Science Teachers

Vision of Subject

Our vision is to create a positive learning environment where all staff and students are passionate about the learning of Science and invest in this learning journey with focus, resilience and pride. As a result students make excellent progress and aspire to reach their future goals with enthusiasm and confidence.

Statement of Intent

At KHS our students study a five-year sequenced Programme of Study which maps both knowledge and skills across Key Stage 3 and 4. This means that every student is offered a broad, varied and challenging curriculum from Year 7 through to Year 11.

Our intention is to instila passion for Biology, Chemistry and Physics within our students and to develop scientific knowledge and understanding appropriate to individual abilities.

We encourage students to develop enquiring minds, develop communication skills, both written and spoken, and to develop analytical and evaluative skills within the context of scientific investigations.

The aim is to foster a lifelong interest and enjoyment of learning Science, whilst promoting an awareness of its importance in society as well as in global technological and environmental developments.

KS3

Students study Science for 3 hours per week in KS3 and homework is set weekly.

Students are taught in sets based upon prior attainment.

We follow the AQA KS3 Scheme of work with 13 topics being covered in each year.

Throughout these topic students are also taught key investigative skills to improve their ability to analyse, enquire, solve and carry out mathematical techniques.

Each skill is assessed 3 times per year.

Students are formally assessed on their subject knowledge at the end of each term.

KS4

Most students follow the AQA Combined Science Trilogy course (8464) and will be awarded two grades 1-9.

Some students follow the AQA separate Science courses and will be awarded 3 separate grades for Biology (8461), Chemistry (8462) and Physics (8463).

All students have a specialist teacher for 2 hours per week in each science.

Students are taught in sets based upon prior attainment and homework is set weekly.

Extended writing assessment tasks are set approximately every 8 lessons and students are formally assessed on their subject knowledge at the end of each term.

Students are taught the following key skills:

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
• scientific ideas
• scientific techniques and procedures

Apply knowledge and understanding of:
• scientific ideas
• scientific enquiry, techniques and procedures

Analyse information and ideas to:
• interpret and evaluate
• make judgements and draw conclusions
• develop and improve experimental procedures

Overview of the Science Curriculum

The topics students cover throughout Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 are outlined in the link below:

Curriculum Overview Science

Links to GCSE Exam Board Specifications

The specification code for AQA GCSE Trilogy is 8464

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-trilogy-8464

The specification code for AQA GCSE Science Biology is 8461

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461

The specification code for AQA GCSE Science Chemistry is 8462

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462

The specification code for GCSE Science Physics is 8463

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463

Additional Information

Revision sessions – during school holidays

Homework support – every lunch time in Lab 3