KEY STAGE 4 SCIENCE CURRICULUM MAP

Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term

Biology (combined/triple) Biology (combined/triple) Biology (combined/triple)
 Photosynthesis, investigating leaves, factors that affect  Learning about health/Non communicable disease CHPT 5 FROM SPRING 1
photosynthesis  learning specifically about viral, bacterial and fungal diseases CONTINUES ACROSS ALL OF THE
 increasing food production,  learning about malaria SUMMER TERM.
 Learning about how the body protects itself from disease. Physics (combined/triple)
 Looking at stomata
 the immune system  Forces
 Water movement in plants/ Translocation of sugar.  using antibiotics & painkillers  keeping safe on the road
 Osmosis and Active transport  making new drugs  Moments
 Explaining enzymes /digestive system and digestive  investigating the use of monoclonal antibodies
 levers & gears
enzymes  Looking at plant disease & their defence systems.
 Homeostasis,  pressure in a fluid
 Looking at exchange surfaces in organisms
 The nervous system & reflexes  atmospheric pressure
 learning about plants & minerals,
 The brain and the eye  forces & energy in springs
 learning about the circulatory system
 Thermoregulation  Atomic structure
 The heart  the endocrine system  radioactive decay
 Studying components of the blood  controlling blood sugar levels, and Diabetes  nuclear equations
 investigating gaseous exchange  Osmoregulation in the body and the role of the kidneys
 properties of radiation & its
 coronary heart disease  kidney failure and dialysis/ transplants,
 negative feedback systems hazards
Physics (combined/triple)
 Human reproduction & the menstrual cycle  radioactive half-life, nuclear
 Electric currents/ series & parallel circuits
 In-vitro fertilisation fission, nuclear fusion
Knowledge

 investigating circuits/ circuit components/controlling

Year 10

 effects of adrenaline on the body, contraception, Plant hormones Chemistry (combined/triple)

circuits (including auxins, gibberellins & ethane)  The collision theory
 power & energy transfers Physics (combined/triple)  Effect of temperature and
 calculating power  Particle model of matter
concentration, pressure &
 electricity in the home/ transmitting electricity.  particle motion in gases
 increasing the pressure of a gas surface area on rate of
 static electricity/ electric fields
 Forces: speed, acceleration, velocity-time graphs, calculations of motion, reaction
 Particle model of matter
heavy or massive, forces & motion  Calculating rates of reaction.
 Density  Newton’s first law  Reversible reactions &
 changes of state/ internal energy  resultant forces equilibrium. Closed & open
 specific heat capacity and latent heat  Newton’s second law
systems.
Chemistry (combined/triple)  forces & acceleration
 Newton’s third law  How temp. Concentration &
 Structure & bonding in giant ionic structures
 Momentum pressure affect equilibriums.
 Structure & bonding in giant covalent structures,
 Simple covalent & giant metallic bonding. Chemistry (combined/triple)  The Haber
 The nano scale & nanotechnology in science  Reactivity series & metal extraction from ore by reduction process/Compromise
 Conservation of mass & balancing equations.  Oxidation & reduction reactions conditions in the Haber
 Calculating molar mass, % mass, theoretical yield,  Reactions of acids & neutralisation. Strong & weak acids. process
concentration & volumes of gases. Recognising the mole in  Hydrogen fuel cells.
chemistry.  Endothermic & exothermic reactions
 % Uncertainty  energy level diagrams/Annotating energy level diagrams with & without
 Calculating unknown concentrations using titrations. catalysts.
Calculating & yield & atom economy.  Calculating bond energy
 Mathematical skills:
Finding surface area to volume ratio, Using formulae & understanding graphs, Application: How structure & bonding affects properties - MP/BP &
electrical conductivity, Extracting & interpreting data from graphs, numeracy skills such as calculations, rearranging equations, using the periodic
table to perform calculations, using appropriate precision such as sig. figures & standard index form, Using data to look at risk factors for disease,
Analysing & evaluating data. Understanding Sampling techniques used in clinical trials & interpreting data from these. Drawing endothermic &
exothermic energy level diagrams, Calculating bond energy for reactions, Using ratios & proportional reasoning, Applying Le Chateliers & determining
equilibrium shifts.
Practical skills:
Skills

RP: Investigate the effect of light intensity on rate of photosynthesis, RP: Investigate circuit diagrams to construct circuits, RP: Using circuit diagrams
to investigate factors affecting resistance of a wire, length of a wire at constant temp & combs of series & parallel, Test electrical conductivity of
various types of structures, RP: Investigate the effect of a range of sugar solution on mass of potato RP: Investigating the effect of pH on the rate of
amylase activity, RP: Food tests, RP: To investigate the densities of regular & irregular solid objects & liquids, Non RP: HCl & CaCO3 to identify mass
changes, Non RP: Acid base titration, RP: Predicting products of electrolysis from molten ionic compounds, RP: investigating reaction times, RP:
Investigating the acceleration of an object, RP: Determining temp changes in various endo & exo reactions, RP: Investigate the relationship between
force & the extension of a spring, RP: Disappearing Cross-Effect of temp by measuring turbidity, RP: Mg + HCl-Effect of concentration by collecting
gas using gas syringe, Non RP: CaCO3 + HCl-Effect of surface area, Radioactivity demonstration.
Pupils deepen skills from KS3 to further develop their scientific skills in preparation for A level study. Fundamental GCSE concepts are taught during
Rationale

this year with students also having multiple opportunities to make use of practical skills to help with their progression. Pupils will have plenty of
opportunity to improve their skills in writing up key practical experiments through completion of core practicals. Students will also during this year be
exposed to and start developing their ability to answer GCSE exam questions in preparation for year 11.
 Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term
Biology (combined/triple) Biology (combined/triple) Biology (combined/triple)
 DNA & genes and the human genome  Changing abiotic factors in ecosystems
 tracing human migration through studying genomics  investigating predator-prey relationships Revision of work covered over the
 structure of DNA  Looking at trophic levels/transfer of biomass in ecosystems whole of the GCSE course
 How does competition impact on populations, adaptations in animals &
 Proteins/Mutations
plants for survival
 Meiosis/Asexual & sexual reproduction Physics (combined/triple)
 water cycle, carbon cycle,
 genetic disorders and genetic crosses /tracking genetic crosses  investigating decay and environmental change  Space the sun & other
 Variation in populations and the theory of evolution/origin of species  learning about land use on earth over time, learn about how the landscape stars
 fossil as evidence for evolution/speciation in organisms has changed over time  main sequence of a star,
 global warming, waste management, investigating pollution, maintaining  Life cycle of stars
 Antimicrobial resistance and combatting AMR
biodiversity, food security, Use of biotechnology  how the elements are
 Selective breeding in animals & plants
Physics (combined/triple) formed, red-shift
 genetic engineering/genetic modification of plants
 Electromagnetism
 safety of genetically modifying living organisms
 magnetism & magnetic forces Revision of work covered over the
 Cloning in plants & animals/ Classification and extinction. whole of the GCSE course
 compasses & magnetic fields
Physics (combined/triple)
 the magnetic effect of solenoid
 Atomic structure/ hazards & uses of radiation/Irradiation and uses of radiation in
 electromagnets in action Chemistry (combined/triple)
Knowledge

medicine/ using nuclear radiation

 calculating the force on a conductor
 Waves/ describing waves/ types of waves/ measuring wave speeds Revision of work covered over the
 electric motors and loudspeakers
 reflection & refraction whole of the GCSE course
 the generator effect and using the generator effect
 sound waves /exploring ultrasound/seismic waves/ EM spectrum
 transformers
 gamma rays & X rays, UV & IR, microwaves, radio & microwaves
 Space,
 colour, emission & absorption of IR/ temperature of the earth  The solar system,
Year 11

 Lenses, images & magnification  orbits of planets / moons & artificial satellites
Chemistry (combined/triple) Chemistry (combined/triple)
 Crude oil & how is fractionally distilled to make useful fractions.  What are the main gases in the earth’s current atmosphere?
 Drawing alkanes & alkenes /Cracking hydrocarbons  How has the earth’s atmosphere evolved
 Polymerisation & drawing monomers & polymers.  sedimentary rock formation,
 fossil fuels & deforestation & its effect on CO2 levels.
 Alcohols-Drawing & naming reactions of alcohols
 How does CO2 contribute to the greenhouse effect?
 Carboxylic acids-Drawing & naming  How have human activities contributed to changes in CO2 & CH4
 Structures of amino acids & DNA as polymers production?
 What are pure substances & formulations?  What do we mean by carbon footprint? How can we reduce it?
 Identification of gases including, H2, O2, CO2, Cl2.  What are the effects of common pollutant to humans & the earth?
 Carrying out flame tests to identify metal ions.  What do we mean by natural & finite resources?
 potable water & how is potable water different to pure water
 Using NaOH ppt tests to identify coloured precipitate formed.
 How is sewage water treated
 Testing for carbonates, halides & sulphates.
 Evaluate other methods for mining for metals
 Flame emission spectroscopy analysis & how to identity metal ions.  Evaluate methods of recycling & reusing of metals
Mathematical skills: Understand/ use fraction, ratios, proportions & probability. Link to predicting outcomes of genetic crosses/ Using ratios & proportional reasoning/ Using charts & graphs to
display data/ Using & rearranging equations/ calculations of RF values in chromatography/ Interpreting information from Spectroscopy traces/ Evaluating graphical & tabulated data concerning the
changing atmospheric gases/ Using scale & standard form
Practical skills: Optional demo: Radioactivity /RP: Investigate reflection of light by different types of surface & refraction of light/ Demo-Nylon making/Burning alcohols as this links in with enthalpy
Skills

changes/ RP: Measuring the wavelength, frequency & speed of waves in a ripple tank & waves in a solid/ RP: Investigate how the amount of IR absorbed or radiated by a surface depends on the
nature of that surface/ RP- Chromatography, calculating Rf values & interpreting results collected/RP-Identifying cations & anions/ RP: Measure the population size of a common species in a habitat
(sampling techniques) RP: Investigating the effect of temperature on the rate of decay of fresh milk by measuring pH changes./ Demo for Fleming’s left hand rule using magnet, wire & power supply/
Demo for Fleming’s right hand rule using magnet, wire & power supply/ Transformers/ RP-Analysis & purification of water samples
Pupils further their GCSE Knowledge from year 10. More emphasis is put on science in the wider world. There is still a focus on developing key practical skills, giving the students opportunities to
Rationale

complete experiment, write up methodologies and evaluate their work. Topics in year 11 focus less on the fundamental ideas in science and focus more on interesting scientific concepts that
generally have a large scope in the wider world.