Why do we learn science?
Science is a way of discovering what's in our universe; how those things work today, how they worked in the past, and how they are likely to work in the future.
Learning science at Ark Pioneer will give you the key knowledge and skills that will enable you to make informed decisions throughout your life and understand the impact that your choices may have on the world around you.
With science the sky is the limit as there are always new technologies to be discovered, new diseases to treat and new problems to be solved.
We aim to improve opportunities for all young people regardless of background. In science, this means pupils developing a comprehensive and connected understanding of the big picture of science and ensuring that young people leave school with enough science capital to inform their decision making throughout their life, to understand their impact on the environment and how to be and stay healthy.
Where could science take me in the future?
Studying science will help you develop many useful transferable skills such as critical thinking, clear communication, data analysis and many more. These skills can be applied to many different career paths.
The possible careers leading on from studying science range from more obvious science jobs such as researchers, healthcare professionals and forensic scientists to jobs such as journalists, software developers and government policy advisors.
Head of Department
Tom Parkin
Assessment Details
In addition to regular knowledge quizzes and multiple choice style questions pupils will also undertake regular short answer questions in relation to key science practicals.
In GCSE study, we will follow the AQA Specification offering both separate science or combined science pathways. At KS4 there are two options for studying science:
- Combined science (2 GCSEs)
- Triple science (3 GCSEs)
Both pathways involve studying biology, chemistry and physics units.
You will sit six exams in science each with equal weighting:
- 2 x Biology, 2 x Chemistry, 2 x Physics
For combined science each exam will last 1hr 15min, if you choose the triple science option each exam will last 1hr 45min.
Throughout years 10 and 11 you will also complete a number of required practical activities. The knowledge and skills learnt during these practicals are assessed in the exams.
Year 7 - Science
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
How do cells make up complex living organisms? How do particles behave? |
How do forces predict motion? How do different organisms reproduce? |
| Cell Structure & Specialised Cells Using Microscopes Particle model- solids, liquids and gases State changes Diffusion |
Types of forces Resultant forces Density Sexual and asexual reproduction Puberty & The Menstrual cycle Embryo development & Plant reproduction |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
How does chemical structure determine the properties of a material? What part do forces play in Space? |
How do organisms interact in an ecosystem? How is energy conserved? |
| Atoms, elements and compounds Conservation of mass Chemical formulae Weight & Gravitational force Solar System |
Ecosystems Feeding Relationships & Competition Biotic & Abiotic Factors Types of energy Energy Transfers & Efficiency |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| How can mixture be separated? | How electricity transfers energy? |
| Solvents, Solutes and Solutions Filtration, Distillation & Chromatography |
Circuits symbols |
Year 8 - Science
| Autumn | |
|---|---|
| How are organisms arranged? What is neutralisation? How can we use forces to predict motion? |
|
| The Respiratory System Gas Exchange Skeletal & Muscular System Recreational Drug The pH scale Neutralisation Speed Distant-Time Graphs Work Done and Pressure |
| Spring | |
|---|---|
| How do ecosystems recycle materials? What happens during chemical reactions? How fields produce forces? How is variation shown within and between species? |
|
| Aerobic & Anaerobic respiration Photosynthesis Chemical and Physical changes Oxidation and Reduction Acids and Metal Combustion Magnetic Force Magnetic Fields Electromagnetism Variation Selective Breeding |
| Summer | |
|---|---|
| How earth systems interact? How does electricity transfer energy? What happens to our food when we eat? Can we see energy? |
|
| The Rock Cycle The Water Cycle Resistance Ohm’s Law Measuring Resistance Digestive system Digestive Enzymes Food Tests Plant Nutrition Properties of Light Reflection Refraction |
Year 9 - Science
| Autumn | |
|---|---|
| How do organisms grow and differentiate? How is the periodic table organized? How do forces predict motion? |
|
| Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells Using microscopes and calculating magnification Methods of cell transport Cell cycle and mitosis Stem cells and cell differentiation Atoms, elements and compounds Atomic structure Electronic configuration History of the periodic table Balanced and unbalanced forces Scalars and vectors Calculating speed and acceleration Distance – time and speed – time graphs |
| Spring | |
|---|---|
| How do humans interact with their environment? What is quantitative chemistry? What happens when objects are heated? |
|
| Biodiversity Different forms of pollution Pyramids of biomass and food security Chemical reactions and equations Relative atomic mass and formula mass The mole and calculating concentration Making soluble salts Internal energy Thermal energy transfer Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat |
| Summer | |
|---|---|
| How does DNA influence characteristics? How can we use Earth’s resources responsibly? How do waves transfer energy? |
|
| Sexual and asexual reproduction Meiosis DNA, genes, chromosomes, inheritance, and coding for proteins Potable water Using Earth’s different resources Using sources of information Properties of waves and their technological uses Sound and ultrasound Reflection and refraction |
Year 10 - Science
| Biology | |
|---|---|
| How does the digestive system work? What is the role of oxygen in the human body? How do ecosystems cycle carbon and water? How do our bodies protect us from disease? How do populations depend on each other? |
|
| The digestive system Models of enzymes Respiratory system Circulatory system Respiration Transpiration/translocation Photosynthesis Water and carbon cycles Communicable diseases Vaccines/antibiotics/resistance Drug development Ecosystem organisation Environmental changes and the effects on populations |
| Chemistry | |
|---|---|
| How does atomic structure determine bonding? How do ionic substances react? How can we use conservation of mass to calculate concentration? How do we represent energy changes during chemical reactions? |
|
| Metallic bonding and alloys Ionic bonding Covalent bonding Ionic equations Half equations Electrolysis Moles Limiting reactants Neutralisation reactions Exothermic/endothermic reactions Calculating bond energies |
| Physics | |
|---|---|
| How can we use forces to predict change? How can scientists show that energy is conserved using calculations? How can resistance prevent energy transfer? What is nuclear energy? |
|
| Newton’s 2nd Law Momentum Hooke’s Law Density Kinetic/gravitational/elastic potential energy Power Energy efficiency Resistance Power in circuits Transformers Types of radiation Nuclear equations Half life |
Year 11
| Biology | |
|---|---|
| How is the body’s internal environment maintained? | |
|
Nervous system |
|
| How is reproduction controlled in animals? | |
|
Reproductive hormones |
|
| How can we use what we know about the human genome? | |
|
Genome |
|
| What evidence is there for where humans came from? | |
|
Evolution by Natural Selection |
| Chemistry | |
|---|---|
|
What is organic chemistry? |
|
|
Hydrocarbons |
|
| How can we control the rate of a reaction? | |
|
Collision theory |
|
| What is in our atmosphere? | |
|
Greenhouse effect and climate change |
|
| How can we analyse different chemicals? | |
|
Formulations |
| Physics | |
|---|---|
| How is energy transferred through waves? | |
|
Electromagnetic spectrum |
|
| What is a force field? | |
|
Magnetism |
| Summer 1 | |
|---|---|
| Revision Focus | |
|
Revision tailored to specific outcomes from mock exams & to individual pupil needs |