Science

The study of Science fires students' imagination and curiosity about phenomena in the world around them and, through the skill of analysis and interpretation, offers opportunities to find explanations. Science should spark the imagination, offer enlightenment and help shape students' view of the world and their contribution to it.

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The Science curriculum ensures students gain a proper grounding in all manner of scientific theory and enables them to apply their knowledge and understanding to real life examples. They will develop practical investigation skills and discover how scientific ideas contribute to technological change – affecting industry, business and medicine and improving the quality of life. Students will also learn to question and discuss issues that may affect their own lives, and consider their own response.

The curriculum is enriched by the many visits, lectures, workshops and competitions which students take part in through the year.

The Key Stage 3 course, following the national curriculum, is broad and varied, offering students the ability to develop and test their scientific thinking in a way which gives them a firm foundation for Key Stage 4.

The national curriculum for science aims to ensure that all pupils:

develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.

In Year 7 all students study Biology, Chemistry and Physics topics as well as developing their working scientifically skills.

Biology topics: Cells; The structure and function of body systems; Reproduction

Chemistry topics: Particles and their behaviour; Elements, atoms and compounds; Separation techniques; Chemical reactions

Physics topics: Forces; Sound; Light; Space

In Year 8 all students study Biology, Chemistry and Physics topics and continue to develop their working scientifically skills.

Biology topics: Health and Lifestyle; Ecosystem processes; Adaptation and inheritance.

Chemistry topics: The Periodic Table; Metals and acids; acids and alkalis, The Earth

Physics topics: Energy; Electricity and magnetism; Motion and Pressure.

GCSE Science study begins in Year 9.

A curriculum overview calendar for Years 7-9 Science is available here

If you have any further questions relating to the Science curriculum at Key Stage 3, please email

Ms L Hope – Science KS3

At Key Stage 4, students can opt to take one of the following pathways in Science:

Triple Science (GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics)
Combined Science (2 GCSEs)

During Years 9, 10 and 11 our students follow the recognised ‘Kerboodle AQA GCSE Sciences 9-1’ schemes of work for science. In Year 9, as part of the options process, students need to decide if they will study Triple Science or Combined Science at GCSE. We encourage students to take the Triple Science option as it is an excellent foundation for studying science based A Level courses at college and leads to a wide range of career options. However, we also recognise that for other students, whose college interests may lie elsewhere, that the Combined Science option provides an excellent foundation for scientific study at Key Stage 5.

Both the Triple Science and Combined Science courses are very similar in structure, involving several modules covering all aspects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. These are examined terminally at the end of year 11. All GCSE courses follow the AQA 9-1 specifications. (GCSE Biology 8461, GCSE Chemistry 8462, GCSE Physics 8463 and GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 8464)

Textbooks and resources are available online through the Kerboodle website, every student has an individual log-in. Revision guides and workbooks are also available to purchase from school.

Biology: Triple and Combined Science

• Cell biology (Y10)

• Organisation (Y10)

• Infection and response (Y9)

• Bioenergetics (Y10)

• Homeostasis and response (Y11)

• Inheritance, variation and evolution (Y11)

• Ecology (Y9 and Y11)

Chemistry: Triple and Combined Science

• Atomic structure and the periodic table (Y9)

• Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter (Y10)

• Quantitative chemistry (Y10)