St Leonard's

KS3 Science curriculum

Intent: Our young scientists will acquire life-long enquiry science skills, in order to explore and understand the world they live in, alongside the vast knowledge of the disciplines of biology, physics and chemistry. They will also develop an understanding of the vital role that major scientific ideas and scientists have played in society. In doing so, all our pupils, regardless of their starting points, will be fully prepared for their next stage of science education, and beyond.

Science is taught discretely, with a focus on substantive knowledge-rich content and the development of essential disciplinary knowledge. The National Curriculum programmes of study are fully adhered to and then supplemented with additional knowledge-rich content. This provides an ambitious and coherent science curriculum that both prepares pupils extremely well for future learning and gives them the tools to independently investigate and explore the world further. The science curriculum encourages pupils to be curious about natural phenomena and to be excited by the process of understanding the world around them. We are integrating the idea of Science Capital into our curriculum to foster an understanding of the role of science in our local community.

We want our pupils to remember the concepts they learn. Therefore, the curriculum focuses on the sequential development of essential substantive knowledge underpinning biology, chemistry and physics, as per our science progression map. Over time, these building blocks of component learning are transformed into a deep understanding of the real world. Each year group deepens their understanding of key concepts, adding new generative knowledge to existing schema. For example, the biology strand of ‘plants’ is revisited multiple times throughout the year groups, with the component learning of basic plant structure in KS2 transforming into the composite learning of photosynthesis in plants in Year 8, then bioenergetics processes in Year 10 and in-depth photosynthesis in Year 13.

Procedures and concepts that underpin scientific methods are developed through the systematic focus on disciplinary knowledge. Every unit of work contains opportunities to develop the Working Scientifically skills of asking questions, planning enquiries, observing, measuring, recording, presenting and interpreting results, drawing conclusions, predicting and evaluating, according to the progression in these skills as per the science progression map. Thus, essential science concepts are developed whilst children investigate the world around them. The different approaches to science enquiry, such as testing, research and classifying are also systematically developed in the disciplinary knowledge section of the progression map. Each science unit of work is then framed around an enquiry question(s), ensuring a systematic, contextualised development of both substantive and disciplinary knowledge.

	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9
Half term 1	General safety in the Laboratory C1: Acids and alkalis	C1: Atoms, elements and compounds B1: Cells and respiration	B1: Cell Biology B2: Organisation B3: Infection & Response C1: Atomic structure & periodic table
Half term 2	B1: Breathing and organ systems P1: The Earth and beyond	B2: Photosynthesis P1: Electricity	C2: Bonding P1: Energy P2: Electricity P3: Particles
Half term 3	B2: Food, digestion and lifestyle C2: Particles	B3: Reproduction C2: Materials	B4: Variation & evolution B5: Homeostasis & response C3: Acids & salts
Half term 4	P2: Simple forces	P2: Further forces	C4: Rates P4: Forces P5: Waves
Half term 5	B3: Ecological relationships C3: Separating materials	B4: Inheritance and selection C3: Our Earth	B6: Ecology C5: Mixtures
Half term 6	P3: Energy	P3: Light and sound	P6: Magnetism

KS4 GCSE Science

There are 2 GCSE pathways available in Science. 

• GCSE Separate Science
• GCSE Combined Science

GCSE Separate Sciences offers students a chance to gain a more in depth knowledge of Chemistry, Biology and Physics and to build on areas covered in combined Science in more detail as well as covering extra content. Formally known as Triple Science, it develops deeper understanding of all three Science disciplines and is aimed for students wanting to study A level sciences. Students study science covering both wider and deeper knowledge which will benefit their A level studies.

Combined Science is a broad and detailed course of study that develops student’s knowledge and understanding of the living, material and physical worlds, as well as the skills required to investigate concepts through practical application. The course is suitable for students of all abilities and the course encourages students to understand theoretical concepts alongside developing practical Science skills. Whilst Separate Sciences is aimed for students who want to study A level, our combined science pupils who meet our entry grade criteria will also be welcomed on our A-level courses.

Exam board: AQA

Course codes: Separate Science Biology – 8461; Separate Science Chemistry – 8462;  Separate Science Physics – 8463; Combined Science Trilogy – 8464.

Examinations:

Combined Science: Biology paper 1 – 16.7%, Biology paper 2 – 16.7%. Chemistry paper 1 – 16.7%, Chemistry paper 2 – 16.7%. Physics paper 1 – 16.7%, Physics paper 2 – 16.7%.

Separate Science:

Biology paper 1 – 50%, Biology paper 2 – 50%. 

Chemistry paper 1 – 50%, Chemistry paper 2 – 50%. 

Physics paper 1 – 50%, Physics paper 2 – 50%.

Progression routes: A career in science is rewarding and has many advantages. Your work enables you to contribute to society, exposes you to intellectually stimulating subject matter, and is often well-paid. Across academia and many different industries, scientists are investigating the world around us with the aim to drive progress and improve our quality of life. Working in science enables you to follow your passions and have exciting experiences. Careers in science can include technical, specialist and management roles. The top Science fields currently in demand are: Biology; Biomedical engineering and technology; Chemistry; Computer and software engineering; Geology and petroleum technology; Medical sciences; Nuclear engineering and technology; Psychology and Research and development.

Half Term	Year 10	Year 11
Half term 1	Biology: Bioenergetics – Respiration Chemistry: Atomic Structure & Periodic Table Topic Bonding & Structure Topic Physics: Energy Topic	Biology: Inheritance Topic Chemistry: Calculations Topic Physics: Forces & Momentum Topic
Half term 2	Biology: Bioenergetics – Photosynthesis Cell Biology Chemistry: Acids, Salts & Electrolysis Topic Physics: Particle Model of Matter Topic.	Biology: Inheritance Topic Chemistry: Equilibria & Atmosphere Topic Physics: Waves Topic
Half term 3	Biology: Organisation Chemistry: Rates & Energy Topic Physics: Electricity Topic.	Biology: Homeostasis Topic Chemistry: Using Resources Physics: Magnetism & Electromagnetism Topic
Half term 4	Biology: Infection & Response Chemistry: Organic Topic Physics: Atomic Structure Topic	Biology: Homeostasis Topic Chemistry: Using Resources Physics: Magnetism & Electromagnetism Topic
Half term 5	Biology: Variation & Evolution Chemistry: Mixtures Topic Physics: Forces & Motion Topic	Biology: Ecology Topic Chemistry: Structured Revision Lessons Physics: Structured Revision Lessons
Half term 6	Biology: Variation & Evolution Chemistry: Mixtures Topic Physics: Forces & Elasticity Topic	Biology: Revision Chemistry: Revision Physics: Revision

KS5 courses