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Science

Curriculum Intent

Curriculum Intent

Our aim is to enable our students to develop an understanding of the world around us through the scientific method of objective, evidence based questioning. We want out students to consider the implications of current and future scientific developments within our society and culture and reflect not only on their scientific impact but also the moral and social impacts that they may have. We want to inspire our students to become engaged scientifically as literate global citizens and help build the future we all want to live in.

 

In Science lessons, we seek to challenge and develop students’ ideas, in contexts relevant to them. We hope to enable them to sort Science fact from Science fiction. Students explore How Science Works in a modern and exciting way. They learn to assess the relevance of evidence and to have informed opinions on topics as varied as Global Warming and new strains of diseases. As a department we achieve results well above national averages across the key stages. With the introduction of the new Science Curriculum we hope to build on this success by the increasing diversity of learning experiences on offer within our subject area.

 

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The Burgate School is lucky enough to have purpose built Science laboratories which provide access to practical work along with facilities to share numerous digital resources that support the curriculum.

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Science support is available every lunchtime in Room 15

 

Curriculum Overview

Years 7&8

Years 7 & 8
Each group will cover the three Sciences over a full term.

Each topic will have a Landmark topic assessment

 

Year 7

Scheme of Work

Year 8

Scheme of Work

GCSE Science

At GCSE the majority of students follow a three year course that covers AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy in Years 9, 10 and 11.

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Those students who opted for Triple Science in year 9 will study the three GCSE Sciences in Years 10 and 11.

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All examinations will take place at the end of Year 11. There are no coursework elements to any of the specifications.

 

GCSE Information

Examination Board: AQA 

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Syllabus numbers:

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Year 10 and 11 GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (8464)

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Triple Award:

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GCSE Biology       (8461)
GCSE Chemistry   (8462)
GCSE Physics        (8463)

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Combined Science Trilogy (8464) – specification overview

This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course.

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Combined Science

Chemistry

  1.  Atomic structure and the periodic table

  2.  Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter

  3.  Quantitative chemistry

  4.  Chemical changes

  5.  Energy changes

  6.  The rate and extent of chemical change

  7.  Organic chemistry

  8.  Chemical analysis

  9.  Chemistry of the atmosphere

  10.  Using resources

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Physics

  1.  Energy

  2.  Electricity

  3.  Particle model of matter

  4.  Atomic structure

  5.  Forces

  6.  Waves

  7.  Magnetism and electromagnetism

Subject content:

Biology

  1.  Cell biology

  2.  Organisation

  3.  Infection and response

  4.  Bioenergetics

  5.  Homeostasis and response

  6.  Inheritance, variation and evolution

  7.  Ecology

Triple Science

GCSE Physics

Physics (8463) – specification overview

Subject content

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  1.  Energy

  2.  Electricity

  3.  Particle model of matter

  4.  Atomic structure

  5.  Forces

  6.  Waves

  7.  Magnetism and electromagnetism

  8.  Space physics (physics only)

GCSE Chemistry

Chemistry (8462) – specification overview

Subject content

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  1.  Atomic structure and the periodic table

  2.  Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter

  3.  Quantitative chemistry

  4.  Chemical changes

  5.  Energy changes

  6.  The rate and extent of chemical change

  7.  Organic chemistry

  8.  Chemical analysis

  9.  Chemistry of the atmosphere

  10.  Using resources

Triple Science 

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GCSE Biology

Biology (8461) – specification overview

Subject content

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  1.  Cell biology

  2.  Organisation

  3.  Infection and response

  4.  Bioenergetics

  5.  Homeostasis and response

  6.  Inheritance, variation and evolution

  7.  Ecology

  8.  Key ideas

A level course infomation

Sixth Form: A level

In our Sixth Form College we offer the OCR examination subjects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics in which we are extremely successful; a significant number of students have gone on to study medical, science or engineering related courses at university. These successful courses are increasing in popularity. A number of our students have the opportunity to develop their skills by supporting STEM Club in the main school.

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Module 4 – Biodiversity, evolution and disease

  4.1.1 Communicable diseases, disease prevention and the immune system
  4.2.1 Biodiversity
  4.2.2 Classification and evolution

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Module 5 – Communication, homeostasis and energy

  5.1.1  Communication and homeostasis
  5.1.2  Excretion as an example of homeostatic control
  5.1.3  Neuronal communication
  5.1.4  Hormonal communication
  5.1.5 Plant and animal responses
  5.2.1 Photosynthesis
  5.2.2  Respiration

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Module 6 – Genetics, evolution and ecosystems

  6.1.1 Cellular control
  6.1.2 Patterns of inheritance
  6.1.3 Manipulating genomes
  6.2.1 Cloning and biotechnology
  6.3.1 Ecosystems
  6.3.2 Populations and sustainability.​

Biology A level

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Specification: OCR A (H420) 

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Module 1 – Development of practical skills in biology

  1.1   Practical skills assessed in a written examination
  1.2   Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement

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Module 2 – Foundations in biology

  2.1.1 Cell structure
  2.1.2 Biological molecules
  2.1.3 Nucleotides and nucleic acids
  2.1.4 Enzymes
  2.1.5 Biological membranes
  2.1.6 Cell division, cell diversity and cellular organisation

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Module 3 – Exchange and transport

  3.1.1 Exchange surfaces
  3.1.2 Transport in animals
  3.1.3 Transport in plants

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Module 4: Core organic chemistry

  • Basic concepts

  • Hydrocarbons

  • Alcohols and haloalkanes

  • Organic synthesis

  • Analytical techniques (IR and MS)

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Module 5: Physical chemistry and transition elements

  • Reaction rates and equilibrium (quantitative)

  • pH and buffers

  • Enthalpy, entropy and free energy

  • Redox and electrode potentials

  • Transition elements

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Module 6: Organic chemistry and analysis

  • Aromatic compounds

  • Carbonyl compounds

  • Carboxylic acids and esters

  • Nitrogen compounds

  • Polymers

  • Organic synthesis

  • Chromatography and spectroscopy (NMR)

Chemistry A level

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Specification: OCR A (H432)

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Module 1: Development of practical skills in chemistry

  • Practical skills assessed in a written examination

  • Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement

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Module 2: Foundations in chemistry

  • Atoms, compounds, molecules and equations

  • Amount of substance

  • Acid–base and redox reactions

  • Electrons, bonding and structure

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Module 3: Periodic table and energy

  • The periodic table and periodicity

  • Group 2 and the halogens

  • Qualitative analysis

  • Enthalpy changes

  • Reaction rates and equilibrium (qualitative)​

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Physics A level

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Specification: OCR A (H556)

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Module 1 – Development of practical skills in physics

  • 1.1 Practical skills assessed in a written examination

  • 1.2 Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement

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Module 2 – Foundations of physics

  • 2.1 Physical quantities and units

  • 2.2 Making measurements and analysing data

  • 2.3 Nature of quantities

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Module 3 – Forces and motion

  • 3.1 Motion

  • 3.2 Forces in action

  • 3.3 Work, energy and power

  • 3.4 Materials

  • 3.5 Newton's Laws of Motion and Momentum​

​​Module 4 – Electrons, waves and photons

  • 4.1 Charge and current

  • 4.2 Energy, power and resistance

  • 4.3 Electrical circuits

  • 4.4 Waves

  • 4.5 Quantum physics

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Module 5 - Newtonian world and astrophysics

  • 5.1 Thermal physics

  • 5.2 Circular motion

  • 5.3 Oscillations

  • 5.4 Gravitational fields

  • 5.5 Astrophysics and cosmology

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Module 6 – Particles and medical physics

  • 6.1 Capacitors

  • 6.2 Electric fields

  • 6.3 Electromagnetism

  • 6.4 Nuclear and particle physics

  • 6.5 Medical imaging

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