Why do we learn science?
Head of Department
Our approach
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Studying science at GCSE
Year 10
Year 11
Year 12
Year 13

Why do we learn science?

  • Scientists explore our world from the insides of atoms to the vast expanse of our universe.

  • Science educates students to treat their bodies and our environment with respect, understanding and awe.  

  • Science enables students to learn how to interact with their surroundings and learn life long investigation skills.  

We will teach our students to become scientists for life and enable them to gain the confidence to become critically informed citizens.

We help students to nurture a curiosity of how and why things work, building upon existing knowledge, through problem solving in engaging, inspiring lessons.

We will connect their lessons to real life context, highlighting science in everyday situations through concrete examples and practical applications.

Head of Department

Head of Department

Philippa Elford

Our approach

Students study Science to gain the knowledge and skills to prepare for the future to make the right choices about health, the environment and play a vital role in their community. Students will learn to have faith in themselves and through practical skills, develop their creativity, determination and resilience; skills vital for future technological and scientific advances.

Science is a subject encompassing three separate disciplines, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. While they are treated as three separate subjects, the links between them are made explicit both within Science and across the whole school curriculum. Our science programme follows the ARK Network Mastery curriculum. Science is taught from year 7, through to GCSE where the Combined Science and Separate Triple Science pathway is taken and then the three Sciences continue into A Level. Psychology A Level is also available at our sixth form.

Skills learnt within Science are also made transferrable across the curriculum: numeracy and graph skills are taught in line with Maths while we use every opportunity to broaden student vocabulary, literacy and extended writing.  

Year 7

Autumn

Biology
Cells 

Chemistry
Particles 

Physics
Forces 
Spring

Biology
Reproduction 

Chemistry
Atoms, elements and compounds 

Physics
Space 
Summer

Biology
Interdependence 

Chemistry
Mixture 

Physics
Energy transfer and electric circuits

All Year 7 subjects Next Year 7 Subject - History

Year 8

Autumn

Biology
Tissues and organs 

Chemistry
Acids and alkalis 

Physics
Movement and pressure
Spring

Biology
Respiration and photosynthesis 

Chemistry
Changing substance 

Physics
Magnetism
Summer

Biology
Life diversity and nutrition 

Chemistry
Earth systems 

Physics
Resistance

All Year 8 subjects Next Year 8 Subject - History

Year 9

Autumn

Biology
Growth and differentiation 

Chemistry
Periodic Table 

Physics
Acceleration
Spring

Biology
Human Interaction 

Chemistry
Introduction to quantitative 

Physics
Heating
Summer

Biology
Genetics 

Chemistry
Using resources 

Physics
Sound waves and Household electricity 

All Year 9 subjects Next Year 9 Subject - History

Studying science at GCSE

Year 10

Autumn

Biology
Diseases 

Chemistry
Electrolysis and energy changes 

Physics
Electricity
Spring

Biology
Respiration and photosynthesis 

Chemistry
Calculations and rates of reaction 

Physics
Molecules and matter 
Summer

Biology
Ecology 

Chemistry
Earth’s resources 

Physics
Radioactivity and waves
Triple classes also learn:

Biology
Monoclonal antibodies 

Chemistry
Using our resources 

Physics
Light 

All Year 10 subjects Next Year 10 Subject - History

Year 11

Autumn

Biology
Nervous system and hormonal control 

Chemistry
Crude oil 

Physics
Forces and motion
Spring

Biology
Reproduction and genetics 

Chemistry
Chemical analysis 

Physics
Electromagnetism
Triple classes also learn:

Biology
Homeostasis in action 

Chemistry
Polymers 

Physics
Space 

All Year 11 subjects Next Year 11 Subject - History

Year 12

Autumn

Psychology
Approaches to psychological research

Biology
Biological molecules and cells

Chemistry
Atomic structure and amounts of substance

Physics
Mechanics
Spring

Psychology
Psychopathology

Biology
Gas exchange and mass transport

Chemistry
Energetics, kinetics and structure and bonding

Physics
Electricity and waves
Summer

Psychology
Memory

Biology
Genes, variation and diversity

Chemistry
Organic chemistry and exam preparation

Physics
Particle physics

All Year 12 subjects Next Year 12 Subject - History

Year 13

Autumn

Psychology
Issues and debates

Biology
Respiration, photosynthesis and genetics/evolution

Chemistry
Thermodynamics, aqueous ion chemistry and transition metals

Physics
Thermal physics and ideal gases
Spring

Psychology
Forensics

Biology
Nervous system and gene technology

Chemistry
Organic chemistry

Physics
Nuclear physics and turning points

All Year 13 subjects Next Year 13 Subject - History