Science

Why is the subject important?

The vision at Trinity Academy Halifax is to ensure all students develop the skills to become life-long confident, resilient and reflective learners, who enjoy science and achieve up to and beyond their potential.

We aim through our curriculum to teach the fundamental knowledge and skills so that all students can:

Develop an interest and curiosity of their world and relate to real life applications and relevance
Have an awareness of the diversity of careers in science and the importance of these in the world today
Develop the ability to use scientific inquiry methods including questioning, communicating, justifying and evaluating scientific arguments and claims, as well as implementing practical science methodology
Consider the moral, ethical and social implications of science
Understand the historical and cultural contexts, in addition to the contemporary issues linked to science and its development
Develop a solid understanding and ability to use and apply scientific knowledge, integrating maths and literacy skills throughout.

Year 7

What will I be studying?

By the end of Year 7 students in biology will have explored the physical structure of plants and animals and the mechanisms that each structure supports, for example, breathing, digestion and reproduction. In chemistry, students will have explored the states of matter, the periodic table and they will begin to apply this in simple chemical reactions such as neutralisation. Within physics, students will have explored fundamental concepts such as forces (both contact and non-contact) and waves in the context of light and sound. Throughout all three subjects practical science skills, science literacy skills, and mathematical skills will be interwoven. By the end of Year 7 students should be able to identify basic laboratory equipment and give a simple explanation of how it can be used. Mathematically students should be able to use positive and negative numbers, read simple skills and plot bar charts to present data given appropriate axes and scales. They will have been introduced to converting units, but further work will be required to embed this skill.

Term 1: Living organisms, Particles and Forces: Organisms and cell hierarchy, states of matter and changes of state and simple force interactions.
Term 2: Digestion, The Periodic Table and Speed: Diet and the digestive system, periodic table and symbols, speed and journey graphs.
Term 3: Gas exchange, Chemical Reactions and Gravity: Diffusion and breathing, chemical reactions and gravity vs weight.
Term 4: Movement, The Earth and Magnets: The skeletal system, earth and the rock cycle, magnets and space.
Term 5: Plants, Acids and Alkalis and Sound: Flowers and pollination, pH scale and neutralisation, and sound waves.
Term 6: Reproduction, Properties and Light: Human reproduction, metals and non-metals, light waves and reflection.
Term 6: Respiration, exothermic and endothermic reactions and fuels: Anaerobic and aerobic respiration, energy changes in chemical reactions and fuels and energy resources.

Career Links

Careers – Career pathways in microbiology, engineering, geology, sports science, physiotherapy, medical technology and electrician.

Employability skills – Critically analyse the benefits of a balanced diet and the financial and medical implications associated with poor lifestyle choices.

How will I be assessed?

Three summative assessments take place throughout the year, during term 2, term 4 and term 5.

Assessment 1 – Assessing knowledge and application of skills of Living Organisms, Particles and Forces and Digestion, The Periodic Table and Speed.

Assessment 2 – Assessing knowledge and application of skills of Gas Exchange, Chemical Reactions and Gravity and Movement, The Earth and Magnets.

Assessment 3 – Assessing knowledge and application of skills of Living Organisms, Particles and Forces, Digestion, The Periodic Table and Speed, Gas Exchange, Chemical Reactions and Gravity, Movement, The Earth and Magnets, Plants, Acids and Alkalis and Sound.

Each term students will complete a knowledge recall test, ‘Masters of Recall’ test, to assess their knowledge recall in science. This will assess new knowledge studied in science within each term and previous terms.

Quick 6 quizzes take place each lesson, together with weekly recall homework to support and assess knowledge retention over time.

Knowledge Organisers

Living Organisms, Particles and Forces – Term 1
Digestion, The Periodic Table and Speed – Term 2
Gas Exchange, Chemical Reactions and Gravity – Term 3
Movement, The Earth and Magnets – Term 4
Plants, Acids and Alkalis, and Sound – Term 5
Reproduction, Properties and Light – Term 6
Respiration, exothermic and endothermic reactions and fuels: Anaerobic and aerobic respiration, energy changes in chemical reactions and fuels and energy resources – Term 6

Which websites should I use to support my learning?

Educake – An online revision and assessment tool to provide instant feedback on student progress and understanding. https://www.educake.co.uk/
BBC Bitesize – An online learning platform which allows students to review knowledge and skills in line with KS3 science national curriculum. The platform also has a review and test function to allow students to assess their understanding of individual topics. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zng4d2p
Free science lessons – A selection of online videos to support students with their understanding of key concepts from both the national curriculum for science and GCSE science specifications. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqbOeHaAUXw9Il7sBVG3_bw

Year 8

What will I be studying?

By the end of Year 8 students in biology will have revisited each of the structures explored in Year 7 to look at the process they support such as photosynthesis, respiration and the importance of DNA in reproduction. In chemistry, students will continue to explore chemical reactions, including those discussed in biology, to show the links between processes in recycling materials. In physics, students will explore energy sources, revisit changes of state in terms of energy and density, electrical circuits and the interaction between light and the eye. Students should now be able to select appropriate equipment for very simple investigations and give an outline of how the experiment could be conducted, keeping in mind potential risks and how they can be minimised. Mathematically, students should be able to recognise quantities based on their units and be able to convert some quantities into standard units. Students should be able to articulate conclusions to investigations and quote numerical evidence to support their findings.

Term 1: Photosynthesis, Separation Techniques and Chemical and Physical Changes: Leaf structure, purity and separating mixtures, chemical and physical changes.
Term 2: Enzymes, The Atmosphere and Energy: Enzymes in plants, our atmosphere and the carbon cycle and energy stores and transfers.
Term 3: Ecosystems, Materials and Electricity: Food chains, metal reactivity and properties of materials, circuits and resistance.
Term 4: DNA and Evolution, Diffusion and Seeing Colour: DNA and natural selection, pressure, the eye and how we see colour.
Term 5: Cells to systems, Chemical Equations, Forces and Pressure: Body interactions and the effects of recreational drugs, word equations, static electricity and recap of key ideas.
Term 6: Practical Investigation Skills

Career Links

Careers – Career pathways in food science and nutrition, forensic science, conservation, zoology and optometry.

Employability skills – Impacts of energy usage on the environment and the need to preserve and value raw materials.

How will I be assessed?

Three summative assessments take place throughout the year, during term 2, term 4 and term 5.

Assessment 1 – Assessing knowledge and application of skills of Respiration, Exothermic and Endothermic reaction, Fuels and Photosynthesis, Separation techniques and Chemical and Physical Changes.

Assessment 2 – Assessing knowledge and application of skills of Enzymes, The Atmosphere and Energy and Ecosystems, Materials and Electricity.

Assessment 3 – Assessing knowledge and application of skills of Respiration, Exothermic and Endothermic reaction, Fuels, Photosynthesis, Separation techniques and Chemical and Physical Changes, Enzymes, The Atmosphere and Energy, Ecosystems, Materials and Electricity, DNA and Evolution, Diffusion and Seeing colour.

Knowledge Organisers

Photosynthesis, Separation Techniques and Chemical and Physical Changes
Enzymes, The Atmosphere and Energy
Ecosystems, Materials and Electricity
DNA and Evolution, Diffusion and Seeing Colour
Cells to Systems, Chemical Equations, Forces and Pressure
Working Scientifically

Which websites should I use to support my learning?

Educake – An online revision and assessment tool to provide instant feedback on student progress and understanding. https://www.educake.co.uk/
BBC Bitesize – An online learning platform which allows students to review knowledge and skills in line with KS3 science national curriculum. The platform also has a review and test function to allow students to assess their understanding of individual topics. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zng4d2p
Free science lessons – A selection of online videos to support students with their understanding of key concepts from both the national curriculum for science and GCSE science specifications. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqbOeHaAUXw9Il7sBVG3_bw

Quick 6 quizzes take place each lesson together with weekly recall homework to support and assess knowledge retention over time.

Year 9

What will I be studying?

In Year 9, students continue on their science curriculum journey adding further depth to the breadth of knowledge gained from Phase 1 progressing beyond the KS3 national curriculum. Within Year 9, students revisit the fundamental concepts of biology, chemistry and physics in the first units of ‘Particles’, ‘Matter’ and ‘Cells’; the fundamentals. These topics build on and enhance the fundamental concepts within science the ‘Golden Threads’ and key skills (maths, science investigation skills and scientific literacy) developed in Year 7 and 8, continually building on intricacy and complexity.

By the end of Year 9 in biology, students will have revisited, consolidated and extended their knowledge of the intrinsic processes that occur inside cells and the mechanisms that each structure supports, for example, breathing, respiration and circulation. In chemistry and physics, they will explore the structures of the atom in terms of subatomic particles, the theories of the atomic model and how the model principles were developed. In physics, students will also build upon their knowledge of contact and non-contact forces, explored in Year 7 and 8, and apply and investigate Newton’s three laws of motion.

Term 1: Particles The particle model and atomic structure
Term 2: Cells Cell structures, DNA, enzymes, respiration and photosynthesis
Term 3: Matter The particle model and changes of state
Term 4: Elements, compounds and mixtures Purity, separating mixtures, bonding and properties of materials
Term 5: Cell transport systems Diffusion, osmosis and active transport, movement of substances in animals and plants
Term 6: Forces Motion, Newton’s laws and forces in action
Term 6: Coordination and Control The nervous and endocrine systems, maintaining internal environments

Career Links

Careers – Career pathways in nanoscience, food science, plant science, drug development, sport pharmacist, geneticist and aeronautics.

Employability skills – Equips students with language needed to express scientific ideas and critically analyse scientific work.

How will I be assessed?

Students will complete end of topic summative assessment to assess their progress and understanding, each term.

Quick 6 quizzes take place each lesson together with weekly recall homework to support and assess knowledge retention over time.

Knowledge Organisers

Particles
Cells
Matter
Elements, compounds and mixtures
Cell transport systems
Forces
Coordination and control

Which websites should I use to support my learning?

Educake – An online revision and assessment tool to provide instant feedback on progress and understanding. https://www.educake.co.uk/
BBC Bitesize – An online learning platform which allows students to review all knowledge and skills in line with KS3 national curriculum. The platform also has review and test functions to allow students to assess their understanding of individual topics. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zng4d2p
Free science lessons – A selection of online videos to support students with key concepts from both the national curriculum for science and GCSE science specifications. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqbOeHaAUXw9Il7sBVG3_bw

OCR GCSE Gateway Combined Science A (9-1)

What will I be studying?

In Year 10 our students follow the OCR Gateway specification. Students either follow the combined science pathway to achieve two GCSE grades or the separate science pathway to attain GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics.

By the end of Year 10 students will have revisited, consolidated and deepened many of the golden threads, the fundamentals addressed during their five-year journey. Within biology, students will have moved from cells and organ systems to organisms as a whole, and how organisms interact with one another and the ecosystem. In chemistry, the formulae and equations previously encountered will be used to describe reactions and to predict trends on the periodic table based on experimental observations. In physics, the contact forces explored in Year 9 will now be expanded to look at non-contact force, last addressed in Year 7. Within all topics the mathematical skills of students will continue to develop to enable them to articulate conclusions and support with mathematical evidence. Practical skills will have continued to develop and students should now be able to select appropriate equipment for an experiment and state how to ensure their results are valid.

By the end of Year 11 students will have tied together the learning throughout their five-year learning journey within the final units called ‘Global Challenges’. Within these final units for biology, chemistry and physics, students will learn of the biggest challenges facing the human race: within biology, the spread and treatment of disease and its impact on food security; within chemistry our use of finite resources, how they can be preserved and how their use damages the environment and, within physics the energy crisis and how we can reduce our use of fossil fuels while maintaining our current energy dependent lifestyles. Students will now be able to apply their scientific literacy and numeracy skills to select appropriate equipment and plan a method to collect valid data, and be able to process, analyse and evaluate complex data.

Throughout Year 10 and 11 students will cover the following content:

Chemical reactions: Introducing chemical reactions, energetics, types of chemical reactions and electrolysis
Electricity and magnetism: Static and charge, simple circuits, magnets and magnetic fields
Community level systems: Ecosystems
Predicting and identifying reactions and products: Chemical reactions; predicting chemical reactions
Waves and radioactivity: Wave behaviour, the electromagnetic spectrum and radioactivity
Genes, inheritance and selection: Inheritance, natural selection and evolution
Monitoring and Controlling Chemical Reactions: Controlling reactions and equilibria
Energy work done, power and efficiency
Global Challenges: Monitoring and maintaining the environment, feeding the human race, monitoring and maintaining health
Global Challenges: Improving processes and products, interpreting and interacting with earth systems
Global challenges: Physics on the move, powering Earth

Career Links

Year 10

Careers – Career pathways in chemical engineering, marine biology, material science, radiography and midwifery.

Employability skills – Equipping students with the knowledge to critically analyse the risks and benefits of the use of ionising radiation to diagnose and treat diseases.

Year 11

Careers – Career pathways in geology, water hygiene engineering, automotive designer and renewable energy engineer.

Employability skills – Students will be taught how to evaluate and form opinions on advancing medical techniques, e.g. stem cell research, and be introduced into the ethics of scientific developments.

How will I be assessed?

At the end of the course students will sit six terminal exams, assessing knowledge and application of skills covered over the five-year learning journey in science.

Throughout Year 10 and 11, students also complete both end of topic summative assessments and synoptic summative assessments to assess their progress and understanding of knowledge and skills.

Quick 6 quizzes take place each lesson together with weekly recall homework to support and assess knowledge retention over time.

Which examination board am I following?

Exam Board: OCR

Specification: OCR GCSE Gateway Combined Science A (9-1)

Website: https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/gateway-science-suite-combined-science-a-j250-from-2016/

Which websites should I use to support my learning?

Educake – An online revision and assessment tool to provide instant feedback on progress and understanding. https://www.educake.co.uk/
BBC Bitesize – An online learning platform which allows students to review all knowledge and skills in line with KS4 national curriculum. The platform also has review and test functions to allow students to assess their understanding of individual topics. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/z2dqqhv
Free science lessons – A selection of online videos to support students with key concepts from both the national curriculum for science and GCSE science specifications. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqbOeHaAUXw9Il7sBVG3_bw
GCSEPod – An online learning platform which allows students to review all knowledge and skills in line with KS4 national curriculum. The platform also has review and test functions to allow students to assess their understanding of individual topics. https://www.gcsepod.com/

OCR GCSE Gateway Biology A (9-1)

What will I be studying?

By the end of Year 10 students will have revisited, consolidated and deepened many of the golden threads, the fundamentals, addressed during their five-year journey. Within biology, students will have moved from cells and organ systems to organisms as a whole, and how organisms interact with one another and the ecosystem. Within all topics the mathematical skills of students will continue to develop to enable them to articulate conclusions and support with mathematical evidence. Practical skills will have continued to develop, and students should now be able to select appropriate equipment for an experiment and state how to ensure their results are valid.

Throughout Year 10 and 11 students will cover the following content:

Organism level systems: Coordination and control, the nervous and endocrine systems, and maintaining internal environments
Community level systems: Ecosystems
Genes, inheritance and selection: Inheritance, natural selection and evolution
Global Challenges: Monitoring and maintaining the environment, feeding the human race, monitoring and maintaining health

How will I be assessed?

At the end of the course students will sit two terminal exams, assessing knowledge and application of skills covered over the five-year learning journey in science.

Throughout Year 10 and 11 students also complete both end of topic summative assessments and synoptic summative assessments, to assess their progress and understanding of knowledge and skills.

Quick 6 quizzes take place each lesson together with weekly recall homework to support and assess knowledge retention over time.

Career Links

Year 10

Careers – Career pathways in chemical engineering, marine biology, material science, radiography and midwifery.

Employability skills – Equipping students with the knowledge to critically analyse the risks and benefits of the use of ionising radiation to diagnose and treat diseases.

Year 11

Careers – Career pathways in geology, water hygiene engineering, automotive designer and renewable energy engineer.

Which examination board am I following?

Exam Board: OCR

Specification: OCR GCSE Gateway Biology A (9-1)

Website: https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/gateway-science-suite-biology-a-j247-from-2016/

Which websites should I use to support my learning?

Educake – An online revision and assessment tool to provide instant feedback on progress and understanding. https://www.educake.co.uk/
BBC Bitesize – An online learning platform which allows students to review all knowledge and skills in line with KS4 national curriculum. The platform also has review and test functions to allow students to assess their understanding of individual topics. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/z3dj82p
Free science lessons – A selection of online videos to support students with key concepts from both the national curriculum for science and GCSE science specifications. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqbOeHaAUXw9Il7sBVG3_bw
GCSEPod – An online learning platform which allows students to review all knowledge and skills in line with KS4 national curriculum. The platform also has review and test functions to allow students to assess their understanding of individual topics. https://www.gcsepod.com/

OCR GCSE Gateway Chemistry A (9-1)

What will I be studying?

By the end of Year 10 students will have revisited, consolidated and deepened many of the golden threads, the fundamentals addressed during their five-year journey. Within chemistry, the formulae and equations previously encountered will be used to describe reactions and to predict trends on the periodic table based on experimental observations. Within all topics the mathematical skills of students will continue to develop to enable them to articulate conclusions and support with mathematical evidence. Practical skills will have continued to develop and students should now be able to select appropriate equipment for an experiment and state how to ensure their results are valid.

By the end of Year 11 students will have tied together the learning throughout their five-year learning journey within the final units called ‘Global Challenges’. Within these final units for chemistry, students will learn of the biggest challenges facing the human race: within chemistry our use of finite resources, how they can be preserved and how their use damages the environment. Students will now be able to apply their scientific literacy and numeracy skills to select appropriate equipment and plan a method to collect valid data, and be able to process, analyse and evaluate complex data.

Throughout Year 10 and 11 students will cover the following content:

Chemical Reactions: Introducing chemical reactions, energetics, types of chemical reactions and electrolysis
Predicting and Identifying Reactions and Products: Predicting chemical reactions
Monitoring and Controlling Chemical Reactions: Controlling reactions and equilibria
Global Challenges: Improving processes and products, interpreting and interacting with earth systems

Career Links

Year 10

Careers – Career pathways in chemical engineering, marine biology, material science, radiography and midwifery.

Employability skills – Equipping students with the knowledge to critically analyse the risks and benefits of the use of ionising radiation to diagnose and treat diseases.

Year 11

Careers – Career pathways in geology, water hygiene engineering, automotive designer and renewable energy engineer.

How will I be assessed?

At the end of the course students will sit two terminal exams assessing knowledge and application of skills covered over the five-year learning journey in science.

Throughout Year 10 and 11 students also complete both end of topic summative assessments and synoptic summative assessments to assess their progress and understanding of knowledge and skills.

Quick 6 quizzes take place each lesson together with weekly recall homework to support and assess knowledge retention over time.

Which examination board am I following?

Exam Board: OCR

Specification: OCR GCSE Gateway Chemistry A (9-1)

Website: https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/gateway-science-suite-chemistry-a-j248-from-2016/

Which websites should I use to support my learning?

Educake – An online revision and assessment tool to provide instant feedback on progress and understanding. https://www.educake.co.uk/
BBC Bitesize – An online learning platform which allows students to review all knowledge and skills in line with KS4 national curriculum. The platform also has review and test functions to allow students to assess their understanding of individual topics. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/z92x7hv
Free science lessons – A selection of online videos to support students with key concepts from both the national curriculum for science and GCSE science specifications. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqbOeHaAUXw9Il7sBVG3_bw
GCSEPod – An online learning platform which allows students to review all knowledge and skills in line with KS4 national curriculum. The platform also has review and test functions to allow students to assess their understanding of individual topics. https://www.gcsepod.com/

OCR GCSE Gateway Physics (9-1)

What will I be studying?

By the end of Year 10 students will have revisited, consolidated and deepened many of the golden threads, the fundamentals addressed during their five-year journey. Within physics, the contact forces explored in Year 9 will now be expanded to look at non-contact force, last addressed in Year 7. Within all topics the mathematical skills of students will continue to develop to enable them to articulate conclusions and support with mathematical evidence. Practical skills will have continued to develop and students should now be able to select appropriate equipment for an experiment and state how to ensure their results are valid.

By the end of Year 11 students will have tied together the learning throughout their five-year learning journey within the final units called ‘Global Challenges’. Within these final units for physics, students will learn of the biggest challenges facing the human race: within physics the energy crisis and how we can reduce our use of fossil fuels while maintaining our current energy dependent lifestyles. Students will now be able to apply their scientific literacy and numeracy skills to select appropriate equipment and plan a method to collect valid data, and be able to process, analyse and evaluate complex data.

Throughout Year 10 and 11 students will cover the following content:

Forces: Forces due to gravity and gravitational field strength
Electricity: Static and charge, simple circuits
Magnetism and Magnetic Fields: Magnets and magnetic fields
Waves: Wave behaviour, the electromagnetic spectrum
Radioactivity: Radiation, dangers and uses
Energy: Work done, power and efficiency
Global Challenges: Beyond earth, physics on the move and powering the earth

Career Links

Year 10

Careers – Career pathways in chemical engineering, marine biology, material science, radiography and midwifery.

Employability skills – Equipping students with the knowledge to critically analyse the risks and benefits of the use of ionising radiation to diagnose and treat diseases.

Year 11

Careers – Career pathways in geology, water hygiene engineering, automotive designer and renewable energy engineer.

How will I be assessed?

At the end of the course students will sit two terminal exams assessing knowledge and application of skills covered over the five-year learning journey in science.

Throughout Year 10 and 11 students also complete both end of topic summative assessments and synoptic summative assessments to assess their progress and understanding of knowledge and skills.

Quick 6 quizzes take place each lesson together with weekly recall homework to support and assess knowledge retention over time.

Which examination board am I following?

Exam Board: OCR

Specification: OCR GCSE Gateway Physics A (9-1)

Website: https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/gateway-science-suite-physics-a-j249-from-2016/

Which websites should I use to support my learning?

Educake – An online revision and assessment tool to provide instant feedback on progress and understanding. https://www.educake.co.uk/
BBC Bitesize – An online learning platform which allows students to review all knowledge and skills in line with KS4 national curriculum. The platform also has review and test functions to allow students to assess their understanding of individual topics. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zwtp6fr
Free science lessons – A selection of online videos to support students with key concepts from both the national curriculum for science and GCSE science specifications. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqbOeHaAUXw9Il7sBVG3_bw
GCSEPod – An online learning platform which allows students to review all knowledge and skills in line with KS4 national curriculum. The platform also has review and test functions to allow students to assess their understanding of individual topics. https://www.gcsepod.com/