Science

KS3 Science
KS4 Science
GCSE Science
GCSE Additional Science
GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Head of Science: Mr A Blount

Head of Biology: Dr E Tabor
Head of Chemistry: Mr A Begbey
Head of Physics: Miss L Denton

KS3 Science
Your daughter will usually have one science teacher in Year 7.

In Years 8 and 9, science is taught separately as Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Your
daughter will have one lesson per week of each subject which will usually be taught by a
separate teacher.

Topics taught at KS3 are as follows:

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9

Autumn Introduction to Science; Movement; Breathing Plants and
Term Cells; Solids, Liquids and and Respiration; Simple Photosynthesis; Food
Gases; Energy; Reactions; Atoms, and Digestion; Reactions
Classification and Elements and and Displacement; Salts;
Variation Compounds; Electricity Waves
Spring Solutions; Forces, Magnetism; Electricity; Ceramics;
Term Reproduction Temperature; Ecological Relationships
Combustion; Rocks;
Blood and Circulation;
Health
Summer Acids and Alkalis; The Ecology; Investigative Start GCSE topics
Term Solar System; Science; Energy
Investigative Science

How can you help your daughter?

 Encourage her to use scientific vocabulary and display key words around the house.
 Test her regularly on topics covered.
 Check her homework.
 Get her to discuss what she has done in science lessons and get her to teach you
some science every week.
  Watch relevant television programmes.

Useful Websites and Books

www.moodle.newsteadwood.bromley.sch.uk
www.samlearning.co.uk
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/
http://www.docbrown.info/ks3science.htm

Each year in September we offer the opportunity to purchase a study guide and workbook
for KS3 Science.

Moodle contains a wealth of resources to support learning. Depending on your daughters

interests, magazines such as How it Works, New Scientist or National Geographic are all
available which will help broaden your daughters understanding and appreciation of Science.

Assessment
 Regular end of topic tests take place in class at the end of each topic.
 ‘Work scientifically’ will be assessed through practical activities in class and mini
investigations completed during the year.
 Your daughter will be encouraged to self-assess her work and reflect on progress at
certain points in each topic.
 At the end of the year, there will be an end of year exam which covers all topics
taught during the year.

Head of Science: Mr A Blount

Head of Biology: Dr E Tabor
Head of Chemistry: Mr A Begbey
Head of Physics: Miss L Denton

KS4 Science
Your daughter will study either GCSE Science and GCSE Additional Science (known
as ‘double science’) or GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics (known
as ‘triple science’).

All the GCSE courses have the same basic structure which is comprised of 75%
terminal examination and 25% controlled assessment.

Students complete a Controlled Assessment during lesson time under exam

conditions.

Up to 8 hours is spent collecting evidence, researching using IT and books, and

analysing data.

 AQA set the Controlled Assessment and outline the practical work and data
processing candidates should complete
 Students complete the Controlled Assessment test in class time
  Teachers mark their Controlled Assessment using marking guidance from
AQA
 AQA moderate the teachers marks

The first lesson will set the task and students will then have time to research the task
for homework. They will then sit their first Controlled Assessment paper under
examination conditions. This paper will focus on the planning of the practical work.
They will then complete their own practical over the following 2-3 lessons and gather
their own data. The final Controlled Assessment paper will then be sat under
examination conditions and will involve analysing and evaluating the data obtained.

Students will complete their controlled assessments as part of their class work and
will not be completing it at home.

How can you help your daughter with Science?

 Encourage her to use scientific vocabulary and display key words around the house.
 Test her regularly on topics covered.
 Check her homework.
 Get her to discuss what she has done in science lessons and get her to teach you
some science every week.
 Watch relevant television programmes. Check the TV guide at the weekend and
suggest programmes to watch during the week.
 Films such as My Sisters Keeper and Contagion have great links to wider aspects of
Biology.
 Discuss scientific articles in the Newspaper. Ask your daughter to suggest reasons,
or expand on points raised.

Useful Websites and Books

www.moodle.newsteadwood.bromley.sch.uk
www.samlearning.co.uk

Moodle contains a wealth of resources to support learning provided by the Science

Department. Revision summaries for every topic are there which can be printed, annotated
and used to aid learning.

Depending on your daughters interests, magazines such as How it Works, New Scientist or
National Geographic are all available which will help broaden your daughters understanding
and appreciation of Science.

SAM Learning is an excellent resource. 10 hours spent on SAM Learning is said to

raise attainment by up to one whole GCSE grade.
Past paers, mark schemes and examiners reports should be used as the exams
approach as they are one of the best ways to practice exam questions. These are
accessible from the AQA website link below.
GCSE SCIENCE
Exam Board AQA: Science A

Website www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/science-a-4405

Exam Papers
Separate exams in Biology, Chemistry and Physics are taken, together with the
Controlled Assessment. Each worth 25%.

B1, Unit 1 – Biology

C1, Unit 2 – Chemistry
P1, Unit 3 – Physics
ISA, Unit 4 – Controlled Assessment

All papers are 1 hour in length and are 60 marks. All papers contain a mixture of
structured questions and closed questions. At least one question assesses the
Quality of Written Communication in a science context.

Support Materials

Text book AQA Science: science A (Nelson Thornes) NEW

used in class GCSE
ISBN: 978-1-4083-0822-0
Revision Book There will be the opportunity to purchase a revision
guide through the Science Department in
September.
Recommended www.moodle.newstead.bromley.sch.uk
Websites www.sciencelab.org.uk/resourcezone/sciencea.php
www.samlearning.com
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/
www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse.html
www.kerboodle.com contains a wealth of
resources provided by the Science department
including past papers, specifications, podcasts,
glossaries, target sheets etc.
Exam www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/science-a-
Specification 4405
Past Papers www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/science-a-
4405/past-papers-and-mark-schemes
GCSE ADDITIONAL SCIENCE

Exam Board AQA: Additional Science

Website www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/additional-science-4408

Exam Papers
Unit B2 – Biology
Unit C2 – Chemistry
Unit P2 – Physics
Unit 4 – Controlled Assessment (25% of grade)

All papers are 1 hour in length and are 60 marks. All papers contain a mixture of
structured questions and closed questions. At least one question assesses the
Quality of Written Communication in a science context.

Support Materials

Recommended www.moodle.newstead.bromley.sch.uk
Websites www.sciencelab.org.uk/resourcezone/sciencea.php
www.samlearning.com
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/
www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse.html
www.kerboodle.com/ contains a wealth of
resources provided by the Science department
including past papers, specifications, podcasts,
glossaries, target sheets etc.
Exam www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/additional-
Specification science-4408
Past Papers www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/additional-
science-4408/past-papers-and-mark-schemes
GCSE BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY and PHYSICS

Exam Board AQA

Website GCSE Biology

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-4401

GCSE Chemistry
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-4402

GCSE Physics
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-4403

Exam papers

GCSE Biology GCSE Chemistry GCSE Physics

Unit 1, B1 Unit 1, C1 Unit 1, P1
Unit 2, B2 Unit 2, C2 Unit 2, P2
Unit 3, B3 Unit 3, C3 Unit 3, P3
Unit 4 – CA (25% of Unit 4 – CA (25% of Unit 4 – CA (25% of
grade) grade) grade)

All papers are 1 hour in length and are 60 marks. All papers contain a mixture of
structured questions and closed questions. At least one question assesses the
Quality of Written Communication in a science context.

Support Materials

Recommended www.moodle.newstead.bromley.sch.uk
Websites www.samlearning.com
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science
www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse.html
www.kerboodle.com contains a wealth of resources
provided by the Science department including past
papers, specifications, podcasts, glossaries, target
sheets etc.
Exam GCSE Biology http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/subjects/AQA-
Specification BIOL-W-SP-14.PDF
GSCE Chemistry
http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/subjects/AQA-4402-W-SP-
14.PDF
GCSE Physics http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/subjects/AQA-
PHYS-W-SP-14.PDF
Past Papers GCSE Biology
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-
4401/past-papers-and-mark-schemes
GSCE Chemistry
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-
4402/past-papers-and-mark-schemes
GCSE Physics
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-
4403/past-papers-and-mark-schemes