Mathematics - Year 7

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Below you will find more specific information about the curriculum in Separate Science for students who have chosen this GCSE Science option, explaining to you what students will learn, when, why and how. There is also information about how parents/carers are able to support students in their learning, extra-curricular opportunities in this subject and how it links to other subjects and the wider world.

Subject Key Concepts

#1 DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC THINKING

#2 EXPERIMENTAL SKILLS AND STATEGIES

#3 SCIENTIFIC VOCABULARY

BIOLOGY

#1 CELL BIOLOGY #2 ORGANISATION (ORGANS) #3 INFECTION AND RESPONSE #4 BIOENERGETICS

#5 INHERITANCE, VARIATION AND EVOLUTION #6 ECOLOGY #7 BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES

CHEMISTRY

#1 MATTER #2 REACTIONS #3 ENERGY

#4 QUANTITATIVE #5 INDIVIDUAL, SOCIAL AND SOCIETY

PHYSICS

#1 FORCES #2 ENERGY #3 ATOMIC STRUCTURE AND RADIOACTIVITY

#4 PARTICLE MODEL #5 SPACE

Please click here for Subject Key Concepts.

Curriculum Overview for the Year

YEAR 10	Topic / Specific Knowledge	Specific Skills
Autumn	Biology Microscopy revisited Circulatory system Human digestive system.	Required practical on onion cells, recap of magnification and resolution. Magnification calculations and microscope drawing. Analysis of data. Organ dissection, biochemical tests and investigations into the factors affecting enzyme activity.
	Chemistry Structure and Bonding chapter 2 Nanoparticles (sep. sci.) Organic chemistry chapter 7	Applying rules and principles to new situations. Considering why materials have the properties and therefore the uses that they do, and how this transfers into everyday life. Using data to draw conclusions. Representing molecules in 2D and 3D form. Orders of Magnitude. Appreciation of development and design in Science. How the Chemical Industry impacts on life and use of natural resources.
	Physics Atomic Structure, Development of scientific theories Radioactive decay - properties and decay equations Use and dangers of radioactivity Half life Contamination and irradiation	Appreciation of the development of scientific theories Problem solving
Spring	Biology Plant organs and tissues Ecology	Investigating osmosis in plant tissues, use of microscopes, making observations, biological drawing, magnification calculations. Calculations of stomatal density.
	Chemistry Organic chemistry chapter 7 Polymers and Industrial Organic Chemistry (sep.sci.) Chemistry of the atmosphere chapter 9	How the Chemical Industry impacts on life and use of natural resources. Practical Chemistry skills - following instructions, making predictions, making and recording observations. Impact and importance of environmental chemistry and science and its relevance in sustainability.
	Physics Electric circuits - series and parallel Measuring PD and current Resistance - I-V graphs Thermistors and LDRs	Calculations - substituting and rearranging (VESRAU) Manipulating equations (algebra) Making accurate observations Drawing graphs
Summer	Biology Ecology continued including the use of sampling techniques. Photosynthesis	Ecology required practical; random and systematic sampling methods, drawing graphs. Investigations into the factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis. Collecting and analysing data, drawing graphs and making conclusions.
	Chemistry Energy changes Chapter 5 Rates of reaction chapter 6	Maths skills - plotting line graphs. Division, Drawing tangents; Following written instructions. Data analysis and interpretation. Literacy - Writing a method. Application of relevant maths skills in a Chemistry context.
	Physics Forces - names of forces Contact & non-contact Scalars & vectors Resultant forces Hooke's Law Motion graphs Acceleration Newton's Laws	Making accurate observations Interpreting graphs Calculations - substituting and rearranging (VESRAU)
YEAR 11
Autumn	Biology Recap of photosynthesis Respiration Cell division Nervous system and homeostasis.	Investigating the respiration rate of yeast; making observations, analysing data and drawing conclusions. Investigating factors that affect reaction time in humans; identifying control variables and ensuring that data is valid, analaysing data and drawing conclusions.
	Chemistry Rates of Reaction chapter 6 Quantitative chemistry chapter 3	Maths skills - plotting line graphs. Division, Drawing tangents; Following written instructions. Data analysis and interpretation. Literacy - Writing a method. Application of relevant maths skills in a Chemistry context.
	Physics Wave properties Wave equation Electromagnetic Spectrum - uses and dangers Infra-red radiation Reflection & refraction	Observing and measuring waves Standard form Prefixes Rearranging equations
Spring	Biology Hormonal control in humans Reproduction, variation and evolution Genetics and evolution.	Analysing and interpreting graphs showing the effects of hormones on humans. Evaluating the evidence for evolution from investigations and data. Calculating probability as part of the genetics topic.
	Chemistry Chemical analysis chapter 8 Using resources chapter 10	Data analysis and interpretation. Following instructions. Making observations and recording them accurately. Significant figures. Analysing and interpreting sources of information and questioning their reliability.
	Physics Magnets Magnetic fields Electromagnets The motor effect	Exam technique Command words 6 mark questions
Summer	Biology Exam prep	Fine tuning exam technique
	Chemistry Exam prep	Fine tuning exam technique
	Physics Exam prep	Fine tuning exam technique

Useful documents:

Please click here for a PDF of curriculum overview Year 10.
Please click here for a PDF of curriculum overview Year 11.

While this information covers a broad range of areas, please do get in touch with the Subject Leader Mr Grove if you have any questions.

Please click on the questions below to find out more.

Which exam board will students be examined by?

AQA

How are groups organised?

One class only

What characteristics does a successful student have in this subject?

The most successful students will engage in every lesson, be resourceful and independent in their learning while responding to feedback given by their teachers.

How will students learn at this level?

In a variety of ways: reading ahead / research / self-discovery, class discussion, teacher explanation, educational videos, teacher demonstration, class practical, self-evaluation and target setting.

How will students’ learning be assessed at this level?

Students will have two exams in each science.

Each exam is 1 hr 45 minutes in duration.

Questions will be a mixture of multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open response.

When do key assessments take place?

All external exams take place in the summer of Year 11.

How can parents/carers support students’ learning?

Support your child to bring the correct equipment to lessons, including a scientific calculator.

Ensure your child has access to the appropriate revision guides.

Test your child’s knowledge of key facts. Engage them in conversation about what they have learnt and how it relates to the real world.

What equipment do students need for this subject?

Essential school equipment, scientific calculator. Students need to bring text books to lessons. These are provided by school.

How does this subject link to other subjects?

Very high mathematical content – see specification for exact skills required.

High levels of literacy are required to read, understand and answer questions.

Environmental issues relate to work covered in geography.

What websites or resources may be helpful to support students’ learning?

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/steps-to-success-in-science

https://www.doddlelearn.co.uk/app/login?

https://www.senecalearning.com/

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/examspecs/z8r997h

What extra-curricular or enrichment opportunities are available for students in this subject at this level?

Helping out in Science club.

Invitation to Physics and Chemistry Olympiad lunch time sessions.

Many opportunities during Science week in March.

What sort of careers can this subject lead to?

The skills you will develop studying Science can be transferred to any career but the following careers are strongly linked to Science:

Medical professions, engineering, forensics, research science, sports science, sports psychology etc

Knights Templar

GCSE Separate Science (3 GCSEs)