Skip to content ↓
St Thomas More Catholic Secondary School

St Thomas More
Catholic Secondary School

Science is a captivating subject which at the same time allows people to understand the world they live in and wonder at it.

Our aim is to methodically develop and sustain learners’ curiosity about the world, enjoyment of scientific activity and understanding of how natural phenomena can be explained through linking each topic. The Science education that they receive should equip every pupil equally with opportunities that enable them to take an informed part in decisions and to take appropriate actions that affect their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others and the environment.

Year 7 

Curriculum Intention:

The topics are placed in order of difficulty, placing the more difficult topics towards the end of the curriculum so students can use and apply the skills they have acquired at the beginning of the course.

There is an equal split of biology chemistry and physics to equally prepare students for those subjects at GCSE, The variety offered by the relatively short topics will keep them engaged with the subject and give them the opportunity to reflect as to which subject areas are their strengths and which subject areas need improvement.                                                                         

 

Curriculum Implementation:

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Sept 6th - Oct 22nd

This half term will have the biology topic (diet and health) and also the beginning of the forces topic

 

Jan 3rd – 11th Feb

Waves

 

18th April – 27th May

Energy

Half term

Half term

Half term

Oct 29th – Dec 17th

Forces

 

21st Feb – 1st April

This half term we study the chemistry topic (atoms and elements)

 

6th June – 22nd July

This term will have the chemistry topic (Chemical reactions)

Christmas Holidays

Easter Holidays

Summer Holidays

 

Outcomes: Students will be able :

1 To support and consolidate scientific concepts (knowledge and understanding of the various topics).

  • This is done by applying and developing what is known and understood of abstract ideas and models.
  • Through practical work students will make sense of new information and observations, and
  • Provide insights into the development of scientific thinking.

2 To develop investigative skills. These transferable skills include:

  • Devising and investigating testable questions
  • Identifying and controlling variables
  •  Analysing, interpreting and evaluating data.

3 To build and master practical skills such as:

  • Using specialist scientific equipment to take measurements
  • Handling and manipulating equipment with confidence and fluency
  • Recognising hazards and planning how to minimise risk.

Employability skills:

  • Remembering and Developing understanding
  • Applying and Analysing
  • Evaluating and Creating

 

Year 8 

Curriculum Intention:

1 To support and consolidate scientific concepts (knowledge and understanding of the various topics).

  • This is done by applying and developing what is known and understood of abstract ideas and models.
  • Through practical work students will make sense of new information and observations, and
  • Provide insights into the development of scientific thinking.

2 To develop investigative skills. These transferable skills include:

  • Devising and investigating testable questions
  • Identifying and controlling variables
  •  Analysing, interpreting and evaluating data.

3 To build and master practical skills such as:

  • Using specialist scientific equipment to take measurements
  • Handling and manipulating equipment with confidence and fluency
  • Recognising hazards and planning how to minimise risk

 

Curriculum Implementation:

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Sept  - Oct  

Electricity

Jan  –  Feb

Levers Pressure and Moments

April –  May

Biology Topic Ecosystems studied now

 

Half term

Half term

Half term

Nov – Dec

Biology and Chemistry topics studied now (reproduction and acids and alkalis)

Feb – March

Biology Topics Photosynthesis and Materials studied now

June – July

Completion of science fair Projects.

Physics topic(Space)

Christmas Holidays

Easter Holidays

Summer Holidays

 

Outcomes:

Students will be able :

1 To support and consolidate scientific concepts (knowledge and understanding of the various topics).

  • This is done by applying and developing what is known and understood of abstract ideas and models.
  • Through practical work students will make sense of new information and observations, and
  • Provide insights into the development of scientific thinking.

2 To develop investigative skills. These transferable skills include:

  • Devising and investigating testable questions
  • Identifying and controlling variables
  •  Analysing, interpreting and evaluating data.

3 To build and master practical skills such as:

  • Using specialist scientific equipment to take measurements
  • Handling and manipulating equipment with confidence and fluency
  • Recognising hazards and planning how to minimise risk.

Employability skills:

  • Remembering and Developing understanding
  • Applying and Analysing
  • Evaluating and Creating
  • Resilience developed through science fair

 

Year 9 

Curriculum Intention:

In Year 9 all students follow a course which is specifically designed to: 

  • Form a foundation for GCSE and other courses  
  • Encourage interest in all aspects of scientific study  
  • Develop understanding of scientific ideas  
  • See how science is used in everyday life 

Students spend one term studying the most important aspects of biology, chemistry and physics to a higher level than that taught in years 7 and 8, in order to bridge the gap between key stage
3 and 4,

 

Curriculum Implementation:

 

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Sept - Oct

B1 – Cell Biology

 

Jan – Feb

C1 – Atomic Structure

C2 – Structure, bonding and matter

 

April – May

P4 – Atomic Structure

Half term

Half term

Half term

Oct – Dec

B2 - Photosynthesis

 

Feb – March

P3 – Particle model of matter

 

June – July

C5 – Energy Changes

C9 – The Atmosphere

Christmas Holidays

Easter Holidays

Summer Holidays

 

Outcomes:

Students will be able :

1 To support and consolidate scientific concepts (knowledge and understanding of the various topics).

  • This is done by applying and developing what is known and understood of abstract ideas and models.
  • Through practical work we make sense of new information and observations, and
  • Provide insights into the development of scientific thinking.

2 To develop investigative skills. These transferable skills include:

  • Devising and investigating testable questions
  • Identifying and controlling variables
  •  Analysing, interpreting and evaluating data.

3 To build and master practical skills such as:

  • Using specialist scientific equipment to take measurements
  • Handling and manipulating equipment with confidence and fluency
  • Recognising hazards and planning how to minimise risk.

Employability skills:

 

  • Remembering and Developing understanding
  • Applying and Analysing
  • Evaluating and Creating

 

Year 10 

Curriculum Intention:

All topics for Physics Paper 1 will be completed before the end of Yr10 Mocks allowing a holistic paper to be sat during the mock week and providing a strong, standardised set of data.

This consequently allows targeted intervention to begin in the early part of Yr11.

1 To support and consolidate scientific concepts (knowledge and understanding of the various topics).

  • This is done by applying and developing what is known and understood of abstract ideas and models.
  • Through practical work students will make sense of new information and observations, and
  • Provide insights into the development of scientific thinking.

2 To develop investigative skills. These transferable skills include:

  • Devising and investigating testable questions
  • Identifying and controlling variables
  •  Analysing, interpreting and evaluating data.

3 To build and master practical skills such as:

  • Using specialist scientific equipment to take measurements
  • Handling and manipulating equipment with confidence and fluency

Recognising hazards and planning how to minimise risk.

Paper 2 content are studied in year 11 ..

 

Curriculum Implementation:

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Sept - Oct  

P1 - Energy

Jan – Feb

P2 - Electricity

April – May

P5 - Forces

Half term

Half term

Half term

Oct – Dec

P1 - Energy

 

Feb – March

P2- Electricity

June – July

P5 - Forces

Christmas Holidays

Easter Holidays

Summer Holidays

 

Outcomes:

 To support and consolidate scientific concepts (knowledge and understanding of the various topics).

  • This is done by applying and developing what is known and understood of abstract ideas and models.
  • Through practical work we make sense of new information and observations, and
  • Provide insights into the development of scientific thinking.

2 To develop investigative skills. These transferable skills include:

  • Devising and investigating testable questions
  • Identifying and controlling variables
  •  Analysing, interpreting and evaluating data.

3 To build and master practical skills such as:

  • Using specialist scientific equipment to take measurements
  • Handling and manipulating equipment with confidence and fluency
  • Recognising hazards and planning how to minimise risk.

Employability skills:

 

  • Remembering and Developing understanding
  • Applying and Analysing
  • Evaluating and Creating
  • Independence

 

Year 11 

Curriculum Intention:

Topics covered in year 11 will be examine GCSE Physics Paper 2 which is building on the knowledge acquired during Yr9&10/Paper 1 lessons.

A topic with required practical’s completed earlier in the year to allow careful revision of these ahead of the exams.

The intention is :

To support and consolidate scientific concepts (knowledge and understanding of the various topics).

  • This is done by applying and developing what is known and understood of abstract ideas and models.
  • Through practical work students will make sense of new information and observations, and
  • Provide insights into the development of scientific thinking.

2 To develop investigative skills. These transferable skills include:

  • Devising and investigating testable questions
  • Identifying and controlling variables
  •  Analysing, interpreting and evaluating data.

3 To build and master practical skills such as:

  • Using specialist scientific equipment to take measurements
  • Handling and manipulating equipment with confidence and fluency

Recognising hazards and planning how to minimise risk.

 

Curriculum Implementation:

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Sept - Oct

P6 - Waves

 

Jan –  Feb

P7 – Magnetism and electromagnetism

April – May

Revision

Half term

Half term

Half term

Oct – Dec

P6 - Waves

Feb – March

P8 – Space physics for Separate science only Revision for other classes.

June – July

n/a

Christmas Holidays

Easter Holidays

Summer Holidays

 

Outcomes:

Students will be able :

  • To apply and develop what is known and understood of abstract ideas and models.
  • Use practical work to make sense of new information and observations.
  • To provide insights into the development of scientific thinking.
  • To devise and investigate testable questions
  • Identify controlling variables
  •  Analyse, interpret and evaluate data.
  • To use specialist scientific equipment to take measurements
  • Handle and manipulate equipment with confidence and fluency

Recognise hazards and plan how to minimise risk.

Employability skills

 

  • Remembering and Developing understanding
  • Applying and Analysing
  • Evaluating and Creating

Year 12 

Curriculum Intention:

We have invested in the OCR (PEARSONS) curriculum plan which:

Links past and future steps in the students learning.

Pearsons has detailed Teaching plans, Schemes of work, assessments, tests, practicals, resources, texts, challenges.

We have put in place with our RAG assessment, strategies for monitoring progress.

Intentions are adjusted according to needs identified through assessment.

 

Curriculum Implementation:

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Sept - Oct

1.Topic: Development of practical skills in physics

content

Practical skills assessed in a written examination Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement

2.Topic :Foundations of physics

content

Physical quantities and units, Making measurements and analysing data, Nature of quantities

Jan –  Feb

1.Topic:Forces and motion

Content

Forces and motion

Motion, Forces in action, Work, energy and power, Materials, Newton’s laws of motion and momentum

April – May

1.Topic: Electrons, waves and photons

Content

Charge and current, Energy, power and resistance, Electrical circuits, Waves, Quantum physics

 

Half term

Half term

Half term

Oct – Dec

1.Topic:

content

Forces and motion

Motion, Forces in action, Work, energy and power, Materials, Newton’s laws of motion and momentum

 Revision and Assessment

Feb – March

1.Topic: Electrons, waves and photons

Content

Charge and current, Energy, power and resistance, Electrical circuits, Waves, Quantum physics                          

 

Revision and Assessment

June – July

1.Topic: Electrons, waves and photons

Content

Charge and current, Energy, power and resistance, Electrical circuits, Waves, Quantum physics

 

Revision and Exams

Christmas Holidays

Easter Holidays

Summer Holidays

 

Outcomes:

Assessments (see below) recorded on RAG (dependant on agreed grade boundaries) Y12 assessment spreadsheet (kept in staff shared area) updated continuously by teachers, and monitored by line manager (JO).

Student progress monitored by teachers of physics using the above Y12 assessment spreadsheet as evidence for their tracking. The above spreadsheet is on display in class whenever assessments are updated.

Professional judgement based on the above assessment data

Employability skills:

 

  • Remembering and Developing understanding
  • Applying and Analysing
  • Evaluating and Creating

 

Year 13 

Curriculum Intention:

We have invested in the OCR (PEARSONS) curriculum plan which:

Links past and future steps in the students learning.

Pearsons has detailed Teaching plans, Schemes of work, assessments, tests, practicals, resources, texts, challenges.

We have put in place with our RAG assessment, strategies for monitoring progress.

Intentions are adjusted according to needs identified through assessment.

 

Curriculum Implementation:

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Sept - Oct  

1.Topic:Newtonian world and astrophysics

Content

Thermal physics, Circular motion, Astrophysics and cosmology

Jan – Feb

1.Topic: –Particles and medical physics
Content

Electric fields, Electromagnetism, Medical imaging, Nuclear and particle physics

April – May

1.Topic: –Particles and medical physics
Content

Electric fields, Electromagnetism, Medical imaging, Nuclear and particle physics

Half term

Half term

Half term

Oct – Dec

1.Topic:Newtonian world and astrophysics

Content

Thermal physics, Circular motion, Astrophysics and cosmology

Feb – March

1.Topic: –Particles and medical physics
Content

Electric fields, Electromagnetism, Medical imaging, Nuclear and particle physics

June – July

 

 

Christmas Holidays

Easter Holidays

Summer Holidays

 

Outcomes:

Assessments (see below) recorded on RAG (dependant on agreed grade boundaries) Y13 assessment spreadsheet (kept in staff shared area) updated continuously by teachers, and monitored by line manager (JO).

Student progress monitored by teachers of physics using the above Y13 assessment spreadsheet as evidence for their tracking. The above spreadsheet is on display in class whenever assessments are updated.

Professional judgement based on the above assessment data

Employability skills:

  • Remembering and Developing understanding
  • Applying and Analysing
  • Evaluating and Creating