Intent
It is our intention to produce a curriculum that is well sequenced and planned, led by the development of knowledge and skills in order to enable students to build upon their prior learning and strive to develop their scientific knowledge for their future and life beyond Shaftesbury school.
We aim to develop a curriculum that inspires all learners to challenge, understand and reason how the subject of science is integral to the world in which we live. We aim to inspire all learners to think and reason as a scientist and develop deep knowledge and critical thinking skills that will support them across all their subjects and life beyond school.
Our curriculum aim is to ensure all students achieve the best possible outcomes regardless of their starting point both academically and personally.
Implementation
Key Stage 3
Science is delivered by a team of experienced teachers and students begin their science journey with a transition topic that teaches students the skills and techniques needed to work within a science lab. Students learn how to identify equipment, safely use this and how to use the scientific method.
Students then learn Biology, Chemistry and Physics knowledge and utilise and build upon their skills from transition as they progress from years 7 through to year 9.
In year 9 students experience science careers and GCSE transition lessons to prepare them for their next stage of their learning journey and life beyond school.
Student’s knowledge and understanding is checked regularly through low stakes quizzing allowing students to reflect, grow and deepen their understanding in a safe and supportive environment. Assessment takes place at two points within a year in addition to the regular teacher feedback allowing for learned and retained knowledge to be assessed.
Key Stage 4
Students take combined science or can opt to take separate science GCSE.
Both courses build upon students’ knowledge and skills from key stage 3 and students are taught Biology, Chemistry and Physics separately by a subject expert regardless of their GCSE option. Students follow the AQA combined trilogy course or the AQA separate science course. Both offer a broad range of knowledge and skills that builds upon key stage 3 and prepares students for their next stage of their learning journey should they choose to study science at post 16.
Student’s knowledge and understanding is checked regularly through low stakes quizzing allowing students to reflect, grow and deepen their understanding in a safe and supportive environment. Assessment takes place at the first half term in year 10 allow for GCSE exam introduction and allow for early intervention where needed; students then sit a paper 1 GCSE mock exam at the end of year 10 to assess their knowledge and understanding of the first half of their GCSE. In year 11 students sit 2 mock exams an additional paper 1 to support memory retrieval and a second to assess their knowledge of the second half of their GCSE.
Key Stage 5
Students can study A-level Biology, Chemistry or Physics or opt for BTEC Applied science. In addition we offer a health and social care BTEC.
Both A-level and BTEC build upon knowledge from key stage 3 and 4 and deepen students’ knowledge, understanding and skills to prepare them for their next steps whichever path they choose, university, an apprenticeship, traineeships or work.
Each A-level is a 2-year course and is assessed by the OCR exam board.
Student’s knowledge and understanding is checked regularly allowing students to reflect, grow and deepen their understanding in a safe and supportive environment.
BTEC applied science and BTEC Health and Social Care are assessed as 50% examination and 50% NEA (coursework)
Impact
We strive to ensure that our children’s attainment in science is in line with or exceeding their potential when we consider their varied starting points. We measure this using a range of regular low stakes assessments and twice yearly high stakes assessments as students’ progress through year groups on their learning journey.
We intend that the impact is that students will be academically and personally prepared for their next steps in life as they will understand the options available to them regarding study, careers and apprenticeships and aspire to study science at key stage 5 and beyond.
Students will be able to reason and evaluate the world around them and think and challenge as a scientist.
