By the end of KS3, students will have developed a deeper understanding of a range of scientific ideas in the subject disciplines – biology, chemistry and physics. Students will begin to see connections between the disciplines and begin to form an extensive knowledge of the foundation that underpins each of them. Examples of these ideas include, but are not limited to, ideas of living organisms, the particle model of matter, the periodic table which is the basis of all chemical reactions and the resources and means of energy transfers as key determinants of all interactions. Pupils will understand that science is about working objectively, investigating ideas and modifying questions based on results. They should gain the skills to work scientifically, to choose appropriate results and measurements to answer their questions and to develop a deeper understanding of factors to be considered. This leads them to evaluating their results and identifying further questions arising from them. Students will also gain a broad knowledge of key literacy and key vocabulary, how science relates to the wider world through careers, after school clubs and outside shows. Each year skills will be built upon naturally as Science offers a spiral curriculum where skills and knowledge are revisited e.g. year 7 are taught different types of cells, this is built upon in year 8 by looking at specialised cells and how they work in the body.
By the end of KS4, students will have built on skills and knowledge to understand connections between the disciplines. Students will have gained the foundation to understand the natural world which, for some, will provide an opening to study the disciplines at more advanced levels. Students will understand how science is changing our lives and how it is vital to the world’s future. All students will be taught the essential aspects of knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. They will gain an understanding of how diverse and complex the phenomena of science are in the natural world. They will be able to contextualise these phenomena in theory and practice through scientific enquiry which will be built upon from KS3. Literacy skills and key vocabulary will be built on from KS3 and embedded throughout the curriculum via starters and assessments. Skills and knowledge learned in KS3 will be the gateway for cementing skills needed at KS4, e.g. the periodic table will be covered in year 8 but built upon in year 9 and 11 in terms of a deeper understanding of how elements behave.
We aim for students to finish with a sense of enjoyment and relevance from Science, which encourages them to become independent learners through consistent approaches to resources, assessment and expectations.