Faculty: Science
Head of Faculty: Mrs N Jennings
Vision
To ignite and nurture a lifelong passion for science, achieving excellence and harbouring curiosity of the world around us.
Intent
At Hawkley Hall High School our students study a carefully sequenced curriculum that develops both substantive and disciplinary knowledge. Our intention is for students to enjoy and experience a broad, varied and challenging curriculum that fosters curiosity and promotes an awareness of the importance of science in the world today, and in the future.
Learning Journey
Curriculum Description
The Science curriculum is designed around the big ideas of science and students study these throughout Key Stage 3 and 4, revisiting them to build on prior knowledge and strengthen their long term memory. Students are taught knowledge of science (substantive knowledge) and how science works (disciplinary knowledge) and these are both assessed during formal end of big idea assessments.
Key Stage 3
During Key Stage 3, students are study Science for 3 hours per week and home learning tasks are set weekly. Home learning tasks include digitally set recall tasks to develop long term memory, as well as projects to broaden their understanding of the application of Science in the real world. Students have the opportunity to further develop their awareness of Science and STEM related careers as well as developing their reading and literacy skills.
The order of Key Stage 3 topics covered is shown below:
| Year group | Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
| Year 7 | Ecosystems 1 | Matter 1 | Energy 1
Genes 1 |
Genes 1
Reactions 1
|
Reactions 1
Forces 1 |
Forces 1
Electromagnets 1 |
| Year 8 | Ecosystems 2
Earth 1 |
Earth 1
Waves 1 |
Waves 1
Organisms 1
|
Organisms 1 | Matter 2
Energy 2 |
Energy 2
Electromagnets 2 |
| Year 9 | Organisms 2
|
Reactions 2 | Forces 2
|
Genes 2 | Earth 2 | Waves 2 |
Key Stage 4
At KS4 students follow either the AQA Combined Science Trilogy course or the AQA Separate Science Course. Those students studying Combined Science will be awarded two grades 1-9 following their GCSE examinations in the summer of Year 11. Whereas those students studying the Separate Science course will be awarded three grades 1-9 following their GCSE examinations in the summer of Year 11. All combined science students receive 6 hours a week of Science lessons (2 hours of each discipline). Separate Science students receive an additional 3 hours a week in Year 10, and an additional 2 hours a week in Year 11. Assessments to track progress are set regularly throughout each half term and feedback is related to GCSE criteria to highlight areas of strength and development throughout the course.
The order of Key Stage 4 topics is shown below:
| AU1 | AU2 | SP1 | SP2 | SU1 | SU2 | ||
| Year 10 | Biology | B4 Bioenergetics | B1 Cells | B1 Cells
B2 Organisation |
B2 Organisation | B2 Organisation
B3 Infection and Response |
B3 Infection and response |
| Chemistry | C1 Atomic Structure | C1 Atomic Structure
C2 Bonding and structure |
C2 Bonding and structure
C3 Quantitative chemistry |
C3 Quantitative chemistry
C4 Chemical changes |
C4 Chemical changes | C5 Energy changes | |
| Physics
|
P1 Energy | P2 Electricity | P3 Particle model | P3 Particle Model
P4 Atomic Structure |
P4 Atomic Structure | P5 Forces | |
| Year 11 | Biology | B7 Ecology | B7 Ecology
B6 Inheritance and variation |
B5 Homeostasis | B5 Homeostasis | Exam preparation and GCSE Exams | |
| Chemistry | C6 Rates of reaction | C6 Rates of reaction
C7 Organic Chemistry |
C8 Chemical analysis
C9 Chemistry of the atmosphere |
C9 Chemistry of the atmosphere
C10 using resources |
|||
| Physics | P5 Forces | P6 Waves | P7 Magnetism and Electromagnetism | *P8 Space | |||
GCSE Exam Board Specifications
The specification code for AQA GCSE Science Biology is 8461. Click here to view the GCSE specification
The specification code for AQA GCSE Science Chemistry is 8462. Click here to view the GCSE specification
The specification code for AQA GCSE Science Physics is 8463. Click here to view the GCSE specification
The specification code for AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy is 8464. Click here to view the GCSE specification
Additional Information
The Science Faculty provide an extensive range of extra-curricular provision, including:
- STEM club and a gardening club across both key stages with an open invite for all to attend.
- Year 11 intervention and revision sessions occur after school weekly.
- Homework support is available any time afterschool or lunch time.
- Trips are varied and offered to various year groups throughout the year to inspire and enthuse as well as to demonstrate scientific concepts. We also invite various speakers into school from STEM industries as well as taking part in careers and science events.