Science

Curriculum Overview

Science delivers a meaningful scheme of learning across all years to enhance learners' understanding of the world around us and to develop their inquisitive nature.

At Key Stage 3 learners build their knowledge from Key Stage 2 to develop scientific enquiry and practical skills. Our scheme of work covers the national curriculum and a mastery learning philosophy is promoted in all lessons. Our curriculums allow learners to explore a range of topics within Biology, Chemistry and Physics to promote their passion for the subject.

Learners are encouraged to become independent learners through thinking hard strategies and the use of home learning projects as well as develop critical skills such as literacy and numeracy. Science has a great focus on promoting STEM based careers and giving access to educational visits and workshops with external visitors to build a love of learning throughout Years 7 to 9. Formative and summative assessments are regularly provided to assess learners’ scientific skills and allow clear feedback including when delivering remote learning via Google Classrooms. Scaffolded tasks after feedback are given providing clear differentiation to support learners struggling with content as well as stretch those with higher ability. This allows learners to become proactive scientists who are fully prepared to question concepts in their GCSE studies.

At Key Stage 4 learners utilise the skills developed in earlier years to apply to GCSE content and further develop their scientific enquiry skills. Our curriculum continues to develop learners’ independence through the use of online homework resources. These homeworks link closely to scaffolded tasks with clear differentiation to support students in their understanding of content and stretch those with a greater depth of understanding. Learners have access to many STEM based careers through visits and talks with professionals in a range of scientific fields. Formative and summative feedback is regularly provided to assess students understanding of content and its application to skills developed at Key Stage 3 including when delivering remote learning via Google Classrooms. Our curriculum embeds thinking hard and live modelling strategies in its design and lessons develop a range of skills such as literacy and numeracy. By the end of Key Stage 4 students will be able to demonstrate a deeper understanding of scientific concepts and be confident in their abilities both in practical and theoretical aspects of the subject. Learners will leave the school with a clear knowledge of the scientific world and be able to successfully and independently plan, analyse and apply key required practicals and content to succeed in their exams and future studies. For learners who do not take Science on into further education, we strive to achieve that these students have developed the required skills to problem solve and make decision in many areas of life. These students will face challenges and opportunities that confront our world and our curriculum will support them to approach this from a scientific perspective, taking into account both social and ethical considerations.

The Science long-term plan is available here.

The Year 7 - 9 Science Learning Journey is available here.

The Year 10 & 11 Biology Learning Journey is available here.

The Year 10 & 11 Chemistry Learning Journey is available here.

The Year 10 & 11 Physics Learning Journey is available here.

The Year 10 & 11 Trilogy Learning Journey is available here.