How we Support and Develop Your Child

Students will receive a personalised learning checklist at the start of each new topic to enable them to take some ownership of their learning; they will be able to see what they need to know and will be able to chart areas where they need to improve and develop further. Students will be steered towards the KS3 Bitesize website to support their understanding of topics and help them with homework and they will have access to the SAM Learning website. Your child can expect to have lessons differentiated to meet their individual learning needs and we work closely with the Student Support Centre to check that our provision is current and purposeful.

How we Assess Your Child's Progress

Students will be assessed formatively each lesson to determine; previous understanding and misconceptions, to check their understanding following teacher inputs and to help determine what each child's next steps in learning should be. They will also be summative assessments after each module to enable us to provide parents with regular inputs on how their child is progressing in science.

Year 7

Overview

Primarily, it is our intention within key stage 3 Science, to equip learners with the skills and knowledge they will require to achieve their full potential and cope with the demands of the key stage 4 curriculum and beyond. We forge links with scientific and technological breakthroughs in the news to make learning relevant to the world of our young people and to enable them to recognise that science isn't simply a 'thing' that happens in the classroom.

Students in Year 7 will have the opportunity to become familiar with the laboratory setting and become confident in using scientific equipment. They will build on their knowledge of fair testing from key stage 2 and will begin to plan their own scientific experiments under the guidance of their teachers.

Skills Developed

Students will study biology, chemistry and physics topics within Year 7 and will use specialist practical equipment linked to these specialisms. Our schemes of work contain built in episodes to ensure that students develop their extended writing skills, mathematical skills and ICT skills. There are plenty of opportunities for students to; work in groups to develop social skills, work collaboratively and to discuss and debate ideas (particularly surrounding topical events). Scientific thinking and investigative skills are developed as an intrinsic part of the science curriculum. Students will be planning, carrying out and evaluating investigations from the very outset of Year 7.

Topics Covered

Download the Year 7 Science Curriculum Overview

• Induction
• Particles and Reactions
• Cells, Tissues and Organs
• Separation Techniques
• Acids and Alkalis
• Sound and Light

Year 8

Overview

Students in Year 8, will continue to complete biology, chemistry and physics topics and build on their investigative skills. There will be a greater drive to foster independent study and practical skills and learners will be proactive in planning and carrying out their own investigations under the guidance and supervision of their teachers.

Skills Developed

Our schemes of work contain built in episodes to ensure that students develop their extended writing skills, mathematical skills and ICT skills. There are plenty of opportunities for students to work in groups to develop; social skills, the ability to work collaboratively and to discuss and debate ideas - particularly surrounding topical events. Scientific thinking and investigative skills are developed as an intrinsic part of the science curriculum- learners will be planning, carrying out and evaluating investigations from the very outset of Year 8.

Topics Covered

Download the Year 8 Science Curriculum Overview

• Keeping Healthy
• Energy and Forces
• Periodic Table and Metals
• Magnetism and Electricity
• Revision for end of year exam
• Pressure and Moments

Year 9 

Overview

Year 9 is a transition year in science where we prepare learners for the specific demands that they will encounter at GCSE and help them to make sensible choices regarding their science options.

Skills Developed

During the first half term of Year 9, students will complete the final two KS3 topics. The focus then switches to skills-based lessons where students will receive guidance in data presentation and interpretation, answering longer written questions and revision techniques. These skills will be employed through the completion of a series of investigations where it will be imperative for learners to think critically and independently. We will continue to develop numeracy, literacy and ICT skills and will promote discussion and collaboration as students explore topical issues linked to the curriculum.

Topics Covered

Download the Year 9 Science Curriculum Overview

• Space and Gravity, Adaptation and Evolution
• Scientific skills
• Revision for end of KS3 exam
• Transition Unit: GCSE Biology B1
• Transition Unit: GCSE Physics P1
• Transition Unit: GCSE Chemistry C9 and C10

Students will commence GCSE courses after the February half term break.

Head of Science: Mrs S Frith

Email:friths@lytchett.org.uk

Science enables students to learn and understand the world around them.  Everyday subjects from electricity in our homes to catastrophic events such as a tsunami are covered. Science is a gateway to a wide range of careers. Doctors, vets, physiotherapists and beauticians need knowledge of science. Engineers, astronomers, chefs and plumbers also use their science skills on a daily basis.

All students will follow one of 2 pathways for Science:

1. Combined Science (2 GCSEs)
2. Triple Award Science (3 GCSEs) – as an option choice

Students can choose which pathway to follow.  However, a student must be on track to achieve high grades at the end of Year 9 to study Triple Award Science.

1. Combined Science Pathway

During Years 10 and 11, students will follow the AQA GCSE Trilogy Science to complete the Combined Science Pathway.  Students will be awarded two GCSEs.

This course provides students with a broad, coherent course that adds to their knowledge and understanding of the living, material and physical worlds.  This course is designed to follow on directly from the course studied in key stage 3.

The Combined Science (double award) route provides a thorough preparation for students wishing to take any of the A-level Science courses.

2. Triple Award Science Pathway

During Years 10 and 11 students, will follow the AQA GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics programmes of study to complete the Triple Science Pathway.  Students will be awarded three separate GCSEs.

Triple Science provides students with an advanced course that extends their current knowledge and understanding of the living, material and physical worlds. This course is designed to follow on directly from the course studied in key stage 3.

The three Sciences of Biology, Chemistry and Physics are taught separately by subject specialists. This allows teachers to focus on their area of expertise and provides the very best experience for students during GCSE Science.  It is expected that students taking Triple Science should be strongly considering progressing to one or more of the three A-level Sciences in Year 12.

Triple Science is suitable for students who enjoy Science and are interested in pursuing it in any form beyond GCSE. As it will result in three GCSEs, you will spend 15 periods per fortnight in Science lessons. 

Download the Year 10 GCSE Combined Science Curriculum Overview

Download the Year 11 GCSE Combined Science Curriculum Overview

Download the GCSE Biology Year 10 and 11 Curriculum Overview

Download the GCSE Chemistry Year 10 Curriculum Overview

Download the GCSE Chemistry Year 11 Curriculum Overview

Download the GCSE Physics Year 10 Curriculum Overview

Download the GCSE Physics Year 11 Curriculum Overview

AQA Science

Why study Science? 

• Science is interesting and enhances your understanding of the world around you.
• Science equips you to make important technical and ethical decisions in life.
• Science relates well to many other vocational and academic subjects and supports your understanding of them.
• Science supports vocational and academic courses of study beyond GCSE.

Option

Science will be delivered as follows:-

• Combined GCSE Science will be delivered in 10 lessons per fortnight.
• Triple GCSE Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) will be delivered in 15 lessons per fortnight (5 lessons in each science). Triple Science is a good preparation for Science AS and A2 courses.  Different grades can be obtained in each of these 3 GCSEs.

Assessment

The formal GCSE examinations will now take place in the summer of Year 11.

• Combined Science take 6 papers; 2 each in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, giving 2 GCSEs. The marks from all six papers are combined, and the students are given two GCSE grades from this combined score.
• Triple Science take 6 papers; 2 each in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, giving 3 GCSEs in separate sciences.

If you would like to discuss the course in more detail please speak to a member of the Science Faculty.  We will be glad to explain or discuss any aspect of the course. If you require information on how your child is progressing at KS3 and their suitability for Triple or Combined Science, please contact Mrs Ventham (KS3 Science Co-ordinator) or your Science teacher.