Science

The aim in Science is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to engage with new ideas and explore what interests them. Science has something to offer every student.

Our core approach is the idea that all students will be inspired and able to engage through practical experiences and investigations in the disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

The department has a large range of equipment to enrich learning from Year 7 to Year 11. Every student in Year 11 is provided with:

A pocket Revision Guide
An exam practice work book

The department has issued these to ensure students have all the tools necessary to enable students to achieve their full potential.

The KS3 schemes of learning ensure that students are adequately equipped with the skills needed to enable a smooth transition into KS4.

Courses in Science

Key Stage 4

Year 9 - 11

GCSE Combined Science (Edexcel)
GCSE Biology (Edexcel)
GCSE Chemistry (Edexcel)
GCSE Physics (Edexcel)

Key Stage 3 - Year 7 Curriculum Breakdown

Year 7

Term	Topic	Learning Outcomes	Assessment
Autumn	Wonder In Science	This unit is based on the book ‘Wonder’ and pupils will learn about: Lab Safety and equipment How to use a Bunsen Burner safely Bunsen Burner Licence Methods and measurements Graph skills	Marking episodes
	Cells, Tissues, Organs and Organ Systems	In this unit you will learn about: Life processes Microscopes Cells Microscopes practical Organs Tissues Organ systems	Marking episodes End of topic test
	The Particle Model	In this unit you will learn about: Solids, Liquids and Gases Density Changes of state graphs Hypotheses and theories Brownian Motion Diffusion Air pressure	Marking episodes End of topic test
	DC1 Test
	Forces	In this unit you will learn about: Different forces Springs practical Friction investigation Resultant force SI units and speed Pressure calculations	Marking episodes End of topic test

Spring	Current and Electricity	In this unit you will learn about: Circuits and current Models for circuits Voltage and current in parallel circuits Resistance practical Using electricity	Marking episodes End of topic test
	Muscles and Bones	In this unit you will learn about: Muscles and breathing Muscles and blood Heart rate practical The skeletal system Muscles and movement Drugs	Marking episodes End of topic test
	DC2 Test
	Ecosystems	In this unit you will learn about: Variation Adaptations Effects of the environment Effects on the environment Transfers in food chains Additional sampling ecosystems lesson	Marking episodes End of topic test
	Sound	In this unit you will learn about: Making sound Moving sound Detecting sound Insulating sound investigation Using sound Comparing waves	Marking episodes End of topic test

Summer	Energy	In this unit you will learn about: Energy from food Burning foods investigation Energy transfers and stores Fuels Renewable energy resources Comparing energy resources	Marking episodes End of topic test
	Elements, Mixtures, Compounds and Separation Techniques	In this unit you will learn about: Elements, mixtures and compounds Metals and non-metals Chemical reactions and making compounds Filtering Crystallisation and evaporation Distillation Chromatography investigation	Marking episodes End of topic test
	DCS Test
	Acids and Alkalis	In this unit you will learn about: Hazards Indicators Acidity and Alkalinity Neutralisation Neutralisation investigation	Marking episodes End of topic test
	Reproduction	In this unit you will learn about: Animal sexual reproduction Male reproductive system Female reproductive system Adolescence Menstrual cycle Becoming pregnant Gestation and birth	Marking episodes End of topic test
	Year 7 Practical catch up

Key Stage 3 - Year 8 Curriculum Breakdown

Year 8

Term

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Assessment

Autumn

Body Systems Recap

This is a review unit due to being missed in Year 7, it will contain:

Levels of organisation
The skeletal system
Joints and movement
Circulatory system
Respiratory system practical

Marking episodes

End of topic test

Sound

In this unit you will learn about:

Makings sound
Moving sound
Detecting sound
Insulating sound investigation
Using sound
Comparing waves

Marking episodes

End of topic test

Breathing and Respiration

In this unit you will learn about:

Aerobic respiration
Gas exchange system
Getting oxygen
Comparing gas exchange
Anaerobic respiration

Marking episodes

End of topic test

Energy

In this unit you will learn about:

Energy from food
Burning foods investigation
Energy transfers and stores
Fuels
Renewable energy resources
Comparing energy resources

Marking episodes

End of topic test

Food and Nutrition

In this unit you will learn about:

Digestion
Absorption
Nutrients and uses
Starch test
Benedicts test
Fats and proteins
Balanced diets

Marking episodes

End of topic test

Spring

The Periodic Table

In this unit you will learn about:

Dalton’s atomic model
Chemical properties
Mendeleev’s table
Physical and Chemical changes

Marking episodes

End of topic test

Light

In this unit you will learn about:

Properties of light
Reflection
Refraction
Refraction in lenses
Cameras and eyes
Colours

Marking episodes

End of topic test

Fluids

In this unit you will learn about:

The particle model
Calculating density
Changing state
Pressure in fluids
Floating and sinking
Drag practical

Marking episodes

End of topic test

Metals and Their Uses

In this unit you will learn about:

Metals and their properties
Corrosion
Metals and water
Metals and acids
Collecting gas
Pure metals and alloys

Marking episodes

End of topic test

Summer

Energy Transfer 2

In this unit you will learn about:

Temperature change
Transferring energy: Conduction
Transferring energy: Convection
Transferring energy: Radiation
Controlling transfers
Power and efficiency
Paying for energy

Marking episodes

End of topic test

End of year exam

Acids and Alkalis

In this unit you will learn about:

Hazards
Indicators
Acidity and Alkalinity
Neutralisation
Neutralisation Investigation

Marking episodes

End of topic test

Combustion

In this unit you will learn about:

Combustion
Oxidation
Fire safety
Air pollution
Global warming
Reducing pollution

Marking episodes

End of topic test

Food and Nutrition

In this unit you will learn about:

Digestion
Absorption
Nutrients and uses
Starch test
Benedicts test
Fats and proteins
Balanced diets

Marking episodes

End of topic test

Missed practical work/

Earth and Space

In this unit you will learn about:

Gathering evidence
Phases of the moon
Seasons
Magnetic Earth
Gravity in space
Making comparisons
Beyond the solar system
Moon landing conspiracy

Marking episodes

End of topic test

Key Stage 4 Curriculum Breakdown

Year 9 Combined Science (Edexcel)

Half Term

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Assessment

Term 1

Foundation Units - Key Ideas in Biology

In this unit you will learn about:

The circulatory system
Health and disease
Enzymes
Cells
Photosynthesis
Environmental field work

Extended writing

Marking purple zones

Check point assessments

Foundation Units – Key Ideas in chemistry

In this unit you will learn about:

The periodic table of elements
The Earth and its atmosphere
Separating techniques
Acids and alkalis
Rates of reactions.

Extended writing

Marking purple zones

Check point assessments

Foundation Units – Key Ideas in Physics

In this unit you will learn about:

How an electrical circuit works
Circuit symbols
Magnets
Electromagnets
Renewable and non-renewable energy resources

Extended writing

Marking purple zones

Check point assessments

Term 2

Key Concepts in Biology

In this unit you will learn about:

How microscopy has allowed us to find out more about the sub-cellular structures found in plants and animals.
The importance of enzymes in nutrition, growth and development.
How enzymes are affected by temperature and why each enzyme only works on a certain type of molecule.
How substances are carried by diffusion, osmosis and active transport.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Cells and Control

In this unit you will learn about:

Mitosis and its importance in growth, repair and asexual reproduction.
How cells become specialised, and the importance of stem cells.
How to identify different specialised cells in the nervous system and explain how the system works.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Genetics

In this unit you will learn about:

How gametes are produced by meiosis.
The structure of DNA.
Mutations and how genes cause variation.
Why certain characteristics are passed down through families.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

States of Matter: Methods of Separating and Purifying Substances

In this unit you will learn about:

How the arrangement and movement and energy of particles change during state changes.
How to use melting points to tell the difference between mixtures and pure substances.
How to identify substance using melting points and chromatography.
How different methods of separation work.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table

In this unit you will learn about:

How our ideas about atoms have changed over time.
What is relative atomic mass
How to calculate relative atomic mass for an element

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Term 3

Covalent and Ionic Bonding and Types of Substances

In this unit you will learn about:

How covalent and ionic bonds are formed.
The properties of covalent and ionic compounds.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Acids and Alkalis

In this unit you will learn about:

The ions in acids and alkalis, and how their concentrations are linked to pH.
What happens in the reactions between acids and different types of bases.
How different indicators can be used in acid-alkali titrations.
How different soluble and insoluble salts can be prepared.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Natural Selection and Genetic Modification

In this unit you will learn about:

Darwin’s theory of evolution.
How different methods are used to investigate evolution.
How organisms are classified.
How selective breeding is carried out.
How genetic modification is carried out.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Health, Disease and the Development of Medicine

In this unit you will learn about:

How to define health.
How some pathogens that cause diseases.
How the spread of pathogens can be reduced or prevented.
How the body is protected against infection.
How the immune system works.
How antibiotic work.
How new medicines are developed.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Year 10 Combined Science (Edexcel)

Half Term

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Assessment

Term 1

Health Disease and Medicine

In this unit you will learn about:

How to define health.
How some pathogens that cause diseases.
How the spread of pathogens can be reduced or prevented.
How the body is protected against infection.
How the immune system works.
How antibiotics work.
How new medicines are developed.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Separating and
Purifying Substances

In this unit you will learn about:

How the arrangement, movement and energy of particles change during state changes.
How to use melting points to tell the difference between mixtures and pure substances.
How to identify substances using melting points and chromatography.
How different methods of separation work.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

The Periodic Table and Atomic Structure

In this unit you will learn about:

How our ideas about atoms have changed over time.
What is relative atomic mass
How to calculate relative atomic mass for an element

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Ionic and Covalent Bonding

In this unit you will learn about:

How covalent and ionic bonds are formed.
The properties of covalent and ionic compounds.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Acids and Alkalis

In this unit you will learn about:

The ions in acids and alkalis, and how their concentrations are linked to pH.
What happens in the reactions between acids and different types of bases.
How different indicators can be used in acid-alkali titrations.
How different soluble and insoluble salts can be prepared.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Calculations Involving Masses

In this unit you will learn about:

How to represent elements and compounds as symbols.
How mass is conserved during changes of state and chemical reactions.
How to show chemical reactions using equations.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Term 2

Electrolysis and Extracting Metals

In this unit you will learn about:

Oxidation and reduction reactions.
The reactivity series.
The advantage of recycling materials.
How to explain what happens during electrolysis.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Motion

In this unit you will learn about:

The difference between a vector and scalar quantity.
How to calculate the speed and acceleration of an object.
How to represent a journey as a DT and VT graph.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Forces and Motion

In this unit you will learn about:

Newton’s Laws of Motion.
How to calculate weight from an object’s mass.
The factors that affect the stopping distance of a vehicle.
The dangers of large decelerations.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Conservation of Energy

In this unit you will learn about:

How energy is transferred and stored.
How to represent energy using diagrams.
How to calculate efficiency.
How to reduce transfers of wasted energy.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Waves

In this unit you will learn about:

Waves and how they transfer energy and information.
How to describe the characteristics of a wave.
How the speed of a wave is related to its frequency and wavelength.
How the speed of a wave is related to the time it takes to travel a certain distance.
How waves are refracted at boundaries between different materials.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

In this unit you will learn about:

The electromagnetic spectrum, including the uses of the different parts.
The harmful effects of the waves in different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Radioactivity

In this unit you will learn about:

How particles are arranged inside an atom.
How to represent atoms as symbols.
The different types of radiation, their dangers and how to protect ourselves.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Term 3

Plant Structures and their Functions

In this unit you will learn about:

Photosynthesis and the factors that affect its rate.
How water uptake is affected by different factors.
How the reactants and products of photosynthesis are transported around a plant.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Animal Coordination and Homeostasis

In this unit you will learn about:

The endocrine glands.
How hormones are transported to their target organs.
How the menstrual cycle is controlled.
How hormones are used in contraception.
Diabetes and how blood glucose concentration is controlled.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Exchange and Transport in Animals

In this unit you will learn about:

The different types of respiration.
How the lungs, heart, blood vessels, and the blood are adapted to thier functions.
How to calculate cardiac output.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Ecosystems and Material Cycles

In this unit you will learn about:

How ecosystems are organised.
How communities are affected by biotic and abiotic factors.
How the abundance and distribution of organisms are measured.
Parasitism and mutualism
How humans can affect ecosystems and the importance of maintaining biodiversity.
How materials are cycled through ecosystems

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Year 11 Combined Science (AQA)

Half Term	Topic	Learning Outcomes	Assessment
Term 1	Acids and Alkalis	In this unit you will learn about: The ions in acids and alkalis, and how their concentrations are linked to pH. What happens in the reactions between acids and different types of bases. How different indicators can be used in acid-alkali titrations. How different soluble and insoluble salts can be prepared.	Extended writing Retrieval grids Extended purple zones Past exam papers
	Calculations Involving Masses	In this unit you will learn about: How to represent elements and compounds as symbols. How mass is conserved during changes of state and chemical reactions. How to show chemical reactions using equations.	Extended writing Retrieval grids Extended purple zones Past exam papers
	Electrolysis and Extracting Metals	In this unit you will learn about: Oxidation and reduction reactions. The reactivity series. The advantage of recycling materials. How to explain what happens during electrolysis.	Extended writing Retrieval grids Extended purple zones Past exam papers
	Groups in the Periodic Table	In this unit you will learn about: How to write balanced chemical equations, including the state symbols. The properties and reactions of the elements in groups 1, 7 and 0. How changes in conditions can affect the rate of a reaction.	Extended writing Retrieval grids Extended purple zones Past exam papers
	Fuels and the Atmosphere	In this unit you will learn about: How hydrocarbons are found in crude oil and natural gas. How crude oil is separated into useful fractions. The alkanes as a homologous series. The problems caused by atmospheric pollutants. The Earth’s changing atmosphere and climate change.	Extended writing Retrieval grids Extended purple zones Past exam papers

Half Term	Topic	Learning Outcomes	Assessment
Term 2	Electricity and Circuits	In this unit you will learn about: Current, charge and potential difference. How to calculate resistance, power and energy transferred. The UK domestic electricity supply and electrical safety in homes.	Extended writing Retrieval grids Extended purple zones Past exam papers
	Magnetism, the Motor Effect and Electromagnetic Induction	In this unit you will learn about: Permanent and induced magnets, and how to represent a magnetic field. The magnetic field and current around a wire and the factors that affect it. How to use the power equation for transformers. How transformers are used in the national grid.	Extended writing Retrieval grids Extended purple zones Past exam papers
	The Particle Model, Forces and Matter	In this unit you will learn about: The different densities of substances and how to calculate density. Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat and how to calculate them both. How changing the temperature of a gas effects its pressure. The Kelvin and Celsius temperature scales. Elastic and inelastic distortion. The relationship between force, extension, and how to calculate the extension and spring constant	Extended writing Retrieval grids Extended purple zones Past exam papers

Half Term

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Assessment

Term 3

Year 11 Revision

During this time you will:

Develop your exam technique and learn different methods to support you in answering GCSE exam questions.
Develop a range of revision strategies to help prepare for the terminal exams at the end of year 11
Re-visit key concepts across the syllabus and carry out targeted revision.
Re-visit the GCSE required practicals and using simulations learn how to interpret and analyse data.

Extended writing

Retrieval grids

Extended purple zones

Past exam papers

For further information on the curriculum offered please contact the Academy F.A.O:

Mrs S Lindsay: Curriculum Leader for Science - Lindsay.s@whiteroseacademies.org