Subject Head: Sylvia Bettington
Contact: sbettington@farmors.gloucs.sch.uk
Our Science curriculum is designed to be stimulating and accessible to all. It aims to capture the enthusiasm and curiosity of students, motivating them to study Science further. Our lessons provide students with many opportunities to explore Science through a range of activities that allow them to continually develop key practical skills that will support their journey from Year 7 right through to A-level. Students will encounter new knowledge, methods, processes and uses of Science and learn to appreciate how these affect the world around them.
Curriculum detail
During Years 7 to 9 all students will study science for 6 periods a fortnight. In Years 10 and 11 this increases to 9 periods a fortnight for Combined Science GCSE and 14 periods a fortnight in total for the 3 Separate Science GCSEs.
Assessment: Pupil assessment is carried out through summative assessments (class tests and exams) as well as through formative teacher assessment of a pupil’s ability as demonstrated in lessons through independent learning tasks.
Year 7 topics: Particles, Elements and Compounds, Cells, Body Systems, Space, Forces, Acids and Alkalis, Light, Reproduction in Plants and Animals
Year 8 topics: Separation Techniques, Electricity and Magnetism, Health, Energy, Metals, Sound, Ecosystems
Year 9 topics: Introduction to GCSE – these GCSE topics have been chosen as they are part of both the Combined Science and Separate Science courses and are appropriate in their level of challenge for Year 9 students.
Biology – Adaptations, Interdependence and Competition, DNA and Evolution, Cell structure and Transport, Cell Division, Photosynthesis
Chemistry – Atomic Structure, The Periodic Table, Structure and Bonding
Physics – Energy resources, Energy transfer, Molecules and Matter, Conservation and Dissipation of Energy
Year 10 and 11 - AQA GCSE Trilogy Combined Science (8464) or Separate Sciences: Biology (8461), Chemistry (8462), Physics (8463): Separate Science only topics are underlined
Biology – Organisation and the Digestive System, Organising Animals and Plants, Communicable diseases, Preventing and Treating diseases, Non-communicable diseases, Photosynthesis, Respiration, The Human Nervous System, Hormonal Co-ordination, Homeostasis in Action, Reproduction, Variation and Evolution, Genetics and Evolution, Organising an Ecosystem, Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Chemistry – Chemical Calculations, Chemical Changes, Electrolysis, Energy Changes, Rates and Equilibrium, Crude Oil and Fuels, Organic Reactions, Polymers, Chemical Analysis, The Earth’s Atmosphere, The Earth’s Resources, Using our Resources.
Physics – Electrical Circuits, Electricity in the Home, Radioactivity, Forces in Balance, Motion, Force and Motion, Force and Pressure, Wave Properties, Electromagnetic Waves, Light, Electromagnetism, Space.
What should students expect to do during the GCSE course?
Alongside the theory for each topic students will engage in a variety of practical tasks to develop their practical skills and support their understanding. To test their understanding of the practical work, coursework has been replaced on these new courses with questions in the final exams that focus on the practical aspects of the topics taught.
GCSE Assessment (graded 9- 1)
Both the Combined and Separate Science courses have terminal exams in Year 11.
Double Science = 6 exams (2xBio2xChem2xPhys) each worth 70 marks. Time – 1 hour 15 mins each. This leads to the awarding of 2 x GCSEs in Science on the 9 to 1 scale. Two grades are awarded e.g. 9-9, 9-8, 8-8, 8-7, 7-7 etc.,
Separate Sciences = 2 papers each in each subject worth 100 marks. Time - 1hour 45 mins each.
This leads to x3 Separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics each awarded a single grade on the 9 to 1 scale.
Progression into Sixth Form
Both the Combined Science and Separate Science courses are suitable if a student wished to continue studying Biology, Chemistry or Physics A-levels.