The curriculum in science has been developed to gradually develop understanding of topics throughout student's time at St Peter’s. By revisiting and building on knowledge progressively will embed understanding. Furthermore, the curriculum is being developed so links can be made between the different topics and subjects, which will deepen understanding of the subject.
This will enable students to feel more confident in their knowledge. Thus, be able to use their knowledge and understanding to communicate effectively about the subject outside of education.
Year 7 starts with introduction to science lessons during which students will learn understanding of safety in the lab, designing and undertaking practical’s and displaying results. After which they will put their understanding into practise through a space mission topic. From then on KS3 follows the AQA KS3 syllabus (for more information see: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/ks3/ks3-science-syllabus ). We have written a scheme of work that enables students to revisit and expand their understanding of science skills whilst introducing them to key theories of science.
Content is under 11 big idea headings: Forces, Electromagnetism, Energy, Waves, Matter, Reactions, Earth, Organisms, Ecosystems, Genes and How Science works. Each idea contains topics: the building blocks for the big ideas.
The below shows how each big idea is covered over the 5 years from year 7 to year 11, and what it leads to in KS5.
Year |
Term |
Topic |
7 |
1 |
Gravity and Space** |
7 |
1 |
Space mission |
7 |
2 |
Speed |
7 |
3 |
Contact forces |
8 |
1 |
Density and Pressure |
9 |
1 |
Maths Skills (& Space) |
9 |
3 |
Forces* |
10 |
3 |
Forces and motion |
11 |
2 |
Space (triple only) |
* Taught early in the course as underpins principles in further topics
** Taught first, as engaging science topic and follows on from Space mission topic
Year |
Term |
Topic |
8 |
3 |
Magnets, current voltage and electromagnets |
10 |
1 |
Electricity |
11 |
1 |
Electromagnets |
Year |
Term |
Topic |
8 |
1 |
Work |
8 |
2 |
Energy and energy transfer |
8 |
2 |
Heating and cooling |
9 |
3 |
Energy |
10 |
1 |
Energy changes |
Year |
Term |
Topic |
7 |
1 |
Gravity and space – observing the universe |
9 |
1 |
Waves* |
11 |
1 |
Waves |
* All waves (light, sound) taught together to enable pupils to make links between them
Year |
Term |
Topic |
7 |
1 |
Particle theory |
7 |
2 |
Separating mixtures |
7 |
3 |
Elements |
8 |
1 |
Periodic table |
9 |
1 |
Atoms and the periodic table |
9 |
3 |
Bonding |
10 |
2 |
Particle model |
10 |
2 |
Atomic theory |
11 |
1 |
Quantitative chemistry* |
* Taught later in the course as difficult topic.
Year |
Term |
Topic |
7 |
3 |
Substances |
8 |
1 |
Types of reactions |
8 |
2 |
Chemical energy |
10 |
1 |
Chemical changes |
10 |
2 |
Rates of reactions |
10 |
3 |
Hydrocarbons |
11 |
1 |
Chemical analysis |
Year |
Term |
Topic |
8 |
3 |
Earth’s Structure and Earth’s resources |
8 |
3 |
Climate * |
11 |
1 |
The atmosphere |
11 |
2 |
Using resources |
* Greenhouse gases and climate change not currently part of the national curriculum. Added to SPS science, as key issue in today’s world.
Year |
Term |
Topic |
7 |
3 |
Ecosystems and food chains |
8 |
1 |
Respiration and Photosynthesis |
9 |
2 |
Organisation |
10 |
3 |
Ecology |
Year |
Term |
Topic |
7 |
3 |
Reproduction |
8 |
1 |
Adaptation and Variation |
8 |
2 |
Inheritance and evolution |
10 |
3 |
Inheritance |
11 |
1 |
Evolution |
Year |
Term |
Topic |
7 |
1 |
Cells* |
7 |
2 |
The Human body |
9 |
2 |
Cells |
9 |
3 |
Organisation |
10 |
2 |
Health |
10 |
2 |
Homeostasis |
* Taught first as underpins all biology topics
Year |
Term |
Topic |
7 |
1 |
How to be a scientist* |
7 |
1 |
Space Mission ** |
9 |
1 |
Maths and Space *** |
9 |
1 |
Practical Skills **** |
* Introduction to science to support transition from KS2
** Topic based series of lesson reinforcing scientific skills learnt in How to be a scientist topic
*** Maths based topic with a space theme. To support maths skills used in science.
**** Additional science skills topic to support key skills