Science
Science helps to provide the foundation for understanding the world around us.
By experiencing a range of scientific concepts, students will develop curiosity in both everyday and scientific phenomena, be able to interpret and make comments on observations and analyse data and critically question information presented to them. Science plays a key role in solving the problems of both the present and the future, such as feeding a growing world population, preventing climate change, curing disease and finding solutions to diminishing energy reserves. Students studying science today are essential participants in the evolution of our world.
The Science Faculty offer a range of co-curricular opportunities for students. These include a very popular Year 7 Science club, Year 8 STEM club, Astronomy club, Biology Challenge and Moth club. For older students there are opportunities to take part in Chemistry and Physics Olympiad competitions, both of which have seen great success from students over recent years. The Faculty runs an annual trip for Year 8 to visit Cotswold Wildlife Park. We also have a fabulous nature area on site with a pond that is used across a range of years in relevant Biology topics.
Year 7 Curriculum
In Year 7 we teach the fundamental concepts in Science, providing a solid basis for the key concepts and skills, and introducing students to Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- Introduction to Science topic. This has been created to introduce students to Science and some of the general skills involved, especially using investigative approaches.
- Biology Topics: Cells, Ecosystems and Energy from Food
- Chemistry Topics: Solids, Liquids and Gases, Introduction to Chemical Reactions and Acids & Alkalis
- Physics Topics: Energy & Forces
Year 8 Curriculum
In Year 8 we continue with fundamental concepts in Science, which will give a purpose to the topics taught in Year 9.
- Skills in Science topic. This builds on skills learnt in Year 7 and prepares students for the Required Practical component of GCSE.
- Biology Topics: Photosynthesis and Genetics & Evolution
- Chemistry Topics: Elements, Mixtures and Compounds, Reactions of Metals and Earth Science
- Physics Topics: Temperature and Heat Transfer, Waves, Electrical Circuits, Magnetism and Earth in Space
Year 9 Curriculum
In Year 9 students start to explore the GCSE course, whilst continuing to develop a breadth of scientific skills. Biology and Chemistry continue to be taught by topic. Wherever possible, links are made to previous topics, for example Cell Biology links back to theYear 8 Photosynthesis topic, which has been built on the Year 7 Cells topic. Physics is taught through a spiral curriculum, for example students study Energy in Year 9,10 and 11, building on their knowledge of Energy from the previous year as the concepts progress in difficulty.
- Biology: Cell Biology and Organisation
- Chemistry: Atomic Structure, Alkanes, Chemical Analysis and Chemistry of the Atmosphere
- Physics: Forces, Particle Model, Energy, Waves and Electricity
