Science

All science units in Key Stage 3 are linked by the big ideas in science. In Year 7, students begin their study of science by developing an understanding of particles and mixtures. They deepen their knowledge of chemistry later in the year looking at properties of matter, chemical reactions, and materials. Students are taught about energy and motion at the start of the year, which leads them to learning about energy transfer via radiation, and energy transfers between systems. Students begin their study of biology learning about cells, then moving to the study of organ systems and at the end of the year, reproduction and variation. 

In year 8, students will build on their knowledge of particles and chemical reaction from year 7, and apply this to the structure of the Earth, the evolution of the atmosphere, and human impacts on the atmosphere. Students will then study the pH scale and the formation of salts. Students will delve further into the topic of forces and motion and have an opportunity to enhance their maths in science skills as well as being introduced to electricity and space. Students will advance their biological knowledge through studying plants and ecology as well as nutrition and digestion. 

In Year 9, students begin by developing their physics knowledge by learning forces before moving onto electricity and towards the end of the year, covering the GCSE topic P3 Particle model of matter. In Chemistry, students begin by looking at quantitative chemistry and the reactivity series, then moving onto energetics and at the end of the year, the GCSE topic C1 Atomic structure and the periodic table. In Biology, students learn about the nervous system and DNA, before moving onto the GCSE topic B1 Cell Biology. 

In Year 10, biology content include cells, transport of substances, organisation of organisms, communicable and non-communicable disease, and bioenergetics. Chemistry knowledge is further developed in Year 10 with material such as atomic structure, bonding and quantitative chemistry. In physics, energy builds on energy stores taught in Year 7. Student also learn about electricity, matter, specific heat capacity of materials and radioactivity. 

In Year 11, homeostasis, inheritance and ecology is taught. In chemistry, rates of reaction and chemical analysis builds on students’ knowledge of particles from Year 7. Organic chemistry is taught as a new unit, but requires knowledge from Year 10 bonding. Students also learn about resources and the chemistry of the atmosphere, as well as forces, waves and magnetism.

In Year 12, students start with the foundations in biology which includes the study of biological molecules and cell structures, along with learning about how improvements in microscopy and the development of different type of microscopes have led to increased understanding of different types of cells and their organelles.  They build on their Key Stage 4 knowledge to learn about the movement of molecules across membranes, and the transportation of nutrients and substances around the body via the circulatory system.  They also cover the physiology behind breathing. Communicable diseases, the immune response and vaccination are covered.​

In Year 13, students learn how the kidney is involved in excretion and the regulation of the water potential of the blood. They learn about cell-to-cell communication via the nervous system and endocrine system, and they also cover how we are able to manipulate genomes to genetically engineer organisms and create DNA profiles.​

In Year 12 students explore Physical, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry.
In the Physical topics they learn in depth how the chemical properties of elements depend on the atomic structure, in particular the arrangement, the addition and the removal of the electrons around the nucleus. They explore the parameters, equations and types of units used by Chemists to measure and record the amount of substances. They discover how the physical properties of elements and compounds are dependent on the bonds and forces keeping them together and determining their shapes. They also learn how changes in the conditions can affect the yield and speed of a chemical reaction as well as how energy changes in them can be measured.
In the Inorganic topics they learn about the trends across some groups and periods of the Periodic Table. They uncover how these affect their reactivity, their ability to be ionised and their melting and boiling points.
In the Organics topics  they learn about  the how the naming, structure and formula of carbon based compounds can be represented in different ways with the IUPAC system of naming. They also consider some of the analytical techniques used by Chemists in order to understand the structure and properties of organic molecules. The synthesis of molecules is also explored with the use of different reagents via different mechanisms.
 
In Year 13 the foundation established in year 12 is expanded upon.
In the Physical topics they learn in greater depth what the correlation is between various factors that affect the rate of a reaction. They study acids and bases, their industrial and biological applications, their determining factors and buffer solutions. They also review reactions in electrochemical cells as they are utilised in commercial and industrial applications.
In the Inorganic topics they learn about the trends and unique characteristics of the transition block elements. They also build on the history and development of the Periodic Table by exploring the classification, reactions and properties of the period 3 elements.
In the Organics topics they learn about the methods of synthesis, reagents, apparatus used, products formed, properties, disposal, methods of analysis, uses and mechanisms for carbonyls and their derivatives, aromatics, amines, polymers, amino acids and proteins.

In Year 12 students build on a basic understanding of kinematics equations to learn to use SUVAT to solve complex problems. Students also learn through the materials unit about the idea of stress, strain and the Young's modulus building on their earlier understanding of the relationship between forces and materials. ​

In Year 13 students continue to develop their use of mechanics to solve complex motion problems. Students also return to the idea of gravitational fields having studied fields in other areas of the course.

The Level 3 BTEC course covers a range of topics from genetics to organic chemistry. Students build their scientific knowledge and skills in a range of formats, and experience a more hands-on approach with many units being practically based. This gives students an awareness of how science is applied in research settings.