For Year 11 GCSE Resources CLICK HERE

Curriculum Overview

Science is a set of ideas about the material world. We have included all the parts of what good science is: whether it be investigating, observing, experimenting or testing out ideas and thinking about them.

Aims

To achieve these aims, the School will:

Support you in building a deep understanding of science.  This will involve talking about, reading and writing about science plus the actual doing, as well as representing science in its many forms both mathematically and visually through models.

Encourage the development of knowledge and understanding in science through opportunities for working scientifically. Working scientifically is the sum of all the activities that scientists do. We feel it is so important that we have woven it throughout our learning schemes.

Key Stage 3

The Key Stage Three curriculum is based on the Combined Science: Trilogy with bespoke units included to help prepare students for the new GCSE specification.

Year 7 – topics taught

• Forces
• Atoms and particles
• Energy, electricity and space
• Cells and reproduction

Year 8 – topics taught

• Waves
• Organs, plants and genetics
• Chemical reactions
• Motion, magnets and pressure

Year 9 – topics taught (GCSE content)

• Cell Biology
• Organisation
• Infection and response
• Atomic structure and the periodic table
• Bonding, structure and the properties of matter
• Quantitative chemistry
• Energy
• Electricity

Key Stage 4

Students sitting their GCSE exams from the summer of 2018 onwards will study AQA Combined Science:Triology or Separate Sciences in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Students sitting their GCSE exams in the summer of 2017 will study AQA Core, Double or Triple Science.

Year 10 – topics taught

Area of Study 1 – Biology

• Cell Biology
• Organisation
• Infection and response
• Bioenergetics

Area of Study 2 – Chemistry

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

Area of Study 3 – Physics

• Energy
• Electricity
• Particle model of matter
• Atomic structure

Year 11 2016/17 – topics taught

Area of study 1 – Biology

• Tissues, cells and organs
• Organisms in the environment
• Enzymes
• Energy from respiration
• Simple inheritance in plants and animals
• Old and new species

Area of study 2 – Chemistry

• Chemical bonding
• Metals
• Relative formula, mass and percentage
• Analysing substances
• Rates of reaction
• Making salt

Area of study 3 – Physics

• Forces and their effects
• The Kinetic energy of objects
• Currents in electrical circuits
• Mains electricity
• Radioactive decay
• Nuclear fission and fusion

Year 11 2017/18 – topics taught

Area of study 1 – Biology

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

Area of study 2 – Chemistry

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

Area of study 3 – Physics

• Forces
• Waves
• Magnetism and electromagnetism

The rest of Year 11 will be devoted to revision and exam preparation.

Year 11 Examination Preparation

Key Words

Remember – KEY WORDS ARE THE KEY TO SUCCESS!

Learn the key words and definitions (meanings) in your exercise books.

http://www.gcse.com/science/variables.htm

Make sure you know what the exam questions is asking – what do the command words mean?

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/steps-to-success-in-science/literacy-resources

Make revision fun by using dominoes, taboo cards, and word games.

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/steps-to-success-in-science/revision-materials

Past Papers

Exam Tips

Exam Skills

• Bring a calculator to your exam.
• Familiarise yourself with the chemistry data sheets and the physics formula sheets.
• Bullet point answers that are worth 3 or more marks.
• For the 6 mark questions, list the 5 key words first then write out the sentences.

One minute per mark – manage your time!