Science

Click below to learn about how the Curriculum is planned, delivered and assessed in Science.

Science Curriculum

Years 7 & 8 (KS3)
Years 9 – 11 (KS4)

For both the Trilogy and the Separate Science courses, we follow the AQA specification:

Trilogy (formerly known as Double Award)

GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy (8464)

Separate Sciences

GCSE Biology (8461)

GCSE Chemistry (8462)

GCSE Physics (8463)

In Science, students are assessed on skills and content.  The content is taken directly from The National Curriculum and has been incorporated into the Schemes of Learning.

The skills that are assessed are based on the following key areas and are based around skills that are needed for GCSE exams:

• Literacy
• Describing
• Explaining
• Evaluating
• Numeracy
• Graph Skills
• Mathematical Skills
• Data Analysis
• Science Specific
• Recall
• Investigating

At the beginning of each year, students will be given an Expected and Challenge target. These targets are what each student should aim for at the end of Year 11.

Using this target grade and after having a 1:1 discussion, an individual flight path will be given to each student. This flight path highlights the necessary skills that student needs to achieve at the end of this year in order to be on track to achieve their end of year 11 expected or challenge targets.

These flight paths will be stuck in the front of the student’s exercise books. When any of the skills have been met by the students, the student must write down where the evidence is.

Assessment at KS3 (Year 7 and 8)

In year 7 and 8 students will complete approximately 2 units per half term. At the end of each unit students will complete a skills assessment.  Students will also be given an exam style content assessment per half term covering the two units covered.

Assessment in Year 9

Students are assessed using examination questions from previous GCSE paper questions. The assessments provide students with the support and the feedback sessions that follow the teacher’s assessments allow for misconceptions to be corrected and then focused upon and corrected.

Assessment in Year 10

Approximately every 3 weeks, students complete a new unit. Within this unit students have 1 skills assessment.  At the end of each unit students will complete a GCSE style written paper.

In December students have two written papers which cover a combination of content from year 10 and year 9.

At the end of year 10 students will be given a terminal exam combining all content and skills.

Assessment in Year 11

During the final year of study within the science department at ALNS, students will sit 3 sets of mock papers spaced out throughout the year. The teaching staff will provide them with the detailed feedback and question by question analysis. The feedback given will dovetail with their personalised learning checklists (PLC) allowing them to develop a comprehensive revision list based on areas of weakness.

Final examinations consist of 6 separate exams. The students are scheduled to complete Biology paper 1, Chemistry paper 1 and Physics paper 1, followed by Biology paper 2, Chemistry paper 2 and Physics paper 2.

All students are entitled to:

• A positive, safe learning environment that enables them to flourish and succeed within a culture of mutual respect and shared responsibility.
• To be able to make informed decisions about modern technology and distinguish between fact and opinion.
• Be actively engaged in their own learning whilst being challenged and motivated to take responsibility for their own learning and question the world around them to create an enquiring mind.
• Have the opportunities to apply and develop their skills and knowledge of Science to a variety of new situations.
• Experience well planned lessons which challenge them, provide clear assessment and development opportunities.
• Reflect upon their own learning regularly and be given opportunities to improve and ultimately share and celebrate success.

• All students are set home learning tasks on a regular basis. In addition to supporting your son or daughter with this work, there are other ways that you can help your child to succeed in Science.
• If they have purchased a revision guide or workbook, encourage them to use these on a regular basis to support the work that they are covering in lessons.
• Students will be set revision tasks through Doddle by their teacher in preparation for tests or to go over work covered in class. Please make sure they check their Doddle task list on a regular basis and complete the tasks that have been set. Doddle can be found at doddlelearn.co.uk and all students have individual logins.
• Use the Science GCSE Bitesize revision website http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa
• At KS4 students also receive a Google Classroom page login which students can use to access their RAG sheet/PLC. The RAG sheet/PLC is used by your son or daughter in class and they can use it to track their progress, win prizes and plan their revision.
• Your son or daughter can also make a SENECA account which will enable them to complete revision quizzes. This is a free resource and is excellent. Make sure to only join AQA science though! https://senecalearning.com/
• Finally, if you have any further questions regarding the support on offer from the Science department at ALNS please contact:

Mr L O’Neil
Acting Curriculum Leader for Science
E-mail: [email protected]

The department encourages pupils to gain scientific cultural capital wherever possible.

Science teachers offer intervention days to all Year 10 and 11 students as part of their exam preparation. Department members will sometimes plan personalised revision sessions during Easter / half term which students can attend to support their revision process.

During each half term, the department co-ordinates challenges and competitions for students to win Science related trophies and house points. The Department has many trips planned for the upcoming year which range from a Science Fayre to reward trips to Fratton Park and Marwell Zoo.

The most recent experience was led by a scientist involved in the petrochemical industry. This allowed pupils to not just see science as a school subject, but as a career choice with many exciting possibilities.

In science we have 10 specialist science teachers and a dedicated suite of 8 fully equipped laboratories, all benefiting from access to chrome books and practical science equipment.

All students are provided with personal learning checklists and skills flight paths, which support both the KS3 and KS4 curriculum. Independent learning and intervention tasks are set using Show My Homework to allow pupils to consolidate content and practice skills they learn in class.

Within KS4 students join a virtual classroom which enables them to track their learning and development across years 9-11. This is to enable pupils to revise specific content, and also to prepare them for assessments during the year. Also, pupils are supported by specialist teaching assistants, where appropriate to help students progress past specific educational barriers