Science
Science is one of three core subjects of the National Curriculum. As such it is studied by all children from the age of five to sixteen and it is expected that all children will take GCSE examinations in Science at the end of Year 11.
In all years pupils follow a course designed to cover the programmes of study laid down in the National Curriculum Orders. This consists of four Attainment Targets. Scientific Investigation helps pupils to develop the skills that enable them to understand how scientists work and to work as scientists themselves. Life and Living Processes approximately corresponds to Biology; Materials and Their Properties covers ground traditionally covered by subjects such as Chemistry and Earth Sciences. Physical Processes is equivalent to the traditional subject of Physics.
In all years pupils follow a course designed to cover the programmes of study laid down in the National Curriculum Orders. This consists of four Attainment Targets. Scientific Investigation helps pupils to develop the skills that enable them to understand how scientists work and to work as scientists themselves. Life and Living Processes approximately corresponds to Biology; Materials and Their Properties covers ground traditionally covered by subjects such as Chemistry and Earth Sciences. Physical Processes is equivalent to the traditional subject of Physics.
It is in the three latter Attainment Targets that the knowledge, facts and theory of Science are taught and it is in the context of these Targets that the skills of Scientific Investigation are developed.
In Years 7 and 8 pupils follow a Science course where all four components are studied through a series of co-ordinated topics. In Year 9 these co-ordinated topics are studied as Chemistry, Biology and Physics with specialist teachers. Progress is monitored by regular tests and assessments.
In Years 10 and 11 most pupils follow a course leading to the award of a Double GCSE. The course followed is the OCR Co-ordinated Science Syllabus. Some follow a course leading to the award of an OCR Certificate of Attainment in Science and possibly a single GCSE in Science. The three Attainment Targets are taught separately by specialist teachers of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The Scientific Investigation component is taught and assessed in the context of the other three targets, with the assessment marks contributing 20% of the final GCSE grade.