Science

Click on the links below to view our curriculum overviews for Y7-8 and Y9-11.

Year 7-8 Curriculum Overview

Year 9-11 Curriculum Overview

In Years 7 and 8, students study topics from Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Our curriculum carefully balances the development of scientific knowledge and skills so that students are well-prepared for their future studies in Science.

Key Stage 3 Science covers all of the science content specified in the National Curriculum as students progress from Years 7 and 8 into Year 9. The text books we use to support our Key Stage 3 provision are Activate 1 and Activate 2, published by Oxford University Press. In Year 9, students move on to use the AQA Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSE text books, also published by Oxford University Press.

How will it be assessed?

Students' learning is regularly assessed during lessons, with formal assessments being completed at the end of each term. The end of term assessments test the content taught during that term, which is from specified Biology, Chemistry, and Physics topics (see below). To assist students in their preparations for these tests, topic checklists are available for students to download from TCS SharePoint, detailing the key ideas that students need to know for that particular topic.

Throughout the year, class teachers will use student classwork, homework, and end of term assessments to assess whether a student's knowledge is emerging, secure, or advanced; the result of this assessment is then shared with students and parents via the Year 7 and 8 Progress Reports, which are emailed home.

Students will begin their Key Stage 4 Science course during Year 9 and will study topics from Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

How will it be assessed?

All GCSEs are now linear rather than modular. This means that all exams will take place at the end of the course. There is no coursework component, although practical lessons will help prepare students to answer questions in the exams.

Most students will study for GCSE Combined Science trilogy (AQA 8464), which is equivalent to a double award, graded on a 17 point scale, from 1-1 to 5-5 for Foundation Tier, and 4-4 to 9-9 for Higher Tier.

There are six papers: two biology, two chemistry and two physics. Each of the papers will assess knowledge and understanding from distinct topic areas.

Biology Paper 1: Topics B1 – 4
Biology Paper 2: Topics B5 – 7

Chemistry Paper 1: Topics C1 – 5
Chemistry Paper 2: Topics C6 – 10

Physics Paper 1: Topics P1-4
Physics Paper 2: Topics P5 – 7

All the above papers consist of:

• Written Exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
• 70 marks
• 16.7% of GCSE

Mathematical skills will be tested in a minimum of 10% of marks in biology; 20% in chemistry; and 30% in physics.

Working scientifically will be tested in 15% of marks, relating to the 21 required practical activities students will complete during this course.

Each paper will consist of multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response questions. Students can be entered at either the Foundation or Higher Tier.

Subject Content

Students will begin their Key Stage 4 Science course during Year 9 and will study topics from Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

How will it be assessed?

All GCSEs are now linear rather than modular. This means that all exams will take place at the end of the course. There is no coursework component, although practical lessons will help prepare students to answer questions in the exams.

Separate sciences comprise GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics, graded from 4-9 for Higher Tier. Students are awarded three distinct GCSE grades, one grade for each science subject.

There are six papers: two per GCSE. Each of the papers will assess knowledge and understanding from distinct topic areas.

Biology Paper 1: Topics B1 – 4
Biology Paper 2: Topics B5 – 7

Chemistry Paper 1: Topics C1 – 5
Chemistry Paper 2: Topics C6 – 10

Physics Paper 1: Topics P1 – 4
Physics Paper 2: Topics P5 – 8

All the above papers consist of:

• Written Exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
• 100 marks
• 50% of GCSE

Mathematical skills will be tested in a minimum of 10% of marks in biology; 20% in chemistry; and 30% in physics.

Working scientifically will be tested in 15% of marks, relating to the 24 required practical activities students will complete during this course.

Each paper will consist of multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response questions. Students can be entered at either the Foundation or Higher Tier.

Subject Content

GCSE COMBINED SCIENCE TRILOGY SPECIFICATION - DOUBLE AWARD

• Exam board: AQA
• Specimen papers and mark schemes for Combined Science are available for download from the AQA website pages for GCSE Combined Science.

GCSE BIOLOGY SPECIFICATION - SEPARATE SCIENCE AWARD (TRIPLE)

GCSE CHEMISTRY SPECIFICATION - GCSE SEPARATE SCIENCE AWARD (TRIPLE)

GCSE PHYSICS SPECIFICATION - GCSE SEPARATE SCIENCE AWARD (TRIPLE)

• Exam board: AQA
• Specimen papers and mark schemes for the separate sciences are available for download from the AQA website pages for GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry, and GCSE Physics. 

CGP revision guides, workbooks, and flash cards: ensure that you purchase materials for the correct level (higher or foundation) and for the correct specification for your child (AQA 9-1 GCSE Combined Science or AQA 9-1 GCSE Biology, Chemistry, and Physics). Opportunities to buy revision guides through the school are available to students and their parents during the school year – look out for a letter about Science revision guides.

BBC Bitesize: ensure that students use content aimed at the correct level for their year and key stage.

TCS SharePoint – Students (Student Portal) – Subjects – Science will provide subject links to work to complete at home, revision resources and practice exam papers.

Kerboodle: students can log in using their school username and kerboodle password to use the digital text books, complete interactive assessments and download revision materials. KS3 students use the Activate course and GCSE students use the AQA GCSE Science 9-1 course.

Other useful websites:

www.gcsepod.com – Revision videos for GCSE students

www.thenational.academy – Lessons for learning at home provided by Oak National Academy

Malmesbury Education YouTube Channel – Videos of GCSE Science required practical activities

• Encourage your child to read around the subject - looking at scientific articles in the news or reading interesting articles from publications such as New Scientist are a great way for students to develop their understanding of science.
• Promote the outreach activities we have on offer within the Science Department - these are a great way for students to experience science in a different context and to explore the opportunities careers in science can offer.
• Ensure your child is using their revision guide to prepare for unit tests and exams.
• Check they are doing their homework, ask to see it.
• Test their mathematical skills, and ensure they have memorised the equations list.
• Encourage the weekly production of mind maps or revision cards, and completion of practice exam questions.
• Students should make use of mark schemes to check any practice papers or exam questions they have completed so that they can identify where they have gained and lost marks - a great deal can be gained from unpicking questions and understanding what marks are awarded for.

The Science department organises a variety of extra-curricular activities for students. A selection of activities we have run include:

• Science club - run by Mrs Ramsay & Mr Hamilton during Tuesday lunchtimes.
• STEM club - run by Mrs Romain.
• Participation in the Teen Tech Awards, where students have made it through to the finals in London.
• Trips to STEM events, such as Teen Tech Hampshire, the Festival of Engineering, and AWE Engineering Challenge.
• Visits from STEM companies, such as Whitchurch-based ioLight, designers and manufacturers of pocket digital microscopes, and Basingstoke-based AirProducts, an industrial gas and chemical supplier.
• Science shows for students, friends, and family.