Science

Curriculum Aims

We aim for ALL students to advance their understanding of the material and natural world around them. Students will develop their scientific knowledge and ability to work scientifically so that they can make informed life choices with both scientific and ethical perspective.

The social, moral, spiritual and cultural elements of our Science curriculum are the threads that interweave the main disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Students learn about the collaborative nature of science through both practical work and the historical role it has played locally and regionally in our industrial town of Widnes: this is our heritage.

The Science curriculum is designed to spark curiosity; to be tactile and provide learners with an exciting experience of Science. Our goal is for ALL pupils to be aspirational learners who wish to continue their learning beyond the classroom.

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced and differentiated to be accessible and challenging to all. Understanding the structure and behaviour of our world requires competent numerical and literal transferable skills. Language acquisition and development is deliberate and perfunctory in our Science curriculum as is careful amalgamation with the Maths curriculum to enable cumulative development of analytical skills. The Science curriculum is littered with opportunities to practice high standards of both numeracy and literacy because communicating science, reporting science and explanation of science related solutions are vitally important in our lives, communities and the wider world.

The Wade Deacon Science curriculum provides an excellent foundation for further education and the vast variety of careers needed for social, economic and environmental development. Students value the importance of science in solving national and global problems and recognise, that through scientific enquiry, ideas can be revised as new evidence becomes available. Our students are the scientists of the future!

Key Stage 3

At foundation level, we believe pupils must experience a passion for Science. Our curriculum is designed to be fun for pupils and aims to emphasise relevant issues in current science whilst pupils learn the specific subject knowledge and skills that underpin their KS4 studies.

Each science discipline (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) is taught in periods of learning. At the end of each period of learning, pupils undergo a MAP (mini assessment point). Teachers provide bespoke feedback to pupils to help them understand if they are still developing their learning, secure in their learning, are mastering that period of learning or excelling in it. Homework is set weekly on Sparx Science. This is an online platform designed to set and personalise students homework each week, as well as offer immediate feedback. Each question includes tailored support materials such as animations or guided steps if students need help with a particular question or topic. Reward points are awarded for consistent effort

Key Stage 4

In Key Stage 4, students can choose to follow one of two science qualification routes:

Combined Science Trilogy (AQA)- 2xGCSE grades

The Trilogy course is a double-award qualification where students study Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The content covered is summarised below:

Biology: Students study cells, organisms, disease, bioenergetics, genetics, homeostasis and ecosystems.
Chemistry: Students study atomic structure, the periodic table, bonding, chemical reactions, quantitative chemistry, energy changes, rates of reaction, organic chemistry, analysis, Earth’s atmosphere and resources.
Physics: Students study energy, electricity, forces, matter, waves, magnetism, electromagnetism and atomic physics.

Students develop practical, analytical and mathematical skills, including planning experiments, collecting and interpreting data, using graphs and equations, evaluating results, and applying scientific knowledge to unfamiliar problems. The exam board set required practical’s the students must complete during their study of the course and questions about their methods, apparatus, variables and analysis make up part of the exam.

As with KS3, homework is set weekly on Sparx Science.

Separate Science GCSE (AQA) – 3xGCSE grades

Separate Sciences are an option subject students can choose to study. The main purpose of the Separate Science GCSEs is to enable students to develop a deeper and broader understanding of the subjects. Students will gain an individual GCSE per Science covering the Trilogy topics above in greater depth and with more content/required practical’s.