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Science - Year 9

Mathematics - Year 7

Click here to return to our Science curriculum home page

Below you will find more specific information about the curriculum in Science for Year 9 students, 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

Term Topic / Specific Knowledge Specific Skills
Autumn Biology
Discovery and development of drugs
Cell Biology
Cell transport
Communicable disease 
Required practical on onion cells, recap of magnification and resolution. Magnification calculations and microscope drawing. Analysis of data.
Chemistry
Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
Elements and compounds, Separating mixtures Atomic Structure
Isotopes
Group 1, 7 and 0. Transition metals (HT)
History of the Periodic Table
Practical Skills - Following instructions, using bunsen burners, filtering, evaporating, handling chemicals safely. Lab safety. Using the periodic table. Drawing electron structure. Making predictions and observations. Identifying trends from data. Maths skills - Plotting line graphs; arithmetic (calculating formula mass)
Physics
Changes in Energy Stores
Efficiency & insulation
Gravitational, kinetic, elastic stores
Work & Power
Energy Resources
Calculations - substituting and rearranging (VESRAU)
Manipulating equations (algebra)
Making accurate observations
Required practical
Spring Biology
Communicable disease
Ecology
Analysis of data. Categoric, discrete and continuous data. 
Chemistry
Reactivity of Metals
Oxidation and reduction
Displacement reactions
Reactivity Series
Extraction of Iron
Making predictions and observations. Drawing conclusions. Practical skills - following instructions
Physics
Particle Model
Density
States, changes of state, internal energy
Specific heat capacity, specific latent heat
Gas pressure
Practical skills
Taking measurements
Linking ideas
Calculations - substituting and rearranging (VESRAU)
Summer Biology
Ecology
Sampling techniques.
Ecology required practical; random and systematic sampling methods, drawing graphs.
Chemistry
Acids and Bases
Neutralisation
Acid + Metal
Acid + Base
Making salts
Strong and Weak acids (HT)
Practical skills. Following written instructions. Literacy - Writing a method. Making experimental observations. Maths skills - powers of 10 (HT)
Physics
Atomic Structure
Nuclear Radiation
 

Useful documents:

Please click here for a PDF of curriculum overview.

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.

How are groups organised?

The classes are organised into ability-based sets (4 sets in one half of the year group, 5 in the other half)

What characteristics does a successful student have in this subject?

Successful students are able to commit to learning and constantly revisiting factual content that they are then eager to apply to new situations. Students should enjoy working practically but should also be enthusiastic towards their learning about the world around them.

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?

Student will have two exams in each science.

Each exam is 1 hour 15 minutes in duration.

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

When do key assessments take place?

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, especially a scientific calculator.

Students also need to bring their textbook to lessons (these are provided by the 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/combined-science-trilogy-8464

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

What does student work look like in this subject at this level?

 

How does this subject support a broad and balanced curriculum, meeting the needs of all students, and developing traditional core skills?

  • Teach with in context with examples of how content fits to everyday life.
  • Foundation and Higher Tiers sat
  • All required – practical’s carried out across BCP.  Implicit practical skills taught.  Practical work is a regular component of lessons.

How does this subject promote creativity, critical thinking, practice, perseverance and resilience, and making links?

  • Designing own practical’s.
  • Students encouraged to pick out patterns in data and analyse and evaluate practical methods.
  • Regular exam question practice and feedback, especially higher level skills.  Students encouraged to produce revision materials for ongoing use.

How does this subject encourage enrichment and the development of cultural capital, deep learning, and inclusivity?

Exam prep session

Use of assessed tasks and DIRT and extensive task.