Science
Science Department
Science Coordinator: Miss D McCombe
Subjects Offered
Science Double Award GCSE
Junior Science – Years 8 & 9
Science stimulates and excites pupils’ curiosity and their interest in the world around them. Through their work in science, pupils begin to understand major scientific ideas, to appreciate how these develop and contribute to technological change, and recognise the cultural significance of science and its worldwide development.
Science offers pupils the opportunity to take part in a range of practical activities that allow them to link scientific theory to actual experience.
Pupils learn how the results of experimental evidence and models are used to explain phenomena and events. Through carrying out enquiry-based investigations, pupils develop key skills and are encouraged to think critically and creatively.
Pupils also learn how scientific technologies have been used in industry, business and medicine and how these developments have contributed greatly to the quality of life for most people. Pupils take part in questioning and discussion about science-based issues that affect their lives, the society in which they live and the world as a whole. Through this independent enquiry they become more confident in expressing their views and evaluating decisions about scientific matters.
Further information about Science in Year 10 can be found on the subject pages for Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
GCSE Double Award Science
Double Award Science allows pupils to study all the Sciences but to a lesser extent than completing the separate Sciences. Each of the Sciences will be taught by specialist teachers. Double Award Science pupils will achieve equivalent to two GCSE grades.
In Year 11 pupils study:
- Biology Unit 1: Living Processes, Cells and Biodiversity
- Chemistry Unit 1: Structures, Trends, Chemical Reactions, Quantitative Chemistry and Analysis
- Physics Unit 1: Motion, Force, Moments, Energy, Density, Kinetic Theory, Radioactivity, Nuclear Fission and Fusion
In Year 12 pupils study:
- Biology Unit 2: Body Systems, Genetics, Microorganisms and Health
- Chemistry Unit 2: Further Chemical Reactions, Rates and Equilibrium, Calculations and Organic Chemistry
- Physics Unit 2: Waves, Light, Electricity, Magnetism, Electromagnetism and Space Physics
The final component of this GCSE is a Practicals unit based around 3 practicals undertaken in class and then assessed in an external written examination.
Further information can be found on the subject pages for Biology, Chemistry and Physics and in the GCSE Options booklet.
Curriculum
- Becoming a Scientist
- Acids and alkalis
- Human reproduction
- Plant reproduction
- Mass, weight and density
- Elements, compounds and mixtures
- Cells and systems
- Space
- Science energised
- Separating techniques
- Electricity
- Digestion
- Circulation
- Heart start
- Forces
- Classification
- Making slime
- Making plastic milk
- Making ice cream
- Building and racing hovercrafts
- Isolating DNA
- Chromatography of leaf pigments
- Growing crystals
- Rat dissection
- Elephants toothpaste
Science News Articles
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