Head of Department
Ms E Duncan
Our approach
‘Curiosity, Confidence and Courage’
The Science department is committed to fostering each pupil’s innate sense of curiosity and building the confidence they need to be successful life-long learners and problem solvers. We believe that all pupils will continue to engage with the scientific world beyond secondary school and it is our task to equip them with the critical thinking skills. We encourage our pupils to build an engineering mindset and develop the technological literacy they need to be fully engaged with the world around them.
Science is more than a single subject. It encompasses everything we see, hear, taste, smell and feel. Our staff are dedicated to creating a comprehensive curriculum which is planned by subject specialists. We are experts in our respective fields of study and this knowledge is embedded in our curriculum.
Key Stage 3
Our goal in this key stage is to ignite the passion for questioning and investigating. Lessons are designed around the big questions that pupils have and teach the methods needed for pupils to be investigators. We strive to engage pupils in learning our subjects first hand through fun, practical experiences and laboratory investigations. Our Year 7 pupils in 2019-20 will be the very first cohort to embark upon the brand-new Ark Science Mastery Curriculum. The Mastery Curriculum, backed by extensive pedagogical research, aims to breakdown the key areas of science over the many years of a pupil’s learning journey so that they achieve a much greater level of understanding across all areas of science over time.
Key Stage 4
In Key Stage 4 we build on the skills mastered in the previous key stage. Pupils are challenged to work and think more independently, especially around practical work. We use assessment data continually to identify areas of strength and places where targeted interventions can build confidence. Students are required to apply new concepts to different situations at Key Stage 4, which provides a challenging environment for learning.
Year 7
| Autumn |
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Biology: Cells Are Alive and Characteristics Are Inherited Chemistry: Structure Determines Properties Physics: Forces Predict Motion |
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Cells • Cell Structure • Specialised Cells • Microscopes • Cell Organisation Particles • The Particle Model • Changes of State • Diffusion Contact Forces • Balanced and Unbalanced Forces • Resultant Force • Friction • Density Reproduction • Sexual and Asexual Reproduction • Puberty and the Menstrual Cycle • Embryo Development • Plant Reproduction |
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Maths skills developed: • Calculating rate of reaction • Performing basic calculations Investigative skills developed: • Identifying simple risks and hazards • Identifying equipment • Following a simple method • Drawing and labelling animal and plant cells, simple force diagrams and particle diagrams |
| Spring |
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Biology: Organisms Are Independent Chemistry: Structure Determines Properties Physics: Fields Produce Forces |
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Interdependence • Ecosystems • Feeding relationships • Competition • Biotic and Abiotic factors Atoms, Elements and Compounds • Chemical symbols • Elements and compounds • Metals and non-metals Gravity • Mass and weight • Gravity • The solar system • satellites |
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Maths skills developed: • Calculating a mean • Substituting numbers into algebraic equations • Substituting numerical values into algebraic equations Investigative skills developed: • Describing how to use a quadrat • Safely using a Bunsen burner Data skills developed: • Plotting graphs with assistance |
| Summer |
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Chemistry: Structure Determines Properties Physics: Energy Is Conserved and Electricity Transfers Energy |
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Energy Transfers • Energy and energy transfers • Wasted energy • Heat and temperature Mixtures • Pure and impure substances • Melting and boiling • Separating mixtures • Solubility Electric Circuits: Current and Potential Difference • Series and parallel circuits • Electric current • Potential difference |
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Maths skills developed: • Substituting numerical values into algebraic equations • Using ratio, fractions and percentages Investigative skills developed: • Building electrical circuits • Planning an investigation (risk assessment, identify variables, method) • Explaining results • Discussing how to improve an investigation |
Year 8
| Autumn |
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Biology: Bodies Are Systems, Ecosystems Recycle Resources Chemistry: Reactions Rearrange Matter Physics: Forces Predict Motion |
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Tissues and Organs • Gas exchange • Diet & Nutrition • Digestive System • Skeletal & Muscular System • Recreational Drugs Acids and Alkali • The pH scale • Neutralisation Movement and Pressure • Speed • Distant-Time Graphs • Work Done • Pressure Respiration and Photosynthesis • Aerobic respiration • Anaerobic respiration • Photosynthesis |
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Maths skills developed: • Translating information between graphical and numeric for • Substituting into algebraic equations Investigative skills developed: • Selecting correct equipment for an investigation • Drawing graphs of motion Data skills developed: • Interpreting results • Explaining validity of results |
| Spring |
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Biology: Species Show Variation Chemistry: Reactions Rearrange Matter Physics: Fields Produce Forces |
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Life Diversity • Variation • Selective Breeding • Adaptation Changing Substances • Chemical and Physical changes • Oxidation • Acids and Metals Magnetism • Magnetic Force • Magnetic Fields • Electromagnetism |
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Maths skills developed: • Calculating percentages Investigative skills developed: • Building an electromagnet • Identifying and explaining variables • Suggesting how to improve an investigation Data skills developed: • Drawing conclusions from given observations • Drawing magnetic fields |
| Summer |
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Chemistry: Earth Systems Interact Physics: Electricity Transfers Energy, Radiation Transfers Energy |
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Earth Systems • The Rock Cycle • The Water Cycle • Combustion Electric Circuits: Resistance • Resistance • Ohm’s Law • Measuring Resistance Light • Properties of Light • Reflection • Refraction |
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Maths skills developed: • Using protractor to measure angles of refraction and reflection Investigative skills developed: • Identifying and explaining variables • Building electrical circuits Data skills developed: • Recording data in a table • Interpreting data • Drawing light waves |
Year 9
| Autumn |
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Biology: Cells Are Alive Chemistry: Structure Determines Properties Physics: Forces Predict Motion |
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Growth and Differentiation • Cell Structure • Cell Transport • Cell Division The Periodic Table • Atomic Structure • The History of the Periodic Table • Explaining Trends Acceleration • Forces in Balance • Forces and Motion |
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Maths skills developed: • Calculating magnification and rearranging the magnification equation • Calculating percentage change Investigative skills developed: • Formulating a hypothesis • Assessing risks in a lab Data skills developed: • Interpreting graphs of motion • Scientifically drawing cells |
| Spring |
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Biology: Organisms Are Independent Chemistry: Reactions Rearrange Matter Physics: Energy Is Conserved |
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Human Interaction • Interdependence • Organising an Ecosystem • Biodiversity and Ecosystems Matter and Energy • Quantitative Chemistry • Chemical Calculations • Chemical Changes Heating • Energy Transfer by Heating • Molecules and Matter |
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Maths skills developed: • Calculating changes in temperature • Linking ideas of biodiversity to the real world Investigative skills developed: • Assessing risks in a lab • Making salts from insoluble bases • Evaluating a method Data skills developed: • Drawing conclusions from data |
| Summer |
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Biology: Characteristics Are Inherited Physics: Radiation Transfers Energy |
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Genetics • Reproduction • Inheritance Sound and Waves • Wave properties • Reflection and Refraction |
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Maths skills developed: • Predicting probability • Applying ratios Data skills developed: • Interpreting punnet squares • Differentiating between reflection and refraction • Scientifically drawing ray diagrams |
Year 10
| Autumn |
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Biology: Digestive system and Circulation and Respiration Chemistry: Structure and Bonding Physics: Movement |
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Digestive system • Organs of the digestive system • Balanced diet and food tests • Enzymes and factors affecting enzyme action Circulation and Respiration • Respiratory system • Heart and Blood • Respiration Structure & Bonding • Ionic, Covalent & Metallic Bonding and Properties • Polymers • Metals & Alloys • Bond Energy Movement • Newton’s Second Law • Stopping Distances • Momentum |
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Maths skills developed: • Substituting numerical values into algebraic equations Investigative skills developed: • Deducing nutrients in food using food tests Data skills developed: • Interpreting enzyme action graphs |
| Spring |
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Biology: Plant and Material Cycling Chemistry: Extraction of metals and Quantitative chem Physics: Energy Conservation |
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Plants and Material Cycling • Plant Structure • Transpiration • Material Cycling • Decomposition • Disease in Plants Extraction of Metals • Electrolysis • Corrosion and recycling • Half equations Quantitative Chemistry • Balancing equations • Moles • Concentration Energy Conservation • Energy Systems • Specific Heat Capacity and Latent Heat • Power |
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Maths skills developed: • Calculating the mass of reactants and products Investigative skills developed: • Altering variables to investigate rate of transpiration Data skills developed: • Concluding results from SHC and latent heat investigations |
| Summer |
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Biology: Health and Disease and Ecology Chemistry: Energy changes Physics: Electric circuits and energy and Radioactivity |
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Health and Disease • Pathogens and diseases • Defence against disease • Development of Drugs Ecology • Interdependence • Competition • Adaptations Energy changes • Exothermic reactions • Endothermic reactions Electrical Circuits and Energy • Current, PD and Resistance • Induced Potential • Transformers Radioactivity • Radioactive Decay • Half Life and nuclear equations • Background radiation |
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Maths skills developed: • Manipulating algebraic equations • Calculating half-life • Demonstrating ability to perform nuclear equations Investigative skills developed: • Building electrical circuits Data skills developed: • Interpreting data from graphs and tables • Researching drug trials |
Year 11
| Autumn |
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Biology: Hormones, Variation and Evolution Chemistry: History of the Atmosphere and Rate of Reaction Physics: Waves |
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Hormones, Variation and Evolution • Hormonal Communication • Natural selection and evolution • Selective breeding and genetic technologies History of the Atmosphere • Evolving atmosphere • Pollutants • Greenhouse gases Rate of Reaction • Factors affecting rate of reaction • Reversible reactions Waves • Properties of waves • Electromagnetic waves |
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Maths skills developed: • Measuring speed of waves Investigative skills developed • Predicting the effect of altering conditions on reversible reactions Data skills developed: • Evaluating genetic technologies |
| Spring |
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Biology: Ecology Chemistry: Using resources Physics: Magnetism and Space Physics |
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Ecology • Organising an Ecosystem • Biodiversity and Ecosystems Using Resources • The Earth’s Resources • Haber process and fertilisers Magnetism and Space Physics • Magnetism and Electromagnetism • Space Physics |
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Investigative skills developed: • Investigating the strength of an electromagnet • Linking separating techniques to achieving safe drinking water Data skills developed: • Considering sustainability and human impact on the Earth and its resources |
| Summer |
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| Revision and exams |