Science

Students begin Year 7 with an introduction to working safely in a science laboratory, including risks, hazards, scientific equipment, variables and graph skills. They then study biology topics including cells, microscopes, unicellular organisms, tissues and organs, the skeletal and muscular systems, reproduction, and health and drugs.

In the spring term, students move into chemistry. They study particles and the nature of matter, including solids, liquids and gases, changes of state, elements, compounds and mixtures. They then learn about pure and impure substances, dissolving, diffusion and separation techniques such as filtration, evaporation, distillation and chromatography. Students also begin studying chemical reactions, acids and alkalis, indicators and the pH scale.

In the summer term, students complete further chemistry on atoms, elements, conservation of mass, metals and non-metals, before moving into physics. They study forces, force diagrams, balanced and unbalanced forces, pressure, space physics, the solar system, gravity, seasons and the size of the universe. They also begin electricity, including current, measuring electricity, series and parallel circuits, and potential difference.

Students begin Year 8 with biology. They study gas exchange, lungs, breathing, alveoli, lung disease and the effects of exercise and smoking. They then move on to photosynthesis, respiration, ecosystems, nutrition, digestion, inheritance, DNA, variation, natural selection and biodiversity.

In the spring term, students study chemistry topics including the Earth, the rock cycle, Earth’s resources, the atmosphere, the carbon cycle, the periodic table, patterns and trends, groups and periods, the reactivity series, oxidation, displacement, thermal decomposition, the blast furnace, ceramics, polymers and composites. They also begin physics topics linked to energy, fuels, electricity costs and magnetism.

In the summer term, students continue physics. They study magnetism, magnetic fields, the Earth’s magnetic field, waves, sound, frequency, amplitude, wavelength, the human ear, ultrasound, light, reflection, colour, lenses, the human eye and cameras. They also study energy transfers, including conduction, convection, radiation, stored energy, fuels, metabolism and conservation of energy.

Students complete the final part of the Key Stage 3 science curriculum before progressing into GCSE studies.

From January, students begin the Edexcel Combined Science GCSE course, focusing primarily on Biology Paper 1 content including cells, enzymes, transport, genetics, inheritance, evolution and classification.

Students continue GCSE Biology before beginning GCSE Chemistry, including states of matter, mixtures, separation techniques and drinking water treatment.