Science Curriculum Overview
The grid below gives an overview of the curriculum for this academic year:
Parent guide to the new GCSE Science courses.
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Year 7 |
Students are timetabled six Science lessons per fortnight. The curriculum followed is based on the National Curriculum using the Pearson Exploring Science resources.
On entry, students complete a baseline test which enables teachers to plan their lessons to allow students to build on prior knowledge. Each term students will be taught Biology, Chemistry and Physics topics. Assessment and feedback will take place at the end of each of these topics. A great emphasis is placed on practical work and students are introduced to a wide range of scientific equipment and its safe use. The practical and investigative skills of planning, observing, analysing and evaluating are introduced and developed throughout. |
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Year 8 |
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Year 9 |
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Course Title: GCSE Combined Science
Awarding Body: Edexcel
Why study Combined Science?
The Combined Science course is compulsory. Science helps pupils understand the world around them and also the role that science has in society. It helps develop planning, team work, problem solving and practical skills as well as generating curiosity about their surroundings. This enables pupils to develop the confidence to question the workings of the biological, chemical, physical and technological world and become better informed citizens. There are a number of links between Science and other subjects, this includes the use of numeracy and literacy skills.
Course Outline
There are two tiers of entry: Foundation and Higher. The grade awarded is dependent on the tier of exam completed, these are listed below.
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Foundation |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
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Higher |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
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Year 10 |
Year 11 |
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Biology 1 Key biological concepts Cells and control Genetics Natural selection and genetic modification Ecosystems and materials cycles |
Biology 2 Key biological concepts Plant structures and their functions Animal coordination, control and homeostasis Exchange and transport in animals Health, disease and development of medicines |
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Chemistry 1 Key concepts in Chemistry States of matter Methods in separating and purifying substances Acids Obtaining and using metals Electrolytic processes Reversible reactions and equilibria |
Chemistry 2 Key concepts in Chemistry Group 1, 7 and 0 Rates of reaction Fuels Heat energy changes in chemical reactions Earth and atmospheric science |
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Physics 1 Motion and forces Waves Light and electromagnetic spectrum Particle model 1 Radioactivity |
Physics 2 Motion and forces Energy-forces doing work Forces and their effects Electricity and circuits Static electricity Magnetism and the motor effect Conservation and energy Particle model 2 Forces and matter |
Timetable
GCSE Science is taught by specialist teachers for 10 hours over a two week period.
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/sciences-2016.html
Assessment Format
Edexcel (1-9) Combined Science 1SC0
Skills addressed in exam paper
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Objective |
Weighting |
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Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: · Scientific ideas · Scientific techniques and procedures |
40% |
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Apply knowledge and understanding of: · Scientific ideas · Scientific enquiry, techniques and procedures |
40% |
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Analyse information and ideas to: · Interpret and evaluate · Make judgments and draw conclusions · Develop and improve experimental procedures |
20% |
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AO1 questions are based on knowledge and understanding of both theory from the specification and from the core practical tasks.
AO2 questions are based on application of knowledge and understanding in new theoretical and practical contexts.
AO3 questions are likely to be (but not exclusively) more challenging questions. They require the pupils to analyse information and use that to interpret, and evaluate or draw conclusions using their knowledge of the underlying science.
27% of marks will overlap between the Foundation and Higher tiers. These will be towards the end of the Foundation paper and the beginning of the Higher paper.
Subject content of exam papers
Students will be examined externally through 6 terminal examinations in May/June of year 11 with the first certification being in 2018. Each exam is 1 hour and 10 minutes.
The terminal examinations will contain content linked to the core practical tasks which students will be taught in class. Students will keep a separate record of this work and will be expected to apply their knowledge of these in an exam situation.
All examinations will also include questions of a mathematical nature.
What skills will I need to be successful in this subject?
The content covered in the course is vast but it is broken down into smaller topics and provided you are methodical in your approach, you will be successful. You will need to have an inquisitive mind and, if relevant, use your previous experiences to help you process the new information given during the course. Organisation will help you keep notes clear and concise so that revision is easier. Being willing to make mistakes and learn from them is important.
Possible Careers and Future Education
Science education develops a wide range of skills and opportunities that will prepare students for almost every career path.
Apart from the obvious science based careers, you may be surprised to hear that the skills you gain from studying science will open up opportunities in areas that are not obviously science related. For example: Finance; Teaching; Marketing; Patent Law; Photography; Art Restoration; Media and Film Production; Food Technology.
Course Title: GCSE Triple Science
Awarding Body: Edexcel
Why study Triple Science?
A number of students will be invited to study Biology, Chemistry and Physics, which will lead to three individual qualifications. The invitation will be based on prior attainment, attitude and behaviour in lessons. Science helps pupils understand the world around them and also the role that science has in society. It helps develop planning, team work, problem solving and practical skills, as well as generating curiosity about their surroundings. This develops pupils’ confidence to question the workings of the biological, chemical, physical and technological world and become better informed citizens. Triple Science offers the chance to look deeper into the individual sciences. There are a number of links between Science and other subjects, these includes the use of numeracy and literacy skills.
Course Outline
There are two tiers of entry: Foundation and Higher. The grade awarded is dependent on the tier of exam completed; these are listed below.
|
Foundation |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
||||
|
Higher |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
An overview of each unit:
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Biology 1 Key biological concepts Cells and control Genetics Natural selection and genetic modification Health, disease and development of medicines |
Biology 2 Key biological concepts Plants structures and their functions Animal coordination, control and homeostasis Exchange and transport in animals Ecosystems and material cycles |
An overview of each unit:
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Chemistry 1 Key concepts in Chemistry States of matter Methods of separating and purifying substances Acids Obtaining and using metals Electrolytic processes Reversible reactions and equilibria Transition metals, alloys and corrosion Quantitative analysis Dynamic equilibria calculations involving volumes of gases Chemical cells and fuel cells |
Chemistry 2 Key concepts in Chemistry Group 1, 7 and 0 Rates of reaction Fuels Heat energy changes in chemical reactions Earth and atmospheric science Qualitative analysis: tests for ions Hydrocarbons Polymers Alcohols and carboxylic acids Bulk and surface properties of matter including nanoparticles |
An overview of each unit:
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Physics 1 Motion and forces Waves Light and electromagnetic spectrum Particle model Radioactivity Uses of radioactivity Astronomy |
Physics 2 Motion and forces Energy-forces doing work Forces and their effects Electricity and circuits Static electricity Magnetism and the motor effect Conservation of energy Particle model Forces and matter Electromagnetic induction |
Timetable
Each Science is taught by a specialist teacher for 5 hours over a two week period.
More information and the full syllabus can be found at:
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/sciences-2016.html
Assessment Format
Edexcel (1-9) Triple Science 1BI0/1CH0/1PH0
Students will be examined externally through 2 terminal examinations in May and June of Year 11. Each exam is 1 hour and 45 minutes.
The terminal examinations will contain content linked to 8 core practical tasks which students will be taught in class. Students will keep a separate record of this work and will be expected to apply their knowledge of these in an exam situation.
All examinations will also include questions of a mathematical nature.
What skills will I need to be successful in this subject?
The content covered in the course is vast, but it is broken down into smaller topics and provided you are methodical in your approach you will be successful. You will need to have an inquisitive mind and, if relevant, use your previous experiences to help you process the new information given during the course. Organisation will help you keep clear and concise notes so that revision is easier. Being willing to make mistakes and learn from them is important.
Possible Careers and Future Education
Science education develops a wide range of skills and opportunities that will prepare students for almost every career path.
Triple science is key to those students who are planning to follow a science based career path or wish to study A-level sciences.
Careers may include; Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, Marine Biologist, Astronomy, Forensic Sciences.