Curriculum Statement

 

Science Experiment

 

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. 

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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.