Science

Year 7 

Cells – students will explore different types of cell, looking at how cells are the building blocks of life; considering how our understanding of living things have changed through history and incorporating ideas about reproduction – both in plants and animals. 

Eating, Drinking and Breathing – in this second biology topic, students will find out about healthy diets and will study how our food is digested by our bodies.  Students also study our breathing systems and will look at how lifestyle choices and disease can affect breathing. 

Mixing, Dissolving and Separating – this is the first introduction to science at high school and students will become more familiar with using laboratory equipment safely and effectively.  Students will also look at solubility and will study distillation and chromatography as useful ways of separating mixtures. 

Elements, Compounds and Reactions – in this topic students will consider how ideas about elements, and atoms have changed over history.  Students will begin to understand the periodic table, they will consider the usefulness of simple models to help us understand how elements join and react together to make new materials. 

Forces and their Effects – Students will consider different types of force and things that forces do.  They will look at friction in more detail (the useful and unwanted) and will be introduced to levers and turning forces. 

Energy Transfers and Sound - in this second physics topic, students will look at energy stores and energy transfers.  They will study fuels as special chemicals that release energy when burnt and will look at how energy is carried by sound. 

Year 8 

Plants and Ecosystems – students will find out about the environment and will look at the relationships between organisms in the environment.  They will look at the role of plants as producers and will find out about plant adaptations, plant transport systems and the minerals plants need to keep them healthy. 

Your Body Needs – students will explore the roles of the skeleton, action of muscles as well as looking at aerobic and anaerobic respiration. 

Particles– students will revisit the particle model and use it to explain different states of matter.  They will also consider how the particle model can be used to explain density, concentration and diffusion.  Students will build on a basic understanding of particles by learning about atomic theory. 

Chemical Changes – In this topic students will find out about acids, alkalis and indicators.  They will study acid and alkali reactions and also look at combustion in detail. 

Contact and Non-Contact Forces – students will look at gravity and space travel; electrostatic and magnetic forces; and pressure, floating and sinking. 

Magnetism and Electricity – students will look at how magnets work in more detail.  They will find out about electromagnets and will look at series and parallel circuits. 

GCSE combined Science

GCSE Triple Science

Exam board: AQA

Exam board: AQA

Biology, chemistry and physics topics taught separately

Biology, chemistry and physics topics taught separately

Assessment:  100% exam at the end of year 11:

2 x 1hr 15mins biology exams

2 x 1hr 15mins chemistry exams

2 x 1hr 15mins physics exams

Assessment:  100% exam at the end of year 11:

2 x 1hr 45mins biology exams

2 x 1hr 45mins chemistry exams

2 x 1hr 45mins physics exams

10 hrs science lessons per fortnight

10 hrs science lessons per fortnight

Awarded a double award GCSE (worth 2 grades) as a 9 – 1 grade eg 4/4 or 5/4

Awarded separate GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics.

Year 9

Biology Topics:

Cellular Basis of Life – This introductory biology topic looks at the big idea that all living organisms are made of one or more cells.  Multicellular organisms have a hierarchical organisation of cells, tissues, organ and organ systems that work together to keep the cells alive.  Cells need a supply of energy and molecules to carry out life processes.

Health and Disease – in this topic students will learn about different diseases and how they are spread as well as looking at the basics of the circulatory and respiratory system.

Human Body Systems – Students will study the circulatory, gas exchange, nervous and endocrine systems of the body.

Practical Ecology – in this topic, students learn about interactions in ecosystem.  They will look at biotic and abiotic factors that affect populations and communities and will develop their sampling techniques.  They will study the adaptations of animals and plants to different habitats.

Chemistry Topics:

Chemical Changes – In this foundation topic, students will recall that all matter is made up of atoms and during a chemical reaction, atoms are rearranged and therefore a new substance (or substances) is formed with different properties to the reactants.  Students will study reactions in solution, neutralisation and combustion reactions, and consider the differences between exothermic and endothermic reactions.  They learn how to represent chemical reactions by chemical equations

Rocks and Reactivity – in this topic students will learn about the structure of the Earth and about different types of rocks.  They will also learn about metal ores and how they are extracted.

Our Dynamic Planet – in this topic students will learn about the atmosphere and how it has changed over time.  They will begin to look at pollutants and the greenhouse effect.

Atomic structure and the periodic table – in this topic students will be introduced to atomic theory.  They will learn about the structure of atoms and then study different groups in the periodic table.

Physics Topics:

Energy stores and transfers – Energy is a hard concept to grasp because it is an abstract idea that is difficult to define, and because there are many contradictions between the everyday and scientific usage of the word energy.  In this foundation topic students will consider a range of energy “stores” and “pathways”.  They will consider the difference between temperature and energy in the thermal store and will understand how energy is transferred between objects of different temperatures.  They will be introduced to the concepts of specific heat capaticy and specific latent heat.

Waves - in this topic students will learn how to describe waves and will study light waves and their properties in more detail. 

Motion on Earth and in Space – in this topic students will be learning about distance-time graphs and how motion is affected by forces.  They will begin to study the solar system and stars and galaxies.

Electricity – in this topic students will revisit simple series and parallel circuits.  They will learn about current, voltage and resistance.

Year 10 2021 - 2022

Year 10 Biology:

Cell Biology – Students will learn how scientists have developed their understanding of cell structure and function.  They will learn about cell division, differentiation and specialisation.  They will be taught about how uncontrolled cell division can lead to cancer and about the usefulness and ethical issues around the use of stem cells.  They will study aerobic and anaerobic respiration.  Triple science students will also learn about how to culture microorganisms and test the effectiveness of antibiotics and disinfectants.

 Plant Biology – Student will learn about how plant’s special adaptations of cells and leaves allow them to photosynthesise efficiently and how cells and tissues in leaves, stems and roots are designed for the maximum exchange of substances in and out of the plant.  They will study factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis.

Moving Materials – In this topic students will learn about osmosis, diffusion and active transport.  They will study the human digestive system, and the circulatory system as well as studying plant tissues, organs and systems.

Health Matters – In this topic students will learn about communicable and non-communicable diseases.  They will study risk factors and how the body can be protected from disease.  Triple science students will study how monoclonal antibodies are produced and used; plant diseases and plant defences in addition to the above content.

Co-ordination and Control – In this topic, students will learn about homeostasis and the nervous system.  They will learn about how human blood glucose is controlled, as well as studying hormones in human reproduction.  Triple science students will also study the brain and the eye in detail.  They will look at how body temperature, water and the nitrogen balance of the body are maintained.  Triple science students also study the control, coordination and use of plant hormones.

Year 10 Chemistry:

Atomic structure and the periodic table – All matter is made up of atomic nuclei and electrons.  Students will learn about how our understanding of atomic structure has developed over time.  They will study the arrangement of protons, neutrons and electrons in different atoms and understand how the arrangement of electrons explains the chemical properties of different elements.  They will learn about the development of the modern periodic table and the trends and patterns revealed by its design.

Structure, Bonding and the properties of matter – students will learn about ionic, covalent and metallic bonding.  They will be taught how bonding and structure are related to the properties of a substance.  Triple science students will also learn about nanoparticles.

Chemical Changes – Students will learn about the reactivity of metals and of acids.  They will be taught about electrolysis and how to make salts.  Triple science students will also be taught how to carry out a titration

Energy Changes – Students will learn about exothermic and endothermic reactions.  They will also be taught about how energy changes can be represented and explained.  Triple science students will also be taught about chemical cells and fuel cells.

Chemical Quantities and calculations – students will learn about chemical measurements and conservation of mass in chemical reactions.  They will be taught about Relative Formula Mass, moles, and concentration of solutions.  Triple science students will also learn about yield and atom economy of chemical reactions.

Rates of reaction – Students will learn how to calculate a rate of reaction; and about the factors which affect the rates of chemical reactions.  Students will be taught about collision theory and activation energy as well as studying reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium.

Year 10 Physics:

Energy – students will study energy changes in a system, and the ways energy is stored before and after such changes.  They will also look at the conservation and dissipation of energy and look at global energy resources

Electricity – students will study current, potential difference and resistance in series and parallel circuits.  They will look at domestic supply of electricity and safety. In this topic, students will also consider energy transfers in the context of electricity. Triple science students will also study static electricity.

Particle Model of Matter – students will study the particle model and will look at changes of state.  They will consider what is meant by internal energy and particle motion in gases.  Triple science students will also study pressure in gases.

Atomic Structure – students will revisit atomic theory.  They will study atoms and nuclear radiation.  Triple science students will study hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation.  They will extend this topic and learn about nuclear fission and fusion.

Year 11 – 2021-2022

Year 11 Biology:

Co-ordination and Control – In this topic, students will learn about homeostasis and the nervous system.  They will learn about how human blood glucose is controlled, as well as studying hormones in human reproduction.  Triple science students will also study the brain and the eye in detail.  They will look at how body temperature, water and the nitrogen balance of the body are maintained.  Triple science students also study the control, coordination and use of plant hormones.

Ecology – In this topic, students will learn about adaptations, interdependence and competition within ecosystems.  They will study levels of organisation and how materials are cycled.   They will understand biodiversity and the effect of human interactions on the environment.  Triple science students will study decomposition in detail and look at food production and farming techniques.

Inheritance, variation & evolution – In this topic, students will learn about reproduction and genetic inheritance.  They will also study variation, evolution and will look at selective breeding and genetic engineering; as well as extinction and resistance in bacteria. Triple science students will study the structure of DNA in detail; cloning and speciation.

Year 11 Chemistry:

Rates of reaction – Students will learn how to calculate a rate of reaction; and about the factors which affect the rates of chemical reactions.  Students will be taught about collision theory and activation energy as well as studying reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium.

Organic chemistry – Students will learn about crude oil and hydrocarbons.  The will be taught about the properties of hydrocarbons and about cracking.  Triple science students will also be taught about the reactions of alkenes and alcohols as well as polymers.

The Atmosphere – Students will learn about the composition and evolution of the Earth’s atmosphere.  They will be taught about the greenhouse effect as well as common atmospheric pollutants and their sources.

Chemical Analysis – Students will learn about pure and impure substances.  They will be taught chromatography and how to identify common gases.  Triple science students will also be taught how to identify and analyse positive and negative ions and how to use instrumental techniques (like flame emission spectroscopy) for analysis.

Sustainable development – Students will learn about potable water, extracting metals; and about life cycle assessment and recycling.  Triple science students will also be taught about corrosion, alloys, ceramics, polymers and composite materials.  They will also learn about the Haber process and the use of NPK fertilisers.

Year 11 Physics:

Forces and Motion – students will study contact and non-contact forces, they will compare scalar and vector quantities and calculate resultant forces. They will study Newton’s laws of motion and learn to draw and interpret graphs of motion. Students also study forces and braking; and momentum.  Finally, they will study forces and elasticity.  Triple science students will extend this topic and learn about moments, levers and gears; and will study pressure in fluids.

Waves – students will study waves in air (and other fluids) and in solids.  They will look at the wave equations before studying electromagnetic waves. Triple science students will also study how waves can be used for detection and exploration, as well as studying lenses and black body radiation.

Magnetism and Electromagnetism – students will study permanent and induced magnetism, magnetic forces and fields.  They will look at the motor effect.  Triple science students will study the generator effect and will look at transformers and microphones.

Space – This topic is for Triple science students only.  In this topic, students will look at our Solar System; the stability of orbital motion and satellites.  Students will be studying the lifecycles of stars and will learn about red-shift.