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Science Curriculum Overview

"Science is not only a disciple of reason, but also one of romance and passion"

Stephen Hawking

In the Science Department, we hold a firm belief in every student's inherent potential for excellence, regardless of background. Through hard work and unwavering support, we aim to break down barriers, fostering an inclusive community that transcends socio-economic differences. Our commitment extends beyond academic success to the holistic development of students, recognising education as a tool for social mobility.

Understanding the importance of a supportive environment, we offer guidance and inspiration to help students see the relevance of science in the real world. By maintaining structure and routine while fostering comfort and confidence in our lessons, we ensure equal educational experiences for all. We value the contributions of teachers and technicians, acknowledging that better grades lead to increased opportunities.

Through open communication with parents, we foster a collaborative community that supports every child's right to a high-quality education. Ultimately, we believe in the transformative power of great teaching and are dedicated to shaping futures and empowering students to achieve their full potential.

 

 

Impact

  • In addition to scientific literacy, our students will develop a deep understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through inquiries which help them to answer questions about the world around them.

Implementation

  • The curriculum is delivered as the separate sciences of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, in addition to Maths and Working Scientifically Skills, through a range of both practical and theoretical investigative activities.

Academic Journey - KS3

Year 7

 
Half Term 1 Half Term 2
Lab Safety & Working Scientifically
Cells
Structure and function of body systems
Particles and their behaviour
Half Term 3 Half Term 4
Elements, atoms and compounds
Forces
Space
Reproduction
Half Term 5 Half Term 6
Sound
Light
Reactions
Acids and alkalis

Year 8

 
Half Term 1 Half Term 2
Electricity and Magnetism
Motion and Pressure
The Periodic Table
Separation Techniques
Health and Lifestyle
Half Term 3 Half Term 4
Health and Lifestyle
Adaptation and Inheritance
Energy
Metals and Acids
Half Term 5 Half Term 6
Metals and other materials
The Earth
Ecosystem processes

Year 9

 
eHalf Term 1 Half Term 2
Working Scientifically
Atomic Structure
Energy and Energy Resources
Energy transfer by heating
The Periodic Table
Structure and bonding
Cell Structure & Transport 
Half Term 3 Half Term 4
Structure and bonding
Cell Structure & Transport 
Energy Resources
Cell division
Electric circuits
Electricity in the home
Half Term 5 Half Term 6
Organisation and the digestive system
Molecules and matter 
Organising animals and plants
Chemical calculations
Maths skills: Arithmetic, handling data, algebra, geometry and trigonometry

 

Academic Journey - KS4

Year 10

 
Half Term 1 Half Term 2

Chemical calculations - part 2

Communicable diseases

Preventing and Treating Disease
Radioactivity

Preventing and Treating Disease

Non communicable diseases

Photosynthesis

Respiration

Earth's atmosphere

Half Term 3 Half Term 4

Chemical changes

Electrolysis

Energy Changes

The Earth's resources

Energy changes

Rates and Equilibrium

Crude Oil and Fuels

Space

Half Term 5 Half Term 6

Forces in Balance

Motion

Organising the ecosystem

Force and Motion

The Human Nervous System

Hormonal Coordination

Year 11

 
Half Term 1 Half Term 2
Homeostasis in action
Reproduction
Variation and evolution 
Genetics and evolution
Using our resources
Organic reactions
Polymers
Chemical analysis
Adaptations and competition
Force and pressure
Half Term 3 Half Term 4
Wave properties
Biodiversity and ecosystems
Electromagnetic waves
Light
Electromagnetism
Half Term 5 Half Term 6
Revision and Exam preparation Revision and Exam preparation

 

Academic Journey - Year 12

Year 12 - Biology 

 
Half Term 1 - 3 Half Term 4 - 6

Biological molecules

Cells

Organisms exchange substances with their environment

Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms 

Year 12 - Chemistry

 
Half Term 1 - 2 Half Term 3 - 4
Physical Chemistry Inorganic Chemistry
Half Term 5 - 6  
Organic Chemistry  

Year 12 - Physics

 
Half Term 1 Half Term 2 - 3

Measurement and their errors

Particles and Radiation

Waves

Mechanics and Materials

Half Term 4 Half Term 5
Electricity
Mechanics and Materials
Revision and Exam Prep
Half Term 6  
Fields and their Consequences
Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics
 

 

Academic Journey - Year 13

Year 13 - Biology

 
Half Term 1 - 3 Half Term 4 - 6
Energy transfers in and between organisms
Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments
Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems
The control of gene expression

Year 13 - Chemistry

 
Half Term 1 - 2 Half Term 3 - 4
Physical Chemistry Inorganic Chemistry
Half Term 5 - 6  
Organic Chemistry  

Year 13 - Physics

 
Half Term 1 - 2 Half Term 3
Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics
Fields and their Consequences
Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics
Medical Physics
Half Term 4 Half Term 5
Nuclear Physics
Medical Physics
Medical Physics
Revision and Exam Prep
Half Term 6  
Revision and Exam Prep  

 

Extra Curricular Activities

KS3

  • STEM Club
  • Year 7: Race to the Line
  • Year 8: Energy Quest
  • Year 9 Zoolab
  • KS3 Homework club
  • Big Bang Competition 

 

KS4 

  • STEM Club

  • Y10: It’s Just Rocket Science

 

KS5

  • Senior Physics Challenge (Isaac Physics)
  • British Biology Olympiad
  • UK Chemistry Olympiad
  • British Physics Olympiad

Trips

KS3

  • Science Museum

 

KS4

  • Biology: Hollow Pond field trip

 

KS5

  • Y12 Chemistry: Imperial College Taster Day
  • Y12 Biology: Ecology Field Trip
  • Y12 Physics: Phyphox Thorpe Park Day

Useful Links

Extended Reading List

KS3

On the Origin of Species by Sabina Radeva

The Green Planet by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe, Kim Smith (Illustrator)

Blue Planet II by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe, Emily Dove (Illustrator)

George’s Marvellous Experiments by Roald Dahl

The Extraordinary Life of Katherine Johnson

The Extraordinary Life of Neil Armstrong

The Extraordinary Life of Steve Jobs

The Extraordinary Life of Stephen Hawking

A Galaxy of Her Own: Amazing Stories of Women in Space by Libby Jackson

Kay's Anatomy: A Complete (and Completely Disgusting) Guide to the Human Body by Adam Kay

Kay's Marvellous Medicine: A Gross and Gruesome History of the Human Body by Adam Kay#

Unlocking the Universe by Stephen Hawking, Lucy Hawking

The Greatest Show on Earth by Mini Grey

 

KS4 & KS5 General Science

A Short History of Nearly Everything — Bill Bryson

8000 Metres: Climbing the World’s Highest Mountains — Alan Hinkes

The Science Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained — Rob Colson, Camilla Hallinan, David John & Adam Hart‑Davis 

 

KS4 & KS5 Biology

Why Evolution Is True — Jerry Coyne

The Blind Watchmaker — Richard Dawkins

The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals — Michael Pollan

The Private Life of Plants — David Attenborough

The Disappearing Spoon — Sam Kean

Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood — Oliver Sacks

Periodic Tales: The Curious Lives of the Elements — Hugh Aldersey‑Williams

Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man‑Made World — Mark Miodownik

Biological Science Review - Magazine subscription

 

KS4 & KS5 Chemistry

Chemistry: A Very Short Introduction — Peter Atkins 

The disappearing spoon — Sam Kean

Uncle Tungsten – memories of a chemical boyhood — Oliver Sacks

Periodic tales: The curious lives of the elements — Hugh Aldersey-Williams

Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World — Mark Miodownik

 

KS4 & KS5 Maths

How to Lie with Statistics — Darrell Huff

Humble Pi — Matt Parker

Factfulness — Hans Rosling

Why Does E = mc²? — Brian Cox & Jeff Forshaw

Fermat’s Last Theorem — Simon Singh 

 

KS4 & KS5 Engineering

Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down — J. E. Gordon

The Mars Trilogy — Kim Stanley‑Robinson (Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars) 

imperial.ac.uk

 

KS4 & KS5 Medicine

Brave New World — Aldous Huxley

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat — Oliver Sacks

The Ghost Map — Steven Berlin Johnson

Happy Accidents: Serendipity in Modern Medical Breakthroughs — Morton A. Meyers

Spillover — David Quammen

Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection… — Vivek Murthy

Shark Gets Cancer, Mole Rats Don't — James Welsh

The Emperor of All Maladies — Siddhartha Mukherjee 

imperial.ac.uk

 

KS4 & KS5 Physics

The Quantum Universe: Everything That Can Happen Does Happen — Jeff Forshaw & Brian Cox

The Perfect Theory: A Century of Geniuses & General Relativity — Pedro G. Ferreira

Reality Is Not What It Seems — Carlo Rovelli

The Particle at the End of the Universe — Sean Carroll

Longitude — Dava Sobel

Quantum — Manjit Kumar