Science 

“A scientist is not a person who gives the right answers, a scientist is a person who asks the right questions.”

Anon

Welcome to the Science subject page. Below you will find a breakdown of each year group, including what is taught, how we assess, what enrichment opportunities there are and what can be expected in terms of homework. If you need any further information, please contact the Head of Department, Mrs Galvin, at jgalvin@cromwell.cambs.sch.uk.

Click here to see a visual representation of our Science curriculum from Year 7 - Year 13

Science Curriculum Map - EYFS to Year 13 

Homework

Homework is set on a regular basis by the class teacher and can be accessed by logging into your Go4Schools account. 

Here are links to websites to enhance your learning: 

 

 

Ability Grouping

Science is taught in groups based on ability from Year 7 to Year 9.

Combined Science and Triple Science are taught in groups based on ability in Years 10 and 11.

Level 3 Science is taught in a mixed ability group in Sixth Form. 

Teaching Staff

Curriculum  

Primary Phase

Along with English and Maths, Science remains one of the main core subjects in primary school. It is one of the most exciting and practical subjects and, as a result, is a real joy for teachers and pupils. Children at Cromwell will love the chance to learn through being totally hands-on and finding things out for themselves — the perfect way to understand the world around them. A positive primary Science experience is also key to encouraging future generations to not only study this during their secondary phase, but also potentially to follow it as a career.

In the EYFS, Science is included within the Understanding the World area of learning. As with other learning in Reception,  children will mainly learn about Science through games and play – which objects float and sink during water play, for example. Activities such as these will help children to develop important skills such as observation, prediction and critical thinking.

For Years 1-6, the content of Science teaching and learning is set out in the 2014 National Curriculum for primary schools in England. Within this, certain topics and areas are repeated across year groups, meaning that children will revisit a particular topic in some years of primary school but with increasing difficulty and with a different focus each time.

The more detailed content for each year group is as follows:

Year 1

• Plants (basic structure)
• Animals including humans (basic knowledge of parts of human body and comparing animals)
• Everyday materials (describing properties)
• Seasonal changes.

Year 2

• Plants (what plants need to grow)
• Animals including humans (needs for survival, food and hygiene)
• Use of everyday materials (explore and compare materials for uses)
• Living things and their habitats (explore variety of habitats, simple food chains).

Year 3

• Plants (life cycles)
• Animals including humans (nutrition, skeleton and muscles)
• Rocks (fossils and soils)
• Light (reflection and shadows)
• Forces and magnets (magnetic materials, attracting and repelling).

Year 4

• Animals including humans (digestive system, teeth and food chains)
• Living things and habitats (classification keys)
• States of matter (changes of state, evaporation and condensation)
• Sound (vibration, pitch and volume)
• Electricity (simple circuits, insulators and conductors).

Year 5

• Animals including humans (human development from birth to old age)
• Living things and their habitats (life cycles and reproduction in humans and plants)
• Properties and changes of materials (dissolving, separating materials, reversible and irreversible changes)
• Forces (gravity, air resistance, water resistance, friction)
• Earth and Space (Earth, Sun and Moon, the solar system).

Year 6

• Animals including humans (circulatory system, diet and exercise, healthy living)
• Living things and their habitat (classification, characteristics of plant and animal groups)
• Light (how it travels, how we see, shadows)
• Electricity (voltage and power in circuits, circuit components, symbols and diagrams)
• Evolution and inheritance (how living things have changed over time, fossils, dinosaurs, adaptation to environment).

Alongside these areas, runs the Working Scientifically element. This focuses on the skills the children need to become accurate, careful and confident practical scientists. Children are expected to master certain skills in each year group and there is a very clear progression of these set out for each school to refer to. For example:

• In Year 1 a child may have to ask questions, carry out a simple test, record simple data and then try to answer questions.
• By Year 6, they should be able to plan and carry out a fair test by using equipment accurately and taking exact readings or measurements. They are also expected to be able to draw conclusions from their results and record them using a range of graphs and charts.

 

Key Stage 3

What do we teach?

Please follow the link at the top of this page to view the Science Curriculum Map.

How do we assess learning?

Follow the links below to determine if your child is working to secure level:

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9
Autumn Term 1	Autumn Term 1	Autumn Term 1
Autumn Term 2	Autumn Term 2	Autumn Term 2

 

Key Stage 4

COMBINED SCIENCE

AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy 8464

You will study for a double award (two GCSEs) in science unless you are selected for triple science by your teachers.

What will I learn?

In these GCSEs you will extend your knowledge of science and develop your practical and investigative skills.

In the biology element of this, topics include cell biology, organisation of the human body, infection and response, bioenergetics, homeostasis and response, inheritance, variation and evolution, and ecology.

In the chemistry element, topics include atomic structure and the periodic table, bonding, structure and the properties of matter, quantitative chemistry, chemical changes, energy changes, the rate and extent of chemical change, organic chemistry, chemical analysis, chemistry of the atmosphere, and using resources.

In the physics element of this, topics include energy, electricity, particle model of matter, atomic structure, forces, waves, and magnetism and electromagnetism.

Science is a practical subject and the course requires you to complete a minimum of 21 practical activities. You will be asked to answer questions about this work in the exams.   

How will I be assessed?

This is a linear course with examinations being taken at the end of Year 11.  There are two 75 minute written exams for each science (biology, chemistry and physics) in May/June of Year 11. At least 15% of the overall marks will come from questions based on the 21 practical activities.  Maths also features heavily in the exams, with 20% of the overall marks being maths based. 

Click here to view the GCSE Combined Science exam specification

Will there be any controlled assessment?

No.  All science assessment is undertaken in the form of examinations at the end of Year 11.

Will there be any independent study?

Independent study will be set regularly in the form of past paper exam questions to help refine exam technique.  There is also an expectation that you will study outside the classroom, revising for half termly assessments and completing tasks throughout the week to reinforce your learning.  Revision sessions are available after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.  A good quality revision guide and workbook will also be beneficial and these will be on sale to you throughout the year.

What do I need for science?

The science department will provide you with practical equipment and chemicals where required, exercise books and paper and safety equipment.

We expect you to come to lessons with: pen, pencil, ruler, rubber and a calculator.

Where can these courses take me?

Science opens lots of doors and there are many career options.  Some of these include: sports science, computer science, forensic science, political science, environmental science, health science, exercise science, animal science, life science.

TRIPLE SCIENCE

GCSE Biology AQA 8461

GCSE Chemistry AQA 8462

GCSE Physics AQA 8463

Pupils will be selected for the separate science route based on their ability and their work ethic when completing independent study.  You will complete an assessment to decide if this is the right option for you to choose.

What will I study?

You will study the same topics as those covered in the GCSE trilogy science but more in-depth and with some extension topics and modules.  This is beneficial to those who wish to study biology, chemistry or physics at A Level.

Science is a practical subject and the course requires you to complete a minimum of 24 practical activities. You will be asked to answer questions about this work in the exams.   

How will I be assessed?

This is a linear course with examinations being taken at the end of Year 11.  There are two 105 minute written exams for each science (biology, chemistry and physics) in May/June of Year 11.  At least 15% of the overall marks will come from questions based on the 24 practical activities.  Maths also features heavily in the exams, with between 10 and 30% of each paper being maths based.

Click here to view the Year 10 Triple Science Assessment Grid 

Click here to view the Year 11 Triple Science Assessment Grid 

Click here to view the GCSE Biology exam specification 

Click here to view the GCSE Chemistry exam specification 

Click here to view the GCSE Physics exam specification 

Will there be any controlled assessment?

No.  All science assessment is undertaken in the form of examinations at the end of Year 11.

Will there be any independent study?

Independent study will be set regularly in the form of past paper exam questions to help refine exam technique.  There is also an expectation that you will study outside the classroom, revising for half termly assessments and completing tasks throughout the week to reinforce your learning.  Revision sessions are available after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.  A good quality revision guide and workbook will also be beneficial and these will be on sale to you throughout the year.

What do I need for science?

The science department will provide you with practical equipment and chemicals where required, exercise books and paper and safety equipment.

We expect you to come to lessons with: pen, pencil, ruler, rubber and a calculator.

Where can these courses take me?

Science opens lots of doors and there are many career options.  Some of these include: sports science, computer science, forensic science, political science, environmental science, health science, exercise science, animal science, life science.  If you complete the science BTEC Level 3 or a science A level, then you have the option to go to university.

Key Stage 5

Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Biology A (Salters-Nuffield) (9BN0)

Biology A Level

This A level will help you to develop knowledge and understanding of biological facts, concepts and principles, together with an appreciation of your significance in new and changing scientific situations. It will promote an appreciation of the importance of experimental and investigatory work in the study of biology and develop an understanding of the link between theory and experiment and of scientific methods.

The course offers a broad coverage of biological processes in both plants and animals along with detailed investigation into more cutting-edge areas such as the use of stem cells and forensic science. Topics covered include the natural environment and species survival, energy, and exercise and coordination to mention just some of the activities.

Course Specific Entry Requirements

You will need a grade 6 in biology, or core and additional science at GCSE and a grade 6 in mathematics.

Examination Board: Edexcel

 Click here to view the A Level Biology exam specification

OCR A Level in Chemistry A H432

Chemistry A Level

Chemistry is the study of substances, what they are made of, how they interact and what role they play in the environment. This course gives a foundation in chemistry with the study of atoms, molecules, the periodic table and energy, core organic chemistry, along with physical chemistry and transition elements. You will have the opportunity to develop your practical skills through hands-on practical experimentation.

A level chemistry is a demanding but rewarding subject which, either as a standalone subject or when combined with other science subjects opens doors to so many career opportunities in traditional fields such as medicine, pharmacy, research and the pharmaceutical industry and also provides transferable skills in the areas of math’s, business and law.

Course Specific Entry Requirements

You will need GCSE grade 6 in chemistry and a grade 6 in mathematics.

Examination Board: OCR

 Click here to view the A Level Chemistry exam specification

OCR A Level in Physics A (H556)

Physics A Level

Physics A Level is one of the most universally accepted qualifications for progression to university. The course content covers the basis of how things work, from the constituent parts of atoms out to the extent of the universe. You will integrate the concepts studied with a range of practical experiments throughout each topic giving the course both an academic and practical focus. You will learn to apply your knowledge of the key concepts to solve problems in a range of different contexts and applications. 

Course Specific Entry Requirements

You will need GCSE grade 6 in physics or combined science and a grade 6 in mathematics.

Examination Board: OCR

Click here to view the A Level Physics exam specification 

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science

Level 3 Applied Science

This qualification broadens and expands the specialist work-related focus of this science qualification, preparing you for employment in your chosen vocational sector. It is broadly equivalent to one GCE A level and is suitable for you if you have already decided that you wish to enter a particular area of scientific work.

The course consists of three mandatory units:

• Principles and applications of science
• Science investigation skills
• Practical scientific procedures and techniques

A further nine optional units can be studied across each of the science-based disciplines, including: the physiology of human body systems; biochemistry and biochemical techniques; electrical circuits and their applications.

You will be awarded a pass, merit, or distinction qualification grade by the aggregation of points gained through the successful achievement of individual units.

Examination Board: Edexcel

 Click here to view the Applied Science exam specification