Welcome to key stage 3 Science where students learn skills and develop ideas to explain the world around us.
In Year 7 and 8, each class completes 5 topics throughout the year, roughly one per half term on a rota system. This is followed by a project in the final summer term that helps to develop investigation and practical skills ready for key stage 4. Key stage 3 is taught for a further 3 half terms in Year 9, where students get the opportunity to reach their target level through a key stage 3-4 bridging course.
Students are assessed continuously across KS3 using APP. They then complete an end of topic test each half term. Together, the marks from the test and APP throughout the topic give the student a working at level.
Year 7 Students complete 5 topics on a rota system throughout the year. These topics are:
| Unit of Work | Summary |
| Plants, animals and relationships | By the end of this unit students know about classification of living organisms, ecosystems and the relationships between plants and animals. |
| Geology | In this unit students learn about the formation of different rocks, the effects of weathering and how fossils are formed |
| Particles and Materials | By the end of this unit students know about acids and alkalis, what happens during a chemical reaction and the particle theory |
| Life and Living Processes | In this unit students learn about cells, tissues and organs and reproduction in plants and animals |
| Energy and Resources | This unit covers the topics of different types of energy, renewable and non-renewable electricity, the effects of forces around us and speed. |
Year 8 – students complete 5 topics on a rota system throughout the year. These topics are:
| Unit of Work | Summary |
| Light and Sound | By the end of this topic student will know how light and sound are transmitted and how we hear sounds |
| Keeping Healthy | In this topic students learn about a balanced diet, the effects of smoking, drugs and alcohol and the way people learn |
| Chemical Reactions | By the end of this topic students will know about the periodic table, atoms, compounds, mixtures and ways of separating chemicals |
| Space and Magnetism | This topic covers the planets in our solar system, our moon, gravity, magnets and electromagnets |
| Humans and the Environment | In this topic students learn about renewable and non-renewable fuels, how electricity is made and the effects of pollution including acid rain and global warming |
Year 9 Key stage 3 is covered in 3 half terms of year 9, the topics include:
| Unit of Work | Summary |
| Biology | In this unit students will cover cells, respiration and photosynthesis in detail ready for key stage 4 |
| Chemistry | This unit covers reactions of metals and combustion of fuels as a basis for key stage 4 work |
| Physics | This unit covers energy and electricity, light and sound and the relationship between speed, distance and time. |