Subject: Science
At Paddington, our science curriculum is designed to enable students to make sense of the changing world around them. We develop students’ scientific understanding so they can be scientifically informed and, if they wish, pursue careers in science, or in careers that require some scientific understanding. To be scientifically informed requires a broad knowledge of scientific ideas, an appreciation of how experimentation and observation develop this knowledge, and an ability to think rationally and analytically when applying this knowledge to new contexts.
Why is Science important?
- Science enables students to analyse the world around them as individuals.
- Science is interesting, stimulating, life relevant, useful, enjoyable, and empowering for people to receive a science education.
- Provides problem solving and confidence, with challenging concepts growing in breadth of content and skills.
- Science is achievable for all to understand complex theories.
What will students learn?
At key stage 3, students study the three sciences of biology, chemistry, and physics.
In year 7, students build their scientific knowledge by learning about cells, particles, and energy. Students will then look at Reproduction and Variation before studying Chemical Reactions and Forces later in the year.
In year 8, students enhance their biological knowledge through the study of digestion and nutrition, as well as looking at ecology. Students will then study Materials of the Earth and The Periodic Table. This builds on their chemistry knowledge of particles and chemical reactions from year 7. Later in the academic year, student study Light and Space, and Electricity, building on their knowledge of energy taught in year 7.
In year 9, Biological Systems and Plants are taught, which build on knowledge of cells and digestion from both year 7 and year 8. Students study the chemistry of reactivity and energetics, where their prior knowledge of chemical reactions from year 7, and the periodic table from year 8 is used to extend their scientific understanding. Later in the year, motion, forces, sound waves and matter are taught. These build on students’ physics knowledge by extending what students learnt in year 7 with forces and particles, and in year 8 with light and space.
In KS3 students will study
- Year 7 - Cells, Tissues and Organs, Reproduction and Variation, Particles, Chemical Reactions, Energy, Forces
- Year 8 - Healthy Diet, Ecological Relationships, Materials of the Earth, The Periodic Table, Electricity, Light and Space
- Year 9 - Biological Systems, Plants, Matter, Reactivity, Energetics, Sound Waves, Forces in Action
How will students receive feedback?
At Paddington, all students will receive regular feedback from formative assessment tasks. Within the curriculum, specific tasks are allocated for feedback. This ensures all students gain regular feedback. Teachers will mark student work and provide targeted feedback that enables students to improve their work and make progress. To support student understanding, teachers plan high-quality re-teach time to prepare students for their feedback. Across each term, students will receive feedback from multiple tasks.
What resources can be used to support learning?
- There are curriculum books for each cycle of learning. These books contain all the knowledge that will be covered in lessons.
- The 100% books contain the knowledge organisers with core knowledge for each cycle. Students can use this to revise key information through self-quizzing.
- The United Learning curriculum website has resources and lessons that can be used to support and extend the content covered in lessons.