KS3 Science
Our students will progress as scientists through our curriculum by:
- Gaining a breadth of key scientific knowledge and concepts. These build naturally across each unit and across each year.
- Developing investigative skills such as planning, data analysis, and evaluation
- Learning the joy of discovery and exploration that is essential to training the next generation of scientists and scientifically-aware citizens.
What topics do we cover in our curriculum?
How is our curriculum structured?
- Key concepts are introduced in Year 7 and topics taught in subsequent years build more complex ideas and application onto a solid foundation of scientific fundamentals.
- The curriculum structure has been informed by educational research underpinned by cognitive science approaches such as spaced practice, interleaving and retrieval.
- KS3 topics are taught in rotation within the termly blocks shown above. This is to ensure that all students have the maximum opportunity to access equipment and explore concepts practically.
- Topics support the GCSE specification whilst also providing additional breadth of scientific concepts and real-world application with the aim to cultivate enthusiasm and inquisitiveness about science and the wider world
- Social development and health are built into topics to allow students to link science to their everyday lives.
- Stretch and challenge for accelerated sets supports able students in making appropriate progress and develops skills of application and synthesis that are essential to access higher demand questions at KS4.
Assessment of the Science curriculum
In Science there is an ongoing process to assess whether students have learned the knowledge and understanding of our intended curriculum. Students complete formal practical skills assessments and formal knowledge application assessments at regular intervals through the year. These assessments are scored to decide if students are developing, secure or extending their knowledge and understanding.
In the table below you will find examples of the sort of work produced in both practical skills and knowledge application assessments at each band for each of the three disciplines. This is a work in process and more examples will be added as we move through the year.
| Year 7 examples of the work we expect for developing, secure and exceeding students. | Year 8 examples of the work we expect for developing, secure and exceeding students. | Year 9 examples of the work we expect for developing, secure and exceeding students. |
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Yr7 Chemistry Knowledge Assessment Exemplar
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Yr8 Biology Practical Skills Assessment Exemplar
Yr 8 Biology Knowledge Application Assessment Exemplar
Yr8 Chemistry Knowledge Application Assessment Exemplar
Yr8 Physics Practical Skills Assessment Exemplar
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