Science at TLWS
The school adopts a Mastery programme of study at Key Stage 3 to embed an over learning and enquiry based approach to learning. The Science curriculum is based in the skills of investigation, enquiry, observation and analysis. Our Science curriculum has numerous practical elements and we make the most of opportunities to explore the environment around us (scientifically of course!) For some students the course leads to a Double Science GCSE outcome courtesy of Edexcel at the end of year 11. The Double award requires students to study all 3 subjects comprising of Biology, Physics and Chemistry. For other students Key stage 4 science leads to a level 1 and level 2 BTEC Certificate in Science. The BTEC award is very practical and a lot of fun (there is even a crime scene investigation unit).
The Curriculum maps can be found below for Key Stage 3 science.
The Science Curriculum
Year 7
Autumn term: Biology (cells, tissues, organs, sexual reproduction in animals), Chemistry (mixtures and separation), Physics (energy).
Spring term: Chemistry (acids and alkalis), Physics (current electricity, the particle model), Biology (muscles and bones).
Summer term: Physics (forces, sound), Chemistry (atoms, elements and compounds), Biology (ecosystems).
Year 8
Autumn term: Biology (food and nutrition, fluids, plants and reproduction), Chemistry (combustion).
Spring term: Biology (breathing and respiration), Physics (light), Chemistry (the periodic table, metals and their use).
Summer term: Biology (unicellular organisms), Physics (energy transfers), Chemistry (rocks).
Year 9
Autumn term: Biology (genetics and evolution, plant growth), Physics (forces and motion), Chemistry (making materials).
Spring term: Biology (project), Physics (force fields and electromagnets, project), Chemistry (reactivity, project).
Summer term: Biology, Physics, Chemistry (transition work for GCSE or BTEC).
GCSE Double Science
The school teachers to the Edexcel Double Science award. This is a balanced and rigorous assessments and leads students to gain a good understanding of all three scientific disciplines. Below is a lot d detailed information about what is in each term:
Year 10
Autumn term: Baseline Tests, Key Concepts in Biology, States of Matter, Methods of Separating and Purifying Substances, Atomic Structure, The Periodic Table, Cells and Control, Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Types of Substance.
Spring term: Genetics, Natural Selection and Genetic Modification, Acids and Alkalis, Calculations Involving Masses, Motion, Forces and Motion, Conservation of Energy, Waves.
Summer term: Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum, Radioactivity, Energy - Forces Doing Work, Forces and their Effects.
Year 11
Autumn term: Health, Disease and Development of Medicines, Plant Structures and their Functions, Electrolytic Processes, Obtaining and Using Metals, Reversible Reactions and Equilibria, Animal Coordination, Control and Homeostasis, Groups in the Periodic Table, Rates of Reaction, Heat Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions, Fuels, Earth and Atmospheric Science.
Spring term: Exchange and Transport in Animals, Ecosystems and Material Cycles, Electricity and Circuits, Magnetism and the Motor Effect, Electromagnetic Induction, Particle Model, Forces and Matter.