All students study Science in years 7-11. We believe that students deserve a broad, progressive and ambitious Science curriculum, rich in skills and knowledge, which stimulates curiosity and a wonder of their world and prepares them well for future learning or employment. As a department our key aim is to engage all students and help them to identify and understand the science in the world around them. We aspire to equip learners with a variety of transferable skills that can be applied in the workplace across a range of careers, not only in the field of Science. We strive to constantly evaluate and evolve our curriculum to ensure that students’ knowledge is built up in a logical and incremental way which is vital for a thorough understanding of complex scientific concepts.
Key stage 3 is run over two years. Pupils are introduced to Science by completing Passport to Science, this gives pupils the opportunity to be to exposed to basic practical and measuring skills along with safety aspects of a laboratory. Pupils then study the three disciplines: Biology, Chemistry and Physics. At GCSE level, students will study the core scientific principles of Biology, Chemistry and Physics by following AQA Combined Science Trilogy specification. These topics build on the concepts first met at KS3 and develop understanding further to ensure students become fluent in their scientific understanding. Students will learn the theory behind scientific concepts and also continue to develop the practical skills learnt in year 7 and 8 e.g. cells is taught in key stage 3 and studied further at key stage 4 this allows students to build on prior knowledge whilst embedding procedure knowledge into long term memory. Investigation plays an important role in encouraging students to develop independent thinking and problem solving skills.
We incorporate practical skills, starting from KS3 to KS4. The practical skills we embed involve: making predictions using scientific knowledge and understanding, planning and carrying out scientific enquiries, use appropriate techniques, apparatus and materials during fieldwork and laboratory work, paying attention to health and safety, making predictions, including identifying independent, dependent and control variables. Make and record observations and measurements using a range of methods for different investigations; and evaluate the reliability of methods and suggest possible improvements. Pupils should be able to correctly use the terms accuracy, precision, repeatability and reproducibility. We develop pupil’s Mathematical skills so they can calculate results, present observations and data using appropriate methods including tables and graphs, interpret observations and data including identifying patterns and using observations, measurements and data to draw conclusions, converting data and using the correct units.
