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. 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
Aspects of Science are covered within the L4L curriculum.
Year 7 L4L Themes:
- Journey to the Centre of the Earth
- iRobot
- Water
- Silent Movies
Aspects of Science are covered within the L4L curriculum.
Year 8 L4L Themes:
- Pudding Lane
- Grand Designs
- Da Vinci
Please note, additional knowledge related to Triple Science has been highlighted in bold italic text within the overview.
Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 | |
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7 | Crime Scenes: – Investigate a crime scene and use evidence to find the culprit using the following topics: – Paper chromatography – Extracting DNA – Distance time graphs Matter: – The particle model – States of matter and changes in state – Cooling Curves – steric acid – Diffusion – Gas Pressure – Pure substances and mixtures – Evaporation and distillation – Chromatography | Cells and Organisation: – Levels or organisation – Plant and animal cells – Unicellular organisms – Specialised cells – Observing cells – Skeletal System – Muscles and movement – Movement of substances | Introduction to Forces: – Introduction to forces – Balanced and unbalanced forces – Calculating speed – Distance time graphs – Gravity Energy: – Energy in food – Energy resources – Energy and power – Energy transfers – Energy dissipation | Energy: – Energy in food – Energy resources – Energy and power – Energy transfers – Energy dissipation Ecology: – Food chains and webs – Disruption to food chains and webs – Ecosystems – Competition – Flowers and Pollination – Fertilisation and Pollination – Seed Dispersal | Sound and Light: – Sound waves and speed – Frequency and amplitude – Sound waves and energy – The ear and hearing – Light – Reflection – Refraction – The eye – Colour | Sound and Light: – Sound waves and speed – Frequency and amplitude – Sound waves and energy – The ear and hearing – Light – Reflection – Refraction – The eye – Colour Acids and Alkali: – Acids and Alkali – Indicators and pH – Acid strength – Neutralisation – Making salts |
8 | Acids and Alkali: – Acids and Alkali – Indicators and pH – Acid strength – Neutralisation – Making salts Reproduction: – Variation – Animal adaptions – Adolescence – Reproductive system – Fertilisation – A new life – Menstrual cycle | Sound and Light: – Sound waves and speed – Frequency and amplitude – Sound waves and energy – The ear and hearing – Light – Reflection – Refraction – The eye – Colour | Chemical Reactions: – Chemical Reactions – More about Elements – Chemical reactions of metals and non-metals – Metals and acids – Metals and Oxygen – Metals and water – Displacement Reactions Electromagnets: – Magnets and magnetic fields – Electromagnets – Using electromagnets | Forces and pressure: – Friction and drag – Squashing and stretching – Moments – Pressure in gasses – Pressure in liquids – Pressure in solids Earth and the Atmosphere: – Global warming – The carbon cycle – Climate change – Extracting metals – Recycling | The Periodic Table: – Elements and atoms – Periodic table – Group 1 – Group 0 and 7 – Compounds – Chemical formulae – Ceramics and polymers | Human Biology: – Gas exchange – Breathing – Smoking and alcohol – Drugs – Nutrients and unhealthy diet – Food tests – Digestive system |
9 | Energetics: – Atoms in a chemical reaction – Conservation of mass – Exothermic and endothermic reactions – Combustion – Thermal decomposition – Energy level diagrams – Bond energies Inheritance and Variation: – Natural Selection – Charles Darwin – Extinction – Preserving Biodiversity – Inheritance – DNA – Genes – Genetic Modification Earth and the Atmosphere: – Global warming – The carbon cycle – Climate change – Extracting metals – Recycling Waves: – Sound waves, water waves and energy – Radiation and energy – Modelling waves | Bioenergetics: – Aerobic respiration – Anaerobic respiration – Fermentation – Biotechnology – Photosynthesis – Leaves – Investigating photosynthesis – Plant minerals Transferring Energy: – Work done and machines – Energy and temperature – Energy transfer: conduction and convection – Radiation Human Biology: – Gas exchange – Breathing – Smoking and alcohol – Drugs – Nutrients and unhealthy diet – Food tests – Digestive system | Electromagnets: – Magnets and magnetic fields – Electromagnets – Uses of electromagnets Forces: – Introduction to forces – Mass and weight – Resultant forces – Newtons first law – Newtons second law – Newtons third law – Distance time graphs Cell Biology: – Animal and plant cells – Investigating cells with a microscope – Specialised cells – Discovering cells and DNA Periodic Table of Elements and Atomic Structure: – Atomic structure – Group 1 metals – Group 7 and group 0 – Writing formulae – Conservation of mass – Balancing equations – Making salts | Organ Systems: – Circulatory system – Respiratory system – Reproductive system – Nervous system Chemistry investigative skills: – Writing a method – Planning a risk assessment – Designing a results table – Collecting data – Data processing – Data analysis Electricity: – Symbols and charge – Current – Potential difference – Resistance – Series circuits and parallel circuits | Plant Biology: – Photosynthesis – Plant anatomy and leaf structure – Plant adaptations – Flowers and pollination – Fertilisation and germination – Food production Physics investigative skills: – Writing a method – Planning a risk assessment – Designing a results table – Collecting data – Data processing – Data analysis | Matter: – Atoms, elements and compounds – Pure and impure substances – Separating mixtures – Purifying water – Chromatography Energy: – Energy stores and systems – Energy transfers – Dissipation and reducing unwanted energy transfers – Calculating energy efficiency – Renewable energy – Non-renewable energy Biology Investigative skills: – Writing a method – Planning a risk assessment – Designing a results table – Collecting data – Data processing – Data analysis |
10 | Atomic Structure: In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following: | Bonding, structure and the properties of matter: In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following: In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following: In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following: | Particle Model of Matter: – Intro to particle model (particle model, how to draw it), Density – Changes of state and internal energy – Temperature changes in a system and specific heat capacity – Changes of state and specific latent heat – Particle motion in gasses Organisation: – Diffusion – Osmosis – Active Transport – Surface Area – Gas Exchange Surfaces – Enzymes – Digestive System – Digestive Enzymes – Structure of the Heart – Blood and Blood Vessels – Coronary Heart Disease Chemical Changes: – pH scale and neutralisation – Strong and Weak acids – Reactions of acids with metals – Making Salts – Reactivity Series – Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons – Metal Oxides and extraction of metals – Introduction to electrolysis – Electrolysis of molten ionic compounds – Electrolysis of aqueous solutions – Required practical: Electrolysis of aqueous solutions – Extraction of aluminium using electrolysis | Chemical Changes: – pH scale and neutralisation – Strong and Weak acids – Reactions of acids with metals – Making Salts – Reactivity Series – Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons – Metal Oxides and extraction of metals – Introduction to electrolysis – Electrolysis of molten ionic compounds – Electrolysis of aqueous solutions – Extraction of aluminium using electrolysis Atomic Structure: – The structure of an atom – Mass number, atomic number and isotopes – Development of the model of the atom – Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation – Nuclear equations – Half lives and the random nature of radioactive decay – Radioactive contamination Energy Changes: – Endothermic and exothermic reactions – Reaction profiles – Energy change of reactions (Bond Energies) Infection and Response: – Health and Risk Factors – Studying Bacterial Diseases – Studying Viral Diseases – Studying Fungal Diseases – Malaria (A Protist Disease) – Protecting the Body – White Blood Cells – Vaccines – Antibiotics and Painkillers – Making New Drugs | Forces: – Forces – Scalars, vectors, contact, non-contact and resultant – Distance and displacement – Speed – Velocity – Distance time graphs – Acceleration – Velocity-time graphs (+ tangents) – Calculations and motion (v2-u2 = 2 x a x s) – Weight, Mass (plus centre of mass) and Gravity – Resultant forces – Newtons first law – Newton’s second law – Terminal velocity – Newtons third law – Momentum – Keeping safe on the road, braking distance and reaction times – Forces and energy in springs (Hooke’s Law) | Rate and Extent of Chem Reactions: – Collision Theory – Calculating rate of reaction – Factors affecting rates of reactions – Reversible reactions and energy changes – Equilibrium – Effect of changing concentration and temperature on equilibrium – The effect of changing pressure on equilibrium 2 Homeostasis and Response: – Homeostasis – The Nervous System – Reflex Actions – The Endocrine System – Controlling Blood Glucose – Diabetes – Negative Feedback (Thyroxine and Adrenaline) – Human Reproduction – Contraception – IVF |
11 | Forces: In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following: In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following: | Organic Chemistry: In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following: In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following: In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following: In addition to the above topics triple students will also cover the following: | Variation and Evolution: – Variation – Theory of Evolution – Origin of Species (Natural Selection) – Antimicrobial Resistance – Selective Breeding – Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Crops – Fossil Evidence and Extinction – Classification Electromagnetism: – Poles of a magnet, compasses – Magnetic fields (combined with lesson 1 for HT and Triple) – Electromagnetism – Flemmings left hand rule – Magnetic Flux density – Electric motors Using Resources: – Using the Earth’s resources and sustainable development – Potable water – Required Practical: Analysis and purification of water samples – Waste water treatment – Alternative methods of metal extraction – Life cycle assessment and recycling Ecology: – Ecosystems – Biotic and Abiotic Factors – Competing for Resources – Food Chains and Food Webs – Adaptations in Animals – Adaptations in Plants – The Water Cycle – The Carbon Cycle – Land Use – Deforestation – Global Warming – Waste Management and Pollution – Maintaining Biodiversity | Mock examinations Embedding disciplinary knowledge | Embedding disciplinary knowledge |
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.
(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:
- Medical Sciences
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Pathology
- Forensic Sciences
- Engineering
- Environmental Sciences
- Research Science
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 – Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Each examination paper will include multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response questions. There are 21 required practical’s that are delivered throughout the course. There will be questions relating to these practical’s 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 ‘required practicals’, 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 Shireland Collegiate Academy since 2014 and led the Science department since 2017.