Subject Information - Science

VISION / AIM

Our vision is to inspire and engage students' learning and understanding of the world around us. To develop key ideas and skills of scientific knowledge, understanding, skills and curiosity in how science plays a role in the student’s past, present and future.

Our aim is to develop a deeper understanding of a range of scientific ideas in the subject disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.

We run a range of extra curricular opportunities such as, the weekly Science club, STEM projects and a full programme of events for National Science Week. We also welcome guest speakers and events such as Birds of Prey, the Big Bugs show and the Chick hatching projects and we look forward to organising our science themed trips and excursions.

Resources and support materials can be found on Google Classroom.

Further information can be requested from Mrs D Birtwistle, Head of Department, dbirtwistle@fhes.org.uk

 

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

CONNECTIONS - THEMES - THREAD

('Big Ideas')

Year 7    

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

Biology: What are living things and what are they made of?

Movement.

Cells

Breathing & Respiration

Digestion & Circulation

 Cell Biology

 Organisation

Bioenergetics.

Homeostasis & Response.

 

 

Biology: How do living things grow and reproduce?

Reproduction in Plants & Human Reproduction

 

Inheritance & Variation

 

Inheritance, Variation and evolution.

Biology: How do living things live together in their environments?

Ecosystem -

Photosynthesis

 

Ecology

 

Ecology

 

Biology: Why are there similarities and differences between living things?

 

Inheritance & Variation

 

 

 

Ecology

 

Biology: How do living things stay healthy?

 

Health

 

Infection & Response

B3 Infection & Response (continued)

 

Chemistry: How do we explain how substances behave?

Separating Mixtures

 

C1 Atomic structure and the periodic table

 

C2 Structure and bonding.

C6 Rates of reaction

C6 Rates of reaction

C7 Organic Chemistry

C10 Using Earth's resources

C8 Chemical Analysis

Chemistry: What are things (materials?) made of?

Particles

Atoms , Elements & compounds

C1 Atomic structure and the periodic table

C2 Structure and bonding

 

 

C3 Quantitative Chemistry

C6 Rates of reaction

C6 Rates of reaction

C7 Organic Chemistry

C10 Using Earth's resources

C8 Chemical Analysis

 

Chemistry: How can substances be made and changed?

 

Patterns of reactivity

 

 

C4 Chemical Changes

C5 Energy Changes

C10 Using Resources

Chemistry: How can we explain changes in the air, land and oceans?

 

Environmental Chemistry

C9 Earth's Atmosphere

 

 

C7 Organic Chemistry

Physics: Why do materials have different properties?

Energy

 

 

P3 Particle Model

 

P3 Particle Model

P4 Atomic Structure

 

 

Physics: How do forces make things happen?

Forces

 

Forces of Action & Motion

 

P1 Energy

 

P5 Forces

 

P5 Forces (continue)

 

Physics: How do we see, hear and communicate?

 

Waves

 

 

 

P6 Waves

 

Physics: How do electricity and magnetism work?

 

Electricity & Magnetism

 

P2 Electricity

 

 

P7 Magnetism & Electromagnetism

 

Physics: How does the Earth fit into the Universe?

Forces

Solar system and beyond

 

 

 

P8 Space Physics (Sep)

 

 

 

Autumn Term

Spring Term

Summer Term

Year 7

Cells

Particles

Energy

Reproduction

Atoms, elements & compounds

Separating mixtures

Acids & bases

Digestion & Circulation

Inheritance and health

Year 8

Electricity & Magnetism

Environmental Chemistry

Chemical reactions

Waves

Respiration and gas exchange

Ecology

Photosynthesis

Forces of Action & Motion

Patterns of reactivity
    Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term

Year 9

Biology

Cell Biology.

Organisation.

Organisation.

Chemistry

Atomic structure and the periodic table.

Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter.

Chemistry of the atmosphere.

Physics

Energy.

Energy.

Electricity.

Electricity.

Year 10

Biology

Infection and response.

Bioenergetics.

Homeostasis and response.

Chemistry

Quantitative chemistry.

Chemical changes.

Energy changes.

Physics

Particle model of matter and Atomic structure.

Forces.

Forces.

Year 11

Biology

Inheritance, variation and evolution.

Ecology.

Ecology.

Revision.

Chemistry

The rate and extent of chemical change.

Organic chemistry.

Chemical analysis.

Using resources.

Revision.

Physics

Waves.

Magnetism and electromagnetism.

Space physics (Separate award only).

Revision.

 

KEY SKILLS

 

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

Key Skills

To be able to practise and embed the following skills:

  • To begin to state scientific knowledge and understanding.
  • To begin to describe scientific knowledge and understanding.
  • Have an introductory understanding of the big ideas.
  • To make initial links in scientific knowledge and understanding to analyse results / data.
  • Make simple predictions - suggest what will happen in a new situation.
  • To explain simply linking scientific knowledge and understanding.
  • Apply given information to show understanding of processes or functions.
  • Suggest an explanation using basic scientific understanding.
  • Evaluate - judge whether scientific data or information is reasonable or identify weaknesses.
  • Maths skills - foundation addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, apply data to a formula with scaffolding and modelling and graph skills with scaffolding and modelling.
  • Balance simple chemical equations.
  • Developing Literacy and Oracy of Tier 3 science terminology.

 

To be able to develop, enhance and master key skills from Year 7, 8 and 9:

  • State scientific knowledge and understanding clearly using correct Tier 3 terminology.
  • Describe concepts confidently using scientific knowledge and understanding.
  • Have a secure understanding of the big ideas.
  • Scientific understanding - having an accurate mental structure of the concepts and skills.
  • To confidently link scientific knowledge and understanding to analyse results / data.
  • Make robust predictions - suggest what will happen in a new situation confidently drawing on scientific knowledge and understanding.
  • Explain in detail, using scientific knowledge and understanding.
  • Apply given information to show understanding of processes or functions.
  • Suggest an explanation confidently using scientific understanding.
  • To be able to evaluate investigative work, to confidently judge whether information is reasonable or identify weaknesses. To be able to critically evaluate scientific data or information.
  • Maths skills - mastered ability to carry out addition, division, multiplication, application of data to a formula and robust graph skills.
  • Balance foundation to higher level chemical equations.
  • Developing Literacy and Oracy of Tier 3 science terminology.

Enquiry processes: working scientifically

To be able to practise and embed the following scientific enquiry skills:

  • Development of scientific thinking and hypothesising.
  • Practical skills with the development of experimental skills and strategies.
  • Observational skills.
  • Identifying a range of Variables.
  • Present data - using table and graph skills.
  • Analyse patterns.
  • Draw conclusions.
  • Beginning to use and develop a bank of scientific vocabulary, quantities, units, symbols and nomenclature.
  • Communicate ideas with peers and teachers.
  • Introduction into Required Practical Activities (RPA).
  • With scaffolding and support beginning to carry out a range of RPAs in year 9.

 

To be able to develop, enhance and master key scientific enquiry skills from Year 7, 8 and 9:

  • Development leading into Mastery of scientific thinking and hypothesising.
  • Mastery of practical skills with continued development of experimental skills and strategies.
  • Accurate and precise observational skills.
  • Confidently identifying a range of Variables.
  • Analyse - to be able to confidently analyse patterns, discuss limitations, draw conclusions, present data - using table and graph skills.
  • Communicate ideas with peers and teachers, construct explanations, critique claims, justify opinions.
  • Enquire - to be able to accurately and precisely collect data, devise questions, plan variables, test hypotheses.
  • Solve - to confidently estimate risks, examine consequences, review theories, interrogate sources.
  • Competently using scientific vocabulary, quantities, units, symbols and nomenclature.
  • Confidently carrying out all Required Practical Activities, showing mastery of GCSE level scientific enquiry skills.

 

GCSE SCIENCE EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

AQA

Separate Science Award

 

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Paper 1

Cell biology; Organisation; Infection and response; and Bioenergetics.

Atomic structure and the periodic table; Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter; Quantitative chemistry, Chemical changes; and Energy changes.

Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure.

Paper 2

Homeostasis and response; Inheritance, variation and evolution; and Ecology.

The rate and extent of chemical change; Organic chemistry; Chemical analysis, Chemistry of the atmosphere; and Using resources.

Forces; Waves; Magnetism and electromagnetism; and Space physics.

Link to the Specification

Separate Biology award: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/biology/specifications/AQA-8461-SP-2016.PDF

Separate Chemistry award: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/chemistry/specifications/AQA-8462-SP-2016.PDF

Separate Physics award:  https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/specifications/AQA-8463-SP-2016.PDF

 

Exam Board

AQA

Combined Trilogy Science award

 

Combined Trilogy Biology

Combined Trilogy Chemistry

Combined Trilogy Physics

Paper 1

Cell Biology; Organisation; Infection and response; and Bioenergetics.

Atomic structure and the periodic table; Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter; Quantitative chemistry; Chemical changes; and Energy changes.

Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure.

Paper 2

Homeostasis and response; Inheritance, variation and evolution; and Ecology.

The rate and extent of chemical change; Organic chemistry; Chemical analysis; Chemistry of the atmosphere; and Using resources.

Forces; Waves; and Magnetism and electromagnetism.

Link to the Specification

GCSE Combined Trilogy Science award : https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/science/specifications/AQA-8464-SP-2016.PDF

 

 

 

 

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