Curriculum
Combined Science
GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy) is the basic all-round science course suitable for all abilities and learning styles. It covers all of the core concepts needed for an understanding of science in the real world and is the course choice for those who want to keep their options open.鈥� This GCSE Science option is taken by the majority of students. It builds on the Key Stage 3 curriculum and covers the National Curriculum Programme of Study for Science at Key Stage 4. It encourages students to explore, explain, theorise and model in science and develops a critical approach to scientific evidence.
Separate Sciences
GCSE Triple Award Science covers the separate GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics content. Our route ensures a thorough and in-depth preparation for further study into any area of Science at Post 16
The course is academically demanding and a certain level of scientific attainment and independent learning is essential.
Curriculum overview
Please note, additional knowledge related to Triple Science has been highlighted in bold italic text within the overview.
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| 听 | Autumn 1听 | Autumn 2听 | Spring 1听 | Spring 2听 | Summer 1听 | Summer 2听 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7听 | Crime Scenes:听 – Investigate a crime scene and use evidence to find the culprit using the following topics:听 – Paper chromatography听 – Extracting DNA听 – Distance time graphs听 听 Matter:听 – The particle model听 – States of matter and changes in state听 – Cooling Curves 鈥� steric acid听 – Diffusion听 – Gas Pressure听 – Pure substances and mixtures听 – Evaporation and distillation听 – Chromatography听 | Cells and Organisation:听 – Levels or organisation听 – Plant and animal cells听 – Unicellular organisms听 – Specialised cells听 – Observing cells听 – Skeletal System听 – Muscles and movement听 – Movement of substances听 | Introduction to Forces:听 – Introduction to forces听 – Balanced and unbalanced forces听 – Calculating speed听 – Distance time graphs听 – Gravity听 听 Energy:听 – Energy in food听 – Energy resources听 – Energy and power听 – Energy transfers听 – Energy dissipation听 | Energy:听 – Energy in food听 – Energy resources听 – Energy and power听 – Energy transfers听 – Energy dissipation听 听 Ecology:听 – Food chains and webs听 – Disruption to food chains and webs听 – Ecosystems听 – Competition听 – Flowers and Pollination听 – Fertilisation and Pollination听 – Seed Dispersal听 | Sound and Light:听 – Sound waves and speed听 – Frequency and amplitude听 – Sound waves and energy听 – The ear and hearing听 – Light听 – Reflection听 – Refraction听 – The eye听 – Colour听 | Sound and Light:听 – Sound waves and speed听 – Frequency and amplitude听 – Sound waves and energy听 – The ear and hearing听 – Light听 – Reflection听 – Refraction听 – The eye听 – Colour听 听 Acids and Alkali:听 – Acids and Alkali听 – Indicators and pH听 – Acid strength听 – Neutralisation听 – Making salts听 |
| 8听 | Acids and Alkali:听 – Acids and Alkali听 – Indicators and pH听 – Acid strength听 – Neutralisation听 – Making salts听 听 Reproduction:听 – Variation听 – Animal adaptions听 – Adolescence听 – Reproductive system听 – Fertilisation听 – A new life听 – Menstrual cycle听 | Sound and Light:听 – Sound waves and speed听 – Frequency and amplitude听 – Sound waves and energy听 – The ear and hearing听 – Light听 – Reflection听 – Refraction听 – The eye听 – Colour听 | Chemical Reactions:听 – Chemical Reactions听 – More about Elements听 – Chemical reactions of metals and non-metals听 – Metals and acids听 – Metals and Oxygen听 – Metals and water听 – Displacement Reactions听 听 Electromagnets:听 – Magnets and magnetic fields听 – Electromagnets听 – Using electromagnets听 | Forces and pressure:听 – Friction and drag听 – Squashing and stretching听 – Moments听 – Pressure in gasses听听 – Pressure in liquids听 – Pressure in solids听 听 Earth and the Atmosphere:听 – Global warming听 – The carbon cycle听 – Climate change听 – Extracting metals听 – Recycling听 | The Periodic Table:听 – Elements and atoms听 – Periodic table听 – Group 1听 – Group 0 and 7听 – Compounds听 – Chemical formulae听听 – Ceramics and polymers听 | Human Biology:听 – Gas exchange听 – Breathing听 – Smoking and alcohol听 – Drugs听 – Nutrients and unhealthy diet听 – Food tests听 – Digestive system听 |
| 9听 | Energetics:听 – Atoms in a chemical reaction听 – Conservation of mass听 – Exothermic and endothermic reactions听 – Combustion听 – Thermal decomposition听 – Energy level diagrams听 – Bond energies听 听 Inheritance and Variation:听 – Natural Selection听 – Charles Darwin听 – Extinction听 – Preserving Biodiversity听 – Inheritance听 – DNA听 – Genes听 – Genetic Modification听 听 Earth and the Atmosphere:听 – Global warming听 – The carbon cycle听 – Climate change听 – Extracting metals听 – Recycling听 听 Waves:听 – Sound waves, water waves and energy听 – Radiation and energy听 – Modelling waves听 | Bioenergetics:听 – Aerobic respiration听 – Anaerobic respiration听 – Fermentation听 – Biotechnology听 – Photosynthesis听 – Leaves听 – Investigating photosynthesis听 – Plant minerals听 听 Transferring Energy:听 – Work done and machines听 – Energy and temperature听 – Energy transfer: conduction and convection听 – Radiation听 听 Human Biology:听 – Gas exchange听 – Breathing听 – Smoking and alcohol听 – Drugs听 – Nutrients and unhealthy diet听 – Food tests听 – Digestive system听 | Electromagnets:听 – Magnets and magnetic fields听 – Electromagnets听 – Uses of electromagnets听 听 Forces:听 – Introduction to forces听 – Mass and weight听 – Resultant forces听 – Newtons first law听 – Newtons second law听 – Newtons third law听 – Distance time graphs听 听 Cell Biology:听听 – Animal and plant cells听 – Investigating cells with a microscope听 – Specialised cells听 – Discovering cells and DNA听 听 Periodic Table of Elements and Atomic Structure:听 – Atomic structure听 – Group 1 metals听 – Group 7 and group 0听 – Writing formulae听 – Conservation of mass听 – Balancing equations听 – Making salts听 | Organ Systems:听听 – Circulatory system听 – Respiratory system听 – Reproductive system听 – Nervous system听 听 Chemistry investigative skills:听 – Writing a method听 – Planning a risk assessment听 – Designing a results table听 – Collecting data听 – Data processing听 – Data analysis听 听 Electricity:听听 – Symbols and charge听 – Current听 – Potential difference听 – Resistance听 – Series circuits and parallel circuits听 | Plant Biology:听听 – Photosynthesis听 – Plant anatomy and leaf structure听 – Plant adaptations听 – Flowers and pollination听 – Fertilisation and germination听 – Food production听 听 Physics investigative skills:听听 – Writing a method听 – Planning a risk assessment听 – Designing a results table听 – Collecting data听 – Data processing听 – Data analysis听 | Matter:听听 – Atoms, elements and compounds听 – Pure and impure substances听 – Separating mixtures听 – Purifying water听 – Chromatography听 听 Energy:听听 – Energy stores and systems听 – Energy transfers听 – Dissipation and reducing unwanted energy transfers听 – Calculating energy efficiency听 – Renewable energy听 – Non-renewable energy听 听 Biology Investigative skills:听 – Writing a method听 – Planning a risk assessment听 – Designing a results table听 – Collecting data听 – Data processing听 – Data analysis听听 |
| 10听 | Atomic Structure:听 In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following:听 | Bonding, structure and the properties of matter:听 In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following:听 In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following:听 In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following:听 | Particle Model of Matter:听 – Intro to particle model (particle model, how to draw it), Density听 – Changes of state and internal energy听 – Temperature changes in a system and specific heat capacity听 – Changes of state and specific latent heat听 – Particle motion in gasses听 听 Organisation:听 – Diffusion听 – Osmosis听 – Active Transport听 – Surface Area听 – Gas Exchange Surfaces听 – Enzymes听 – Digestive System听 – Digestive Enzymes听 – Structure of the Heart听 – Blood and Blood Vessels听 – Coronary Heart Disease听 听 Chemical Changes:听 – pH scale and neutralisation听 – Strong and Weak acids听 – Reactions of acids with metals听 – Making Salts听 – Reactivity Series听 – Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons听 – Metal Oxides and extraction of metals听 – Introduction to electrolysis听 – Electrolysis of molten ionic compounds听 – Electrolysis of aqueous solutions听 – Required practical: Electrolysis of aqueous solutions听 – Extraction of aluminium using electrolysis听 | Chemical Changes:听 – pH scale and neutralisation听 – Strong and Weak acids听 – Reactions of acids with metals听 – Making Salts听 – Reactivity Series听 – Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons听 – Metal Oxides and extraction of metals听 – Introduction to electrolysis听 – Electrolysis of molten ionic compounds听 – Electrolysis of aqueous solutions听 – Extraction of aluminium using electrolysis听 听 Atomic Structure:听 – The structure of an atom听 – Mass number, atomic number and isotopes听 – Development of the model of the atom听 – Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation听 – Nuclear equations听 – Half lives and the random nature of radioactive decay听 – Radioactive contamination听 听 Energy Changes:听 – Endothermic and exothermic reactions听 – Reaction profiles听 – Energy change of reactions (Bond Energies)听 听 Infection and Response:听 – Health and Risk Factors听 – Studying Bacterial Diseases听 – Studying Viral Diseases听 – Studying Fungal Diseases听 – Malaria (A Protist Disease)听 – Protecting the Body听 – White Blood Cells听 – Vaccines听 – Antibiotics and Painkillers听 – Making New Drugs听 | Forces:听 – Forces – Scalars, vectors, contact, non-contact and resultant听 – Distance and displacement听 – Speed听 – Velocity听 – Distance time graphs听 – Acceleration听 – Velocity-time graphs (+ tangents)听 – Calculations and motion (v2-u2 = 2 x a x s)听 – Weight, Mass (plus centre of mass) and Gravity听 – Resultant forces听 – Newtons first law听 – Newton’s second law听 – Terminal velocity听 – Newtons third law听 – Momentum听听 – Keeping safe on the road, braking distance and reaction times听 – Forces and energy in springs (Hooke鈥檚 Law)听 | Rate and Extent of Chem Reactions:听 – Collision Theory听 – Calculating rate of reaction听 – Factors affecting rates of reactions听 – Reversible reactions and energy changes听 – Equilibrium听 – Effect of changing concentration and temperature on equilibrium听听 – The effect of changing pressure on equilibrium 2听 听 Homeostasis and Response:听 – Homeostasis听 – The Nervous System听 – Reflex Actions听 – The Endocrine System听 – Controlling Blood Glucose听 – Diabetes听 – Negative Feedback (Thyroxine and Adrenaline)听 – Human Reproduction听 – Contraception听 – IVF听 |
| 11听 | Forces:听 In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following:听 In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following:听 | Organic Chemistry:听 In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following:听 In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following:听 In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following:听 In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following:听 | Variation and Evolution:听 – Variation听 – Theory of Evolution听 – Origin of Species (Natural Selection)听 – Antimicrobial Resistance听 – Selective Breeding听 – Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Crops听听 – Fossil Evidence and Extinction听 – Classification听 听 Electromagnetism:听听 – Poles of a magnet, compasses听 – Magnetic fields (combined with lesson 1 for HT and Triple)听 – Electromagnetism听 – Flemmings left hand rule听 – Magnetic Flux density听 – Electric motors听 听 Using Resources:听听 – Using the Earth’s resources and sustainable development听 – Potable water听 – Required Practical: Analysis and purification of water samples听 – Waste water treatment听 – Alternative methods of metal extraction听听 – Life cycle assessment and recycling听 听 Ecology:听 – Ecosystems听 – Biotic and Abiotic Factors听 – Competing for Resources听 – Food Chains and Food Webs听 – Adaptations in Animals听 – Adaptations in Plants听 – The Water Cycle听 – The Carbon Cycle听 – Land Use听 – Deforestation听 – Global Warming听 – Waste Management and Pollution听 – Maintaining Biodiversity听 | Mock examinations听 Embedding disciplinary knowledge听 | Embedding disciplinary knowledge听 | 听 |
KS4 COURSE
WHAT CAN SCIENCE LEAD TO?
(Combined Science) GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy) gives you a good grounding in Science. Success in Combined Science can provide access to A-Level Science courses, including Applied Science, Applied and Human Biology and Psychology. In the long term, if you decide to pursue your scientific studies, it can lead to an almost limitless number of job opportunities. Highly qualified scientists are very much in demand and their skills are required in many jobs.听
(Separate Sciences) Provided the required grades are attained at the end of the course, GCSE Triple Award Science provides a basis for studying A-level Science courses; as a general rule a GCSE grade 6 is required.
Students who achieve Grade 5 will be offered the opportunity to study our BTEC (Level 3) qualifications Applied Science or Applied and Human Biology
Examples of careers that GCSE Triple Award Science may lead to are:听
- Medical Sciences听
- Pharmaceutical Sciences听
- Pathology听
- Forensic Sciences听
- Engineering听
- Environmental Sciences听
- Research Science听
HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?
(Combined Science) The Combined Science GCSE is examined by six 1 hour 15 min written examinations, each of which is worth 16.7%. There are two examinations on each subject 鈥� Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Each examination paper will include multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response questions. There are 21 required practical鈥檚 that are delivered throughout the course. There will be questions relating to these practical鈥檚 on the written examination papers.
(Separate Sciences) GCSE Triple Award Science students will sit all of their Science exams at the end of Year 11. Students will receive separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics and will be graded using the 9-1 system.
The three GCSE Sciences will be taught in a parallel way, offering a flexible solution to gaining the Science qualifications required for a variety of Post 16 Science courses.
There are no Controlled Assessments; instead there are required practicals that are completed throughout normal Key Stage 4 Science lessons and are then examined as a part of the examinations at the end of Year 11. Students will be regularly assessed throughout Key Stage Four; this information will be used by Science staff to inform progress in relation to Target Grades and also tier of entry.
WHAT SKILLS ARE REQUIRED?
(Combined Science) Mathematics skills are now included in the assessment of all GCSE science qualifications. A minimum percentage of marks must be allocated to assessing mathematical skills at an appropriate level of difficulty, in line with new rules and guidance from the Department for Education.
Basic Practical skills developed in KS3 will be needed to complete a series of 鈥榬equired practicals鈥�, which all students must complete over the duration of the course, and which are tested along with theoretical science content in the six examinations.
(Separate Sciences) Due to the demands of the course a student must have achieved level 6 consistently throughout Key Stage 3 Science.
Students must have also demonstrated a good academic ability within their KS3 Mathematics and English.
Students not fulfilling this criterion will be offered the choice of GCSE Double Award Combined Science.
Students will be expected to work independently and continually act upon the feedback of their classroom teacher in order to make the progress that is required of them. There is an expectation that students will complete all class and home work to the best of their ability as well as reading around the subject and attending Study Support in order to enhance their classroom experience.
Miss Fitzpatrick
Completed a BSc in Applied and Human Biology with Hons at Aston University. Has taught at 香港三级片 since 2014 and led the Science department since 2017.
