Curriculum Statement
KS3
Key Stage 3 Science should enable all the students to make rational well thought out decisions about many aspects of life and take this skill along on the journey of life creating well balanced life long learners.
Key Stage 3 Biology
Biology at Key stage 3 follows the National Curriculum programme of study. The Scheme of work is split between plant and animal biology. Animal biology starts with an understanding of what we are made up if from the smallest cells and develops the understanding of roles of cells, tissue and organs to full organ Systems. With an understanding of organisms a greater understanding of how and why the body functions and with that cross-curricular work with PE and Food Technology to develop the importance of a healthy diet on the body. Biology at Upper Wharfedale School brings into lessons our local surroundings and eco systems looking at the relationships within an ecosystem as well as the genetics and evolution referencing local farming ecosystems and breeding. All the topics are intended to give the foundations to the GCSE Biology as either triple or combined science.
Key Stage 3 Chemistry
Chemistry at Key stage 3 follows the National Curriculum programme of study. The scheme of work is designed to be as hands on as possible the majority of lessons are practical as we find the hands-on practical approach is highly beneficial . Chemistry studies the nature of matter building into the properties of materials and how they react. The environment is studied and the effect of human involvement on the atmosphere and how it does and will affect us in the future. All the topics are intended to give the foundations to the GCSE Chemistry as either triple or combined science.
Key Stage 3 Physics
Physics at Key stage 3 follows the National Curriculum programme of study. The Scheme of work is designed to be as hands on where possible there are a variety of areas studied from looking at the vast, the universe and space and getting smaller down to the forces acting upon all objects – how they interact and are involved in our lives. The physics at Key stage 3 develops skills that some go on to use as careers with the hands on electronics allowing pupils to see career opportunities. The community and environment we are in is looked at in depth when we look at lifestyle with regards energy use and production allowing for a variety of discussions as to which suits different locations and people bringing in social and economic as well as environmental viewpoints. All the topics are intended to give the foundations to the GCSE Physics as either triple or combined science.
Students focus on …
KS4
Key stage 4 science is either as combined science which teaches Biology, Chemistry and Physics as separate subjects but brought together in a dual qualification. Or for the students who choose to, their own choice, they can study the more detailed separate sciences. All the three sciences develop further the knowledge gained at Key stage 3. An increasing quantity of the knowledge gained is working with abstract concepts and being able to form arguments for and against in areas with no clear preferable outcome.
Edexcel Combined Science or Edexcel Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Science matters. That’s why we’ve chosen the most inclusive GCSE (9–1) courses, so every student can enjoy science and succeed in their studies.
Students will either study Combined science with 22 core practicals across Biology, Chemistry and Physics that are designed to help bring science learning to life. They will then sit 2 exams in Biology, Chemistry and Physics to gain two qualifications.
Students who choose to study the separate science will study Biology, Chemistry and Physics to achieve a GCSE in each subject their course will include 24 core practicals across Biology, Chemistry and Physics that are designed to help bring science learning to life. They will then sit 2 exams in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
The content for the separate science is all of the Combined science with extensions in certain topics(see below).
Year 10:
Biology
Paper 1 (Paper code: 1BI0/1F, 1BI0/1H)
Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes
50% of the qualification
100 marks
Content overview
- Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology
- Topic 2 – Cells and control
- Topic 3 – Genetics
- Topic 4 – Natural selection and genetic modification
- Topic 5 – Health, disease and the development of medicines
Chemistry
Paper 1 (Paper code: 1CH0/1F and 1CH0/1H)
Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes
50% of the qualification
100 marks
Content overview
- Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry
- Topic 2 – States of matter and mixtures
- Topic 3 – Chemical changes
- Topic 4 – Extracting metals and equilibria
- Topic 5 – Separate chemistry 1
Physics
Paper 1 (*Paper code: 1PH0/1F and 1PH0/1H)
Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes
50% of the qualification
100 marks
Content overview
- Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics
- Topic 2 – Motion and forces
- Topic 3 – Conservation of energy
- Topic 4 – Waves
- Topic 5 – Light and the electromagnetic spectrum
- Topic 6 – Radioactivity
- Topic 7 – Astronomy
Combined Science
Paper 1: Biology 1 (Paper code: 1SC0/1BF, 1SC0/1BH)
Written examination: 1 hour and 10 minutes
16.67% of the qualification
60 marks
Content overview
Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology
Topic 2 – Cells and control
Topic 3 – Genetics
Topic 4– Natural selection and genetic modification
Topic 5 – Health, disease and the development of medicines
Paper 3: Chemistry 1 (Paper code: 1SC0/1CF, 1SC0/1CH)
Written examination: 1 hour and 10 minutes
16.67% of the qualification
60 marks
Content overview
Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry
Topic 2 – States of matter and mixtures
Topic 3 –Chemical changes
Topic 4 – Extracting metals and equilibria
Paper 5: Physics 1 (Paper code: 1SC0/1PF, 1SC0/1PH)
Written examination: 1 hour and 10 minutes
16.67% of the qualification
60 marks
Content overview
Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics
Topic 2 – Motion and forces
Topic 3 – Conservation of energy
Topic 4 – Waves
Topic 5 – Light and the electromagnetic spectrum
Topic 6 –Radioactivity
Biology
Paper 2 (Paper code: 1BI0/2F, 1BI0/2H)
Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes
50% of the qualification
100 marks
Content overview
- Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology
- Topic 6 – Plant structures and their functions
- Topic 7 – Animal coordination, control and homeostasis
- Topic 8 – Exchange and transport in animals
- Topic 9 – Ecosystems and material cycles
Chemistry
Paper 2 (Paper code: 1CH0/2F and 1CH0/2H)
Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes
50% of the qualification
100 marks
Content overview
- Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry
- Topic 6 – Groups in the periodic table
- Topic 7 – Rates of reaction and energy changes
- Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth science
- Topic 9 – Separate chemistry 2
Physics
Paper 2 (Paper code: 1PH0/2F and 1PH0/2H)
Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes
50% of the qualification
100 marks
Content overview
- Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics
- Topic 8 – Energy – Forces doing work
- Topic 9 – Forces and their effects
- Topic 10 – Electricity and circuits
- Topic 11 – Static electricity
- Topic 12 – Magnetism and the motor effect
- Topic 13 – Electromagnetic induction
- Topic 14 – Particle model
- Topic 15 – Forces and matter
Combined Science
Paper 2: Biology 2 (Paper code: 1SC0/2BF, 1SC0/2BH)
Written examination: 1 hour and 10 minutes
16.67% of the qualification
60 marks
Content overview
Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology
Topic 6 – Plant structures and their functions
Topic 7 –Animal coordination, control and homeostasis
Topic 8 – Exchange and transport in animals
Topic 9 – Ecosystems and material cycles
Paper 4: Chemistry 2 (Paper code: 1SC0/2CF, 1SC0/2CH)
Written examination: 1 hour and 10 minutes
16.67% of the qualification
60 marks
Content overview
Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry
Topic 6 – Groups in the periodic table
Topic 7 –Rates of reaction and energy changes
Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth science
Paper 6: Physics 2 (Paper code: 1SC0/2PF, 1SC0/2PH)
Written examination: 1 hour 10 minutes
16.67% of the qualification
60 marks
Content overview
Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics
Topic 8 – Energy – Forces doing work
Topic 9 – Forces and their effects
Topic 10 – Electricity and circuits
Topic 11 – Magnetism and the motor effect
Topic 12 – Electromagnetic induction
Topic 13 – Particle model
Topic 14 – Forces and matter
Assessment
KS3: Each unit is assessed at the end with a written assessment that all student receive feedback on.
KS4: All exam based for all qualifications. A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions.
Calculators may be used in the examination.
Homework
KS3: different guises, such as posters, presentations, worksheets, models, essays, research as well other forms.
KS4: Students have weekly homework from science, homework is in a variety of different styles with exam questions being a focus either on paper or on the virtual Activelearn website.
Support at Home
Additional Support in school and/or resources
Extra Curricular
Cross curricular skills are highly important, science uses and works with skills such as researching, critically critiquing work, forming arguments and justifying reasons all highly developed in English. Mathematics is also used with the application, particularly in Physics, to solve problems, back up arguments and form basis for evaluations.
Additionally as part of the wider curriculum science has had an active role with Design Technology and others in the F1 in School project. The challenge inspires students to use IT to learn about physics, aerodynamics, design, manufacture, branding, graphics, sponsorship, marketing, leadership/teamwork, media skills and financial strategy, and apply them in a practical, imaginative, competitive and exciting way. We have had success on numerous occasions getting to the national final on a couple of times.
Students have the opportunity to visit Iceland in KS4 as part of our Biennial educational visit organised by the geography and science department. We visit Iceland for three nights and four days, in which we visited the greenhouse cultivation centre, Hellisheidi power plant, geothermal Blue Lagoon and hopefully the Arora Borealis. The visit is a huge success, students really engage in the natural energy sources that is around them and the opportunities it gives to the community and the positive impact on the environment.