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Science

Intention:

At Twickenham School we believe that science forms an essential part of a broad and balanced education. The aim of the Twickenham School Science Department is to ensure that all students enjoy science, are aware of the applications of science beyond the classroom and leave us with a passion for science. We will achieve this in a number of ways:

  • building on prior learning in order to develop a life-long enthusiasm for science
  • encouraging all students to consider further study of science and entry to scientific careers post-16 and beyond
  • developing students’ interest in science in the wider world through activities such as school visits, science clubs and competitions.

We will make sure that all students have the opportunity to make outstanding progress in science in the following ways:

  • by recognising each students’ current needs and ensuring they receive the appropriate level of challenge
  • by using a wide variety of teaching methods, including hands-on practical work
  • by using assessment to inform students on how to further improve their learning
  • by ensuring very able scientists are suitably challenged and are encouraged to study separate sciences at GCSE

Specialist teaching - Science is taught by specialism, Biology, Chemistry & Physics

Key Stage 3

The Key Stage 3 science curriculum is fully compliant with the national curriculum and is sequenced to ensure that topics are delivered in a logical way in order to develop students’ knowledge and skills. The curriculum is also being developed to ensure early introduction on knowledge and skills relevant to GCSE sciences, for example, by introducing some of the key ideas such as the structure of the atom at an early stage.

Twickenham School has developed a number of links with local primary schools in order to carefully build on student's prior learning. For example, offering on-site science lessons for Key Stage 2 students and running joint science clubs.

Year 9 begins with a key skills in science course followed by a transition course which reviews all of the key knowledge and skills from Key Stage 3 and then builds on this to ensure that students are well prepared for GCSE sciences. Students may begin GCSE science courses during summer term of Year 9 by following the units:

  1. Chemistry - Atomic Structure and the periodic table
  2. Biology – Cells
  3. Physics - Energy

Key Stage 4

Students currently either opt to follow the AQA GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics or AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy courses.

 

Implementation - curriculum sequence

 

HT1

HT2

HT3

HT4

HT5

HT6

Year 7

Particles, Substances and Mixtures

1)Fundamentals of Physics
2)Cells and Organisation

Chemical Changes

Organ Systems

Sound and Light, Materials

Life Cycles

Year 8

1) Life cycles
2) Heating and Cooling

1)Earth and Atmosphere,

2)Forces and Motion

1)Plants and their Processes
2)Electricity

Interaction and Interdependence

1)Forces and Work
2)Acids and Alkalis

Nutrition and Digestion

Year 9

1)Revision (Bio/Chem/Phy)
2)Working Scientifically

Cell Biology

Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table

Energy

1) Energy
2) B1-B2 Revision Cells and Digestion
3)C1-C2 Revision Atoms
4)P1-P2 Revision Energy

Organisation

Year 10
Combined Science

1) Organising Plants
2) Bonding, Structure & Properties of Matter
3) Electricity 

1) Infection and Response
2) Quantitative Chemistry
3) Chemical Changes

1) Electricity in the Home
2) Particle Model of Matter
3) Non-Communicable Diseases
4) Bioenergetics

1) Electrolysis
2) Energy Changes
3) Rates of Reaction
4) Paper 1 Revision for Mock Exams 

1) Atomic Structre 
2) Forces 

 Homeostasis and Response 

Year 10
Biology
Single Subject

1) Organising Plants
2) Infection and Response

1) Non-Communicable Diseases
2) Bioenergetics 

Homeostasis and Response

1) B1-B2 Revision Cells
2) B3-B4 Revision Organisation
3) B5-B7 Revision Disease     
4) B8-B9 Revision Bioenergetics

Inheritance & Variation 

Evolution

Year 10
Chemistry
Single Subject

Bonding, Structure & Properties of Matter 

Quantitative Chemistry

1) Chemical Changes
2) Energy Changes

1) C1-C2 Revision Atoms
2) C3 Revision Structure and Bonding
3) C4 Revision Quantitative Chemistry
4) C5-C6 Revision Chemical Changes

1) Rates of Reaction
2) Organic Chemistry

Chemical Analysis 

Year 10
Physics
Single Subject

Electricity

1) Electricity in the Home
2) Particle Model of Matter 

Atomic Structure

1) P1-P3 Revision Energy
2) P4-P5 Revision Electricity
3) P6 Revision Particles

Forces

Forces and Motion

Year 11
Combined
Science

1) Organic Chemistry
2) Waves
3) Revision for Mocks

1) Mocks
2) Electromagnetism
3) Chemical Analysis
4) Chemistry of the Atmosphere

1) Inheritance, Variation & Evolution
2) Ecology 

Revision

Revision & Exams 

Exams

Year 11
Biology
Single Subject

Homeostasis and Response

Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

Ecology

Revision

Revision & Exams 

Exams

Year 11
Chemistry
Single Subject

1) Organic Chemistry
2) Chemical Analysis

Chemistry of the Atmosphere

Using Resources

Revision

Revision & Exams 

Exams

Year 11
Physics
Single Subject

Waves

Magnetism and Electromagnetism

Space Physics

Revision

Revision & Exams 

Exams

 

The Science department follows the AQA GCSE specification, which can be found here:

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/science/specifications/AQA-8464-SP-2016.PDF

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/specifications/AQA-8463-SP-2016.PDFhttps://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/chemistry/specifications/AQA-8462-SP-2016.PDFhttps://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/biology/specifications/AQA-8461-SP-2016.PDF