Curriculum

SCIENCE

Why study Science?

The principal focus of our science teaching is to develop pupils’ deeper understanding of a range of scientific ideas in the subject disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. We encourage our pupils to make connections between these subject areas and to build upon the big ideas that underpin scientific knowledge and understanding. As our pupils learn science, the also learn about the significance of the subject in society and within their own lives. We teach pupils about the continued importance of working to solve global challenges such as the energy crisis, global warming, controlling disease and how science is fundamental in making changes. Our curriculum is sequenced to allow our pupils to build upon their knowledge of scientific concepts and disciplinary procedures. By doing so, our pupils can reason scientifically about phenomena with increasing sophistication and can use their knowledge to work scientifically with increasing expertise.

How will I study Science?

Pupils study Science through both substantive and disciplinary knowledge. Each topic covers a sequence of lessons that builds sophisticated language through the delivery of scientific concepts and working scientifically. Our curriculum goes beyond learning scientific facts and completing practical work or collecting data; it includes learning about the concepts and procedures that scientists use to develop scientific explanations. We develop pupils’ understanding that science is about working objectively, modifying explanations to take account of new evidence and ideas and subjecting results to peer review. Pupils learn to decide on the appropriate type of scientific enquiry to undertake to answer their own questions and to develop a deeper understanding of factors to be considered when collecting, recording and processing data. They learn to evaluate their results and identify further questions arising from them. These are revisited throughout the course to gain a deeper understanding and equip our pupils with a range of scientific ideas in the subject disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics making connections between these subject areas and linking to other subject areas that they study.

What will I study at Key Stage 3?

We encourage our students to be curious about the world around them and to develop a positive and practical approach to scientific learning. In Key Stage 3, we build an understanding of the ‘Big Ideas’ in science that are relevant to students’ lives during and beyond school. We achieve this through a wide and varied curriculum in which students are regularly challenged and reviewed. Students will develop an understanding that science is about working objectively and is continually changing and developing in the world around us.

Year 7 covers the key concepts that underpin the three sciences. Students will study cells, particles and their behaviour, atoms, elements and compounds. This knowledge is applied to the study of forces, sound, eco system processes and the structure and function of body systems.

In year 8 knowledge of Biology is developed studying health, lifestyle and eco system processes. Chemistry focuses on acids and alkalis, the periodic table and separation techniques. In Physics students will study light, space and electricity and magnetism.

In year 9 students study energy, adaptation and inheritance. Students develop their understanding of metals, acids, the earth, motion and pressure. Students go on to study the application of new technology in Physics, Chemistry and Biology exploring issues such as nanoparticles, genetic engineering, the use of radioactivity.

What will I study at Key Stage 4?

Once pupils move into Key Stage 4, our teaching of science continues to build upon and deepen the substantive and disciplinary knowledge and understanding developed in earlier key stages. Our pupils study Combined Science as three separate disciplines. In Biology, the topics covered seek to understand living organisms and life. It considers the complex systems involving interactions between genes, the environment and random chance. Physics builds its explanations on measurable quantities that can be put into numerical relationships. Chemistry draws heavily on the use of models and modelling to explain the behaviour of matter and routinely involves the synthesis of the objects it studies. Pupils continue to work scientifically and think like a scientist through a broad, coherent and practical based curriculum that will challenge and inspire students.

Assessment

GCSE Combined Science Edexcel 1SC0

Biology Paper 1 (1SC0/1BH, 1SC0/1BF)

Overview Focus
  • Written exam: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 60 marks
  • 16.7% of GCSE
  • Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology
  • Topic 2 – Cells and control
  • Topic 3 – Genetics
  • Topic 4 – Natural selection and genetic modification
  • Topic 5 – Health, disease and the development of medicine

A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions.

Calculators may be used in the examination.

 

Biology Paper 2 (1SC0/1BH, 1SC0/2BF)

Overview Focus
  • Written exam: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 60 marks
  • 16.7% of GCSE
  • Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology
  • Topic 6 – Plant structures and their functions, Topic 7 – Animal coordination, control and homeostasis
  • Topic 8 – Exchange and transport in animals
  • Topic 9 – Ecosystems and material cycles

A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions.

Calculators may be used in the examination.

 

Chemistry Paper 1 (1SC0/1CH, 1SC0/1CF)

Overview Focus
  • Written exam: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 60 marks
  • 16.7% of GCSE
  • Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry
  • Topic 2 – States of matter and mixtures
  • Topic 3 – Chemical changes
  • Topic 4 – Extracting metals and equilibria

A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions.

Calculators may be used in the examination.

 

Chemistry Paper 2 (1SC0/2CH, 1SC0/2CF)

Overview Focus
  • Written exam: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 60 marks
  • 16.7% of GCSE
  • Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry
  • Topic 6 – Groups in the periodic table
  • Topic 7 – Rates of reaction and energy changes
  • Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth science

A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions.

Calculators may be used in the examination.

 

GCSE Combined Science Edexcel 1SC0

Physics Paper 1 (1SC0/1PH, 1SC0/1PF)

Overview Focus
  • Written exam: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 60 marks
  • 16.7% of GCSE
  • Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics
  • Topic 2 – Motion and forces
  • Topic 3 – Conservation of energy
  • Topic 4 – Waves
  • Topic 5 – Light and the electromagnetic spectrum
  • Topic 6 – Radioactivity

A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions.

Calculators may be used in the examination.

 

Physics Paper 2 (1SC0/2PH, 1SC0/2PF)

Overview Focus
  • Written exam: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 60 marks
  • 16.7% of GCSE
  • Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics
  • Topic 8 – Energy – Forces doing work
  • Topic 9 – Forces and their effects
  • Topic 10 – Electricity and circuits
  • Topic 12 – Magnetism and the motor effect
  • Topic 13 – Electromagnetic induction
  • Topic 14 – Particle model
  • Topic 15 – Forces and matter

A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions.

Calculators may be used in the examination.

 

Enrichment

The department offers enrichment clubs, such as the popular ‘Eco-Stars’ and provides access to speakers from industry, such as local large-scale Chemical manufacturers and energy suppliers. Students from Highfield will attend a STEM Summer School at St Pauls, London.

We work to break down the stereotypes associated with STEM careers and encourage our students to consider the full spectrum of Science specialisms available to them. Our Star Reader programme gives students the opportunity to develop their scientific literacy outside of the curriculum. During National Awareness weeks, such as Children’s Mental Health Week and British Science Week; and days such as World Book Day, the Science curriculum is embedded within topical one-off lessons aimed to build our students Science Capital

Careers

STEM careers are introduced at the beginning of each lesson and are intended to show the wide diversity of careers that studies in Science can lead to. The study of Science can lead to future careers ranging from Paramedic, Occupational Therapist and Speech and Language Therapist to Aerospace Engineer, Vet and Pharmacist. Famous Science graduates include David Attenborough (Natural Scientist), Helen Sharman (first female and first British astronaut to visit the International space station), Angela Merkel (German Chancellor).