Science

Subject Leader: Mr Daniel Dean

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 What are we studying?

There are ten modules which are studied, the topic titles are:

Cells, Reproduction, Environment and Feeding Relationships, Acids and Alkalis, Simple Chemical Reactions, Particle Model of Solids, Liquids and Gases, Solutions, Energy Resources, Forces and their Effects and The Solar System and Beyond.

How are we assessed?

Each module is assessed by a ‘key assessment task’ for which the student will be given success criteria and national curriculum level descriptors.  For each task the student will be given a national curriculum level, which enables their progress to be monitored.  The assessments may be carried out in lessons or set as homework.

In addition, there are two science exams per year, one occurring in December and one in May.  Students will be given a list of topics to revise prior to each exam.

How are we grouped?

Students are placed in sets 1 to 6.

The set allocated at the start of year 7 is based on key stage 2 data.  If it becomes clear that a student is in the wrong set for their ability during the year, this may be adjusted.  At the end of the year students may move a set depending on assessment outcomes. Parents will be informed if this is the case for their child.

What homework are we expected to do?

There will usually be one homework task set per week, which should take around 30 minutes to complete.  In addition, students are expected to use their course text book to read through the sections covered each week to support their understanding and development of scientific vocabulary.

What can parents do to help?

Ask your child to explain the meaning of the scientific vocabulary that is new to each module.

Encourage your child to discuss what they have learnt each week as they are looking through their course text book.

Look out for scientific articles in newspapers and discuss them with your child.

Help your child to revise by asking them questions about each module, using the text book to support you.