The Brockington College science faculty is committed to ensuring all of its students make greater than expected progress across all key stages. We always aim to uphold and display the values of the academy and encourage the students to live life to the full at every available opportunity within our subject area. We maintain strong links with all stakeholders involved, which includes regular contact with parents/carers to ensure that the high expectations we have of our students, and each other translate into outstanding academic achievement.
Our Key Stage 3 science curriculum starts in year 7 until mid-way through year 9, at which point students begin their GCSE science routes (trilogy for combined science or separate sciences). At Key Stage 3, students cover modules from biology, chemistry and physics, and are then assessed through in-class module tests and periodic skills-based assessments. By the end of year 9, each student will have covered a substantial amount of scientific knowledge that will provide a solid foundation for the requirements of GCSE sciences. At Key Stage 4, there are currently four classes of separate sciences and six classes of combined science.
Years 7 and 8 have three, one-hour science lessons per week, year 9 have four lessons per week, whilst year 10 and 11 students have five one-hour lessons per week when studying combined or separate science.
Other than for separate sciences, most groups are taught by one/two specialist teachers, covering all aspects of the science curriculum. Our science curriculum places great emphasis on the need for students, starting at Key Stage 3 level, to master a range of scientific skills. Therefore we do not find it necessary to set students until year 9.
Programmes of study
Key Stage 3
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Organisms: cells to systems | Digestion | Photosynthesis |
| Particulate nature of matter | Daltons atomic theory | Chemical reaction of metals and non metals |
| Energy: stores, transfers, power and costs | Movement, speed and acceleration | Contact forces, moments and pressure |
| Organisms: Skeletal and muscular systems | Breathing and gas exchange | Genes and inheritance |
| Pure and impure substances | Respiration | Energetics |
| Electric circuits, current, potential difference, resistance | Periodic table | Magnetism and electromagnetism |
| Human and plant reproduction | Earth and rocks | Evolution, extinction and biodiversity |
| Chemical reactions | Sound | The atmosphere |
| Forces and gravity | Light | Voltage, current, resistance and static electricity |
| Earth in space | Ecosystems and habitats | |
| Acids and alkalis | Materials | |
| Variation |
Key Stage 4
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|
| Cells | Inheritance and evolution |
| Organisation | Homeostasis |
| Infection and response | Ecology |
| Bioenergetics | Organic chemistry |
| Atomic structure | Chemical analysis |
| Bonding and the periodic table | Using resources |
| Quantitative chemistry | Waves |
| Chemical change | Forces |
| The rate and extent of chemical change | Magnetism and electromagnetism |
| Energy | Space physics (Triple only) |
| Particle model | |
| Atomic structure | |
| Electricity |
Staff
- Miss H Clarke (Director of Learning for science)
- Miss M Joshi (2ic Science)
- Mrs V Carr
- Miss K Dicketts
- Miss J Groves
- Miss E Jameson
- Mr W McLeod
- Mr J Roberts
- Miss S Sacranie
- Mr C Turner
- Miss E Nutt (Senior Lab Technician)
Useful links
- Quizlet – this is an app that can either be used on computers or downloaded to phones/tablets that is very good for learning keywords. Students should search by topic making sure they search for AQA only.
- Seneca learning – this is a website that allows students to review work covered and read ahead. It is highly interactive and has been created specifically to help students remember the key facts and ideas in the course.
- GCSE Bitesize – this website consolidates all the material covered by their science teacher and includes mini quizzes at the end of each topic to assess their understanding.