Science

Science and everyday life cannot, and should not, be separated.

Rosalind Franklin

Scientific ideas give young people powerful ways of seeing the world. Through understanding the relationship between the scientific concepts and the nature of how they became established, students gain an appreciation of science as a discipline of inquiry. Engaging with their inquisitive nature about the world, students start to question things, and it is through questioning that we solve problems and advance our understanding of the world around us.

Delving into the big ideas in science stimulates students’ curiosity and helps them to make connections between concepts, disciplines, and the macroscopic and microscopic. Students are supported to acquire knowledge about scientific concepts, a necessary part of learning about science, as well as how to recognise, describe, and apply the acquired knowledge to explain abstract phenomena. Throughout this process, students learn how to work collaboratively, be persistent and stick with difficulty, and become disciplined to develop expertise in the subject. This allows students to experience positive emotions of success and wonder that learning scientific ideas brings.

The curriculum map below shows how students build upon each big idea in science as they progress through their secondary education.

Science 5 year map 

Head of Faculty

Rebecca Green |  rgreen@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk

Second in charge

Robert Stainsby |  rstainsby@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk

 Subject Lead and Lead Practitioner

Sundus Jibril | sjibril@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk (LP)

Sundus Mohamoud | smohamoud@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk (SL)

Teachers

Hiri Arunagiri   harunagiri@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk

James MacDonald  jmacdonald@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk

Sean McHugh  smchugh@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk 

Jessica Rozman |  jrozman@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk 

Aaron Shufflebotham  ashufflebotham@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk  

Ben Masalovich | bmasalovich@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk

Anisa Hassan ahassan@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk    

Louise Morrison| lmorrison@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk

Lisa Oteng | eoteng@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk

Science gallery

 

 

Curriculum

KS3

Curriculum Intent and Map

Science is a discipline dedicated to explaining the natural world by the analysis of observations made either through our senses or by using specialist equipment. Scientific ideas give young people powerful ways of seeing the world. The KS3 science curriculum is built around the big ideas of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Throughout year 7 and 8 students study the powerful ideas, understanding the relationship between scientific concepts and the nature of how they became established. Students use this knowledge to make connections between scientific concepts, ultimately engaging with their inquisitive nature to answer the big questions. Their answers become more sophisticated and meaningful as they develop their scientific understanding, setting a solid foundation to build on during the GCSE course.

 

Y7

Y7 Science MTPs

Autumn term:

How do we make theories about things we cannot see? (How science works and the particle model of matter)

Why don’t bacteria have lungs? (Cells to systems)
           
Spring term:              

In space, can anyone hear you scream? (Waves)

Why are offspring similar but not identical to their parents? (Reproduction)

                       
Summer term:          

What happens to the wax when you burn a candle? (Chemical reactions)

How did planets form? (Forces and Space)

Y8

Y8 Science MTPs

Autumn term:

Have the carbon atoms in the air once been part of plants and animals? (Digestion and energy transfers through ecosystem)

Are cars and organisms made from similar or different stuff? (Periodic table and separation techniques)
                      
Spring term:

Why is it important to conserve energy resources if energy can’t be destroyed? (Energy, forces and motion)

How did giraffes get their long necks? (Genetics and evolution by natural selection)
                       
Summer term:

Why don’t birds resting on powerlines get electrocuted? (Electricity)

How are we changing our planet? (Earth and atmosphere)

Y9

Y9 Science MTPs

Autumn term:
Cell structure, division and transport
Atomic structure and the periodic table
                       
Spring term:

Energy stores, transfers, and calculations
Digestive system and enzymes
                       
Summer term:
Particle model of matter
Reactions of acids and metals
Ecology

 

Extra-curricular activities and clubs

KS3 Science club: Thursday lunchtime in S2

Science film club - Monday lunchtimes in S4

Science homework club: Tuesdays 3.30pm in S7

  

KS4

Curriculum Intent and Map

After students have met each big idea in KS3 through exploring the powerful questions, they continue to engage their curious minds in KS4 in order to develop their understanding of the world around them, and develop their expertise in the subject. At this stage in their science education students are really encouraged to be persistent and stick with difficulty, not only to master the concepts they meet at GCSE, but also to develop their ability to use existing knowledge and skills in later life to navigate unfamiliar problems.

In Years 10 and 11 students follow one of two pathways:

  • Combined Science GCSE (AQA): students study Biology, Chemistry and Physics and are awarded two grades (9-1).
  • Separate Science GCSE (AQA): students study Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and are awarded three grades (9-1).

Both pathways involve a set of required practical activities which are assessed in the examinations at the end of Year 11. Students are assessed on how well then can demonstrate and apply their knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, enquiry and techniques and procedures, as well as how they analyse information and ideas to: interpret and evaluate; make judgments and draw conclusions; develop and improve experimental procedures.

By the time students leave Year 11, we aim for them to have become disciplined and developed scientific expertise. This is facilitated by the sequencing of substantive and disciplinary knowledge in both pathways, which allows students to address and build upon their current understanding of each concept and their views of the world.

During this process all students enhance their science capital and become scientifically literate citizens, and for many students, an interest in pursuing science in further education is sparked. Our teaching and learning framework allows these students to develop their knowledge and skills in the subject so that they can transition smoothly to any scientific pathway they choose.

GCSE Science Curriculum Map

GCSE Subject Specification 

Please click through to the links to view more information on the AQA website.

Combined Science - AQA Exam Board

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/science/specifications/AQA-8464-SP-2016.PDF

Separate Science - AQA Exam Board

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse

Biology Separates - AQA Exam Board

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/biology/specifications/AQA-8461-SP-2016.PDF

Chemistry Separates - AQA Exam Board

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/chemistry/specifications/AQA-8462-SP-2016.PDF 

Physics Separates - AQA Exam Board

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/specifications/AQA-8463-SP-2016.PDF

 

Y10 Combined Science

Y10 Combined Science MTPs

Autumn term:          

  • Bonding, structure and properties of matter

  • Atomic structure and radioactivity

  • Circulatory system, disease, and defence


Spring term:

  • Rates of Reaction 
  • Bioenergetics – respiration and photosynthesis
  • Energy changes and organic chemistry

                       
Summer term:

  • Waves
  • Earth’s atmosphere and using the Earth’s resources

Y10 Separates Science

Autumn term:

  • Biology: Cell biology, Levels of Organisation
  • Chemistry: Atomic structure and the periodic table, Chemical Bonding
  • Physics: Energy, Electricity

Spring term:

  • Biology: Infection and Response
  • Chemistry: Quantitative Chemistry, 
  • Physics: Particle Model of Matter

Summer term:

  • Biology: Bioenergetics
  • Chemistry: Chemical Changes, Energy Changes
  • Physics: Atomic Structure

  

Y11 Combined Science

Y11 Combined Science MTPs

Autumn term:

  • Particle Model and Electricity
  • Forces and motion
  • Quantitative Chemistry

                       
Spring term:

  • Homeostasis and response
  • Rates of reaction
  • Earth’s atmosphere and using the Earth’s resources
  • Inheritance, variation and evolution         

Summer term:
Exam preparation

Y11 Separate Science

Autumn term

  • Biology: Homeostasis
  • Chemistry: Rates of reaction, organic chemistry
  • Physics: Waves

Spring term

  • Biology: Inheritance variation, evolution  and Ecology
  • Chemistry: Chemical analysis , Using Earth’s Resources
  • Physics: Magnetism and electromagnetism , Space

Summer term

  • Exam preparation

GCSE Support Materials

For Combined Science GCSE:

Grade 9-1 GCSE Combined Science: AQA Revision Guide (Higher or Foundation Tier) – contact the department to discuss which tier is most suitable.

For Separate Science GCSE:

Grade 9-1 GCSE Biology: AQA Revision Guide - Higher

Grade 9-1 GCSE Chemistry: AQA Revision Guide - Higher

Grade 9-1 GCSE Physics: AQA Revision Guide - Higher

For all students:

AQA Exam Practice Workbooks – choose Combined Science or Separate Science as appropriate

 

 


  

 

KS5


Enrichment Opportunities

Science film club: Monday lunchtimes in S4
KS3 Science club: Thursday lunchtimes in S2
Y11 Revision: Wednesdays at 3.30pm. Targeted students in S2 and S7, all other students in S1.