Science

Curriculum Intent

In Science, our curriculum intent is:

  • To deliver an engaging and challenging curriculum, which enables students to reach their maximum potential by building upon and developing their scientific knowledge, working scientifically and mathematical skills
  • To make connections between science and Catholicity, and science within local and wider contexts

 

Curriculum Plan

KS3 Science Curriculum Plan

GCSE Biology Curriculum Plan

GCSE Chemistry Curriculum Plan

GCSE Physics Curriculum Plan

A Level Biology Curriculum Plan

A Level Chemistry Curriculum Plan

A Level Physics Curriculum Plan

 

Student Learning Journey

Student Science Learning Journey

 

Exam Board Information

 

GCSE AQA Biology (8461): https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461

GCSE AQA Chemistry (8462): https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462

GCSE AQA Physics (8463): https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463

ASDAN Science short course: https://www.asdan.org.uk/science-short-course/

AQA A level Biology (7402): https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/biology-7401-7402

AQA A level Chemistry (7405): https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/chemistry-7404-7405

AQA A level Physics (7405): https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/physics-7407-7408

Reading List

Key Stage 3

Books:

  • Before The World Was Ready: Stories of Daring Genius in Science – Claire Eamer
  • Hidden Figures – Margot Lee Shetterly
  • The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
  • Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers who Changed the World – Rachel Ignotofsky
  • Why Does Asparagus Make Your Pee Smell? – Andy Brunning
  • The Science Book – DK Books
  • Horrible Sciences – Nick Arnold

 

Websites:

 

Key Stage 4

Books:

  • Day of the Triffids – John Wyndham
  • The Periodic Table – Primo Levi
  • Why Do Penguins Feet Freeze? – Mick O’Hare
  • The Secret Science of Superheroes – Mark Lorch and Andy Miah
  • The Mould in Dr Floreys Coat: The Remarkable True Story of the Penicillin Miracle – Eric Lax

 

Websites:

 

Key Stage 5 – Biology

 

Books:

Frank Ryan: Virolution

Lewis Thompson: How We Live and Why We Die, The Secret Lives of Cell

Richard Dawkins: The Selfish Gene

Charles Darwin: The Origin of Species

Adam Rutherford: A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived, The Stories in Our Genes

Matt Ridley: Francis Crick: Discoverer of the Genetic Code

James Watson: DNA, The Secret of Life

Lewis Thomas: The Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher

Armand Marie Leroi: Mutants: On the Form, Varieties and Errors of the Human Body

David S. Goodsell: The Machinery of Life

Ernst Mayr: This Is Biology: The Science of the Living World

George C. Williams: Plan and Purpose in Nature

Edward O Wilson: The Diversity of Life Richard Leaky: The Origin of Humankind

Bill Bryson: A Short History of Nearly Everything

 

Websites:

An interactive cell biology site – http://www.ibiblio.org/virtualcell/index.htm

A web site showing illustrations of many processes of biotechnology – http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/GG

Visit the world of electron-microscopy – http://www.uq.oz.au/nanoworld

Explore the genetic code – http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html

Details of the history of the best scientific discoveries – http://nobelprize.org

The site of the scientific journal – http://nature.com

Podcasts, news and interviews with scientists about recent scientific developments – http://royalsociety.org

The London Natural History Museum’s website – http://www.nhm.ac.uk

The website of the British Medical Journal – http://www.bmj.com

 

Key Stage 5 – Chemistry

Books:

Richard Feynman: The Pleasure of Finding Things Out

Mark Miadownik: Stuff Matters, Exploring the Marvelous Materials that Shape our Man Made World

Hugh Aldersey-Williams: Periodic Tales

John Emsley: Nature’s Building Blocks, An A-Z Guide to the Elements

Sam Kean: The Disappearing Spoon

Oliver Sachs: Uncle Tungsten

John Emsley: The Shocking History of Phosphorus: A Biography of the Devil’s Element

 

Websites:

Periodic Table of Videos by Martyn Poliakoff – https://www.youtube.com/user/periodicvideos

Royal Society of Chemistry – https://www.rsc.org

Institution of Chemical Engineers – https://www.icheme.org/

 

Key Stage 5 – Physics

Books:

Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow: The Grand Design

Stephen Hawking: A Brief History of Time

Brian Cox & Jeff Forshaw: Why Does 𝐸 = 𝑀𝐶2

Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw: The Quantum Universe: Everything that can happen does happen

Peter Ackroyd: Newton

Helen Czerski: Storm in a Teacup, The Physics of Everyday Life

Simon Singh: Big Bang

Marcus Chown: The Ascent of Gravity

Janna Levin: How the Universe Got It’s Spots

Jon Butterworth: Smashing Physics

Manjit Kumar: Quantum

 

Websites:

The institute of physics – https://www.iop.org

Curious and quirky videos describing the various symbols used in physics and astronomy – http://www.sixtysymbols.com/

Stay up to date with the latest breakthroughs in physics – https://physicsworld.com/

CERN, home of the world’s largest particle accelerator – https://home.cern/science/accelerators/large-hadron-collider

 

Career Links

The world of Science is ever evolving, with new jobs and employment opportunities being developed on a yearly basis. Science is a compulsory subject at Key Stage 3 and 4 because of its importance in society and the knowledge that can be gained from studying this in more detail.

Choosing to study Science at A Level opens up a wonderful array of opportunities for you. Not only is it regarded as a reputable A Level subject, it also allows you the opportunity to go on and study the individual sciences in more detail at University Level. For example, many of our students go on to study Biology, Chemistry or Physics at Degree Level.

However, a number of our students move into the world of employment after Year 13, choosing to study an apprenticeship or gaining a job.

Possible careers linked to Science include:

Science Teacher

Pharmacist

Doctor

Science Technician

Laboratory Technician

Chartered Surveyor

Animal Technician

Vet

Astronomer

Crime Scene Investigator

Food Technologist

For further information about the career opportunities that may be available to you, please speak to one of your Science teachers who will be able to discuss this with you.

 

 

Subject Leader Information

Subject Leader: Mr Adam Blazewicz-Bell

Email: ablazewiczbell@christtheking.notts.sch.uk