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Introduction
At Cecil Jones Academy we teach science to help our students understand how the world around them works on a biological, chemical, and physical level.
Human progress throughout history can always be traced back to advances in science. From the development of our understanding of gravity to inventing cutting-edge medicines, students of science have shaped our modern world. All of these advances can trace their origins back to individuals learning about science at a young age.
The opportunities available for practical work help develop our students’ communication and teamwork skills; improve their patience and perseverance; and offers them hands-on intermission from their other lessons.
Science offers answers to the straightforward questions, such as ‘Why is the sky blue?’ and encourages our students to think deeper and critically examine the evidence for the more challenging questions, such as ‘Do aliens exist?’ or ‘How do we solve climate change?’
KS3
Science in Years 7 and 8 covers all three sciences, providing a good foundation in areas such as ecology, cells, chemical reactions, energy, materials, forces and space.
Students are assessed regularly throughout in order to identify strengths, weaknesses and targets for improvement.
Students with a natural interest and ability in science will have opportunities to enhance their learning by taking part in regional and national competitions, and trips to the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum.
Students are set homework regularly to extend their learning outside of the classroom. We aim to keep their lessons varied and exciting, and students can expect to carry out practical work, research tasks and produce presentations during their KS3 curriculum.
Textbooks used
- AQA Activate 1
- AQA Activate 2
KS4
The majority of our students will follow a GCSE combined science course – AQA Trilogy science. This course covers all three sciences - biology, chemistry and physics - and students will receive two GCSE grades after their examinations in Year 11. Students with a particular aptitude and interest in science have the option of taking our GCSE separate science course.
The GCSEs examinations are taken at the end of Year 11, but students will be assessed regularly throughout the course (with formal internal examinations at the end of each year).
The GCSE course students will complete has embedded required practical activities which give students a comprehensive grounding in practical and analytical skills. Our students’ progress through these is internally assessed by the Academy and assessed by questions in their GCSE examinations.
For more information about the structure of the combined science course offered at Cecil Jones Academy, please visit
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-trilogy-8464
Students are set homework regularly to extend their learning outside of the classroom to encourage students to take responsibility for their learning and develop their interest in science.
Textbooks used
- AQA Biology Student Book
- AQA Chemistry Student Book
- AQA Physics Student Book
Visual Curriculum Map
Separate Sciences
Students with a particular aptitude and interest in science, particularly those who intend to take science at A-level and further education, have the option of taking our GCSE separate science course. This route leads to three GCSE grades, one each for biology, chemistry and physics, and students will be taught in a separate class and have more science lessons on their timetable than students taking combined science.
The GCSEs examinations are taken at the end of Year 11, but students will be assessed regularly throughout the course (with formal internal examinations at the end of each year).
The GCSE course students will complete has embedded required practical activities which give students a comprehensive grounding in practical and analytical skills. Our students’ progress through these is internally assessed by the Academy and assessed by questions in their GCSE examinations.
For more information about the structure of the separate science courses offered at Cecil Jones Academy, please visit
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463
Students are set homework regularly to extend their learning outside of the classroom to encourage students to take responsibility for their learning and develop their interest in science.
Textbooks used
- AQA Biology Student Book
- AQA Chemistry Student Book
- AQA Physics Student Book
Useful Resources
Recommended GCSE websites:
- Kerboodle
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment – general science news
- BBC Bitesize – general revision covering KS3-4
- The Naked Scientist – a podcast by Cambridge University about news in science
- How Stuff Works – explanations about how stuff works
- Popular Science – the magazine online
- New Scientist – the magazine online
Recommended GCSE texts or revision guides:
- AQA physics – Oxford University Press
- AQA chemistry – Oxford University Press
- AQA biology – Oxford University Press
- CGP GCSE Combined Science for AQA (Grade 9-1)
- CGP GCSE Biology for AQA (Grade 9-1)
- CGP GCSE Chemistry for AQA (Grade 9-1)
- CGP GCSE Physics for AQA (Grade 9-1)
