Ecosystems

Cells and movements, Digestion

Gas exchange

Foundations of chemistry

Earth Structure and rocks

The periodic table and elements

Foundations of Physics

Energy

Light and sound

Genetics and evolution

Reproduction

Photosynthesis and respiration

Separating mixtures

Metals and non-metals

Climate and resources

Forces and motion

Space

Electricity and magnetism

Health

Cell biology

Ecosystems

Types of reactions

Chemical energy

Atomic structure

Heating and cooling

Waves

Forces and their effects

Qualification

GCSE

Exam Board

AQA

Course Leader

Mr L Waterhouse

Course summary

What will students learn?

Students will study key aspects of Biology, Physics and Chemistry as a combined course and receive a double grade in Science.

This also includes a number of practical experiments as part of the course, that allow students to develop key skills and gain a greater understanding of the scientific method.

How will students be assessed?

Students will sit 6 papers (2 in each discipline) at the end of year 11..

Qualification

GCSE

Exam Board

AQA

Course Leader

Liam WaterHouse

Course summary

Students taking the Triple Science qualification will be entered in Biology, Physics and Chemistry exams. They will receive a GCSE in each.

Successful Triple Science pupils at GCSE will be working at well above average level by the end of Year 9. This course is aimed at students who wish to study highly competitive, academic courses at university such as medicine, dentistry, and veterinary sciences; the work and pace of lessons reflects this.

What will students learn?

Students will study Biology, Physics and Chemistry separately with a different teacher for each subject.

Each subject will include a number of practical experiments as part of the course, that allow students to develop key skills and gain a greater understanding of the scientific method.

How will students be assessed?

Students will sit two exams in each subject at the end of Y11.

Qualification

A - Level

Exam Board

OCR A Specification

Course Leader

Mr P. Chapman

Course summary

We will learn how plants, animals and single-celled organisms survive, through a range of themed topics. Many of the topics will start with ideas you have covered before and then extend them to a higher level of detail. We will explore the links between the topics and investigate practically the themes in each unit.

What will students learn?

Year 12

• How plants and animals gain the nutrients and gases they need for survival, and how these are transported around the organism.
• About cells and the organelles they contain using microscopes, and test for biological molecules.
• How and why organisms are classified and the importance of biodiversity
• How organisms can spread diseases and how these diseases are fought.

Year 13

• How organisms obtain energy from the environment via photosynthesis and respiration, and get rid of waste.
• How organisms communicate internally via nerves and hormones.
• How and why organisms vary, and how this information can be manipulated using new technologies.
• How ecosystems can be managed sustainably for future generations, and the impacts of humans on the environment.

How will students be assessed?

At the end of the second year there will be 3 papers totalling 6 hours of questions covering all of the content from the two years.

You will also keep a log book of all the practical work completed in the two years for the Practical Endorsement aspect of the qualification.

Qualification

A - Level

Exam Board

Edexcel

Course Leader

Mr P. Kelsall

Course summary

The course is broken down into 3 strands – organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. Each section of the course begins with an overview, which puts the topic into a broader chemical context and encourages understanding of the place of each topic within the subject. The course is designed to inspire students, nurture their passion for chemistry and lay the foundations for further study and the workplace.

What will students learn?

Year 12

• Atomic Structure
• Amount of substance
• Bonding
• Kinetics
• Energetics
• Chemical equilibria , Le Chatelier’s Principle and Kc
• Organic Chemistry including alkanes, halogenoalkanes, alkenes, alcohols and organic analysis

• Group 2 and Group 7 elements

Year 13

• Chemistry of Group 3 and their oxides
• Transition metals
• Further organic chemistry including aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids, amines, aromatic chemistry and further organic analysis.
• Chromatography
• Thermodynamics
• Rate equations
• Acids and bases

How will students be assessed?

At the end of the second year there will be 3 papers covering all of the content from the two years.

You will also keep a log book of all the practical work completed in the two years for the Practical Endorsement aspect of the qualification.

Qualification

A - Level

Exam Board

Edexcel

Course Leader

Mr K. Betts-Masters

Course summary

This course takes two approaches to the teaching of Physics. It covers the basic principles, the content, and then applies it to real uses of Physics. For example, the electricity content may be applied to satellite technology and material science is applied to the sweet industry. This course employs the use of practical investigations and the analysis of data.

Students should have a 7 or above in GCSE Physics and a 6 or above in Maths.

What will students learn?

Year 12

• Mechanics (motion, forces and energy)
• Material Science (the properties of materials, fluids and liquids)
• Electricity (series and parallel circuits, resistance and components)
• Waves (musical waves, transverse and longitudinal waves, how DVD’s and Bluray’s work)
• Light (The photoelectric effect and energy levels within the atom)

Year 13

• Electricity and magnetism (Electromagnetic fields, capacitors, inducing electricity)
• Further mechanics (circular motion, momentum and collisions)
• Particle physics (fundamental particles, particle accelerators and detectors)
• Oscillations (simple harmonic motion and resonance)
• Radioactivity (radioactive materials, half-life and background radiation)
• Astrophysics (the life cycle of a star and the history of the universe)

How will students be assessed?

Pupils will be assessed through three exams at the end of Year 13. Two of these exams will count for 30% of the course, each 1 hour 45 long, and one will count for 40% which is 2 hours 30 mins in length.

There is no longer a coursework element; however, pupils will need to complete at least 6 core practicals in each of the two years to count towards a practical skills qualification.

Qualification

Level 3 Extended Certificate Applied Science

Exam Board

Edexcel

Course Leader

Mr P. Chapman

Course summary

The level 3 BTEC in Applied Science uses a combination of assessment styles to enable students to gain the confidence and knowledge they need to succeed in their next steps either at higher education or in the workplace. The course has elements of Physics, Chemistry and Biology and has a blended approach to assessment with both coursework and exam components.

What will students learn?

Exam Content

The structure of the atom

• The trends, patterns and properties in the periodic table
• How the properties of elements link to their application and uses in industry
• The Production of compounds, including making Aspirin
• Cell specialisation
• Nerve cells and tissues, linking their structure to their function
• Heart disease, including the risk factors and treatment
• Wave form
• Waves in communication
• Electromagnetic waves in communication

Coursework

• Preparing and using Standard solutions
• Colourimetry
• Chromatography
• Calorimetry and cooling curves

How will students be assessed?

Students will be required to complete a total of 4 units, 3 of which are mandatory and dictated by the exam board. Principles and applications of science (Externally assessed by written exams) Practical scientific techniques (Internally assessed by coursework) Science investigation skills (Externally assessed by written exam with a practical component)