Science
The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.
- Albert Einstein
The Twynham Learning Secondary Science curriculum aims to inspire a generation of future scientists, build student’s sense of awe and wonder in the natural and increasingly technological world around them and give them the knowledge to explain why the world works the way it does.
Students will develop the skills they require to solve problems, analyse data and information for validity and reliability and explain the science they encounter in their everyday lives.
Throughout their science journey students will learn the fundamental laws and history of science upon which current scientific models are based. High quality teaching will make use of practical activities (disciplinary skills) to complement theoretical application (substantive knowledge) – alongside research, debate and investigative planning – leading to improved scientific literacy and analytical skills. Within lessons, tasks will challenge students appropriately with the aim to promote aspirational learners keen to study individual sciences at GCSE through to degree level.
Curriculum Information
Key Stage 3
Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3 students cover topics for biology, chemistry and physics, the curriculum is spiral and key concepts are re-visited and synoptic links made between topics.
Year 7
- Practical Skills
- Movement and Cells
- Energy Costs and Transfers
- Particles and Separating Mixtures
- Human Reproduction and Variation
- Voltage, Resistance and Current
- Metals and Non Metals
- Speed and Gravity
- Plant Reproduction and Interdependence
- Earth Structure and The Universe
- Sound and Light
Year 8
- Digestion and Breathing
- Heating, Cooling and Work
- Elements and The Periodic Table
- Photosynthesis and Respiration
- Contact Forces and Pressure
- Types of Reactions and Chemical Energy
- Wave Properties and Effects
- Inheritance and Evolution
- Earth Resources and Climate
- Magnets and Electromagnets
Year 9
- Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
- Energy
- Cell Biology
- Structure Bonding and the Properties of Matter
- Moving and Changing Materials
- Electricity
Key Stage 4 Core Subject Information
Exam board: AQA
Qualification: 2 GCSE's in Combined Science
Specifications: AQA Combined Science
Course Overview
Science is a compulsory subject and most student follow the Combined Science (Trilogy) specification from AQA. There is no coursework and the course is assessed entirely by exams at the end of year 11. There are six papers, each exam lasting 75 minutes and contributing 16.7% of the final mark. There are two biology, two chemistry and two physics. Each of the papers will assess knowledge and understanding from distinct topic areas and is available at Foundation and Higher tier.
At the start of Year 10, a small group of high performing science students will be given the opportunity to study three GCSEs (known as Separate Sciences made up of GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics). Students taking separate sciences will have three teachers and 12 hours of science per fortnight to accommodate the content 3 hours of this will take place after school.
More information is available on the AQA website:
AQA Combined Science Introduction
Biology
- Cell biology
- Organisation
- Infection and response
- Bioenergetics
- Homeostasis and response
- Inheritance, variation and evolution
- Ecology
Chemistry
- Atomic structure and the periodic table
- Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter
- Quantitative chemistry
- Chemical changes
- Energy changes
- The rate and extent of chemical change
- Organic chemistry
- Chemical analysis
- Chemistry of the atmosphere
- Using resources
Physics
- Energy
- Electricity
- Particle model of matter
- Atomic structure
- Forces
- Waves
- Magnetism and electromagnetism
