Science

Curriculum Intent:

The intent of the Science curriculum is to create a supportive, accessible, and engaging learning environment where every pupil can achieve success in science. We aim to build scientific knowledge and skills at a pace and style suited to individual needs, promoting curiosity, confidence, and resilience. Our curriculum is designed to make science meaningful and relevant to everyday life so that pupils gain an understanding of the world around them and are better informed to engage in scientific issues that affect their lives and communities.

We seek to provide the scientific knowledge, skills and qualifications learners may need for future study, employment and training whilst also providing opportunities to build the universal skills of teamwork, thinking and persistence.

Careers using science

Science leads to many different careers: Animal care, forensic science, healthcare, engineering, food production, farming, hair and beauty for example. Science is also a good qualification for careers in the armed forces, research in all subject areas, childcare and conservation. There are lots of jobs where the skills you will learn are very important!

Our INTENT is that all of our pupils in science can:

STRIVE by participating in safety science with curiosity, resilience, determination and precision.
THRIVE when they recognise areas of science that they easily connect with; experience success when working collaboratively and share ideas.
ACHIEVE by engaging in safe working practices to complete experimental work; understanding how science is relevant to themselves, national and global communities, applying their numeracy and literacy skills to collect and evaluate data; describing, explaining and drawing conclusions; and to know that science skills are relevant to support them in achieving their career goals.

What will your child learn?

The Key Stage 3 and 4 topics are laid out below. Year 8 and 9 students will cover topics in a rolling A and B programme to ensure full coverage of all aspects of the science curriculum. Key Stage 4 curriculum covers AQA GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy) which leads to a qualification of two GCSE grades, covering all three science subjects of Physics, Biology and Chemistry.

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 4

Stage	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4	Term 5	Term 6
Year 7	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic
Year 7	*What is everything made of?* Solids, Liquids and gases Properties of materials Atoms, Elements, Compounds	*Natural Resources* Separation techniques Acids and Alkalis The Rock Cycle	*What are we made of?* Cells/Organisation Skeleton and muscles	*Exploring Space 1* Solar System Forces Seasons	*Keeping healthy* Food and Diet Digestive System Respiration Exercise	*Where do we get our energy from?* Food chains and webs Pyramids of number and biomass
Year 8	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic
Year 8	*All about atoms* Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table Metals and non-metals	*Using Carbon* Carbon cycle Fossil Fuels Fuel uses and costs	*How do our bodies work* Heart and circulation Diffusion Lungs and breathing	*Exploring Space 2* Phases of the moon Electricity and robotics	*Reactions* Chemical formulae Reactions of acids and metals Catalysts Conserving mass in reactions The reactivity series	*Growing plants* Photosynthesis Plant adaptations Soil conditions including pH
Year 9	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic
Year 9	*Engineering* Forces and pressure Conduction, convection and radiation	*Taking care of the Earth* Recycling Impacts of resource extraction Human effect on Earth	*Medicine* Communicable diseases Drugs	*Exploring the Earth* Magnetism Earth’s atmosphere Earth’s structure	*Our bodies* Reproduction in plants Waves in sight and hearing	*Using the Earth’s resources* Deforestation and land use Global warming Extinction and natural selection

Stage	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4	Term 5	Term 6
Year 10	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic
Year 10	Chemistry KS3 recap: Acids/Alkalis KS3 recap: Metals/non-metals Periodic Table Atomic Structure. Chemistry Bonding (metallic, covalent, ionic) Chemistry Reactivity Series (basic) Metal Extraction	Biology 1: Cell structure, division, transport; stem cells, cancer, respiration. Biology: 2 Food Groups Digestion	Chemistry 4: Electrolysis and metal extraction Chemistry 9: Chemistry of the atmosphere. Chemistry 7: Hydrocarbons Combustion Atmospheric pollution Chemistry 10: Using Resources and sustainable development	Physics 1: Energy stores/ transfers. Generating electricity. Physics 3: Particle Theory, density,	Biology 3: Infection and Response Physics 2: Electricity	Biology 4: Photosynthesis Biology 7: Food chains Ecosystems Ecology Fieldwork
Required Practicals	n/a	Use a light microscope to observe and draw plant and animal cells Investigate the effect of salt solutions on plant tissue mass. Use qualitative reagents to test for a range of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins.	Investigate what happens when aqueous solutions are electrolysed using inert electrodes. This should be an investigation involving developing a hypothesis.	Use appropriate apparatus to make and record the measurements needed to determine the densities of regular and irregular solid objects and liquids.	Use circuit diagrams to set up and check appropriate circuits to investigate the factors affecting the resistance of electrical circuits. Use circuit diagrams to construct appropriate circuits to investigate the I–V characteristics of a variety of circuit elements, including a filament lamp, a diode and a resistor at constant temperature.	5: Investigate the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis using an aquatic organism. 7: Measure the population size of a common species in a habitat. Use sampling techniques to investigate the effect of a factor on the distribution of this species.
Year 11	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic
Year 11	Biology 2: The Heart and circulatory System Biology 5: The nervous system Homeostasis Chemistry Bonding: Giant covalent structures and forms of carbon.	Physics 4: Atoms and Radioactive decay Physics 5: Forces part 1 Contact/non-contact Resultant Weight Work done Elasticity Chemistry 8: Chemical analysis. Pure/formulations	Chemistry 5: Energy Changes Chemistry 6: Rates of Reactions Physics 5: Forces pt2 Motion on a line Distance-Time graphs Acceleration Terminal Velocity Newtons Laws	Biology 6: Variation Genetic Engineering Inheritance Evolution Physics 6: Waves Transv/Longitudinal Wave speed Electromagnetic waves	Physics 7: Magnetism Electromagnetism REVISION PAST PAPERS
Required Practicals	Plan and carry out an investigation into the effect of a factor on human reaction time.	Investigate how paper chromatography can be used to separate and tell the difference between coloured substances. Students should calculate Rf values. Investigate the relationship between force and extension for a spring.	Investigate the variables that affect temperature changes in reacting solutions. Investigate how changes in concentration affect the rates of reactions by a method involving measuring the volume of a gas produced and a method involving a change in colour or turbidity. Investigate the effect of varying the force on the acceleration of an object of constant mass, and the effect of varying the mass of an object on the acceleration produced by a constant force.	Make observations to identify the suitability of apparatus to measure the frequency, wavelength and speed of waves in a ripple tank and waves in a solid and take appropriate measurements. Investigate how the amount of infrared radiation absorbed or radiated by a surface depends on the nature of that surface.

Ways to help my child succeed

Encourage your child to discuss their current work with you and to follow current scientific and technological issues and stories in the media. All assessments will require careful revision.

Useful websites

Full detail of our Danesgate Programme of Study can be found by CLICKING HERE