Head of Department: Miss Laura Bowden  (laura.bowden@buxton.derbyshire.sch.uk)

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Key Stage 3

All students in Year 7, 8 and 9 experience the full breadth of the science curriculum in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The science department follows the Activate scheme of learning to engage students in fundamental concepts and introduce them to current scientific developments. The lessons develop their scientific language, data analysis and practical skills through a range of learning activities that provide support and challenge to all levels of ability and aim to prepare them for the challenges of GCSE Science. Pupils’ progress is tracked through a combination of literacy, numeracy and skills based activities, homework tasks and end of topic tests.

In Year 7 the topics covered are:

• Cells
• Structure & function of body systems
• Reproduction
• Particles and their behaviour
• Elements, atoms and compounds
• Chemical reactions
• Acids and alkalis
• Forces
• Sound
• Light
• Space

In Year 8 the topics covered are:

• Health and lifestyle
• Ecosystem processes
• Adaptation and inheritance
• The Periodic Table
• Separation techniques
• Metals and acids
• The Earth
• Electricity and magnetism
• Energy
• Motion and Pressure

In Year 9 the topics cover three distinct themes in areas of biology, chemistry and physics with a key focus on developing key skills required for the new GCSE specifications. These themes are:

• New technology
• Turning points
• Detection

 

Key Stage 4

All students in Year 10 & 11 study topics in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Most students will complete the AQA Trilogy course which will give them a combined science GCSE qualification of two GCSE grades (1-9). The most able students will complete the extra content of the Triple Science course which will enable them to achieve separate grades in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

In Year 10 students will study the following topics:

Cell biology	Atomic structure and the Periodic Table	Energy
Organisation	Structure, bonding and properties of matter	Electricity
Infection and response	Chemical quantities and equations	Particle model of matter
Bioenergetics	Chemical changes	Atomic structure
	Energy changes

In Year 11 the following topics will be covered:

Homeostasis and response	The rate and extent of chemical change	Forces
Inheritance, variation and evolution	Hydrocarbons	Waves
Ecology	Chemical analysis	Electromagnetism
	The atmosphere	Space
	Sustainable development

Throughout the course there will be a series of required practicals that will develop the students’ skills and will be assessed through the terminal examinations. All GCSE courses are examined at the end of Year 11.