In Key Stage 3 Science at St Thomas More, students are taught via a mastery approach.
Topics are revisited at periodic intervals, with depth and detail added at each stage.
For example, in Year 7 Chemistry, the Particle Model is the first topic taught, which is recapped and added to in the Separating Mixtures topic taught later in the year.
Chemistry topics in Year 7 encompass the Particle Model, Separating Mixtures, Acids and Alkalis, Metals and Non-Metals, Climate and Earth’s Resources. In Year 8, the pupils study the Atoms and Elements, further building on their particle work from the year before, along with the Periodic Table, Chemical Energy, Types of Chemical Reaction, Earth Structure and the Universe.
Biology Topics in Year 7 include Cells, Reproduction, Environment and Variation. In Year 8, pupils study higher concepts such as Respiration and Photosynthesis, Food and Digestion and Microbes and Disease.
In KS3 Physics, the Year 7 topics are Energy, Contact Forces, and Non-contact Forces. In Year 8, pupils will study Magnetism, Sound, Light, Heating and Cooling and Electricity.
In Year 9, two KS3 topics are taught before Christmas, in Chemistry, these are Reactions of Metals with Acids and Environmental Science. In Physics, Forces and Motion and in Biology, Inheritance and Health. After Christmas, the topics are chosen to serve as a transition into full GCSE course at the start of Year 10.
For Key Stage 4 pupils, there are multiple routes available.
Some pupils are selected to sit the AQA Entry Level Certificate and study this alongside AQA GCSE Combine Science Trilogy Foundation course.
Most pupils will sit the AQA Combined Science: Trilogy course. This is a GCSE Double Award, so the pupils will receive 2 GCSE’s in Science. This course is two tiered entry, foundation and higher, and decisions about which tier of entry will be finalised in year 11.
Finally, some pupils will be invited to sit the AQA Separate Science courses. These courses have extra material to learn in addition to the Combined Science course, and award 1 GCSE each in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Full information about all 3 available course options in Science can be found on the AQA website.
Further details can be found at aqa.org.uk
