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Science

Science is the study of the disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. It helps students to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave and analyse causes.  We want our students to have a lifelong interest in Science and be scientifically literate citizens so that they can express opinions and make informed judgements based on sound scientific understanding.

Curriculum Aims

Our key principle in Science is to provide the foundations for understanding the material world through the teaching of knowledge, scientific methodology, scientific processes and applications of science. 

Students will develop an understanding of how society makes decisions about scientific issues and how the sciences contribute to the success of the economy and society so that students understand the world around them and the society that they live in, in order to develop well-rounded and informed global citizens. The study of Science will help to promote students' understanding, respect and tolerance of a range of beliefs, opinions and cultures, both past and present.

Students will engage in scientific enquiry to develop as critical and reflective thinkers, with inquisitive minds. They will ask relevant questions about the world around them and develop their ability to evaluate claims based on science. They will develop curiosity about the natural world, insight into how science works, and an appreciation of its relevance to their everyday lives.

Student will develop and learn to apply observational, practical, modelling, enquiry and problem-solving skills, both in the laboratory, in the field and in other learning environments.

Curriculum Design

Our curriculum is designed taking into account methodology present in the Ofsted research review series, the work of Jerome Bruner and from the Institute of Physics.  It informs our spiral curriculum which reflects the five big ideas of Science: cells; particles; energy; forces; interdependence.

The Science curriculum is spiralled, with students revisiting most topics from Key Stage 2 in both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. Although the content is revisited, it is in progressively greater depth and leads to mastery of the big ideas.

In Key Stage 3, the curriculum is sequenced in such a way that students cover the basics of the big ideas first as all of the subsequent topics build upon this foundation knowledge. Towards the end of the Key Stage 3, there is an additional focus on practical skills.

Thereafter, the curriculum revisits and builds on concepts taught at KS3 so for example in Year 7 students will cover Cells, Matter and Energy and these topics will be covered in much greater depth in Key Stage 4.

The curriculum is also structured to allow students to experience the three specialisms of Biology, Chemistry and Physics across the year.

Please click the link to view our Science Years 7-11 Curriculum Year Overview

Please click the link to view our Science A Level Curriculum Year Overview

Future Pathways and Next Steps 

Through the study of the Sciences we aim to unlock each students' potential and inspire them to achieve excellence by being the best they can be. This can lead to a wide range of future opportunities, some of which include:  

University Degrees: Aerospace Engineering, Astrophysics, Biomedical Science, Dentistry, Environmental Science, Forensic Science, Forestry, Mechanical Engineering, Medicine, Physics with Particle Physics and Cosmology, Veterinary Science, Zoology,

 Apprenticeships: Food Scientist, Radiotherapy Engineering, Sound Technician, Veterinary Nurse

Careers: Astronomer, Ecologist, Epidemiologist, Geologist, Meteorologist, Microbiologist, Nuclear Technician, Oceanographer, Palaeontologist, Pharmacist, Scene of Crime Officer

Students can find out more about the subject and careers above by logging into their Unifrog account at https://www.unifrog.org/sign-in and using the Subject Library and Careers Library tools.