Science

Curriculum Intent

To ensure all students make good or better progress.
To deliver lessons that meet the breadth and depth of the national curriculum.
To embed an understanding of the importance of science within the context of life outside of education.

Key Stage 3

In Key Stage 3 we follow the National Curriculum for Science.

Key Stage 3 covers a wide range of different topics that allow students to build a foundation of knowledge that will help develop their skills and allow them to access the more difficult topics that are covered at Key Stage 4.

At OVA, we have built a scheme of learning that follows the national curriculum to ensure that students have access to the widest curriculum possible. Our aim is to inspire students to attempt to discover things in the world around them and explain the things that they observe.

Each topic has built in retrieval practice both in lessons and over a longer time, to help embed understanding. We also include separate skill and literacy based lessons in each topic to further enrich the curriculum.

Topics are assessed in line with the whole school policy, with in class low stakes quizzes used providing immediate feedback to students on their progress through the scheme. Larger termly assessments take place through the year that will be reported back to parents and that cover all of the content taught up to that point.

The topics covered in Year 7 are:

Cells, Tissues, Organs and Systems
The Particle Model
Sounds
Mixtures and Separation
Forces
Acids and Alkalis
Sexual Reproduction in Animals
Ecosystems
Energy

The topics covered in Year 8 are:

Current Electricity
Plants and their Reproduction
Food and Nutrition
Light
Atoms, Elements and Compounds
Muscles and Bones
Energy Transfers
Fluids
Rocks
Combustion

The topics covered in Year 9 are:

Metals and their Uses
Breathing and Respiration
The Periodic Table
Unicellular Organisms
Earth and Space
Transition units that recap important areas of Key Stage 3 in preparation for the GCSE content.

Key Stage 4

Combined Science (2 GCSEs) – Core

We use AQA Trilogy Science as the exam board for this subject. Biology, Chemistry and Physics will be covered equally, with the end award being based on a combination of all three subjects, giving two science GCSE grades that must be concurrent (9/9, 9/8, 8/8, 8/7 etc).

Six exams will be sat in Summer of Year 11; these exams will determine the final grade, each exam is 1 hour 15 minutes long. Lessons throughout year 10 and 11 will be divided between the subjects allowing for all content to be covered in time for the mock exams in the Autumn and Spring of Year 11.

The exams also include questions based on a series of ‘Required Practicals’ that students will complete throughout the course. These are embedded within our lessons and students will be taught the skills needed to complete these physically as well as analyse and interpret data from the outcomes.

Triple Science (3 GCSEs) – Optional, selected in Year 9

We use AQA Separate Sciences as the exam board for these subjects.

In addition to the Combined Science course of study, students will study additional units to complete the Separate Qualifications. Students will achieve three GCSEs instead of two and each grade is separate so we have the freedom to choose tier of entry for each subject if needed.

Six exams will be sat in Summer of Year 11 in total. 2 for each subject to determine the final grade, each exam is 1 hour 45 minutes long. Lessons throughout year 10 and 11 will be divided between the subjects with the additional 5 hours per fortnight allowing for the extra content to be covered in time for the mock exams in the Autumn and Spring of Year 11. Students selecting Separate Science will remain in the same class for both their core and option lessons on their timetables.

Below shows the programme of study for the Separate Science qualifications, with the combined programme of study also including these topics to a lesser degree.

Biology:

Cell biology
Transport systems
Health, disease and the development of medicines
Coordination and control
Photosynthesis
Ecosystems
Inheritance, variation and evolution

Assessment: 2 Exams – Combined Science (1h15m) / Triple Science (1h45m)

Chemistry:

Atomic structure and the periodic table
Structure, bonding and the properties of matter
Chemical changes
Energy changes in chemistry
The rate and extent of chemical change
Chemical analysis
Chemical and allied industries
Earth and atmospheric science

Assessment: 2 Exams – Combined Science (1h15m) / Triple Science (1h45m)

Physics:

Energy
Forces
Forces and motion
Waves in matter
Light and electromagnetic waves
Electricity
Magnetism and electromagnetism
Particle model of matter
Atomic structure

Assessment: 2 Exams – Combined Science (1h15m) / Triple Science (1h45m)

Key Stage 5

Applied Science Level 3

The Level 3 BTEC National Award in Applied Science (Environmental Science) offers students an alternative route to the traditional AS/A2 level that is currently on offer academically. It is designed with the workplace in mind, but also offers an alternative route into higher education.

All work is assessed by portfolio work. There are 4 units of work to complete.

Principles and Applications of Science 1
Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques
Science Investigation Skills
Physiology of Human Body Systems

For further information on the course structure follow this link
BTEC Science – Student Handbook

Biology A Level

Exam board OCR A

You will already be familiar with many of the topics that you will study, including microscopy, cells, organ systems and ecology.

At A-level, you’ll look at these areas in more detail and find out how they are interconnected. You will also learn how to apply this knowledge to real-world problems and explore new areas such as proteins and nucleic acids, biological molecules and biotechnology. Perhaps more importantly, you will develop skills that can be transferred to just about any other area of work, from learning microbiological laboratory techniques to saving the planet.

For further information on the course structure follow this link:

A-Level Biology – Student Handbook

Chemistry A Level

Exam board OCR A

A range of practical experiences is given within this course which is vital as part of a learner’s development. ‘Foundations in chemistry’, acts as an important bridge into AS and A level chemistry from chemistry within science courses at GCSE level.

At A-level, you’ll look in more detail at physical, inorganic and organic chemistry and find out how they are linked to applications of energy use to every- day life, health care, industrial processes and current environmental concerns associated with sustainability.

For further information on the course structure follow this link:

A-Level Chemistry – Student Handbook

Physics A Level

Exam board OCR A

You will already be familiar with many of the topics that you will study, including forces, waves, radioactivity, electricity and magnetism.

At A-level, you’ll look at these areas in more detail and find out how they are interconnected. You will also learn how to apply maths to real-world problems and explore new areas such as particle physics, cosmology and medical physics. Perhaps more importantly, you will develop skills that can be transferred to just about any other area of work, from setting up a business to saving the planet. Even if you don’t go on to become a physicist, learning to think like one will help you get to the root of any problem and draw connections that aren’t obvious to others. Physics won’t give you all the answers, but it will teach you how to ask the right questions.