Science

Vision

Colchester Academy Science Department is committed to ensuring pupils make good progress and excel in their Science lessons. We uphold the values of the Academy and encourage the pupils to ask questions and be inquisitive in all aspects of our subject area. We aim to deliver a varied curriculum where pupils can discover their interests and talents within the principles of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, through high standards of knowledge based and practical teaching; incorporating high standards of behaviour and safety. Alongside our rich curriculum, our aim is to explore and implement the following skills and ideas:

Practical Based Learning - teaching practical lab based skills and investigative methods throughout the entire KS3 and KS4 curriculum.
High levels of Scientific Literacy - to be proficient in scientific terminology and key concepts to encourage pupils to make intelligent and informed decisions in the future.
Real Life Science - to apply the scientific knowledge learnt in the classroom to real life scenarios, and enable students to critically evaluate evidence to come up with their own informed conclusions.
Careers and Further Study - to explore and inform students of the different careers and higher/further education opportunities in the many fields of science.

Key Stage 3

The aims that drive the Key Stage 3 Curriculum are:

To foster a lifelong enjoyment of science.
To teach the ‘Big Ideas’ of science as a baseline to all GCSE work.

Our curriculum is based upon the National Curriculum and The Big Ideas of Science. In Year 7, we teach the foundation of science knowledge, which is built upon in Year 8 and Year 9. Students are taught using the ‘Principles of Instruction’, allowing previous learning to be revisited, alongside introducing new learning and extensive practice.

Students are assessed at the end of every topic, and periodically so previous learning is not forgotten. Detailed and individualised feedback is given to students to improve any areas where there are gaps in knowledge.

Year 7 Science	Topics Covered:
Autumn	Introduction to Science Particles and Separation Animal and Plant Cells Forces and Space Chemical Reactions
Spring	Nutrition and Digestion Variation and Reproduction Electricity The Periodic Table Celebrating Science (Part of British Science Week)
Summer	Ecosystems Energy Stores Waves Chemical Reactions 2

Year 8 Science	Topics Covered:
Autumn	Skills in Science Forces and Motion The Atom, Elements and Compounds Animals as Organisms The Earth and Resources
Spring	Reactions of Metals The EM Spectrum Electromagnetism Inheritance and Evolution Celebrating Science (Part of British Science Week)
Summer	Work, Energy, Power Plants as Organisms PSHE in Science Reactions of Acids

Year 9 Science	Topics Covered:
Autumn	Skills in Science 2 The Particle Model Cell Biology The Atom and Periodic Table Structure and Bonding
Spring	Plant Biology Structure and Bonding Space Energy
Summer	Chemical Changes Health Ecology

science curriculum map final 2023 24 ks3.pdf

Key Stage 4

Some students study the AQA Combined Science curriculum with select students that require a more challenging path of study, opting for Separate Science: GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics. Our aim is for our students to leave school with high levels of science knowledge, literacy and the ability to critically evaluate data provided from reputable sources.

Year 10 Science	Topics Covered:
Autumn	Biology: Organisation Genetics Chemistry: Quantitative Chemistry Energy Changes Physics: Radiation
Spring	Biology: Variation and Evolution Chemistry: Rate of Reaction Physics: Waves Electricity
Summer	Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Using Resources Physics: Electromagnetism Revision for the End of Year Exams End of Year Exams

Year 11 Science	Topics Covered:
Autumn	Biology: Homeostasis and Response Physics: Electromagnetism Forces Chemistry: Chemistry of Atmosphere
Spring	Chemistry: Using Resources Revision bootcamp - Structured revision for GCSE examination
Summer	Revision and Exams

science curriculum map final 2023 24 ks4.pdf

Useful Links

Title	URL (link)
GCSE Bitesize - Combined Science	https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zp266yc
Seneca Learning	https://senecalearning.com/en-GB/
GCSE Science Lessons Online	https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqbOeHaAUXw9Il7sBVG3_bw

Specifications

Title	URL (link)
AQA GCSE Combined Science	https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/science/specifications/AQA-8464-SP-2016.PDF
AQA GCSE Biology	https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/biology/specifications/AQA-8461-SP-2016.PDF
AQA GCSE Chemistry	https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/chemistry/specifications/AQA-8462-SP-2016.PDF
AQA GCSE Physics	https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/specifications/AQA-8463-SP-2016.PDF