Science Department Vision

Inclusivity and progress for all through the provision of a fun and relevant enriched curriculum; where the development of scientific skills and the acquisition of core knowledge is underpinned by practical enquiry and experiential learning.

Science GCSE Course

The new specification Science GCSEs are an in-depth study of the world around us. Students study biology, chemistry and physics units over a three-year course; starting in year 9 and ending with external exams at the end of Year 11. By studying over three years, students have the opportunity to consistently review and develop their scientific skills and knowledge.

As there is no longer any coursework, the new GCSEs have a “required practical” element which will be completed during lesson time. The development of practical skills is a fundamental part of the study of science, and will not only help students with their understanding of the subject, but is also vital preparation for the written examinations.

Exams will include a range of questions: from multiple choice and short answer questions, to long answer questions where students will be expected to write using accurate spelling and grammar. At least 15% of the questions are related to practical activities that students have studied in lessons from the “required practical” element. There is also an increased mathematics component to the new GCSEs with physics containing 30% maths, chemistry 20% and biology 10%. 

Students will be awarded Science GCSEs using the new 9-1 grading system (replacing A*-G). There are two levels of entry, Higher and Foundation.

There are two pathways through science; Combined (Trilogy) and Separate Sciences:

GCSE Combined Science Course: AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy

5 lessons per week throughout Year 9, 10 and 11

Assessment: Exams are at the end of Year 11. Students will sit two exams in each Science (x2 Biology, x2 Chemistry and x2 Physics) and will be awarded two ‘Science’ GCSEs.

Separate Sciences: GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry, GCSE Physics Course: AQA GCSE Biology, AQA GCSE Chemistry, AQA GCSE Physics

5 lessons per week throughout Year 9, 10 and 11

Assessment: Exams are at the end of Year 11. Students will sit two slightly longer exams in each Science (x2 Biology, x2 Chemistry, x2 Physics) and will be awarded three separate GCSEs.

Please click KO to access the Knowledge Organiser for the topic. 

Biology - Trilogy curriculum overview

	FIRST YEAR (Year 9) - Paper 1
Term	Term 1	Terms 3 & 4	Term 5	Term 6
Topic Title	Cell Biology KO	Organisation KO	Infection and Response KO	Bioenergetics KO

	SECOND YEAR (Year 10) - Paper 2
Term	Terms 1 & 2	Terms 3 & 4	Terms 5 & 6
Topic title	Homeostasis and Response KO	Inheritance, Variation and Evolution KO	Ecology KO

Chemistry - Trilogy curriculum overview

	FIRST YEAR (Year 9)
Term	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4	Term 5
Topic Title	Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table KO	Bonding, Structure and Properties of Matter KO	Quantitative Chemistry KO	Chemical Changes KO	Energy Changes KO

	SECOND YEAR (Year 10)
Term	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4	Term 5
Topic title	The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change KO	Organic Chemistry KO	Chemical Analysis KO	Chemistry of the Atmosphere KO	Using Resources KO

Physics - Trilogy curriculum overview

	FIRST YEAR (Year 9)
Term	Term 1 & 2	Term 3 & 4	Term 5	Term 6
Topic Title	Energy KO	Electricity KO	Particle Model of Matter KO	Atomic Structure KO

	SECOND YEAR (Year 10)
Term	Term 1 & 2	Term 3 & 4	Term 5
Topic title	Forces KO	Waves KO	Magnetism and Electromagnetism KO

Biology - separate science

	FIRST YEAR (Year 9) - Paper 1
Term	Term 1 & 2	Term 3 & 4	Term 5	Term 6
Topic Title	Cell Biology	Organisation	Infection and Response	Bioenergetics

	SECOND YEAR (Year 10) - Paper 2
Term	Term 1 & 2	Term 3 & 4	Term 5 & 6
Topic title	Homeostasis and Response	Inheritance, Variation and Evolution	Ecology

See the biology trilogy curriculum overview table above for Knowledge Organisers. 

Chemistry - separate science

	FIRST YEAR (Year 9)
Term	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4	Term 5
Topic Title	Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table	Bonding, Structure and Properties of Matter	Quantitative Chemistry	Chemical Changes	Energy Changes

	SECOND YEAR (Year 10)
Term	Term 1	Term 2&3	Term 4	Term 5	Term 6
Topic title	The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change	Organic Chemistry	Chemical Analysis	Chemistry of the Atmosphere	Using Resources

See the chemistry trilogy curriculum overview table above for Knowledge Organisers.  

Physics - separate science

	FIRST YEAR (Year 9)
Term	Term 1 & 2	Term 3 & 4	Term 5	Term 6
Topic Title	Energy	Electricity	Particle Model of Matter	Atomic Structure

	SECOND YEAR (Year 10)
Term	Term 1 & 2	Term 3 & 4	Term 5	Term 6
Topic title	Forces	Waves	Magnetism and Electromagnetism	Space Physics

See the physics trilogy curriculum overview table above for Knowledge Organisers.