Science header

Curriculum Intent:

Giving high-quality science education which will provide the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry, and physics.

Realising that 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.

Offer through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils will be encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena.

Values will be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, analyse causes, encourage creativity and problem solving.

Educate our students to become citizens of a scientific world and inspire some to become future scientists and engineers.

Rationale:

  • Meaningful, manageable, motivating approach.
  • High quality and targeted.
  • Use of different interactive platforms to motivate students, remove barriers to access and increase progress.
  • Live feedback allows intervention at the point of misconception.
  • Encouraging to take more ownership of their progress, with time given to respond to feedback and sharing of assessment criteria to self-assess tests.

Impact

Our curriculum ensures that all students develop a love and curiosity for all aspects of science. They develop the confidence to question everything and the skills and passion to pursue the answers. They expand their experience of the content taught through a range of extra-curricular activities and scientific experiments that promote competition and teamwork. We prepare students to change the world through their scientific innovations as they continue their journey that started here, inspiring them to be our next generation of scientists, technologists and engineers.

KS3 Science – Year 7 and 9:

We deliver a 3-year Key Stage 3 programme of study, incorporating the National Curriculum. Our KS3 science curriculum is an exciting KS3 Science course designed to spark curiosity in science and support students on their learning journey through KS3 to KS4 successfully.

Pupils finishes KS3 at the end of Y9 with a solid foundation of the knowledge and skills of science required for GCSE.

All pupils have access to online textbooks and digital learning resources like Kerboodle and efocus learning.

Pupils in KS3 are taught by specialist science teachers. They are taught a variety of biology, chemistry, and physics topics.

The KS3 curriculum plans can be retrieved on our school website, where we have set out the order and length of each topic. 

The pupil’s knowledge is assessed regularly throughout Key Stage 3 with the use of assessments after every topic and access to online exam questions.

Students track and reflect upon their progress by using Success Criteria sheets for every new topic.

KS4 Science

We are very privileged to have a highly qualified team of biology, chemistry and physics teachers; therefore, we are offering all our pupils specialist teachers in each subject area. This way Subject specialisms gain control of the specific assessment needs of their Science and lead towards comprehensive GCSE curriculum and Exam board (AQA) demands.

Science is a core subject and is compulsory for all students. There are two routes of study at KS4 Science, both routes follow AQA specifications.

  • Separate Science GCSEs ( 3 GCSEs)
  • Combined Science GCSE- Trilogy (2 GCSEs)

At Grove, we are offering Combined Science GCSE Trilogy to current Year 10 and 11 but looking to offer Separate Science route to current Year 9.

For more details on each of the GCSEs we offer including specification (knowledge and skills needed) and final assessment details, please use the links below.

Science resources: Focus Learning

The KS4 Topic Allocation Plan 2020-24 and all relevant documents are available on our school website. These set out the order and length of each unit of work. 

Subject Documents Date  
5 Year Curriculum Plan 30th Sep 2021 Download
Science Curriculum Map 2020 21 Copy 09th Feb 2023 Download
Whole school Science Curriculum Map overview 2020 21 09th Feb 2023 Download