Science

Introduction
KS3
KS4

Tab 1

Introduction

At Hodge Hill College we aim to create scientists with well-rounded practical, scientific and mathematical skills by delivering engaging lessons taught by expert teachers. Pupils are confident in their scientific abilities and are passionate towards Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

From KS3 we aim to equip pupils with the correct skills base in terms of practical and mathematical skills as well as introducing them to the world of work and the importance of Science in real world situations. We continue this into KS4 with an aim to inspire the next generation of scientists by instilling the core school principles of courtesy, achievement, respect and empathy.

It is important to show pupils the world of Science outside of the lesson setting. We provide the following enrichment activities:

Interactive workshops on alternative NHS jobs. These allow pupils to explore the practical side of employment as well as giving them a chance to talk to professionals about career entry routes and salaries
4d immersive lessons on cells and the atmosphere. These allow pupils to ‘talk science’
Virtual reality workshops on aerospace and what it is like to work at an exciting workplace environment
Rocket launch events. These allow pupils to demonstrate their collaborative and creative sides as well as stimulating an enjoyment of Science.
Visits to RAF Cosford. These allow pupils to see a workplace that is reliant on science skills and engineering. This is aimed mainly at girls that are studying physics to help inspire the next generation of female engineers

Our curriculum aims to develop:

Personal learning: Promoting self-awareness and learning about lab safety and the consciousness that an individual’s discoveries can impact positively on the wider world. We actively promote the concept of ‘talking science’ to allow pupils to express their views and use ‘thinking harder’ tasks to allow pupils to stretch and challenge themselves.

Social learning: Working as part of a team during practical and group work tasks enables the pupils to see the effectiveness of collaborative work and equips the pupils with communication and leadership skills.

Cultural learning: Introducing the pupils to ethical and moral situations that link into British values and to new scientific developments that may directly or indirectly impact on one’s cultural beliefs is imperative i.e. nanotechnology or embryonic stem cell science vs. embedded religious or cultural views

Economic learning: Introducing the world of Science in the workplace with links to specific jobs, the skillset needed for these jobs and how to get there in terms of academic and apprenticeship routes. We emphasise the salaries involved and show pupils the alternatives in specific fields. Lessons with workplace links also show the contribution of Science jobs on the wider economy.

KS3

Year 7

Biology	Topic	How it is assessed	Number of lessons until assessment
	Human body	Open book skills assessment	6
	Reproduction and variation	Topic test	6
	Enzymes and food groups	Open book skills assessment	7
	Classification and adaptations	Topic test	7
Chemistry	Topic	How it is assessed	Number of lessons until assessment
	Changes of state and particle model	Open book skills assessment	7
	Separation techniques	Topic test	7
	Acids and alkalis	Open book skills assessment	5
	Chemical reactions	Topic test	7
Physics	Topic	How it is assessed	Number of lessons until assessment
	Energy	Open book skills assessment	6
	Fuels	Topic test	6
	Forces	Open book skills assessment	7
	Magnets and space	Topic test	7

Year 8

Biology	Topic	How it is assessed	Number of lessons until assessment
	Cells	Topic test	9
	Photosynthesis and leaves	Open book skills assessment	7
	Breathing and respiration	Topic test	5
	Drugs and exercise	Open book skills assessment	7
Chemistry	Topic	How it is assessed	Number of lessons until assessment
	Compounds and displacement	Open book skills assessment	7
	Polymers and bonding	Topic test	7
	Combustion and fuels	Open book skills assessment	6
	Atmosphere and pollution	Topic test	10
Physics	Topic	How it is assessed	Number of lessons until assessment
	Electrical circuits	Open book skills assessment	7
	Waves and sound	Topic test	10
	Properties of light	Open book skills assessment	7
	Uses of light and The eye	Topic test	7

Year 9

Biology	Topic	How it is assessed	Number of lessons until assessment
	DNA and variation	Topic test	7
	Communicable and non commynicable diseases	Topic test	7
	Digestive system and enzymes	Topic test	8
	Osmosis and investigating osmosis Heart and blood (Set 1 only)	Topic test Topic test	4 7
Chemistry	Topic	How it is assessed	Number of lessons until assessment
	Reactivity and neutralisation	Topic test	9
	Resources from the Earth	Topic test	8
	Atomic structure and development of the periodic table	Topic test	11
	Endo and exothermic reactions Electrolysis and cells (Set 1 only)	Exam question practice Topic test	6 6
Physics	Topic	How it is assessed	Number of lessons until assessment
	Energy and efficiency	Topic test	7
	Forces and motion time graphs	Topic test	9
	Hooke's Law	Exam question practice	3
	Basic waves and EMS Light and sound waves (set 1 only)	Topic test Topic test	7 7

Tab 3

KS4

GCSE Combined Trilogy Science
Exam board	AQA	Course code	8464
Examined by	6x 1hr 15mins worth 16.7% each (2 x Chemistry exams, 2x Physics exams, 2x Biology exams)
Key topics taught	Chemistry Topic 1 – Earth’s Atmosphere Topic 2 – Using resources (extraction of metals, alloys, recycling etc) Topic 3 – Atomic structure (elements, periodic table, separation techniques) Topic 4 – Bonding (ionic, covalent, metallic) Topic 5 – Energy changes (exothermic, endothermic) Biology Topic 1 - Cell Biology Topic 3 – Organisation (enzymes, organ systems, plant systems) Topic3 – Infection and Response Topic 4 – Bioenergetics (photosynthesis and respiration) Physics Topic 1 – Forces (introduction) Topic 2 – Forces B (distance/time graphs, stopping distance, momentum) Topic 3 – Energy (energy transfers, efficiency) Topic 4 – Energy Resources (renewable, non-renewable) Topic 5 – Waves (properties of waves, EM) Topic 6 – Atomic Structure

GCSE Biology
Exam board	AQA	Course code	8461
Examined by	2 x 1hr 45mins exams worth 50% each.
Key topics taught in Y10	Biology Topic 1 – Cell Biology Topic 3 – Organisation (enzymes, organ systems, plant systems) Topic3 – Infection and Response Topic 4 – Bioenergetics (photosynthesis and respiration)

GCSE Chemistry
Exam board	AQA	Course code	8462
Examined by	2 x 1hr 45mins exams worth 50% each.
Key topics taught in Y10	Topic 1 – Earth’s Atmosphere Topic 2 – Using resources (extraction of metals, alloys, recycling etc) Topic 3 – Atomic structure (elements, periodic table, separation techniques) Topic 4 – Bonding (ionic, covalent, metallic) Topic 5 – Energy changes (exothermic, endothermic)

GCSE Physics
Exam board	AQA	Course code	8463
Examined by	2 x 1hr 45mins exams worth 50% each.
Key topics taught in Y10	Topic 1 – Forces (introduction) Topic 2 – Forces B (distance/time graphs, stopping distance, momentum) Topic 3 – Energy (energy transfers, efficiency) Topic 4 – Energy Resources (renewable, non-renewable) Topic 5 – Waves (properties of waves, EM) Topic 6 – Atomic Structure

Year 10

Biology	Topic	How it is assessed	Number of lessons until assessment
	Cell biology	Topic test	9 (10)
	Organisation	Topic test	5 (6)
	Infection and response	Topic test	5 (6)
	Bioenergetics	Topic test	5 (6)
Chemistry	Topic	How it is assessed	Number of lessons until assessment
	Atmosphere and pollutants	Topic test	6
	Resources from the Earth	Topic test	9 (14)
	Atomic structure and development of the periodic table	Topic test	9 (13)
	Bonding	Topic test	9 (12)
	Energy changes (endo/exo)	Topic test	6 (9)
Physics	Topic	How it is assessed	Number of lessons until assessment
	Forces A	Topic test	7 (11)
	Forces B	Topic test	12 (13)
	Energy	Topic test	11
	Energy resources	Topic test	5
	Waves	Topic test	5 (11)
	Atomic Structure	Topic test	5

Year 11

Biology	Homeostasis and response	Topic test	7 (8)
	Inheritance, variation and response	Topic test	6 (8)
	Ecology	Topic test	7 (8)
Chemistry	Topic	How it is assessed	Number of lessons until assessment
	Quantitative chemistry	Topic test	8 (10)
	Chemical changes	Topic test	9 (10)
	Organic chemistry	Topic test	7 (9)
	Rate and extent of reaction	Topic test	6
	Chemical analysis	Topic test	5 (7)
Physics	Topic	How it is assessed	Number of lessons until assessment
	Electricity	Topic test	11 (13)
	Magnetism and electromagnetism	Topic test	11
	Particle model of matter	Topic test	10
	Space physics	Topic test	6