Science

Preparing students for life after school in a modern technological society by encouraging creative, independent thinking and developing student’s problem solving skills

Head of Faculty

Mr M. Simpkins (msimpkins@levenshulmehigh.co.uk)

Faculty Vision

To teach Science so that it is an enjoyable and participatory experience for all students enabling each student to achieve her full potential
To foster continually improving standards in pupils work by improving the quality of teaching and learning
To encourage creative, independent thinking and develop students problem solving skills
To inspire students to enjoy life-long learning
To build on the experiences of students in the home, school and community
To demonstrate to students the relevance of Science in the community, the environment the world of work and in their everyday lives
To raise the awareness of students to Science being a truly international subject and the use of Science in other countries and cultures
To prepare students for life after school in a modern technological society
To celebrate the achievements of students in Science

Subjects

Double Award Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics

Curriculum Overview

Year 7 – 3 periods per week
Year 8 – 4 periods per week
Year 9 – 4 periods per week
GCSE Courses: GCSE Triple (OCR)
GCSE Courses: GCSE Combined Science

Topics Covered

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 3 students follow the Exploring Science course which the department has designed carefully to build on scientific skills gained at Key Stage 2 and develop inquisitive and enquiring scientific minds. Through building up a body of key, concepts and skills students can explore the world around them with a keen sense of curiosity and excitement.

Key Stage 4

The Science department follows the OCR Gateway syllabus for Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Year 7

Cells, Tissues And Organs
Ecology
Acids And Alkalis
Chemical Reactions
States of Matter
Water
Energy
Electricity
The Solar System

Year 8

Digestion
Respiration
Diseases
Polymers and Recycling
Compounds, Elements and Mixtures
Intermolecular forces and Bonding
Energy Stores and Transfers
Heat Transfers
Light
Sound

Year 9

Science and Fiction
On The Farm
Sculpture Park
Cleaning Up
Electricity

Students then develop their understanding of the Big Ideas in Science.

GCSE Science

The GCSE Science course follows the following units

Topic B1: Cell level systems
Topic B2: Scaling up
Topic B3: Organism level systems
Topic B4: Community level systems
Topic B5: Interaction between systems
Topic B6: Global challenges

Practical skills (PAGs B1-B5):

Topic C1: Particles
Topic C2: Elements, compounds and mixtures
Topic C3: Chemical reactions
Topic C4: Predicting and identifying reactions and products
Topic C5: Monitoring and controlling chemical reactions
Topic C6: Global challenges

Practical skills (PAGs C1-C5):

Topic P1: Matter
Topic P2: Forces
Topic P3: Electricity and magnetism
Topic P4: Waves and radioactivity
Topic P5: Energy
Topic P6: Global challenges

Practical skills (PAGs P1-P6):

There are six GCSE exam papers, each examines three topics 1, 2 and 3 then 4, 5, and 6. Each exam is 70 minutes long and carries 60 marks. Each exam counts towards 16.7% of the final grades.

The GCSE Triple Award Science course follows the following topics:

Biology

Topic B1: Cell level systems
Topic B2: Scaling up
Topic B3: Organism level systems
Topic B4: Community level systems
Topic B5: Genes, inheritance and selection
Topic B6: Global challenges
Topic B7: Practical skills

There are two GCSE exam papers, each examines three topics 1, 2 and 3 then 4, 5, and 6. Each exam is 105 minutes long and carries 90 marks. Each exam counts towards 50% of the final grade.

Chemistry

Topic C1: Particles
Topic C2: Elements, compounds and mixtures
Topic C3: Chemical reactions
Topic C4: Predicting and identifying reactions and products
Topic C5: Monitoring and controlling chemical reactions
Topic C6: Global challenge
Topic C7 : Practical skills