Science

Welcome to the Science department

Teachers

Dr KIng, Mrs Manning, Mr Staniforth, Mr Muzhona, Mr Lyon, Mrs Morris, Mrs Jones, Miss Crosswell and Mr Bridges.

The Science curriculum follows a 5 year learning journey from year 7 to 11 with a change in pace and depth at year 9 when the GCSE material is introduced. The 5 year journey is split into two phases which are differentiated by the way the students are taught with phase 2 introducing a broad exploratory curriculum, with a focus on fundamental skills and practical applications. These are revisited and explored in more depth with detailed explanation in phase 3.

How the Curriculum has been adapted following the Covid-19 Pandemic

The Science department has had to make some big changes to adapt and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This was simply due to the expanse of knowledge required in the three sciences and the subsequent lost learning for knowledge retrieval, technique to tackle different types of questions and the wide skill requirement to address the assessment objectives. All Science lessons follow -inhouse designed learning journeys so students can see where the sequence of their lessons and we begin every lesson with old knowledge retrieval and then linking retrieval from the previous lesson to the current lesson. All lessons are placed on Google classroom following a lesson so students can look back and reflect and go over past lessons or lessons missed. We also plug into interactive programmes such as SENECA to support gap filling and build confidence in all students. We have personalised intervention strategies to ensure that students can develop a bespoke package of learning to suit their individual needs and we also prepare large revision slides for every PPE and GCSE exam to help students learn how to revise effectively and efficiently.

Phase 2 (Years 7 and 8)

Phase 2 of the Science Learning Curriculum here at The Bay (Years 7 and 8) is well established in Science here at The Bay and 8) covers “Ten big ideas” which are taught over a two year programme with part one taught in Year 7 and part two taught in Year 8. We split our Phase 2 teaching of seven lessons as 5:2 with five lessons per fortnight focussing on content and two lessons per fortnight focussing on enquiry processes and working scientifically. The Big Ideas taught in Years 7 & 8 underpin the fundamental knowledge and understanding required for the Phase 3 learning which begins in Year 9.

Click here to view Year 7 Topics

Click here to view Year 8 Topics

Phase 3 (Years 9, 10 and 11)

The Phase 3 GCSE curriculum divides learning into three areas, specifically:

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding.
Apply knowledge and understanding
Analyse information and ideas.

The three science subjects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics are taught as three separate GCSEs and are designed to be taught over three years by specialist teachers, who lead on all aspects of the learning journey. We are an enthusiastic and motivated team with a real focus on nurturing enquiry and confidence in our students. We reach for the stars with high aspirations and embed practical lessons within the process to engage interest, have fun and learn at the same time. With lots of application to the world and environment around us, we aim to teach students to be independent, inspired and informed as they progress through the school and beyond.

As mentioned, the content examines the topics introduced in phase 2 in more depth and with real world applications. Students gain 3 GCSEs and can undertake either the foundation or higher tier examinations.

Topics studied include:

Biology: Cell biology, organisation, Infection and response, Bioenergetics, Homeostasis and response, Inheritance, variation and evolution and Ecology

Chemistry: Atomic structure and the periodic table, Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter, Quantitative chemistry, Chemical changes, Energy changes, The rate and extent of chemical change, Organic chemistry, Chemical analysis, Chemistry of the atmosphere and Using resources

Physics: Energy, Electricity, Particle model of matter, Atomic structure, Force, Waves, Magnetism, Electromagnetism and Space.

Assessment:

Students will be examined at the end of year 11 to assess both knowledge and understanding on the content in each Science subject, (e.g. Biology, Chemistry and Physics).

There are 6 exams in total (2 exams for each subject) – each exam will be 1hr 45min contributing to 50% of each GCSE.

There is no controlled assessment element to the courses however throughout the journey, students will complete Required Practical Activities (RPAs), which will be referred to in their exams.

Click here to view Year 9 Topics

Click here to view Year 10 Topics

Click here to view Year 11 Topics

Faraday Science Challenge

Moon Rocks

Out of this world Science lessons when Moon Rocks landed at The Bay CE School

Support available

Useful Websites	Tassomai www.freesciencelessons.co.uk www.pmt.co.uk www.mme.co.uk www.gcsepod.com www.mrcorfe.com http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
Intervention	Year 11 – Afterschool every Tuesday w37/ Escape room challenges, Start with 5 programme
Masterclasses	Escape Room Challenge, Physics practicals

How parents can support

Homework	1. Knowledge Acquisition / 2. FLIP Learning (F) or Grasp Its (H) / 3. Exam Questions 4. Testing knowledge of Equations. 5. Resilience training
Reading	Catalyst: STEM Learning (Digital Magazine @ www.stem.org.uk) BBC Focus MagazineNew Scientist Journal
Revision Guide	Collins AQA GCSE All-in-One Revision and Practice or separate Science-Collins AQA GCSE Revision Biology, Chemistry and Physics Click here for AQA Essential ‘I Can’ Statements
Exam Practice	Walking Talking QuestionsExam Question Homework, Escape room challenge Re-teach & Extend completed further at home using SMHW
Resources	TASSOMAi, PiXL Suite of GetIT KnowIT GraspIT ThinkIT PiXL DTT Booster Packs Equation Flashcards, Kerboodle

Career Routes

The Bay CE School