Intent

What we are trying to achieve with our curriculum

●        We aim to equip students with sound knowledge of the subject which is required to both understand the uses and implications of science and inspire them for future STEM careers.

●        We aim to encourage our students to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about the world around them.

●        We want students to develop a secure understanding of each key block of knowledge and concepts in order to progress to the next stage in their education; with pupils being able to link key concepts and skills across disciplines and key stages.

●        We aim to enthuse students by engaging them in practical activities that help them develop a passion for Science.

●        We want to ensure all students leave us with a Science qualification which reflects the best of their ability.

Implementation

How we deliver our curriculum

In Year 7 and 8 students are taught Science in mixed ability groupings (6 lessons per fortnight) and cover Biology, Chemistry and Physics units within each term. We start with the basic building blocks of Cells, the Particle Model and Energy from which all subsequent units evolve.

In Year 9 we set students across the two sides of the year and we begin to deliver separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics lessons (9 lessons per fortnight) whilst continuing to deliver Key Stage 3 units as bridging units between key stage 3 and 4. During term 2 we begin to deliver the GCSE courses and structure the course to follow both the AQA and Kerboodle sequences of lessons.

Opportunities for scientific enquiry and building of practical skills are embedded across both key stages. Development of literacy and numeracy skills in science is a key focus.

Regular progress tests begin in Year 7 and continue through to the end of Year 11 with the students completing SPADE for each of the assessments.  Progression within lessons is structured through the use of solo at Key Stage 3 and GCSE criteria at Key Stage 4.

The difference that our curriculum makes to our students

All students leave us with a graded Combined Science GCSE or Triple Award GCSE qualification.

Students are well prepared for the next stage in their education with a large number undertaking post 16 courses in science subjects.

Learning science and the laws governing our natural world, helps students to understand our connections to the world we live in and develop as all-round individuals.

The topic we cover throughout KS3 are:

Biology

Cells, tissues and Organisms

Reproduction and variation

Ecological relationships and classification

Digestion and nutrition

Plants and photosynthesis

Biological systems and processes

Chemistry

Particles

Chemical reactions

Atoms and the periodic table

Materials and the Earth

Matter

Reactivity

Energetics and rates

Physics

Energy

Forces and motion

Light and space

Electricity and magnetism

Forces in action

Sound waves

Practical skills are built into every unit and a scientific enquiry unit is taught at the start of each year in September.

Biology

1. Cell biology

2. Organisation

3. Infection and response

4. Bioenergetics

5. Homeostasis and response

6. Inheritance, variation and evolution

7. Ecology

8. Key ideas

Chemistry

1. Atomic structure and the periodic table

2. Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter

3. Quantitative chemistry

4. Chemical changes

5. Energy changes

6. The rate and extent of chemical change

7. Organic chemistry

8. Chemical analysis

9. Chemistry of the atmosphere

10. Using resources

Physics

1. Energy

2. Electricity

3. Particle model of matter

4. Atomic structure

5. Forces

6. Waves

7. Magnetism and electromagnetism

8. Space physics

These courses contain Required Practicals that are set by the exam board and these are tested along with the content in linear examinations at the end of Year 11. There are 6 examinations (2 each in Biology, Chemistry and Physics).

We also offer the triple award GCSE to a class that have opted for it i.e. 3 separate qualifications in GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The courses offer the best preparation and subject knowledge for A Levels in Science. The topics covered build on the foundations that are delivered in the Combined Science GCSE (that the majority of students will take) and stretches, fascinates and challenges students who have a real interest in this subject.

The following website has all the lessons and resources for GCSE Science 9-1.

Students will need to log into their school Google accounts BEFORE viewing the site.

https://sites.google.com/stthomascc.co.uk/science/home

The variety of pathways we provide at Key Stage 4 will enable students to progress into many courses with a scientific content in further or higher education. Science qualifications lead to a wide variety of different careers. For more information please see http://www.planet-science.com/categories/over-11s/careers.aspx