SCIENCE

| Education | Curriculum | Science
Why study Science?

Each scientific discipline gives pupils a unique perspective to explain the world around them. As pupils learn science, they also learn about it’s uses and significance to society and their own lives. Pupils learn about the continuing importance of science in solving global challenges such as climate change, food availability, controlling disease and access to water. The curriculum is designed to build substantive knowledge of scientific concepts and disciplinary procedures. By doing so, pupils can reason scientifically about phenomena with increasing sophistication and can use their knowledge to work scientifically with increasing expertise.

How will I study Science?

Pupils study Science through both substantive and disciplinary knowledge. Each topic covers a sequence of lessons that builds sophisticated language through the delivery of scientific concepts and working scientifically. This goes beyond simply doing practical work or collecting data, it includes learning about the concepts and procedures that scientists use to develop scientific explanations. These are revisited throughout the course to gain a deeper understanding and equip pupils with a range of scientific ideas in the subject disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics making connections between these subject areas.

What will I study at Key Stage 3?

We aim to encourage our pupils to be curious about the world around them and to develop a positive and practical approach to scientific learning. In key stage 3 we build an understanding of the ‘Big Ideas’ in science that are relevant to pupils’ lives during and beyond school. We achieve this through a wide and varied curriculum in which pupils are regularly challenged and reviewed. Pupils will develop an understanding that science is about working objectively and is continually changing and developing in the world around us.

What will I study at Key Stage 4?

Teaching science in key stage 4 continues to build upon and deepen the substantive and disciplinary knowledge and understanding developed in earlier key stages. In Biology the topics covered seek to understand living organisms and life. It takes into account the complex systems involving interactions between genes, the environment and random chance. Physics builds its explanations on measurable quantities that can be put into numerical relationship. Chemistry draws heavily on the use of models and modelling to explain the behaviour of matter and routinely involves the synthesis of the objects it studies. Pupils continue to work scientifically and think like a scientist through a broad, coherent and practical based curriculum that will challenge and inspire students.

Assessment

GCSE Combined Science AQA 8684

Biology Paper 1

Overview Focus
Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
Foundation and Higher Tier
70 marks
16.7% of GCSE

Cell Biology; Organisation; Infection and response; and Bioenergetics.

Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response.

Biology Paper 2

Overview Focus
Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
Foundation and Higher Tier
70 marks
16.7% of GCSE

Homeostasis and response; Inheritance, variation and evolution; and Ecology

Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response

Chemistry Paper 1

Overview Focus
Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
Foundation and Higher Tier
70 marks
16.7% of GCSE

Atomic structure and the periodic table; Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter; Quantitative chemistry; Chemical changes; and Energy changes.

Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response.

Chemistry Paper 2

Overview Focus
Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
Foundation and Higher Tier
70 marks
16.7% of GCSE

The rate and extent of chemical change; Organic chemistry; Chemical analysis; Chemistry of the atmosphere; and Using resources.

Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response.

Physics Paper 1

Overview Focus
Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
Foundation and Higher Tier
70 marks
16.7% of GCSE

Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure.

Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response.

Physics Paper 2

Overview Focus
Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
Foundation and Higher Tier
70 marks
16.7% of GCSE

Forces; Waves; and Magnetism and electromagnetism

Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response.

 

Separate Science Information

Content and assessment overview

The Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) in Biology consists of two externally-examined papers. These are available at foundation tier and higher tier.

Students must complete all assessments in the same tier.

Students must complete all assessment in May/June in any single year.

EDEXCEL GCSE Biology

Biology Paper 1
Overview Focus
  • Written exam (1 hour 45 minutes)
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 100 marks
  • 50% of GCSE
  • Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology
  • Topic 2 – Cells and control
  • Topic 3 – Genetics
  • Topic 4 – Natural selection and genetic modification
  • Topic 5 – Health, disease and the development of medicines
Biology Paper 2
Overview Focus
  • Written exam (1 hour 45 minutes)
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 100 marks
  • 50% of GCSE
  • Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology
  • Topic 6 – Plant structures and their functions
  • Topic 7 – Animal coordination, control and homeostasis
  • Topic 8 – Exchange and transport in animals
  • Topic 9 – Ecosystems and material cycles

 

EDEXCEL GCSE Chemistry

Chemistry Paper 1
Overview Focus
  • Written exam (1 hour 45 minutes)
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 100 marks
  • 50% of GCSE
  • Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry
  • Topic 2 – States of matter and mixtures
  • Topic 3 – Chemical changes
  • Topic 4 – Extracting metals and equilibria
  • Topic 5 – Separate Chemistry 1
Chemistry Paper 2
Overview Focus
  • Written exam (1 hour 45 minutes)
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 100 marks
  • 50% of GCSE
  • Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry
  • Topic 6 – Groups in the periodic table
  • Topic 7 – Rates of reaction and energy changes
  • Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth science
  • Topic 9 – Separate Chemistry 2

 

EDEXCEL GCSE Physics

Physics Paper 1
Overview Focus
  • Written exam (1 hour 45 minutes)
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 100 marks
  • 50% of GCSE
  • Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics
  • Topic 2 – Motion and forces
  • Topic 3 – Conservation of energy
  • Topic 4 – Waves
  • Topic 5 – Light and the electromagnetic spectrum
  • Topic 6 – Radioactivity
  • Topic 7 – Astronomy
Physics Paper 2
Overview Focus
  • Written exam (1 hour 45 minutes)
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 100 marks
  • 50% of GCSE
  • Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics
  • Topic 8 – Energy – Forces doing work
  • Topic 9 – Forces and their effects
  • Topic 10 – Electricity and circuits
  • Topic 11 – Static electricity
  • Topic 12 – Magnetism and the motor effect
  • Topic 13 – Electromagnetic induction
  • Topic 14 – Particle model
  • Topic 15 – Forces and matter

 

Enrichment

​The department offers subject-specific enrichment clubs and organises a range of educational visits throughout the year. Trips include the Heysham power station and Chester Zoo. Pupils are able to take part in school-wide competitions, as well as representing the school in local and national competitions designed to increase their engagement and enhance their subject knowledge. Intervention sessions to consolidate prior learning and ensure maximum progress are at the heart of our delivery model. Clubs include Science club.

Careers

The study of Science can lead to future careers ranging from Paramedic, Occupational Therapist and Speech and Language Therapist to Aerospace Engineer, Vet and Pharmacist. Famous Science graduates include David Attenborough (Natural Scientist), Helen Sharman (first female and first British astronaut to visit the International space station), Angela Merkel (German Chancellor).

Useful Resources and Revision Support