Science
Key Stage 3
Key Stage 3 Science is taught through the New Curriculum for Wales with exciting, authentic themes and scenarios to engage pupils fully in their learning. In Year 7, pupils will learn to "Think Like a Scientist", become a "Crime Scene Investigator" and will be "Shipwrecked" on a desert island, among many others! In Year 8, pupils will become a "Masterchef", attend the "Jurassic School" and go "Down the Mine", among other exciting topics!
Learners will learn valuable skills of problem solving, planning, organising and creative thinking as they develop their literacy, numeracy and digital competency skills whilst in pursuit of the four purposes to become:
- Ambitious, capable learners
- Enterprising, creative contributors
- Ethical, informed citizens
- Healthy, confident individuals
Key Stage 4
In Science, we pride ourselves on knowing our students and understanding what they need in order to achieve. We run a variety of options at Key Stage 4 in the new GCSE Science Curriculum to ensure that all pupils have a pathway to suit them. GCSE Triple Science is offered as an option in Years 9, 10 and 11 for those pupils thinking about a career in a Science, Medicine or in an Engineering field. Most students will follow the Double Science pathway. We also offer a Single Applied Science pathway.
SCIENCE (Single Award Applied)
Learners studying GCSE Science (Single Award Applied) will gain one GCSE Science qualification. Learners will complete two written papers in the summer of Year 11. In Year 10, there is also a task-based assessment in November and a Practical Assessment in January.
Pupils study a coordinated Science course that covers Biology, Chemistry and Physics and how they related to everyday life.
Higher Tier – Grades A* - D & Foundation Tier – Grades C – G
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Unit 1: Written Paper (40%) [Sat in Summer of Year 10] |
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Unit 2: Written Paper (30%) [Sat in Summer of Year 11] |
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Unit 3: Task-Based Assessment (20%) [Sat in November of Year 10] |
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Unit 4: PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT [Sat in January of Year 10] 10% of qualification |
SCIENCE (Double Award)
Learners studying GCSE Science (Double Award) will gain two GCSE Science qualifications. Learners will complete a Biology, Chemistry and Physics unit in the summer of Year 10. In Year 11, another Biology, Chemistry and Physics unit will be completed in the summer, with the addition of a Practical Assessment in January of Year 10.
Higher Tier – Grades A* - D & Foundation Tier – Grades C - G
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Unit 1: BIOLOGY 1 (15%) [Sat in Summer of Year 10] |
Written Examinations: 1 hour 15 minutes [60 marks] |
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Unit 2: CHEMISTRY 1 (15%) [Sat in Summer of Year 10] |
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Unit 3: PHYSICS 1 (15%) [Sat in Summer of Year 10] |
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Unit 4: BIOLOGY 2 (15%) [Sat in Summer of Year 11] |
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Unit 5: CHEMISTRY 2 (15%) [Sat in Summer of Year 11] |
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Unit 6: PHYSICS 2 (15%) [Sat in Summer of Year 11] |
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Unit 7: PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT [Sat in January of Year 10] 10% of qualification [60 marks] |
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Triple Science
Learners studying GCSE Science (Separate Sciences) will gain three GCSE Science qualifications. Learners will complete a Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSE with papers in Y10 and Y11 as well as practical assessments in November of Y11. Separate Sciences are a very good preparation for A-Level sciences.
BIOLOGY
GCSE Biology will build upon some of the work covered in Key Stage 3 and will also offer new areas of study. One unit of study will be examined in the summer of Year 10. The second unit of study will be examined in the summer of Year 11. There will also be a practical assessment in January of Year 10.
Higher Tier – Grades A* - D & Foundation Tier – Grades C - G
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Unit 1: CELLS, ORGAN SYSTEMS and ECOSYSTEMS Written examination: 1 hour 45 minutes [Sat in summer of Year 10] 45% of qualification [80 marks] |
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A mix of short answer questions, structured questions, extended writing and data response questions with some set in a practical context. A tiered assessment. |
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Unit 2: VARIATION, HOMEOSTASIS and MICRO-ORGANISMS Written examination: 1 hour 45 minutes [Sat in summer of Year 11] 45% of qualification [80 marks] |
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A mix of short answer questions, structured questions, extended writing and data response questions with some set in a practical context. A tiered assessment. |
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Unit 3: PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT [Sat in January of Year 10] 10% of qualification [30 marks] |
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Practical assessment that will be carried out in centres, but will be externally marked by WJEC. An untiered assessment. |
CHEMISTRY
By studying Chemistry at KS4 you will learn about the structure of the atom and how this effects chemical reactivity. The course is varied and challenging, with many learners continuing on to study Chemistry at A-Level.
One unit of study will be examined in the summer of Year 10. The second unit of study will be examined in the summer of Year 11. There will also be a practical assessment in January of Year 11.
Higher Tier – Grades A* - D & Foundation Tier – Grades C – G
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Unit 1: CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES, REACTIONS and ESSENTIAL RESOURCES Written examination: 1 hour 45 minutes [Sat in summer of Year 10] 45% of qualification [80 marks] |
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A mix of short answer questions, structured questions, extended writing and data response questions with some set in a practical context. A tiered assessment. |
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Unit 2: CHEMICAL BONDING, APPLICATION OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY Written examination: 1 hour 45 minutes [Sat in summer of Year 11] 45% of qualification [80 marks] |
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A mix of short answer questions, structured questions, extended writing and data response questions with some set in a practical context. A tiered assessment. |
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Unit 3: PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT [Sat in January of Year 10] 10% of qualification [30 marks] |
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Practical assessment that will be carried out in centres, but will be externally marked by WJEC. An untiered assessment. |
PHYSICS
From studying Energy, Electricity and Waves, to looking at Newton’s laws of motion, Forces, Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics. One unit of study will be examined in the summer of Year 10. The second unit of study will be examined in the summer of Year 11. There will also be a practical assessment in January of Year 10.
Higher Tier – Grades A* - D & Foundation Tier – Grades C – G
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Unit 1: ELECTRICITY, ENERGY and WAVES Written examination: 1 hour 45 minutes [Sat in summer of Year 10] 45% of qualification [80 marks] |
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A mix of short answer questions, structured questions, extended writing and data response questions with some set in a practical context. A tiered assessment. |
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Unit 2: FORCES, SPACE and RADIOACTIVITY Written examination: 1 hour 45 minutes [Sat in summer of Year 11] 45% of qualification [80 marks] |
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A mix of short answer questions, structured questions, extended writing and data response questions with some set in a practical context. A tiered assessment. |
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Unit 3: PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT [Sat in January of Year 10] 10% of qualification [30 marks] |
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Practical assessment that will be carried out in centres, but will be externally marked by WJEC. An untiered assessment. |