Science

Year 9 students will begin the AQA GCSE course. They will study either the Triple or Combined (Trilogy) GCSE AQA course. 
Both Triple and Combined Science students will cover the same content.

 

Biology - Year 9 Course Overview


Year 9 students will study the fundamentals of GCSE Biology.

Autumn Term
• 4.1 Cell Biology

Spring Term
• 4.3 Infection, Response and Communicable Diseases

Summer Term
• 4.4 Bioenergetics (1)

Science Investigations/Practicals
Students will be carry out a wide range of investigations which will allow them to apply their knowledge and understanding to what they experience.
Investigations will:
* Develop basic skills such as selecting and using equipment, and learning various techniques
* Illustrate a concept or process, offering first-hand experience before further discussion or analysis
* Encourage students to ask questions and make predictions
* Extend the scope of the curriculum

Required Practicals – Year 9 to Year 11 students will need to undertake all required practical activities, (details can be found in the GCSE Biology specification 8461). Students will have the opportunity to experience the use of all the apparatus and a range of techniques required by Ofqual.
1) Microscopy
2) Microbiology
3) Osmosis
4) Enzymes
5) Food tests
6) Photosynthesis
7) Reaction time
8) Plant responses
9) Field investigations
10) Decay

 

Chemistry - Year 9 Course Overview

• Atomic structure and the periodic table

• Bonding, structure and properties of matter

 

Autumn 1:
- What are atoms, elements and compounds?
- What are mixtures?
- How can we obtain pure water for drinking?
- How has the model of the atom developed over time?
- Why does the atom have no overall charge?

Autumn 2:
- How big are atoms?
- How do you calculate the relative atomic mass of an element?
- How are electrons arranged in the atom?
- What is a periodic table?
- How has the periodic table developed over time?

Spring 1:
- What is the difference between a metal and non-metal?
- How can you get iron from breakfast cereal?
- What are noble gases and what are their properties?
- Which alkali metal is the most reactive and why?

Spring 2:
- Which halogen is the most reactive and why?
- How are transition metals different from group 1 metals?
- What happens to copper when it is burnt?
- What are chemical bonds?

Summer 1:
- How do you draw a dot and cross diagram for an ionic bond?
- How does an iconic bond form?
- Which properties does an ionic compound have and why?
- How does a covalent bond form?
- What properties do small molecules have and why?
- What are the properties of oxygen?

Summer 2:
- What are two giant covalent structures and how do they differ?
- Why can metals conduct electricity?
- What happens when you change from one state to another?
- Why are polymers solid at room temperature?
- What are the properties of metals and alloys?
- What are the structure and properties of diamond and graphite?
- What are graphene and fullerenes?
- Why are nanoparticles useful?


Science Investigations/Practicals

Students will be carry out a wide range of investigations which will allow them to apply their knowledge and understanding to what they experience.
Investigations will:
* Develop basic skills such as selecting and using equipment, and learning various techniques
* Illustrate a concept or process, offering first-hand experience before further discussion or analysis
* Encourage students to ask questions and make predictions
* Extend the scope of the curriculum

Required Practicals
 – Year 9 to Year 11 students will need to undertake all required practical activities. Students will have the opportunity to experience the use of all the apparatus and a range of techniques required by Ofqual.

The chemistry practical’s are as follows:
Making salts
Neutralisation
Electrolysis
Temperature changes
Rates of reaction
Chromatography
Identifying ions
Water purification


Physics - Year 9 Course Overview


Year 9 students will follow a ‘Physics fundamentals’ programme in preparation for starting their GCSE courses in year 10. This will cover the remainder of the KS3 Science syllabus and introduce students to some of the fundamental ideas underlying the study of Physics: for example the particle model of matter.

Science Investigations/Practicals
Students will be carry out a range of investigations which will allow them to apply their knowledge and understanding to what they experience.

Investigations will:
* Develop basic skills such as selecting and using equipment, and learning various techniques
* Illustrate a concept or process, offering first-hand experience before further discussion or analysis
* Encourage students to ask questions and make predictions
* Extend the scope of the curriculum

Assessments will take the form of skills based formative assessments (ungraded); 2 short Knowledge tests (October and March) and 2 more rigorous summative tests (December and June). All tests will include content from previous topics.

In Year 10 some will move onto the ‘separate science’ pathway while some students may go on to study AQA combined science: Trilogy.

Year 9 Useful links:

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/ks3

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse - Combined Science: Trilogy; Biology; Chemistry and Physics.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/z9ddmp3

 

KS4 Revision Guides


The Science department is happy to offer students the opportunity to purchase a KS4 all-in-one revision guide and exam practice book to help support them when they are revising for the end of topic and termly tests that we carry out in Science. 

Students will be guided to buy a specific book, or books, according to the GCSE course they are studying:

  • Separate/Triple Science students will need one book per Science: Biology, Chemistry and Physics at a cost of £4 each = £12 total.
  • Double/Combined Science students will need one book that includes all three sciences at a cost of £8. This book comes in two tiers, either higher or foundation.

We are able to offer it at cost price whereas it costs far more in the shops or online.

They are not compulsory and will not be used in lessons or for homework but we wanted to offer them to students as parents have often mentioned that they wanted to be able to support their children when they are revising at home.

The book is split up into the different topics with sections to revise, questions to check their knowledge and understanding and then a big multi-topic exam (with mark scheme) at the end.

Revision guides can be purchased through the ParentPay website

 

Message from the Science Team


As part of our commitment to your child, the Science department are endeavouring to support each and every student achieve their potential. The GCSE exams are made up of approximately 40% knowledge recall and this is what we are basing our fortnightly online quizzes on. These knowledge based tasks can help to secure a student at least 32% (if they get the 80% pass rate we ask of them).

In last summer's exams, 32% was enough to secure a grade 4 or 5 in the higher papers and a grade 2 or 3 in the foundation papers. Building on this knowledge within lesson time will allow the students to achieve even higher grades as they apply and evaluate in new situations. The assessments have been tailored to meet the needs of each student based on their set, ability, tier of entry and their own specific needs. Please feel free to contact your child's subject teacher if you have any questions.