Science

“Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.”

– Carl Sagan

Key Stage 3

Year 7 and Year 8

Science is divided into 9 topics and the topics are taught in blocks, with each block containing a Biology, Chemistry and Physics topic.

Pupils are assessed by completing three block tests in both years. There is a final assessment covering all the content taught in those years.

Year 9

To finish KS3 Science is divided into 6 topics and taught in two blocks. Pupils are assessed by completing two Block tests. They start their GCSE during the summer term and cover a Biology, Chemistry and Physics topic which are assessed by end of topic tests.

Key Stage 4

The Science Department offers two routes towards GCSE:

Combined Science

Most students will do the AQA Combined Science course (referred to as Trilogy on the AQA website). In this course students study topics in Biology, Chemistry and Physics – taught mainly by subject specialists. This course leads to two GCSEs; both awarded at the same grade

Students who follow this course and get the appropriate grades are still able to go on to study Science at “A” level.

Separate Sciences (Triple Science)

This course takes up one of the options and is open to hardworking students who are motivated and enthusiastic about Science or those who plan to go on and study any of the Sciences at “A” level. This course covers the same topics as the Combined Science course but goes into greater detail. It also includes some additional areas of study e.g. Physics includes the topic of Space, not taught on Combined. The Separate Science course leads to three GCSEs which will be awarded individually, therefore, can be at different grades. Numbers on this course are limited so in the case of oversubscription decisions about who will enter this course will be made by the Science Department.