Science

Colchester Academy Science Department is committed in ensuring pupils make good progress and excel in their Science lessons. We uphold the values of the Academy and encourage the pupils to ask questions and be inquisitive in all aspects of our subject area. We aim to deliver a varied curriculum where pupils can discover their interests and talents within the principles of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, through high standards of knowledge based and practical teaching, and high behavioural and health and safety standards. Alongside our rich curriculum, our aim is to explore and implement the following skills and ideas:

Practical Based Learning - teaching practical lab-based skills and investigative methods throughout the entire KS3 and KS4 curriculum.
High levels of Scientific Literacy - to be proficient in scientific terminology and key concepts to encourage pupils to make intelligent and informed decisions in the future.
Real Life Science - to apply the scientific knowledge learnt in the classroom to real life scenarios, and enable students to critically evaluate evidence to come up with their own informed conclusions.
Careers and Further Study - to explore and inform students of the different careers and higher/further education opportunities in the many fields of science.

Key Stage 3

The aims that drive the Key Stage 3 Curriculum are:

To foster a lifelong enjoyment of science.
To teach the ‘Big Ideas’ of science as a baseline to all GCSE work.

Our curriculum is based upon the National Curriculum and The Big Ideas of Science. In Year 7, we teach the foundation of science knowledge, which is built upon in Year 8. Students are taught using the ‘Principles of Instruction’, allowing previous learning to be revisited, alongside introducing new learning and extensive practice.

Students are assessed at the end of every topic, and periodically so previous learning is not forgotten. Detailed and individualised feedback is given to students to improve any areas where there are gaps in knowledge.

Curriculum Outline

Year 7	Topics Covered:
Autumn	Introduction to Science Particles (Physics) Animal and Plant Cells Forces and Space The Periodic Table
Spring	Chemical Reactions Variation and Reproduction Electricity Celebrating Science (Part of British Science Week)
Summer	Ecosystems (including Eco week) Energy Stores Waves Animals as Organisms Careers in Science STEM Week

Year 8	Topics Covered:
Autumn	Skills in Science Forces and Motion The Atom Electromagnetic Spectrum Inheritance and Evolution
Spring	The Earth and Resources Plants as Organisms Work, Energy, Power Celebrating Science (Part of British Science Week)
Summer	Chemical Reactions Electromagnetism Plants as Organisms Careers in Science STEM Week

Year 9	Topics Covered:
Autumn	Biology: Cell Biology Photosynthesis Chemistry: Atoms The Periodic Table Structure and Bonding
Spring	Biology: Organisation Health Chemistry: Quantitative Chemistry Chemical Changes
Summer	Chemical Energy Physics: Particle Model Preparation for end of year exams. Practical Skills and Investigations

Key Stage 4

Some students study the AQA Combined Science curriculum with select students that require a more challenging path of study, opting for Separate Science: GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics. Our aim is for our students to leave school with high levels of science knowledge, literacy and the ability to critically evaluate data provided from reputable sources.

Curriculum Outline

Year 10	Topics Covered:
Autumn	Physics 1: Energy The Particle Model Chemistry 2: Rate and Extent of Chemical Change Organic Chemistry Chemical Analysis
Spring	Physics 1: Electricity The Atomic Model Chemistry 2: Chemistry of the Atmosphere Using Resources
Summer	Revision for the End of Year Exams End of Year Exams Biology 2 Ecology

Year 11	Topics Covered:
Autumn	Biology 2: Homeostasis and Response Inheritance Evolution
Spring	Physics 2: Waves Electromagnetism Space (Separate Science only) Revision Bootcamp
Summer	Revision and Exams

Useful Links & Resources

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