Science

We believe that Science has something to offer every student. We offer a curriculum that is broad, balanced and engaging. Lessons are designed to develop thinking skills, teamwork, and pupils will be able to analyse information and evaluate scientific practice and critically assess the validity of sources and justify evidence-based reasoning

We prepare our pupils to develop their scientific knowledge, as well as mathematical and problem - solving skills, which can be applied to all areas of everyday life. Our curriculum encourages pupils to study Science in ways that help them to explain phenomena and develop curiosity about the natural world, preparing them for the 21st Century. 

Our engaging Key Stage 3 (KS3) Science Syllabus promotes teaching for understanding rather than covering fragmented content. Using a logical order of objectives, this syllabus uses big ideas, misconceptions and mastery goals to equip students for success at GCSE. It also provides a method to follow student progress as their understanding develops during KS3. In year 7, our students explore the idea of where we come from, what substances are made from and how objects interact. We continue our journey in year 8 to explore what we are made from, how  substances interact and how energy is transferred. We conclude our KS3 journey in year 9 to answer our journey around  how we got here, how we use substances and how we fit in the universe.

As students move into year 10 (KS4), they begin their GCSE journey.  Students can choose Combined Science or Triple Science. Both courses will enable our students to develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. We follow the Edexcel specification for our Science courses at KS4.  In year 10, all students will study Biology and learn about key concepts including: cells and control, genetics, natural selection and genetic modification and health, disease and the development of medicine. In year 10 Chemistry, all students will learn about key concepts in chemistry, notably states of matter and mixtures, chemical changes and extracting metals and equilibria. In year 10 Physics, students will learn about key concepts in Physics, such as motion and forces, conservation of energy, waves, light and the electromagnetic spectrum and radiation.

In year 11, all students will continue their journey in Biology by studying plant structures and their functions, animal coordination, control and homeostasis, exchange and transport in animals, as well as ecosystems and material cycles. All students will continue their journey in Chemistry and study: groups in the periodic table, rates of reaction and energy changes, fuels, and Earth Science. All students will continue their journey in Physics and study: energy -forces doing work, forces and their effects, electricity and circuits, magnetism and the motor effect, electromagnetic induction, particle model and finally, forces and matter.

Students have the option to study A levels in Biology, Chemistry or Physics at KS5. In Biology, we follow the AQA specification, where students will have the opportunity to extend the knowledge gained from GCSE Science and will study: biological molecules, cells, how organisms exchange substances with their environment, genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms, energy transfers in and between organisms, how organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments, genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystem and finally, the control of gene expression.

In A level Chemistry, we follow the Edexcel specification. Students will have the opportunity to extend their knowledge gained from GCSE Science and will study Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, Advanced Organic Chemistry and finally Physical Chemistry.

In A level Physics, we follow the AQA specification. Students will have the opportunity to extend the knowledge gained from GCSE Science and will study:  measurements and their errors, particles and radiation, waves, mechanics and materials, electricity, further mechanics and thermal physics, fields and their consequences, as well as nuclear physics.

We encourage students to be resourceful in finding out the answers to complex questions, reflective in their own analysis of experimental data by building and developing conclusions to scientific investigation. We inspire students to be responsible learners by improving their literacy skills, mathematical and scientific enquiry skills, as well astheir ability to be effective and efficient learners. We help all students understand what it takes to be a good independent learner, developing their metacognitive skills.

For more information please contact Laura Boneham and Lucy Jakubecz

lboneham@stokepark.coventry.sch.uk

ljakubecz@stokepark.coventry.sch.uk