At Ludlow CE School, we believe in a broad, balanced science education for all our students. We will encourage our students to think about Science in relation to their everyday lives, helping them to cope well in today’s increasingly scientific and technological society. We believe this can be achieved through the delivery and engagement in the following areas below:
Aims of the subject:
- To stimulate, curiosity, interest and enjoyment in Science
- To enable our students to understand a wide range of scientific concepts, theories, facts and principals and to understand their relevance to the world they live in
- To enable our students to communicate their ideas about Science
- To allow students to use Science to solve problems
- To develop our students’ practical skills
- To develop our students’ ability to carry out investigative work appropriately and systematically
- To encourage our students’ awareness of environmentally and socially important issues
- To develop our students’ ability to work in groups
- To prepare our students for studies in Science beyond GCSE – Stretch and Challenge with post-GCSE links.
Overview of KS3
During KS3, students develop their scientific knowledge and understanding and make connections between different areas of Science. They use scientific ideas and models to explain phenomena and to understand a range of familiar applications of Science.
Students plan and carry out their own investigations and study a wide range of topics encompassed in the three Science disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
The new Key Stage Three curriculum is covered in Years 7 and 8, and blends into the AQA GCSE curriculum, which students study from Year 9 onwards.
What will be studied in Year 7
The three sciences are split up into ten topics for the Year 7 Science Curriculum.
Biology units:
Cells , Reproduction, Variation and Movement
Chemistry units:
Particles, Atoms, Elements and Compounds and Acids and Alkalis
Physics units:
Motion & Forces, Space, Sound & the Ear
What will be studied in Year 8
The three sciences are split up into ten topics for the Year 8 Science Curriculum.
Biology units:
Structure and Function of Living Organisms, Diet and Digestion, Interactions and Interdependencies
Chemistry units:
The Science of Burning, The Periodic Table, Materials
Physics units:
Matter, Waves, Electricity & Magnetism, Heating and Cooling
What will be studied in Year 9
Year 9 sees students embarking on their GCSE course. All students follow the same curriculum with a view to opting for either Combined Science or Triple Science in Year 10. They will study introductory GCSE topics in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, which builds upon the spiralled Key Stage Three curriculum to give students a solid foundation of scientific knowledge for future learning.
SCIENCE – GCSE
Science Pathways
All students follow the compulsory element, unless they opt to study Triple Science. The pathways for Science are as follows:
Compulsory
- GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy
Optional
GCSE Triple Science leading to:
- GCSE Biology
- GCSE Chemistry
- GCSE Physics
GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy
Examination Board:
AQA
Course Content:
The GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy course is taught in discrete modules of Biology, Chemistry and Physics by specialist teachers.
In Biology, the topics covered are:
- Cell Biology
- Organisation
- Infection and response
- Bioenergetics
- Homeostasis and response
- Inheritance, variation and evolution
- Ecology
In Chemistry, the topics covered are:
- Atomic structure and the Periodic Table
- Bonding structure and the Properties of Matter
- Quantitative Chemistry
- Chemical Changes
- Exothermic and Endothermic reactions
- The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change
- Chemical Analysis
- Chemistry of the Atmosphere
- Using resources
In Physics, the topics covered are:
- Forces
- Force and Motion
- Energy
- Waves
- Electricity – current, resistance and potential difference
- Electricity – domestic, energy transfers and the National Grid
- Permanent and Induced Magnetism
- Particle model of Matter
- Atomic Structure
Assessment:
- This is a dual award GCSE leading to two GCSEs. As such, the grading structure will move to a 17 - point scale ranging from 1-1 to 9-9, where 9-9 is the best grade.
- There will be two tiers of entry, Foundation and Higher. Students undertaking the Foundation Tier exams will be awarded grades from 1-1 to 5-5. Students undertaking the Higher Tier exams will be awarded grades from 4-4 to 9-9.
- There will be 6 examinations, 2 in each science, of 1 hour and 15 minutes duration, totalling 7.5 hours of examinations.
GCSE Triple Science - GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics
To follow this route, it must be selected as an option.
It is recommended that students must achieve at least the National Standard in English, Mathematics and Science at the end of KS3 to follow Triple Science.
Examination Board:
AQA
Course Content:
The GCSE Triple Science option course is taught in discrete modules of Biology, Chemistry and Physics by specialist teachers.
In Biology, Chemistry and Physics the topics covered from the GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy will be studied in greater breadth and depth.
Assessment:
For each of GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics:
- There will be two exams of 1 hour and 45 minutes duration totalling 3.5 hours of examinations for each science, 10.5 hours in total for the three Sciences.
Further information from Miss S Taylor