All students are required to sit a minimum of Combined Science at GCSE which results in students obtaining 2 GCSE ’ s . The Separate Science route offer students the opportunity to achieve 3 GCSE ’ s in Science in each of the three disciplines ( Biology , Chemistry and Physics ). Requirements for enrolment onto the separate science route also requires a competent level of mathematics and students are required to be in either set 1 or set 2 to ensure they are best suited to the level of challenge of the separate science route .
Course Structure
There is no controlled assessment in Science . Students will complete set practical activities within class time and be assessed on their practical skills . Some key attributes of these courses are :
� 8 core practical ’ s for each separate science ( 24 in total ).
� Mathematical skills will make up 15 % of the practical assessments , mathematical skills will also be embedded within the course content . Students will need to have some recall of Physics equations as well as the ability to manipulate and use the mathematical skills .
� Separate Science students will take six written examinations of 1hr 45 each .
A high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology , chemistry and physics . Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world ’ s future prosperity , and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge , methods , processes and uses of science . Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts , students are encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena . Students are encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring , predict how things will behave , and analyse causes .
All three subjects are linear and all six examinations are sat at the end of year 11 . Course content for the three disciplines is listed below :
Biology ( AQA )
1 . |
Cell biology |
2 . |
Organisation |
3 . |
Infection and response |
4 . |
Bioenergetics |
5 . |
Homeostasis and response |
6 . |
Inheritance , variation and |
evolution |
7 . |
Ecology |
Chemistry ( AQA )
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 |
Physics ( AQA )
1 . |
Energy |
2 . |
Electricity |
3 . |
Particle model of matter |
4 . |
Atomic structure |
5 . |
Forces |
6 . |
Waves |
7 . |
Magnetism and |
electromagnetism |
8 . |
Space physics |
Contact staff : Mrs Cook
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