Science
INTRODUCTION
Science at Wright Robinson college aims to engage, challenge, inspire and enthuse students to develop independence, curiosity and resilience, whilst developing an understanding of how science underpins everything around us.
KS3 Curriculum Map
Curriculum in Year 7
During year 7, students develop an understanding of the core principles that underpin science to build a solid base of scientific knowledge from which they can build more complex scientific knowledge over their time at the college.
Topics covered during Year 7 include:
7.1 Working Scientifically
7.2 Forces and energy
7.3 Particles
7.4 The Cellular Basis of Life
7.5 Heating and Cooling
7.6 Chemical reactions
7.7 Growth and reproduction
How we assess:
Students are assessed at the end of each unit by the completion of an end of unit assessment. Each assessment consists of 67% of questions based on the current unit and 33% of questions based on students' prior learning and their ability to recall this learning.
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | |
| Overview |
7.1 Working Scientifically (45 mark assessment)
7.2 Forces and Energy (30 mark assessment) |
7.3 Particles and Matter (45 mark assessment)
7.4 The Cellular Basis of Life (45 mark assessment) |
7.5 Heating and Cooling (30 mark assessment)
7.6 Chemical Reactions (45 mark assessment)
7.7 Growth and Reproduction (45 mark assessment) |
| Content |
Lab safety - Measurements and units - lab equipment - variables - observations - graph skills - interpreting data
Forces - friction - speed - stopping distances |
Solids, liquids and gases - changes of state - diffusion - pure substances - mixtures - separating techniques
Microscopes - cells - diffusion and the cell membrane - organ systems |
Energy stores and transfers - measuring temperature - heating and cooling - conduction - convection - radiation
Atoms and the periodic table - elements - compounds - combustion and incomplete combustion - acids and alkalis - indicators - neutralisation
Growth and Life cycle - Reproductive organs - Puberty - How does life start - Pregnancy and birth - Contraception - Reproduction in plants - Pollination - Seed formation and dispersal |
How can parents help?
- Discuss with your child what they have learned each week.
- Invest in a KS3 revision guide for your child.
- Encourage your child to relate what they have learned in science each week to real life, everyday contexts.
- Ensure your child completes their homework.
- Discuss science in the news with your child.
- Encourage your child to use BBC Bitesize to revise key topics they have learned before assessments.
Curriculum in Year 8
As students move into Year 8 they are required to apply their understanding of the core principles of science to progressively more complex scientific concepts.
Topics covered during Year 8 include:
8.1 Health and Disease
8.2 Sound and Light
8.3 Earth Chemistry
8.4 Ecosystems and Interdependence
8.5 Space and the Solar System
8.6 Rocks and other materials
How we assess:
Students are assessed at the end of each unit by the completion of an end of unit assessment. Each assessment consists of 67% of questions based on the current unit and 33% of questions based on students prior learning and ability to recall this prior learning.
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | |
| Overview |
8.1 Health and Disease (45 mark assessment)
8.2 Sound and Light (45 mark assessment) |
8.3 Earth Chemistry (45 mark assessment)
8.4 Ecosystems and Interdependence (45 mark assessment) |
8.5 Space and the Solar System (45 mark assessment)
8.6 Earth Structure and Materials |
| Content |
What is health? - Balanced diets - Energy in food - The digestive system - Enzymes - Effects of drugs - Pathogens - Defence against disease.
Types of wave - Sound waves - The Ear - Light - Reflection - Refraction - Visible Spectrum - Lenses - The Eye |
Changing atmosphere - Water cycle - Potable Water - Fossil Fuels - The carbon cycle - Human impact on the environment - Climate change - Plastics and recycling
Adaptations - Predators and Prey - Food chains - Pyramids of biomass - Biodiversity - Endangered species - Conservation - Deforestation - Food security |
Space and the solar system - Exploring Space - Gravity, mass and Weight - Forces and their effects - Pressure
Structure of the Earth - Rock types and their formation - Rock Cycle - Acid rain and chemical weathering |
How can parents help?
- Discuss with your child what they have learned each week.
- Support your child in reviewing the topics they have learned using their KS3 revision guide for your child.
- Encourage your child to relate what they have learned in science each week to real life, everyday contexts.
- Ensure your child completes their homework.
- Discuss science in the news with your child.
- Encourage your child to use BBC Bitesize to revise key topics they have learned before assessments.
Curriculum in Year 9
As students progress into Year 9 increased focus is placed on linking scientific concepts and understanding the interplay between the different scientific disciplines in preparation for progression into KS4.
Topics covered during Year 9 include:
9.1 How do we see?
9.2 Environmental Cycles
9.3 Inheritance and Variation
9.4 The Periodic Table
9.5 Electricity and Magnetism
9.6 More Chemical Reactions
9.7 Biochemistry
9.8 Forces
How we assess:
Students are assessed at the end of each unit by the completion of an end of unit assessment. Each assessment consists of 67% of questions based on the current unit and 33% of questions based on students prior learning and ability to recall this prior learning.
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | |
| Overview |
9.1 How do we see? 9.2 Environmental cycles (45 mark assessment)
9.3 Inheritance and variation (45 mark assessment) |
9.4 The Periodic Table (45 mark assessment)
9.5 Electricity and Magnetism (45 mark assessment)
9.6 More Chemical Reactions (45 mark assessment) |
9.7 Biochemistry (45 mark assessment)
9.8 Forces (45 mark assessment) |
| Content |
Visible spectrum - Seeing in Colour - Lenses - The eye - Potable water and desalination - Distillation - Carbon cycle - Climate Change
DNA and its discovery - Inheritance – Variation - Evolution - Fossils - Extinction - Maintaining Biodiversity |
Structure of the Atom - Atomic Models - Isotopes - Electronic configuration - Group 1/7/0 - Reactivity series - Displacement reactions - Extracting metals
Renewable and non renewable energy resources - Circuits - Current, voltage and resistance - Electrical work - Electrical power - Magnetic fields - Electromagnets.
Conservation of mass - Equations - Balancing equations - Reactions of acids - Indicators - Neutralisation - Thermal decomposition - Oxidation - Endothermic and exothermic reactions |
Photosynthesis - Limiting factors - Controlling photosynthesis - Investigating photosynthesis - Eutrophication - Leaf structure - Transpiration - Translocation
Calculating speed - Distance-time graphs - Velocity-Time graphs - Motion - Energy transfers - Kinetic and gravitational energy - Forces acting on a spring - Moments |
How can parents help?
- Discuss with your child what they have learned each week.
- Support your child in reviewing the topics they have learned using their KS3 revision guide for your child.
- Encourage your child to relate what they have learned in science each week to real life, everyday contexts.
- Ensure your child completes their homework.
- Discuss science in the news with your child.
- Encourage your child to use BBC Bitesize to revise key topics they have learned before assessments.
Curriculum in Year 10 and Year 11: GCSE Combined Science
The Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Combined Science course consists of six externally examined papers. These are available at foundation tier and higher tier. Each paper is marked out of 60 and lasts 1 hour 10 minutes.
Students will also complete 18 core practical investigations which are worth 25% of the overall grade (these are examined within the 1 hour 10 minute papers). The grades awarded are cumulative across all 6 papers and averaged to give the student two overall grades in science.
The externally assessed examined papers consist of the following:
Biology paper 1:
• Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology,
• Topic 2 – Cells and control,
• Topic 3 – Genetics,
• Topic 4 – Natural selection and genetic modification,
• Topic 5 – Health, disease and the development of medicines
Chemistry paper 1:
• Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry,
• Topic 2 – States of matter and mixtures,
• Topic 3 – Chemical changes,
• Topic 4 – Extracting metals and equilibria
Physics paper 1:
• Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics,
• Topic 2 – Motion and forces,
• Topic 3 – Conservation of energy,
• Topic 4 – Waves,
• Topic 5 – Light and the electromagnetic spectrum,
• Topic 6 – Radioactivity
Biology paper 2:
• Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology,
• Topic 6 – Plant structures and their functions,
• Topic 7 – Animal coordination, control and homeostasis,
• Topic 8 – Exchange and transport in animals,
• Topic 9 – Ecosystems and material cycles
Chemistry paper 2:
• Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry,
• Topic 6 – Groups in the periodic table,
• Topic 7 – Rates of reaction and energy changes,
• Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth science
Physics paper 2:
• Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics,
• Topic 8 – Energy – Forces doing work,
• Topic 9 – Forces and their effects,
• Topic 10 – Electricity and circuits,
• Topic 12 – Magnetism and the motor effect,
• Topic 13 – Electromagnetic induction,
• Topic 14 – Particle model,
• Topic 15 – Forces and matter
How we assess:
| Autumn Term Year 10 | Spring Term Year 10 | Summer Term Year 10 | |
| Overview |
Biology Unit 1 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks) |
Physics Unit 1 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks)
Chemistry Unit 1 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks) |
Biology Unit 2 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks)
Chemistry Unit 2 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks)
Physics Unit 2 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks) |
| Content |
Cells - Microscopes - Enzymes - Transporting substances - Cell cycles - Stem cells - Nervous system |
Energy transfers - Work and power - GPE and KE - Energy loss - Heat transfer - Waves - Reflection - Refraction - IR and the EM spectrum - Inducing waves
States of matter - Separating Techniques - Ionic, Covalent and Metallic bonding - Acids and Alkalis - Neutralisation - Solubility |
DNA - Variation -Genetics - Evolution - Classification - Selective breeding - Health - Pathogens and disease - Immunity
Atomic structure - Conservation of mass - Electrolysis - Reactivity - Oxidation and Reduction - Life Cycle Assessments
Atomic models - Radiation and radioactive decay -Speed - Vectors and scalars - Acceleration - Motion graphs V-T - Acceleration due to gravity - Forces - Newtons Laws - Weight - Momentum - Stopping distances |
| Autumn Term Year 11 | Spring Term Year 11 | Summer Term Year 11 | |
| Overview |
Physics Unit 4 End of Unit Assessment (30 Marks)
Chemistry Unit 5&6 End of Unit Assessment (30 marks) |
Physics Unit 5 End of Unit Assessment (30 Marks)
Chemistry Unit 8 End of Unit Assessment (30 Marks) |
Biology Unit 9 End of Unit Assessment (30 Marks)
Physics Unit 6 End of Unit Assessment (30 Marks) |
| Content |
Voltage, Current and Resistance - LDRs and Thermistors - Transferring energy - Electrical power - Electrical Safety
Masses and empirical formula - Conservation of mass -Electrolysis - Reactivity - Reversible reactions and Dynamic Equilibrium |
Magnets and magnetic fields - Renewable and non-renewable energy - Power stations and the National Grid - Transformers
Groups 1/7/0 - Rates of Reaction - Endothermic and exothermic reactions - Hydrocarbons - Fractional distillation - Combustion - Pollution - The Earths atmosphere |
Ecosystems - Biotic and Abiotic factors - Fieldwork techniques - Parasitism and Mutualism - Biodiversity - Carbon cycle - Nitrogen cycle - Water cycle
Density - Changes of state - Investigating water - Absolute Zero - Bending and stretching - Investigating springs |
How can parents help?
- Discuss with your child what they have learned each week.
- Invest in a KS4 Combined Science revision guide.
- Encourage your child to revisit the topics they have learned each week and each term using their revision guides.
- Ensure your child completes their homework.
- Encourage your child to use Tassomai and other recommended websites to support their learning.
- Discuss science in the news with your child.
- Encourage your child to revise key topics before assessments
Curriculum in Year 10 and Year 11: GCSE Biology (Triple Award)
The Edexcel Pearson GCSE (9-1) Biology course consists of two externally-examined papers. These are available at foundation tier and higher tier.
Each paper is 1 hour 45 minute and is marked out of 100.
Both papers are combined to give an average grade overall in biology. Although in biology the topics are the same as in combined, each unit contains extra material which is taught only at triple level. Students will also complete 8 core practical investigations in biology which are worth 25% of the grade examined within the 1 hour 45 minute paper.
Biology paper 1:
• Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology
• Topic 2 – Cells and control
• Topic 3 – Genetics
• Topic 4 – Natural selection and genetic modification
• Topic 5 – Health, disease and the development of medicines
Biology paper 2:
• Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology
• Topic 6 – Plant structures and their functions
• Topic 7 – Animal coordination, control and homeostasis
• Topic 8 – Exchange and transport in animals
• Topic 9 – Ecosystems and material cycles
How we assess:
| Autumn Term Year 10 | Spring Term Year 10 | Summer Term Year 10 | |
| Overview |
Biology Unit 1 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks) |
Biology Unit 2 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks) |
Biology Unit 3 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks) |
| Content | Cells - Microscopes - Enzymes - Testing Foods - Transporting Substances - Osmosis Core Practical | Mitosis - Cell Cycle - Growth - Stem Cells - The Brain - Nervous System - Reflexes | Evolution - Darwin - Classification - Selective breeding - Genetic engineering - Tissue culture - GM Agriculture - Fertilisers and biological control |
| Autumn Term Year 11 | Spring Term Year 11 | Summer Term Year 11 | |
| Overview |
Biology Unit 4 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks)
Biology Unit 5 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks) |
Biology Unit 6 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks) |
|
| Content |
Photosynthesis - Leaf structure - Limiting factors - Root hair cells - Transpiration - Translocation - Plant adaptations - Plant hormones
Hormones - Metabolic rate - Menstrual cycle - Fertility - Glucoregulation - Diabetes - Theromoregulation - Osmoregulation - The Kidneys |
Ecosystems - Energy transfer - Abiotic and biotic factors - Assessing pollution - Parasitism and Mutualism - Biodiversity - Food security - Water cycle - Carbon cycle - Nitrogen cycle - Rates of Decomposition |
How can parents help?
- Discuss with your child what they have learned each week.
- Invest in a KS4 Triple Biology revision guide.
- Encourage your child to revisit the topics they have learned each week and each term using their revision guides.
- Ensure your child completes their homework.
- Encourage your child to use Tassomai and other recommended websites to support their learning.
- Discuss science in the news with your child.
- Encourage your child to revise key topics before assessments
Curriculum in Year 10 and Year 11: GCSE Chemistry (Triple Award)
The Edexcel Pearson GCSE (9-1) Chemistry course consists of two externally-examined papers. These are available at foundation tier and higher tier. Each paper is 1hour 45 minute and is marked out of 100. Both papers are combined to give an average grade overall in chemistry. Students will also complete 8 core practical investigations in chemistry which are worth 25% of the grade examined within the 1hour 45 minute paper.
Chemistry paper 1:
• Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry
• Topic 2 – States of matter and mixtures
• Topic 3 – Chemical changes
• Topic 4 – Extracting metals and equilibria
• Topic 5 – Separate chemistry 1
Chemistry paper 2:
• Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry
• Topic 6 – Groups in the periodic table
• Topic 7 – Rates of reaction and energy changes
• Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth science
• Topic 9 – Separate chemistry 2
How we assess:
| Autumn Term Year 10 | Spring Term Year 10 | Summer Term Year 10 | |
| Overview |
Chemistry Unit 1 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks) |
Chemistry Unit 2 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks) |
Chemistry Unit 3 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks) |
| Content | States of matter - Mixtures - Separating techniques - Drinking water - Structure of an atom - Atomic and mass number - Isotopes - Elements and the Periodic table - Electronic configuration - | Ionic bonds - Covalent bonds - Molecular compounds - Allotropes of carbon - Properties of metals - Metallic bonding - Acids and alkalis - Bases and Salts - Neutralisation - Solubility - | Masses and empirical formula - Conservation of mass - Moles - Electrolysis - Reactivity - Oxidation and reduction - Life cycle assessments - Dynamic equilibrium - Transition metals - Corrosion - Electroplating - Alloys |
| Autumn Term Year 11 | Spring Term Year 11 | Summer Term Year 11 | |
| Overview |
Chemistry Unit 4 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks)
Chemistry Unit 5 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks) |
Chemistry Unit 6 End of Unit Assessment (40 marks) |
|
| Content |
Yields - Atom economy - Concentrations - Titrations - Fertilisers - The Haber process - Factors affecting equilibrium - Chemical cells and fuel cells
Group 1/7/0 - Rates of reaction - Catalysts and activation energy - Exothermic and endothermic reactions - |
Alkanes and alkenes - Ethanol production - Alcohols - Carboxylic acids - Addition polymerisation - Polymer properties and uses - Condensation polymerisation - Problems with polymers |
How can parents help?
- Discuss with your child what they have learned each week.
- Invest in a KS4 Triple Chemistry revision guide.
- Encourage your child to revisit the topics they have learned each week and each term using their revision guides.
- Ensure your child completes their homework.
- Encourage your child to use Tassomai and other recommended websites to support their learning.
- Discuss science in the news with your child.
- Encourage your child to revise key topics before assessments.
Curriculum in Year 10 and Year 11: GCSE Physics (Triple Award)
The Edexcel Pearson GCSE (9-1) Physics course consists of two externally-examined papers. These are available at foundation tier and higher tier. Each paper is 1 hour 45 minutes and is marked out of 100. Both papers are combined to give an average grade overall in physics. Students will also complete 8 core practical investigations in physics which are worth 25% of the grade examined within the 1 hour 45 minute paper.
Physics paper 1:
• Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics
• Topic 2 – Motion and forces
• Topic 3 – Conservation of energy
• Topic 4 – Waves
• Topic 5 – Light and the electromagnetic spectrum
• Topic 6 – Radioactivity
• Topic 7 – Astronomy
Physics paper 2:
• Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics
• Topic 8 – Energy – Forces doing work
• Topic 9 – Forces and their effects
• Topic 10 – Electricity and circuits
• Topic 11 – Static electricity
• Topic 12 – Magnetism and the motor effect
• Topic 13 – Electromagnetic induction
• Topic 14 – Particle model
• Topic 15 – Forces and matter
How we assess:
| Autumn Term Year 10 | Spring Term Year 10 | Summer Term Year 10 | |
| Overview |
Physics Unit 1 End of Unit Assessment (48 marks) |
Physics Unit 2 End of Unit Assessment (48 marks) |
Physics Unit 3 End of Unit Assessment (48 marks) |
| Content | Energy transfers - Sankey diagrams - Work and power - GPE and KE - Energy loss - Heat transfer - Waves - Reflection - Refraction - Ears -Infra sound and ultrasound - TIR - Colour - Lenses - IR and the EM spectrum - Inducting waves - Radiation and temperature - Investigating radiation | Atomic models - Radiation and radioactive decay - Nuclear fission - Nuclear power - Nuclear fusion - The solar system - Gravity - Life cycle of stars - Red shift - Origin of the Universe | Speed - Motion graphs D-T - Vectors and scalars - Acceleration - Motion graphs - V-T - Acceleration due to gravity - Forces - Newtons Laws - Weight - Momentum - Stopping distances |
| Autumn Term Year 11 | Spring Term Year 11 | Summer Term Year 11 | |
| Overview |
Physics Unit 4 End of Unit Assessment (48 marks) |
Physics Unit 5 End of Unit Assessment (48 marks) |
|
| Content | Voltage - Current - Charge - Resistance - LDRs and Thermistors - Transferring energy - Electrical work - Electrical power - Electrical safety -Static electricity | Magnets and magnetic fields - Electromagnetism - Motor effect - Renewable and non renewable resources - Power stations and the National Grid - Transformers - Density - Energy calculations - Absolute zero - Gas pressure and volume - Bending and stretching - Extension / Springs - Pressure in fluids - Pressure and upthrust |
How can parents help?
- Discuss with your child what they have learned each week.
- Invest in a KS4 Triple Physics revision guide.
- Encourage your child to revisit the topics they have learned each week and each term using their revision guides.
- Ensure your child completes their homework.
- Encourage your child to use Tassomai and other recommended websites to support their learning.
- Discuss science in the news with your child.
- Encourage your child to revise key topics before assessments.
Recommended Websites
Youtube
Additional Resources
As a department we recommend the use of the CGP Revision materials at both KS3 and for GCSE courses . Revision guides can be purchased via the school shop.