Science

Science Key Stage 3

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 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 January of Year 9 students start their KS4 GCSE work.

Students are assessed continuously across KS3 using subject tests, levelled assessed tasks and core practical tasks. Each subject (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) assessments consist of one levelled assessed task, one assessed core practical and one subject test covering all topics. Together, the marks from the subject tests, levelled assessed tasks and core practicals are combined to give the student a current level.

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 January. 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.
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.
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.

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 January 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

	Year 9	Year 10	Y11
Autumn Term 1	Completing KS3 Science Content Biology B1- Overarching Concepts in Biology B9 – Ecosystems and material cycles 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 Chemistry 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 P4&5 – Waves and Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum P6- Radioactivity	Biology B6 – Photosynthesis B7 – Animal Coordination, Control and Homeostasis B8 – Exchange and Transport in Animals Chemistry C13, 14 & 15 – Groups in the Periodic Table, Rates of Reactions, Heat Changes in Chemical Reactions C16 & 17 – Fules, 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
Autumn Term 2
Spring Term 1
Spring Term 2
Summer Term 1
Summer Term 2

Present Year 10 Topic List

	Year 10	Y11
Autum Term 1	Biology B2 – Cells and Control B3 - Genetics B4 – Natural Selection and Genetic Modification B5 – Health and Disease B6 – Photosynthesis Chemistry C4 – 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 P2 – Forces and Motion P4&5 – Waves and Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum P6- Radioactivity	Biology 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 – Fules, 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
Autum Term 2
Spring Term 1
Spring Term 2
Summer Term 1
Summer Term 2

Present Year 11 Topic List

	Y11
Autumn Term 1	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 Substances C8 – Acids C9 - Calculations involving masses C13, 14 & 15 – Groups in the Periodic Table, Rates of Reactions, Heat Changes in Chemical Reactions C16 & 17 – Fules, 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
Autumn Term 2
Spring Term 1
Spring Term 2
Summer Term 1
Summer Term 2

Triple Science Year 10 Topic List

	Y10
Autumn Term 1	Biology B1- Overarching Concepts in Biology B2 – Cells and Control B3 – Genetics B4 – Natural Selection and Genetic Modification B5 – Health and Disease	Chemistry 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 – Fules, 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 P10 & SP11 – Electricity and Circuits & Static Electricity
Autumn Term 2
Spring Term 1
Spring Term 2
Summer Term 1
Summer Term 2

Year 11 Triple Science Topic List

	Y11
Autumn Term 1	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 P7- Astronomy 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
Autumn Term 2
Spring Term 1
Spring Term 2
Summer Term 1
Summer Term 2