Science
Our curriculum intent
Science is about curiosity, wonder and discovery and it is with these key principles that we build an engaging and challenging curriculum for our learners which is underpinned by the National Curriculum and builds upon pupils learning at KS2.
Through studying the three disciplines of Science, we develop our learners into resilient and skilled problem solvers, critical analysts and citizens for the future.
We achieve this through a curriculum designed around discovery and observational science, putting first-hand experience at the focal point of our lessons. An engaging curriculum allows us to stretch and challenge all pupils by getting them to ask the big questions with inquisitive minds, developing the skills they need to be successful in their futures.
What this looks like in practice
In Key Stage 3, students study a range of Biology, Chemistry and Physics topics.
Year 7
When students join Year 7, they will start to develop their practical skills in science. They will start with one of the topics below and complete all twelve by the end of the academic year. Different classes will complete these topics at slightly different times. Students will start to build on their primary Science knowledge in the main topics such as Cells, Atoms, Forces and The Particle Model. They will start to think more independently about how the world works and why things happen in nature. We will start to tackle existing misconceptions in their understanding of the Sciences, develop their ability to solve problems and ignite their curiosity about the world. Curriculum time in the classroom will be divided into 25% working scientifically, 25% Biology, 25% Chemistry, and 25% Physics.
Year 8
In Year 8, students will start with one of the topics below and complete all twelve by the end of the academic year. Students build on the common Scientific concepts learnt in Year 7, they will need to think deeply about how this knowledge then allows chemicals, matter and living things to interact with each other, and how this happened in the past to form the universe that we see today. They will need to develop their abstract thinking as we delve into the tiny quantum world and the vast expanses of space and universe. Curriculum time in the classroom will be divided into 25% working scientifically, 25% Biology, 25% Chemistry, and 25% Physics.
Year 9
In Year 9, students’ understanding will be stretched by the Key Stage 3 topics below, laying the foundational ideals for some of the tricky concepts that they will encounter when they move on to Key Stage 4.
- Genetics and evolution
- Making materials
- Forces and motion
- Plant growth
- Reactivity
- Force fields and electromagnets
- Biology - threat from disease; viruses; nervous and hormonal responses; testing medicines; ecological sampling techniques
- Chemistry - ions; conductivity and ionic compounds; energy in chemical and physical changes; rates of reaction; balancing symbol equations; equilibria; standard form
- Physics - making things happen (temperature, density, pressure); fields (energy, gravity, magnetism); cause and effect; variables; models
- Maths in science
In Key Stage 4, students follow the AQA GCSE exam specification across Years 10 and 11, covering topics which include:
- States of matter
- Methods of separating and purifying substances
- Motion
- Cells and control
- Atomic structure
- Periodic Table
- Ionic and covalent bonding
- Types of substances
- Conservation of energy
- Natural selection and genetic modification
- Waves
- Light and the electromagnetic spectrum
- Magnetism and motor effect; electromagnetic induction
- Acids and alkalis
- Calculations involving masses
- Radioactivity
- Health, disease and the development of medicines
- Electrolytic processes
- Obtaining and using metals
- Reversible reactions and equilibria; rates of reaction; heat energy changes in chemical reactions
- Plant structures and their functions
- Electricity and circuits
- Animal coordination, control and homeostasis
- Fuels
- Earth and atmospheric science
- Exchange and transport in animals
- The particle model; forces and matter
- Ecosystems and material cycles
Year 11 students will also spend time working on their exam technique, Maths skills and the required practicals.
Triple Science
Triple Science is an option subject for students in Years 10 and 11. We appreciate that many students enjoy learning Science and therefore Triple Science will be open to any student that has the passion and desire to study Science further. If selecting this subject, students will cover topics such as:
- Biology - infections, including monoclonal antibodies and plant diseases; homeostasis, including how the brain works to control different functions; human organs such as the eye and kidneys; ecology in more detail, including decompostion, speciation and natural selection
- Chemistry - transition metals; nanoparticles; quantitative chemistry; titrations; alcohols; carboxylic acids; condensation polymers; deoxyribonucleic acid; polymers; alloys; fertilisers; the Haber Process
- Physics - momentum and how cars are designed to reduce forces during a collision; sound; ultrasound waves; ray diagrammes; space and the solar system
Curriculum overview
Detailed information about the curriculum for each year group can be found in the document below.
Extra-curricular activities
- Herstmonceux Observatory & Science Centre visit
- Trips to the University of Sussex
- Stem Club
- "I’m a Scientist Get Me Out Of Here!" event
- Discovery CREST awards
- British Science Week
- Science Ambassadors
- University / College Trips
- Physics Challenge
Homework
Homework in Science is completed on the online platform Educake, pupils will receive a login for Educake from their class teacher.
Educake provides personalised online quizzes and revision resources that can be accessed with either a phone or a computer. Pupils receive instantaneous feedback on their quizzes whilst the data generated from the assessments is monitored/tracked throughout the year. Staff analyse this data for misconceptions and can set subsequent quizzes based on the needs of the pupils.
In addition, pupils can set themselves quizzes based on the topics that they are learning or alternatively, auto generate quizzes based on their areas for improvement. This is strongly encouraged for those revising for assessments or for those undertaking their GCSE’s.
Useful websites
Free science lessons (YouTube)
23 Equations App – Download at the App store (Physics equations)