Curriculum

Science

Curriculum Intent

Our curriculum is designed to encourage and develop inquisitive learners who are enthusiastic about science.  We want them to be safe practical scientists, confident in their abilities but also resilient. Our schemes of work will take them in year 7 and build the core blocks of knowledge covering the big ideas in science culminating in more depth by Year 11 ready for their External GCSE examinations.  The assessments are integrated, overarching, progressive and rigorous.  

How knowledge and skills build through Key Stage 3

The core knowledge and skills curriculum taught are shaped by the National Curriculum.  The aim for this Key Stage is to get students to progress through the KS3 National curriculum and be ready for the step up to GCSE.  There is a large volume of content which has been mapped out to ensure students have a good grounding of scientific concepts and disciplinary knowledge, linked to practical work, as well as making sure they have all they need to confidently move through to the GCSEs courses around Easter of Year 9. 

How it builds on the Key Stage 2 primary curriculum

Students at Key Stage 2 have a wide range of experiences of science from their feeder primaries.  We carry out baseline testing in the Autumn term of Year 7 to try to get a feel for their prior knowledge.  An investigative skills unit is also taught in September to help to encourage all students to focus on disciplinary knowledge and introduce all the essential terminology for carrying out practical investigations.   The baseline test then gives teachers information on any gaps in subject knowledge at the start of the Key Stage to help them plan and identify interventions as they teach individual units.

Link to Key Stage 4 GCSE curriculum

We use the Exploring Science scheme and resources in KS3 which has been designed to interleave straight into the AQA GCSE specifications.  All the units during Year 7, 8 and 9 build up the knowledge getting the students ready to approach their GCSEs with confidence. The GCSE course run, and their specification links are:

Beyond Kingshill – Post 16 and careers

Studying science is compulsory to 16 as it provides excellent analytical and practical skills that can be used in all aspects of life.  GCSE Combined Science gives students the equivalent of two GCSEs and provides a sound background in all the three key areas of science; Biology, Chemistry and Physics.  It is also an excellent foundation for those wishing to pursue more vocational science-based courses at college and for vocational onwards careers.  

Students studying Triple Science gives them more depth in each discipline and gives them a good basis for going on to study one or more of the sciences separately. 

The skills of making predictions, testing hypothesis and drawing conclusions then evaluating the work done are useful for a wide range of careers not just in the scientific areas.

Useful links/resources

For KS4 :

 

Year 7 Science
Exploring Science  
What topics will my child study? 
  • Working Scientifically, developing practical skills
  • Cells, tissues and organs
  • Muscles and bones
  • Energy
  • Current electricity
  • Mixtures and separation
  • The particle Model
  • Acids and alkalis
  • Atoms elements and molecules
  • Forces
  • Sound
  • Reproduction
  • Ecosystems
What knowledge will they have and what will they be able to do by the end of the year?

Students will have the basic building blocks for the key ideas and concepts in science across all the disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. They will have access to the textbook electronically and through knowledge organisers and practicals and discussions in the lessons they will start to make links across the topic areas.

What homework will they get?

In Year 7, Science homework uses retrieval based quizzing set on the Educake website.  It means they practice recalling the knowledge they learn in class so they can use this then in later assessments. Leading up to assessment independent study and revision is also expected.

How will they be assessed in Science?
  • Regular recall tests on knowledge from the lessons at the end of each unit
  • End of year assessment to check learning from throughout the year.
As a parent, how can I help my child in this subject?
  • Encourage them to repeat their Educake homework if they score less than 70%
  • Encourage them to use their knowledge organisers to help them make flash cards of questions and answers and test them
  • Help them review answers by using the look, cover, write, check method
  • Encourage them to use the vocabulary they have learnt with you
Useful links/resources
What other opportunities do they have outside of the classroom?

Year 7 will have the chance to go to the Cheltenham Science Festival

Year 8 Science
Exploring Science  
What topics will my child study? 
  • Food and Nutrition
  • Metals and their uses
  • Combustion
  • Periodic Table
  • Fluids
  • Light
  • Breathing and respiration
  • Unicellular Organisms
  • Energy transfers
  • Earth and space
  • Plant reproduction
  • Respiration and photosynthesis
  • Electricity
  • Rates of reaction
What knowledge will they have and what will they be able to do by the end of the year?

Students will take some of their learning from year 7 and will then continue to build key ideas and concepts of science across biology, chemistry and physics. They will have access to the textbook electronically and through knowledge organisers and activities in the lessons they will continue to embed understanding and to make links across the topic areas.

What homework will they get?

In Year 8, Science homework uses retrieval based quizzing set on the Educake website.  It means they practice recalling the knowledge they learn in class so they can use this then in later assessments. Leading up to assessment independent study and revision is also expected.

How will they be assessed in Science?
  • Regular recall tests on knowledge from the lessons at the end of each unit
  • An end of year assessment to check learning from throughout the year.
As a parent, how can I help my child in this subject?
  • Encourage them to repeat their Educake homework if they score less than 70%
  • Encourage them to use their knowledge organisers to help them make flash cards of questions and answers and test them
  • Help them review answers by using the look, cover, write, check method
  • Encourage them to use the vocabulary they have learnt with you
Useful links/resources
What other opportunities do they have outside of the classroom?

We are always looking for opportunities to extend the learning beyond the classroom and trips and visits might include a visit to Oxford Natural History Museum as well as looking for speakers and organisations to run STEM activities in school.

Year 9 Science
Exploring Science  
What topics will my child study? 
  • Genetics and Evolution
  • Making Materials
  • Force and Motion
  • Plant Growth
  • Reactivity
  • Force fields and Electromagnets
What knowledge will they have and what will they be able to do by the end of the year?

Students will take some of their learning from Year 7 and 8 and will then continue to build further the key ideas and concepts of science across biology, chemistry and physics area. They will have access to the textbook electronically and through knowledge organisers and activities in the lesson they will continue to embed understanding and to make links across the topic areas. The intention is to start the GCSE courses formally after Easter.

What homework will they get?

In Year 9, Science homework continues to use retrieval based quizzing set on the Educake website.  It means they practice recalling the knowledge they learn in class so they can use this then in later assessments. Leading up to assessment independent study and revision is also expected.

How will they be assessed in Science?
  • Regular recall tests on knowledge from the lessons at the end of each unit
  • After February break an end of Key Stage formal assessment on work from the whole key stage will set a baseline for into KS4.  
As a parent, how can I help my child in this subject?
  • Encourage them to repeat their Educake homework if they score less than 70%
  • Encourage them to use their knowledge organisers to help them make flash cards of questions and answers and test them
  • Help them review answers by using the look, cover, write, check method
  • Encourage them to use the vocabulary they have learnt with you
Useful links/resources
What other opportunities do they have outside of the classroom?

All the year group will take part in Cheltenham Science Festivals Famelab Academy, a public speaking competition with a STEM link.

Years 10 and 11 Science

Combined students will get the equivalent of two GCSEs at the end of the course. They follow

  • GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy

Triple science students will get individual GCSEs in the separate sciences.  They follow

  • GCSE Biology
  • GCSE Chemistry
  • GCSE Physics

The specifications have been developed to allow the course to be co-taught simultaneously with all pupils however there are key spreads/sections that are single science only.  All pupils will have access to textbooks in lessons and via an electronic login to Kerboodle for home use.

What topics will my child study in Year 10? 

BIOLOGY

Chemistry

Physics

Cells and cell division recap   

Organisation and digestive system

Organising animals and plants

Communicable diseases

Preventing and treating disease

Non-Communicable diseases 

Atomic Structure recap

Periodic Table

Structure and Bonding

Chemical Calculations

Chemical Changes

Electrolysis

Energy Changes

Conservation and Dissipation

Energy Transfer

Energy Resources recap

Electrical Circuits

Electricity in the home

Molecules and matter

Radioactivity

 

What will they study in Year 11

 BIOLOGY

Chemistry

Physics

Human nervous system

Hormonal coordination

Homeostasis in action*

Reproduction

Variation

Genetics and Evolution

Adaptations, interdependence

Organising an ecosystem

Biodiversity and Ecosystems

Rates of reaction

Crude Oil

Organic reactions *

Polymers *

Chemical Analysis

Earth's Atmosphere

Earth’s resources

Using the Earth’s resources*

Forces in balance

Motion

Forces and Motion

Forces and Pressure*

Wave Properties

Electromagnetic waves

Light*

Electromagnetism

Space*

 
             

*Triple science students only units

What knowledge will they have and what will they be able to do by the end of the year?

Students work towards having all the units for the Paper 1 assessments completed by the end of year 10.  They are given access to the course textbook electronically and have knowledge organisers.  There are a series of required practicals that must be completed as part of the programme of study.

What homework will they get?

Science homework continues to use retrieval based quizzing set on the Educake software but questions are now set for GCSE level. They practice recalling the knowledge they learn in class and there will be regular retrieval of prior learning interleaved in the homework tasks.   Leading up to assessment independent study and revision is also expected.

How will they be assessed in Science?
  • End of unit mini assessments
  • Summer in Year 10 they will sit full GCSE Paper 1s for Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
As a parent, how can I help my child in this subject?
  • Encourage them to repeat their Educake homework if they score less than 70%
  • Encourage them to use their knowledge organisers to help them make flash cards of questions and answers and test them
  • Help them review answers by using the look, cover, write, check method
  • Encourage them to use the vocabulary they have learnt with you
  • Direct them to BBC Bitesize and to look up practice exam questions as we get nearer to the formal exams for independent revision.
  • Use YouTube videos to help support their understanding of topic areas they find difficult.
Useful links/resources
What other opportunities do they have outside of the classroom?

We regularly seek to find opportunities to extend the learning beyond the classroom including Cheltenham Science Festival; RIAT Air show; GCSE Science Live event

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