We take pride in our Science Department and endeavour to spark enthusiasm and curiosity throughout the curriculum. The Science Department constantly strives to find new ways of making the material accessible and memorable. The lessons are designed to be multisensory and varied. Particular emphasis is placed on any unfamiliar vocabulary and we regularly review key information.
Year 9
The Year 9 curriculum is designed to lay strong foundations for the Edexcel Combined Science GCSE course. Pupils are introduced to key GCSE concepts and vocabulary. These are revisited in greater depth at Key Stage 4. The Year 9 pupils are divided into three science groups based on their learning needs. The three sciences are taught separately within these groups. The Year 9 pupils have 50 minutes of Biology, 50 minutes of Chemistry and 50 minutes of Physics each week.
Year 10 & Year 11
Edexcel Combined Science GCSE is the main qualification that we offer. Combined Science is the equivalent of two GCSEs. As a result, pupils get two grades at the end of the course. The Combined Science GCSE contains twice the amount of material that a typical GCSE would entail. Pupils are assessed through six terminal examinations at the end of Year 11: two in Biology, two in Chemistry, and two in Physics. There are two tiers of papers: Foundation (Grades 1-5) and Higher (Grades 3-9). While the exams are primarily focused on science content, 15% of the marks are awarded for demonstrating mathematical skills.
Alternative Pathways
The Edexcel Science Entry Level Certificate is available for pupils who would benefit from a more manageable workload or who want to focus their time and attention on other subjects. The Entry Level Certificate is not equivalent to a GCSE. Pupils are assessed through six short examinations. They can be taken at any time during the year and repeated if necessary. This helps to reduce the pressure of the Year 11 exam season.
Combined Science is the main GCSE that we offer but there is some flexibility to incorporate separate science GCSEs in response to the specific needs of each cohort. For some students, this may involve taking only the Biology GCSE to moderate academic demand. For more able students, this could involve being entered for the Physics GCSE a year early. Course options are reviewed annually, and information is shared ahead of the Year 9 to Year 10 Key Stage 4 transition.
