Science

Head of Department: Miss Aitchison

Teacher of Science: Miss Aitchison

Aim

At Finch Woods Academy, Science is a subject that fosters a healthy curiosity in pupils about the world around us. We believe Science encourages our pupils to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, analyse causes, encourage creativity and problem solve.

Our students are taught all three disciplines (Chemistry, Biology and Physics) as well as taking part in pledge activities subject related.

Why Science?

We believe that engaging pupils in Science with exciting materials and experiences motivates them to learn and succeed in Science. Teaching technological literacy, critical thinking and problem-solving through Science education gives students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in school and beyond.

These skills will also open up job opportunities when they enter the world of work, no matter what sort of career a pupil chooses, learning all of these skills will help understanding real issues they could face in everyday life.

Programme of study

We provide curriculum information for KS3 and KS4 such as the number of hours taught weekly, exam boards, SOW/progress grids, resources used in lessons and textbooks students/parents can access and use at home for revision & independent learning.

Key Stage 3:

In KS3 we focus on developing a ground basic knowledge of Biology, Chemistry and physics and skills which enable pupils to understand how to use scientific methods through experimentation, allowing them to critically assess the world through the lens of a fact-based worldview, to understand how to be conscious in their use of specific language to develop theories and explanations, also developing a critical awareness of the scientific wider world through real life experiences.

It enables pupils to understand the ability of science to physically show a concept and through this become independent practical enquirers, enables them to dispel them with independence, through the transferable skills developed. Establishing the importance of numeracy skills to continue to enjoy Science and how this links with their learning in the Maths curriculum.

Qualification:

GCSE in Science

Exam board: AQA

Full course (Chemistry, Biology and Physics)

Lessons: 3x a week

Year 7 : The Human Body, Energy, Chemical reactions, Light and sound, Forces, Magnets and electricity
Year 8: Environment, Rocks, Acids, alkalis and the periodic table, Cells, Particles and solutions and Reproduction
Year 9: Biology and Energy transfers, The periodic table, atoms, elements and compounds, Tissues, organs and systems, bonding and structures and circuits, Health and disease, states of matter, and domestic electricity, Enzymes and digestion, quantitative chemistry, particle model of matter, Infection, response and atomic structure.

Pledge Activities:

Visit local farm
Visit Zoo
Local museum

Key Stage 4:

Through studying a GCSE in a Science, pupils will continue to focus on becoming competent communicators for life. They will have a great understanding of scientific language, and will understand many aspects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, relating them to real life situations.

By the end of Key Stage 3, pupils will have developed their skills to a point where they are ready for the demands of Key Stage 4. To seamlessly phase into relevant tops of energy, energy transfer pathways, the development of atomic model, focusing of the microscopic principles underpinning variation in animals and plants, with the aim to seamlessly phase into the complimentary topics of Cells and Ecology in the GCSE specification.

In their final year at Finch Woods Academy, pupils will have developed their skills to a point where they are ready for the demands of life after school. In Year 11, pupils will continue to focus on becoming competent communicators for life. They will have a great understanding of scientific language, and will understand many aspects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, relating them to real life situations.

The aims of the GCSE Science course are to:

Understand and respond to scientific questions
Understanding the science around them
Teaching technological literacy
Critical thinking and problem-solving
Identify risks and how to reduce them
Identify variables that need to be controlled during an investigation
Describe why an investigation is fair/not fair
Use a variety of methods to display information. E.g. graphs, diagrams, charts
Describe patterns in results and give conclusions