Curriculum Statement - Science

‘Genius is 1% talent and 99% hard work.’ – Albert Einstein

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Our Vision

Our students will have a comprehensive knowledge and a deep understanding of the key principles and theory that are required to succeed in science at each key stage and to lay the foundations for further study.  We offer a broad and deep curriculum that focuses on powerful knowledge and threshold concepts as we believe that mastery of threshold concepts is integral to students accessing powerful knowledge and gaining a deep understanding and appreciation of science.

Our curriculum is ambitious and challenging, providing students with strong substantive knowledge whilst also gaining an awareness of the disciplinary knowledge of the subject. Students will develop their literacy and numeracy skills and build their cultural capital.

Our students will develop their passion and enthusiasm for science through science lessons and our electives program.  Students will have the resilience, confidence and oracy skills in order to discuss challenging scientific concepts and current issues within science.

Threshold Concepts in Science

We have identified the most important threshold concepts below. Our curriculum is designed to teach, revisit and build on these concepts throughout the key stages.

Physics

 

Forces

Both contact and non-contact. Can be represented with arrows (i.e. the vector nature of forces; magnitude and direction).

Current

Current as the (rate of) flow of charge. Current carrying wires are surrounded by magnetic fields.

Electromagnetic Induction

To include how a voltage is produced when a magnet moves into a coil of wire.

Potential Difference

The relative motion of a wire and a magnet induces an emf/potential difference.

Conservation of Energy

Energy can be stored or transferred, but it cannot be created or destroyed.

Light

Visible light as a spectrum of colours of different wavelengths.

Sound

Sound produced and transmitted by vibrations.

Earth/Moon/Sun System

The Earth rotates on an axis and orbits the sun.

The Model of the Atom

A nucleus of protons and neutrons, surrounded by shells of electrons.

Particle Model

Of solids, liquids and gases.

Chemistry

 

Particle Model

How particles behave in solids, liquids and gases. How particles behave in chemical and physical changes.

Atoms, Compounds, Mixtures

To include the difference between these and common examples.

General Equations

To include conservation of mass, balancing equations, Neutralisation, combustion, oxidation, displacement (KS4).

Atomic Structure

To include the location, charge and relative mass of sub-atomic particles in addition to links to the periodic table.

Periodic Table

To include the use of symbols and formula and the varying properties.

Energy in Chemical Reactions

To include the concepts of exo/endothermic reactions.

Opposites Attract

Referring to ions.

Relative Atomic Mass and Relative Formula Mass

To include how to locate relative atomic mass on the periodic table, its definition and how to calculate relative formula mass.

Biology

 

Cells and the Cell Cycle

To include the differences between animal, plant and bacterial cells and examples of specialised cells.

Respiration

All living things need to respire and will use oxygen and glucose to do so.

Photosynthesis

Plants need to photosynthesise to make glucose.

Structure of Molecules and their Functions (including proteins)

To include enzymes in digestion and defence.

DNA

To include the structure of DNA, inheritance, protein synthesis and the importance of mutation in variation.

Evolution by Natural Selection

Inherited variation is due to differences in their genes. To include how individuals who are poorly adapted to their environment are less likely to survive and reproduce.

Interdependence

To include how all organisms in an ecosystem depend upon each other.

Negative Feedback

Controls how systems respond when conditions change from the ideal or set point and returns conditions to this set point.

Sampling Principles

To include study of the distribution and patterns.

Biochemical Principles

To include the monomers and polymers of biological molecules, the particle model, how particles move across membranes via osmosis, diffusion and active transport.

Curriculum Features

  • Taught in three disciplines: Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
  • Covers the national curriculum but focuses on identified threshold concepts (see above). More time is devoted to these concepts and a mastery learning philosophy is promoted.
  • There is a large focus on understanding concepts through Formative assessment:
    • Explanation
    • Retrieval
    • Interleaving
    • Practice
    • Feedback

Practical Work

There is always a focus to practical work:

  • Improving knowledge
  • Practicing procedures and techniques
  • Learning about scientific enquiry

 

Marking

The marking and feedback of threshold concepts are identified within individual schemes of work. This make take the form of:

  • Low stakes testing
  • 6-mark questions
  • Practical/data questions
  • Educake quizzes
  • Exam questions

Students will also be tested during the academic year using:

  • Periodic Tests for Assessment
  • Ad hoc Tests for Learning

 

Co-curricula Enrichment

We provide enrichment for a number of reasons:

  • To promote a love of the subject
  • To enhance students’ cultural capital
  • To teach powerful knowledge specific to science
  • Increase at uptake at KS4, KS5 and beyond
  • To narrow attainment gaps
  • Promoting STEM Careers
  • Promote Oracy and Rhetoric