Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity. At Aylestone School, we aim to:

• develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
• develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help pupils to answer scientific questions about the world around them
• equip pupils with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.

We aim to challenge all pupils and ensure that every pupil achieves and enjoys in Science.
This is done through an engaging and exciting curriculum.
Science is taught in well-equipped labs by a team of experienced teachers, supported by a knowledgeable and creative lab technician and utilizing ICT teaching resources. Students have three hours of science lessons per week at Key Stage 3. They study Biology, Chemistry or Physics topics following the Exploring Science Scheme, this places great emphasis on "Working Scientifically". All students will start their GCSE courses at the beginning of year 10 and follow the Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Combined Science course which will leads to the award of two GCSE grades. Some students follow the single science route gaining three separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

KS3 Science
Students study topics following the Exploring Science Scheme. These are assessed using extended writing tasks, practical/analysis skill assessment and the more transitional style exam paper.

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9
Term 1
Introduction to science	Breathing and respiration	Making materials
Cells, tissues, organs, and systems	The periodic table	Forces and motion
The particle model	Unicellar organisms	Plant growth
Current	combustion	reactivity
Atoms, elements, and molecules	Energy transfers	Force fields and electromagnets
Term 2
Ecosystems	Rocks	Salts and Valencies
Mixtures and separation	Light	Genetics and evolution
Forces	Food and nutrition	Bridging the gap to GCSE
Sound	Fluids
Muscles and bones
Term 3
Acids and Alkali	Plants and their reproduction	Bridging the gap to GCSE, with science basics in biology, chemistry and physics
Sexual reproduction in animals	Metals and their uses
Energy	Earth and Space

GCSE Combined Science—Double award (Core)

What will I learn?
GCSE study in the sciences provides the foundation for understanding the material world. Scientific understanding is changing our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity. Students will learn essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. They will gain appreciation of how the complex and diverse phenomena of the natural world can be described in terms of a small number of key ideas that relate to the sciences and that are both inter-linked and of universal application.

The GCSE in Combined Science enables students to:

• develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics
• develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science, through different types of scientific enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
• develop and learn to apply observational, practical, modelling, enquiry and problem-solving skills in the laboratory, in the field and in other learning environments
• develop their ability to evaluate claims based on science through critical analysis of the methodology, evidence and conclusions, both qualitatively and quantitatively.

There are excellent resources to support students and there is a great emphasis on practical work with all students expected to complete a minimum of 18 core practicals’.

How will I be assessed?

The GCSE Combined Science will be assessed in six papers each lasting 70 minutes. They will have a mix of question types to include multiple choice questions, short answers, and longer extended answers (worth up to 6 marks). As it is a double award qualification, students will receive two grades. These grades could be the same number, e.g. 6, 6 or 7, 7. However, some students may receive a grade with adjacent numbers, e.g. 6, 7. This will signify a student who is at an intermediate point between the standard required for a 6, 6 grade, and the standard required for a 7, 7 grade
“Working Scientifically” will be assessed by examination questions based on 18 core practicals’ completed during the course.

What can I progress to?

Students gaining two Science GCSE qualifications are able move on to a great variety of courses and careers. Science will be a requirement if you wish to pursue: Medicine, Engineering, Environmental Science, Patent Lawyer, Veterinary Science, Cytogenetic Technology, Meteorology, Primary and Secondary school teaching.

It is worth noting that Science counts towards the English Baccalaureate qualification.

GCSE Science Option

What will I learn?
The Single Science option encourages students to be inspired, motivated and challenged by following a broad, coherent, practical, satisfying and worthwhile course of study.
It encourages learners to develop their curiosity about the living, material and physical worlds and provides insight into and experience of ‘working scientifically’. It enables learners to engage with science and to make informed decisions about further study in science and related subjects and career choices.
The Single Science course includes all of the material in GCSE Combined Science, but it also has extension topics together with 24 Core practicals’, that lead to the award of three separate GCSEs: Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
The extension topics offer a chance to study some more interesting and sophisticated science such as:

• Biology: Investigate the factors that affect enzyme activity
• Chemistry: Investigate the preparation of pure, dry, hydrated copper sulphate crystals starting from copper oxide
• Physics: Describe uses of ultrasound and infrasound, including: sonar, foetal scanning and exploration of the Earth’s core

How will I be assessed?

Students will sit six papers each lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes. Each paper will consist of a mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. Students will be awarded three GCSE grades for the separate subjects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

“Working Scientifically” will be assessed by examination questions based on 24 core practicals’ completed during the course.

What can I progress to?

Students gaining three Science GCSE qualifications are able move on to a great variety of courses and careers. Science will be a requirement if you wish to pursue: Medicine, Engineering, Environmental Science, Patent Lawyer, Veterinary Science, Cytogenetic Technology, Meteorology, Primary and Secondary school teaching.
It is worth noting that Science counts towards the English Baccalaureate qualification.

Further Information

Mrs L Perez
Email: lperez@aylestone.hereford.sch.uk