning task (AHL) each half term, on which they will receive written feedback from their class teacher.
In the Summer Term, each student will sit a formal, internal exam which will consist of all elements taught throughout the course. 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 courses. Appropriate preparation in the form of revision should be taken seriously with sufficient planning and organisation to ensure each student fulfils their potential.
Year 9
| Autumn | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|
|
Working scientifically revisited |
GCSE Chemistry |
GCSE Physics |
|
GCSE Biology |
Before students embark on the GCSE course there is a consolidation period 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 – Hooke’s Law, Biology – Reaction time and Chemistry – Rates of reaction) will be completed during this time to reinforce 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.
Home learning is allocated on a weekly basis by each class teacher. In addition, students will be set an Assessed Home-Learning task (AHL) each half term, on which they will receive written formative feedback from their class teacher.
KS3 Assessment:Students will complete an end of topic test in each half term covering the content recently studied. Wider reading is always useful either from the websites offered, the text book or as directed by their classroom teacher.
In the Summer Term, each student will sit a formal, internal exam which will consist of elements taught up to this point from the Combined Science course. 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 courses. Appropriate preparation in the form of revision should be taken seriously with sufficient planning and organisation to ensure each student fulfils their potential.
Key Stage 4
Year 10
| Autumn | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|
|
GCSE Biology |
GCSE Chemistry |
GCSE Biology |
|
GCSE Chemistry |
GCSE Physics |
Based on their progress at the end of Year 10, students will be routed onto the Separate Sciences course or remain on the Combined Science course. All students will continue to study Biology, Chemistry and Physics however those on 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.
Home learning is allocated on a weekly basis by each class teacher. In addition, students will be set an Assessed Home-Learning task (AHL) each half term, on which they will receive written formative feedback from their class teacher.
Wider reading is always useful either from the websites offered, the text book or as directed by their classroom teacher.
KS4 Assessment:Students will complete an end of topic test in each term covering the content recently studied.
In the Summer Term, each student will sit a formal, internal exam which will consist of all elements taught throughout the course. 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.
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 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).
KS4 Assessment:Combined Science students will have finished the majority of the course in the Autumn term, allowing the rest of the time to be spent on revision of Required Practical Activities, reflection on content and exam technique practise.
Students being entered for the Separate Sciences course will complete the Separate Only content of Biology, Chemistry and Physics until the Summer term.
Both Combined Science and Separate Sciences are assessed through external examinations which take place in May / June (the breakdown of these exams is found below).
Appropriate preparation in the form of revision should be taken seriously to ensure each student fulfils their potential.
GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy)
6 terminal examinations (2x Biology, 2x Chemistry and 2x Physics).
Each paper is 1hr 15mins long and is worth 16.7%
Separate Sciences:
GCSE Biology
2 Biology terminal papers
Each one is 1 hr 45mins, worth 50%
GCSE Chemistry
2 Chemistry terminal papers
Each one is 1 hr 45mins, worth 50%
GCSE Physics
2 Physics terminal papers
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 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:
Useful Websites
Enrichment
GCSE Science Live – the chance to see and hear five of Britain’s top scientists, all working at the cutting edge of their specialisms.
Big Bang Fair - an award-winning combination of exciting theatre shows, interactive workshops and exhibits and careers information from STEM professionals.
CREST award (Bronze, Silver and Gold) – science enrichment project where students write a report to introduce, describe and evaluate their work
Brent and Harrow Medical Day - short talk by consultants and trainee doctors as well as three workshops which are led by student doctors so students can have an idea about what being a medical student is like.