Science
Importance of Science
Throughout Human history, people have been asking questions about: the universe, life and why things happen. Through the process of finding answers to these questions, advancements have been made to propel society forwards. The aim of this science curriculum is to develop students to gain a strong foundational understanding of science and the processes that support progress within; themselves, society, companies and government policies.
Curriculum timetable:
Curriculum overview:
Our curriculum is designed to support, challenge and stretch students with engaging and varied learning experiences that build, curiosity, science scholarship and cultural capital. Our curriculum is broader than the national curriculum with a deep and ambitious knowledge base that supports development of sound scientific enquiry skills. Our curriculum aims to create students who are determined, well equipped individuals and can be successful in an ever-changing world.
We aim to provide students with the knowledge and skills to; question the world around them, analyse and evaluate information they are presented and formulate their own conclusions about key scientific issues whilst being respectful of the views of people around them.
We have designed our curriculum around 10 ‘big idea’ themes: Forces, Electromagnets and Electricity, Energy, Waves, Matter, Reactions, Earth, Organisms, Ecosystems, Genes.
GCSE information:
How to prepare for GCSE:
By the time students reach their GCSE examinations, they will have had the opportunity to visit each assed topic in detail. All knowledge (substantive and disciplinary) will have been developed through the 5-year plan. Students will be expected to hone their skills, inside and outside of the classroom. To refine their skills, students will have access to a high-quality Knowledge Organiser that breaks down the important content by topic, this is a supplemental document that will also be used within lessons. P7 and Saturday schools are available in order to allow extra contact time further developing students’ scientific knowledge.
A-level and Beyond:
We believe that students at Yewlands Academy will benefit from a tailored curriculum that meets their needs upon arrival; to enable all students to have the option to carry science through to A-Level. Our staff have a wealth of knowledge from an education setting and an industry setting, this experience has been used to meticulously craft a curriculum that seamlessly prepares students for a career in science from the first day in year 7.
How are our students prepared for GCSE
Our curriculum is designed for the students of Yewlands Academy, we therefore have a responsibility to prioritise 4 key areas:
- To sequence knowledge in a 5-year continuum – our curriculum follows a path decided by our teachers to best serve the understanding of our students.
- To build confidence and resilience – our curriculum gives students the confidence to solve problems with a can-do attitude, when they make mistakes, they do not give up.
- To bridge the literacy gap – our curriculum focuses on developing both oral and written literacy as this is the biggest barrier to success for all students at Yewlands academy.
- To explicitly develop scientific skills – our curriculum teaches science skills in explicit chunks to reduce the cognitive load of students in lessons. These skills are also interleaved with science concepts to support application.
AQA Combined Science: Trilogy
Structure of GCSE
The Combined Science: Trilogy GCSE is a core, compulsory science qualification offered to all students. The Trilogy set of GCSEs contains 2 exams for each discipline (Biology, Chemistry and Physics ) resulting in 2 GCSEs in science per student. Students study each discipline in an interleaved manor that results in long term retention of knowledge and understanding. There are 21 required practical activities which are also assessed in the examinations with questions relating to these practicals accounting for 15% of marks.
Course Specifics
More information about the GCSE course and supplemental materials can be found at the link below:
AQA | Science | GCSE | Combined Science: Trilogy
AQA Separate Science
Structure of GCSE
The Separate Science GCSE is an optional qualification offered to students who wish to explore science in further depth. The Separate
Science set of GCSEs contains 2 exams for each discipline (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) resulting in 3 GCSEs in science per student (1 per discipline). Students study each discipline with a specialist teacher, in an interleaved manor that results in long term retention of knowledge and understanding. There are 28 required practical activities which are also assessed in the examinations with questions relating to these practicals accounting for 15% of marks.
Course Specifics
More information about the GCSE course and supplemental materials can be found at the link below:
GCSE Biology: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461
GCSE Chemistry: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462
GCSE Physics: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463