Science
The science department is housed in a purpose built, modern, building. We have six well equipped laboratories and two prep. rooms. All seven members of the teaching staff are established, experienced, well qualified, specialist science teachers. We are fortunate in having two experience lab. technicians who support the teaching staff in their lesson preparation and ensure that all laboratories and equipment are maintained to the highest possible standard.
In addition to teaching physics, chemistry and biology within science lessons we ensure that extra curricular opportunities that we become aware of are made available to our students, for example, we have strong links with Birmingham University and take part in their annual science quizzes in Key Stage 4. We take an active part in Science Week in March each year and take advantage of theatre groups that offer their services to us.
Ms Z Haines , BSc (Hons)
Curriculum Area Leader, Science
Aims
The science courses encourage students to:
•Develop their interest in, and enthusiasm for, science
•Develop a critical approach to scientific evidence and methods
•Acquire and apply skills, knowledge and understanding of how science works and its essential role in
society
•Acquire scientific skills, knowledge and understanding necessary for progression to further learning.
Links
KS3 Science
Students have three lessons per week in year 7 and four per week in years 8 and 9.
A stimulating variety of practical work accompanies each topic of study.
Each half term, topics studied are assessed by means of a written test. Some topics have an additional APP (assessment of pupil progress) exercise to be completed in class and a project to be completed at home.
Resources to support students are available in class and at home through the portal.
Topics studied are as follows:
Year 7
• Cells, tissues and organs
• Reproduction
• Working in a laboratory
• Particles and reactions
• Energy transfers
• Forces and speed
• Classification and food webs
• Weathering and fossils
Year 8
• Keeping healthy
• Studying disease
• Separating mixtures
• Atoms, elements and compounds
• Magnetism
• Sound and heat
• Life and death
• Space
Year 9
• Drugs and behaviour
• Variation
• Chemical patterns
• Chemical reactions
• Pressure, forces and moments
• Energy transfers
• Humans and the environment
KS4 Science
At KS4 science can be studied in three different ways, depending on how deeply students wish to pursue the subject. All choices cover topics in biology, chemistry and physics.
Core Science is studied by all students. It leads to a single GCSE award.
Students wishing to gain a deeper knowledge of the subject study Additional Science, which leads to two GCSE awards.
Students who want the maximum amount of science choose separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics to gain three separate GCSE awards.
Each GCSE award is assessed by means of written examination papers and an Investigative Skills Assessment involving practical work.
Students are supported in their studies by a dedicated team of teachers and a variety of resources available in school and at home through the portal. Regular homework tasks enable students to consolidate their knowledge and develop examination skills
Subject content
The new AQA syllabus is followed.
Core Science consists of units B1 (biology), C1 (chemistry) and P1 (physics)
B1 topics
1. Keeping healthy
2. Nerves and hormones
3. Use and abuse of drugs
4. Interdependence and adaptation
5. Energy and biomass in food chains
6. Waste materials from plants and animals
7. Genetic variation and its control
8. Evolution
C1 topics
1. Fundamental ideas in chemistry
2. Limestone and building materials
3. Metals and their uses
4. Crude oil and fuels
5. Other useful substances from crude oil
6. Plant oils and their uses
7. Changes in the Earth and its atmosphere
P1 topics
1. Transfer of energy by heating processes; factors affecting rate of energy transfer
2. Energy and efficiency
3. The usefulness of electrical appliances
4. Methods we use to generate electricity
5. Use of waves for communication and proving that the universe is expanding
Additional Science
In addition to B1, C1 and P1, the following topics are studied:
B2 topics
1. Cells and simple cell transport
2. Tissues, organs and organ systems
3. Photosynthesis
4. Organisms and their environment
5. Proteins – their functions and uses
6. Aerobic and anaerobic respiration
7. Cell division and inheritance
8. Speciation
C2 topics
1. Structure and bonding
2. How structure influences properties and uses of substances
3. Atomic structure, analysis and quantitative chemistry
4. Rates of reaction
5. Exothermic and endothermic reactions
6. Acids, bases and salts
7. Electrolysis
P2 topics
1. Forces and motion
2. Kinetic energy of objects speeding up or slowing down
3. Currents in electrical circuits
4. Using mains electricity safely and power of electrical appliances
5. Decay of radioactive substances; uses and dangers of emissions
6. Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion
Separate Sciences
In addition to all the topics studied in Core and Additional sciences, the following topics are studied:
B3 topics
1. Movement of molecules in and out of cells
2. Transport systems in plants and animals
3. Homeostasis
4. Waste from human activity
C3 topics
1. The periodic table
2. Water
3. Calculating and explaining energy change
4. Further analysis and quantitative chemistry
5. Production of ammonia
6. Alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters
P3 topics
1. Medical applications of physics
2. Using physics to make things work
3. Keeping things moving
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