Science
Welcome to Key Stage 3 Science where students learn skills and develop ideas to explain the world around us.
Science Key Stage 3
In Year 7 and 8, each class completes a variety of topics in the three sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) throughout the year, roughly two per half-term on a rota system. Key Stage 3 is taught until the middle of year 9, where students get the opportunity to reach their target level. In February of Year 9 students start their KS4 GCSE work.
Students are assessed continuously across KS3 using subject tests. Each subject (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) assessments consist of two topic tests per half-term. Each test covers all the topics taught in the current rotation, so pupils are continuously revising past learning, developing a stronger understanding of the topics. Progress updates depend on the average of these assessments. Pupils are set into two tops set classes and 6 mixed ability groups and tall classes are reset at the end of every year.
Year 7 Students study 3 key areas of science; Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The topics are completed on a rota system throughout the year.
These topics are:
| Unit of Work | Summary |
|---|---|
| Biology: Cells | By the end of this unit students know about classification of living organisms, ecosystems and the relationships between plants and animals. |
| Biology: Body Systems | In this unit students learn about the formation of different rocks, the effects of weathering and how fossils are formed. |
| Biology: Reproduction | In this unit students learn about cells, tissues and organs and reproduction in plants and animals. |
| Chemistry: Particles | Students learn about solids, liquids and gases and The Particle Theory. |
| Chemistry: Elements and compounds | This unit covers the topics of different types of energy, renewable and non-renewable electricity, the effects of forces around us and speed. |
| Chemistry: Reactions | Students study different chemical reactions, combustion, decomposition and learn how to write chemical equations. |
| Chemistry: Acids and Alkalis | By the end of this unit students know about acids and alkalis and what happens during a chemical reaction. |
| Physics: Forces | In this unit students learn about balanced and unbalanced forces that influence the motion of objects. |
| Physics: Sound | In this unit students study waves, vibrations echoes and ultrasounds. |
| Physics: Light | In this unit the students study the key properties of light, reflection, refraction, colour and the function of the human eye. |
| Physics: Space | In this unit the students study space, learn information about the solar system and how the Moon’s positioning influences the phases of the moon. |
Year 8 Students study 3 key areas of science; Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The topics are completed on a rota system throughout the year.
These topics are:
| Unit of Work | Summary |
|---|---|
| Biology: Heath and lifestyle | By the end of this unit students will have learnt about the relationship between our bodies and a healthy lifestyle. |
| Biology: Ecosystem processes | In this unit students learn about the importance of plant and animal life in the environment. |
| Biology: Adaption and inheritance | In this unit students learn about how animals and plants have changed due to environmental and evolutionary conditions. |
| Chemistry: The periodic Table | Students learn about organisation of the periodic table. |
| Chemistry: Separation techniques | This unit covers the different methods of separating solids and liquids using numerous practicals. |
| Chemistry: Metals and acids | Students study different chemical reactions involving metals. |
| Chemistry: The Earth | By the end of this unit students know about how the earth was formed, different rocks and the environmental impact of current life. |
| Physics: Electricity and Magnetism | In this unit students learn about how electricity works within everyday life using practicals for hands-on experience. |
| Physics: Energy | In this unit students study the concept of transfer of energy. |
| Physics: Motion and pressure | In this unit the students study key principles of the laws of physics. |
Year 9 Students continue to study 3 key areas of science; Biology, Chemistry and Physics focusing on developing skills needed for the start of the GCSE course in February.
These topics are:
| Unit of Work | Summary |
|---|---|
| Biology: New Technology | By the end of this unit students will have gained an understanding of how biology is used currently. Pupils will investigate genetics and biotechnology. |
| Biology: Turning points in biology | Students will study the development of vaccines and antibiotics. A focus will be on how you can protect yourself from disease through immunisation and treat conditions using antibiotics. |
| Biology: Detection | Students will learn how forensic scientists help solve crimes through the analysis of evidence found at the scene of a crime. |
| Chemistry: New Technology | Students will learn how new technology in chemistry has changed the materials that we use. There will be a focus on nanotechnology and investigation of the impact of fuels. |
| Chemistry: Turing points in Chemistry | Pupils will learn about vital developments in the field of Chemistry. A focus will be on the discovery of the atom. |
| Chemistry: Detection | Students will learn how forensic scientists help solve crimes through the analysis of evidence found at the scene of a crime. |
| Physics: New Technology |
In this unit students learn about how physics relates to everyday life. Pupils will discuss efficiency of our homes, how new technology has changed sports and medicine. |
| Physics: Turning points in physics | Students will discuss how our ideas about the universe have changed and how people discovered electromagnetism and radioactivity. |
| Physics: Detection | Pupils will learn how scientists look for new particles and life outside of our planet. We will earn how communication is used on and around our planet including GPS. |
Science Key Stage 4
Science matters. That’s why we’ve built the most inclusive GCSE (9–1) courses, so every student can enjoy science and succeed in their studies.
In February of Year 9 pupils will begin their Key Stage 4 Science course. During science lessons in Key Stage 4, students cover content in all three Science discipline areas. Students learn in a variety of ways including debate, practical investigations, presentations and role play. The Science qualifications on offer at Blackfen School for Girls enable students to engage with Science and understand scientific issues that affect society.
The Edexcel GCSE course will give students a qualification which is graded 9 (being the highest) to 1 (being the lowest).
Qualification type: GCSE
Specification title: Combined Science (1SC0), Biology (1BI0), Chemistry (1CH0), Physics (1PH0)
Exam board: Edexcel
Course type: Full Course
Website: http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/sciences-2016.html#tab-0
Present Year 9 Topic List
| Term | Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Autumn term 1
Autumn term 2
Spring term 1
Spring term 2
Summer term 1
Summer term 2 |
Completing KS3 Science Content
Biology B1- Overarching Concepts in Biology (Aspects) B5 – Health and Disease
Chemistry C1&2 – States of Matter and Methods of Separating and Purifying Substances
C3&4 – Atomic Structure and The Periodic Table
Physics P1&2 Motion and Forces P3 – Conservation of Energy |
Biology B2 – Cells and Control B3 - Genetics B4 – Natural Selection and Genetic Modification B5 – Health and Disease
B6 – Plant structures and their functions
Chemistry C5, 6 & 7 – Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding and Types of Substances
C8 – Acids C9 - Calculations involving masses
Physics P4&5 – Waves and Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum P6- Radioactivity |
Biology B7 – Animal Coordination, Control and Homeostasis B8 – Exchange and Transport in Animals
Chemistry C10, 11 & 12 - Electrolytic Processes, Obtaining and Using Metals & Reversible reactions and equilibrium
C13, 14 & 15 – Groups in the Periodic Table, Rates of Reactions, Heat Changes in Chemical Reactions
C16 & 17 – Fuels, Earth and Atmospheric Science
Physics P7 & P8 Energy – Forces Doing Work and Forces and Their Effects P9 – Electricity and Circuits P10 & P11 – Magnetism and the Motor Effect & EM Induction P12 & 13 – Particle Model, Forces and Matter |
Present Year 10 Topic List
| Term | Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|---|
|
Autumn term 1
Autumn term 2
Spring term 1
Spring term 2
Summer term 1
Summer term 2 |
Biology B2 – Cells and Control B3 - Genetics
B4 – Natural Selection and Genetic Modification B5 – Health and Disease
B6 – Plant Structures and their Functions
Chemistry C3&4 – Atomic Structure and The Periodic Table
C5, 6 & 7 – Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding and Types of Substances
C8 – Acids
C9 - Calculations involving masses
C10, 11 & 12 - Electrolytic Processes, Obtaining and Using Metals & Reversible reactions and equilibrium
Physics P3 – Conservation of Energy P4&5 – Waves and Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum P6- Radioactivity |
Biology B6 – Plant Structures and their Functions
B7 – Animal Coordination, Control and Homeostasis B8 – Exchange and Transport in Animals
B9 – Ecosystems and Material Cycles
Chemistry C13, 14 & 15 – Groups in the Periodic Table, Rates of Reactions, Heat Changes in Chemical Reactions C16 & 17 – Fuels, Earth and Atmospheric Science
Physics P7 & P8 Energy – Forces Doing Work and Forces and Their Effects P9 – Electricity and Circuits P10 & P11 – Magnetism and the Motor Effect & EM Induction P12 & 13 – Particle Model, Forces and Matter |
Present Year 11 Topic List
| Term | Year 11 |
|---|---|
|
Autumn term 1
Autumn term 2
Spring term 1
Spring term 2
Summer term 1
Summer term 2 |
Biology B7 – Animal Coordination, Control and Homeostasis
B8 – Exchange and Transport in Animals B9 – Ecosystems and Material Cycles
Chemistry C5, 6 & 7 – Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding and Types of SubstancesC8 – Acids
C8 – Acids C9 - Calculations involving masses
C13, 14 & 15 – Groups in the Periodic Table, Rates of Reactions, Heat Changes in Chemical Reactions C16 & 17 – Fuels, Earth and Atmospheric Science
Physics P7 & P8 Energy – Forces Doing Work and Forces and Their Effects P9 – Electricity and Circuits P10 & P11 – Magnetism and the Motor Effect & EM Induction P12 & 13 – Particle Model, Forces and Matter |
Triple Science Year 10 Topic List
| Term | Year 10 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Autumn term 1
Autumn term 2
Spring term 1
Spring term 2
Summer term 1
Summer term 2 |
Biology B1- Overarching Concepts in Biology
B2 – Cells and Control B3 – Genetics
B4 – Natural Selection and Genetic Modification
B5 – Health and Disease |
Chemistry C1&2 – States of Matter and Methods of Separating and Purifying Substances
C3&4 – Atomic Structure and The Periodic Table
C5, 6 & 7 – Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding and Types of Substances
C8 – Acids
C9 - Calculations involving masses
C10, 11 & 12 - Electrolytic Processes, Obtaining and Using Metals & Reversible reactions and equilibrium
C13, 14 & 15 – Groups in the Periodic Table, Rates of Reactions, Heat Changes in Chemical Reactions
C16 & 17 – Fuels, Earth and Atmospheric Science |
Physics P1 – Motion P2 – Motion and Forces
P3 – Conservation of Energy
P4 – Waves
P5 – Light and the EM Spectrum
P6 - Radioactivity P7- Astronomy |
Year 11 Triple Science Topic List
| Term | Year 11 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Autumn term 1
Autumn term 2
Spring term 1
Spring term 2
Summer term 1
Summer term 2 |
Biology B7 – Animal Coordination, Control and Homeostasis
B8 – Exchange and Transport in Animals B9 – Ecosystems and Material Cycles |
Chemistry C17 – Groups in the Periodic Table
C18 – Rates of Reaction SC19 – Heat Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions
C20 – Fuels C21 – Earth and Atmospheric Science
C22 – Hydrocarbons
SC23 – Alcohols and Carboxylic Acids SC24 – Polymers
SC25 – Qualitative Analysis: Tests for Ions SC26 - Bulk and Surface Properties of Matter Including Nanoparticles |
Physics P8 – Energy – Forces doing Work
P9 – Forces and their Effects
P12 & SP13 – Magnetism and the Motor Effect
P14 & SP15 – The Particle Model & Forces and Matter |