Sciences

Ultimately, Science is about understanding the world around us. Students learn to think for themselves, gathering and using evidence to explain their observations. Students develop skills in thinking for themselves, making predictions and explaining complex ideas in a logical and concise manner.

In Key Stage 3 all students study Biology, Chemistry and Physics topic for equal lengths of time, in rotation. For most students this continues in Key Stage 4 at the end of which they gain 2 GCSEs in Science. Some students will sit exams for separate Sciences and achieve 3 GSCEs. We have a thriving Key Stage 5 provision with significant numbers of students who taking Science at A-levels. Students leave Riddlesdown enthused by Science and many students go on to study it further.

Our core curriculum is supported by a successful STEAM club, and our students have a proud record in representing the School, Region and even the UK internationally, at the Space Settlement Design Competition.

Aims

The Science Team pride ourselves on the high quality teaching and learning that takes place lesson by lesson, day by day. Teachers reflect on their practice, discuss ideas with colleagues and receive appropriate development opportunities. As a result, lessons are well paced and stimulating and conducted in supportive yet challenging environments. Clear feedback is provided to ensure students make excellent progress.

Progression

As a core subject all students study Science during Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. The science options are amongst the most popular within College VI. Students of post-16 Science at Riddlesdown regularly progress to university in the science(s) or a related field. The Department has an excellent record of assisting students in successfully applying for some of the most competitive courses, including: medicine, engineering and scientific degrees at Russell Group Universities.

Key Stage 3 | Key Stage 4 | Key Stage 4 – Combined | Key Stage 4 – Triple | Key Stage 5

Key Stage 3

Science at KS3 is taught to Year 7, 8 and 9 students. Students are taught topics in Chemistry, Biology and Physics. Practical skills are developed throughout the course and a range of skills are incorporated into schemes of work, including: use of apparatus, graph drawing and data interpretation.

Year 7 topics

Working scientifically / Introduction
7A – Cells, tissues, organs and systems
7B – Sexual Reproduction in animals
7C – Muscles and Bones
7D – Ecosystems
7E – Mixtures and Separation
7F – Acids and Alkalis
7G – The Particle model
7H – Atoms elements and molecules
7I – Energy
7J – Electricity
7K – Forces
7L – Sound

Year 8 topics

8A – Food and nutrition
8B – Plants and their reproduction
8C – Breathing and respiration
8D – Unicellular organisms
8E – Combustion
8F – The Periodic Table
8G – Metals and their uses
8I – Fluids
8J – Light
8K – Energy Transfers
8L – Earth and Space

Year 9 topics

9A – Genetics and evolution
9B – Plant Growth
9F – Reactivity
9I – Forces and motion
9J – Force fields and electromagnets

Key Stage 4

Key Stage 4 students will study either:
Edexcel Combined Science or Edexcel Triple Science

There is no longer a coursework component to any of the science qualifications at GCSE and all courses are 100% externally assessed at the end of Year 11. Practical work will be assessed in external assessments and will focus on a set of practicals called Core Practicals. Students will do these practicals throughout the course and need to understand the full details of the experiments.

Key Stage 4 - Edexcel Combined Science

Most students will follow the Combined Science route which includes chemistry, physics and biology and will subsequently obtain two GCSE qualifications graded 9-1 (e.g. 7-7).

Students will sit 6 externally assessed papers that are all 1hr 10mins in length. Each paper will have 60 marks available. There will be a mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. After Year 11 PPE examinations it will be decided, in keeping with Ofqual/Edexcel guidance, which students will sit Foundation or Higher tier.

Biology Paper 1:

Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology, Topic 2 – Cells and control, Topic 3 – Genetics, Topic 4 – Natural selection and genetic modification, Topic 5 – Health, disease and the development of medicines

Biology Paper 2:

Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology, Topic 6 – Plant structures and their functions, Topic 7 – Animal coordination, control and homeostasis, Topic 8 – Exchange and transport in animals, Topic 9 – Ecosystems and material cycles

Chemistry Paper 3:

Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry, Topic 2 – States of matter and mixtures, Topic 3 – Chemical changes, Topic 4 – Extracting metals and equilibria

Chemistry Paper 4:

Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry, Topic 6 – Groups in the periodic table, Topic 7 – Rates of reaction and energy changes, Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth science

Physics Paper 5:

Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics, Topic 2 – Motion and forces, Topic 3 – Conservation of energy, Topic 4 – Waves, Topic 5 – Light and the electromagnetic spectrum, Topic 6 – Radioactivity

Physics Paper 6:

Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics, Topic 8 – Energy – Forces doing work, Topic 9 – Forces and their effects, Topic 10 – Electricity and circuits, Topic 12 – Magnetism and the motor effect, Topic 13 – Electromagnetic induction, Topic 14 – Particle model, Topic 15 – Forces and matter

Specification reference

Combined Science – qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Science/2016/Specification/GCSE_CombinedScience_Spec.pdf

Key Stage 4 - Edexcel Triple Science

Some students follow the Triple Science route (dependent on Key Stage 3 progress). These students will subsequently obtain three separate GCSE qualifications graded 9-1.

Students will sit 6 externally assessed papers that are all 1hr 45mins in length. Each paper will have 100 marks available. There will be a mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. All students will entered for Higher tier.

Biology Paper 1:

Biology Paper 2:

Chemistry Paper 3:

Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry, Topic 2 – States of matter and mixtures, Topic 3 – Chemical changes, Topic 4 – Extracting metals and equilibria, Topic 5 – Separate chemistry 1

Chemistry Paper 4:

Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry, Topic 6 – Groups in the periodic table, Topic 7 – Rates of reaction and energy changes, Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth science, Topic 9 – Separate chemistry 2

Physics Paper 5:

Physics Paper 6:

Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics, Topic 8 – Energy – Forces doing work, Topic 9 – Forces and their effects, Topic 10 – Electricity and circuits, Topic 11 – Static electricity, Topic 12 – Magnetism and the motor effect, Topic 13 – Electromagnetic induction, Topic 14 – Particle model, Topic 15 – Forces and matter

Specification reference

Biology – qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Science/2016/Specification/GCSE_Biology_Spec.pdf
Chemistry – qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Science/2016/Specification/GCSE_Chemistry_Spec.pdf
Physics – qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Science/2016/Specification/GCSE_Physics_Spec.pdf

Key Stage 5

Key Stage 5 students study:
OCR Biology
AQA Chemistry
AQA Physics

The A- level courses are linear and are examined at the end of Year 13 and are assessed by 100% external assessment.

In addition to their A level qualification, students will need to demonstrate practical ‘fluency’ in their core practicals and will obtain a ‘practical endorsement’ as a separate certificate.

Within each science subject students will be prepared for examinations by studying the following content:

A level Biology content:

Practical skills
Foundation biology
Exchange and transport
Biodiversity, evolution and disease
Communication, homeostasis and energy
Genetics, evolution and ecosystems

A level Chemistry content:

Physical chemistry
Inorganic chemistry
Organic chemistry

A level Physics content:

Measurements and errors
Particles and radiation
Waves
Mechanics and materials
Electricity
Further mechanics and thermal physics
Fields and their consequences
Nuclear physics
Astrophysics