Science
Subject Leader: Mrs A Alexander
Subject Leader Email Address: amy.alexander@swale.at
Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world.
Subject overview
Our science curriculum empowers students through learning. Science encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitudes. Throughout the programmes of study, students will develop key knowledge, skills, understanding and practical skills. Students learn to formulate hypotheses, design valid tests, manipulate apparatus safely and evaluate experimental error. Students also learn experimental design, data analysis, error evaluation and quantitative math skills through practical experiments. We teach students to decode data, apply mathematical models, interpret graphs and draw evidence-based conclusions with mathematical precision. Through studying science students learn the distinction between the factual information and concepts that they learn, alongside how scientists know this information through investigation and evidence. Students learn how to evaluate scientific claims, media reports and environmental/ethical challenges such as climate change.
Year 7
Term 1
Biology topics: Plant and animal cells. Specialised cells and observing cells. Movement of substances. Unicellular organisms and microscopes.
Enquiry Question: What are living things made of?
Chemistry topics: The particle model. States of matter. Melting, freezing and boiling. Evaporation and condensation. Diffusion. Gas pressure.
Enquiry question: What is everything made of?
Term 2
Physics topics: Introduction to forces. Squashing and stretching. Drag and friction. Forces at a distance. Balanced and unbalanced forces.
Enquiry Question: What would happen if a ball was kicked into space?
Biology topics: Cells. Levels of organisation. Diffusion. Breathing. Gas exchange. The skeleton. Levers and joints. Respiration. Muscles.
Enquiry question: How do we move?
Term 3
Chemistry topics: Atoms. Elements. Compounds. Chemical formulae. Chemical and physical changes. Chemical reactions. Word equations. Conservation of mass. Burning fuels. Thermal decomposition. Exothermic and endothermic reactions
Enquiry Question: How can we measure reactivity?
Physics topics: Waves. Sound and energy transfer. Loudness and pitch. Detecting sound. Echoes and ultrasound. Light. Reflection and refraction. The structure of the eye and camera. Colour
Enquiry Question: How do we use sound and light?
Term 4
Biology topics: Specialised cells. Adolescence. Reproductive systems. Fertilisation and implantation. Development of a fetus. Menstrual cycle. Flowers and pollination. Fertilisation and germination. Seed dispersal. Plant adaptations
Enquiry Question: What makes me an individual?
Term 5
Chemistry topics: Word equations. Acids and alkalis. Indicators and pH. Neutralisation
Enquiry Question: How can we neutralise some chemical reactions?
Term 6
Physics topics: The night sky. The solar system. The Earth. The moon. The seasons
Enquiry Question: The Solar System - what else is out there?
Year 8
Term 1
Biology topics: Nutrients. Food tests. Unhealthy diet. Diffusion. The digestive system and enzymes in digestion. Drugs, alcohol and smoking.
Enquiry Question: How can you stay healthy?
Chemistry topics: The periodic table. Metals and non-metals. Groups and periods. Groups 1, 8 and 0/8
Enquiry Question: Why do we have the Periodic table?
Physics topics: Charging up. Circuits and current. Potential difference. Series and parallel. Resistance. Magnets and magnetic fields. Electromagnets. Using electromagnets.
Enquiry Question: What would our world look like without electricity or magnetism?
Term 2
Biology topics: Food chains and webs. Disruption to food webs. Ecosystems. Cells and specialised cells. Photosynthesis. Leaves and poland minerals. Chemosynthesis. Aerobic respiration. Anaerobic respiration
Enquiry Question: If plants were to die, what would happen?
Chemistry topics: Mixtures, solutions, solubility and filtration. Evaporation and crystallisation. Chromatography
Enquiry question: How can we separate substances for everyday use?
Term 3
Physics topics: Food and fuels. Energy adds up. Energy and temperature. Energy transfer - particles and radiation. Energy resources. Energy and power. Work, energy and machines.
Enquiry Question: How can you create more energy?
Biology topics: Disruption to food chains. Competition, adaptation and adapting to change. DNA. Continuous and discontinuous variation. Inheritance. Natural selection. Extinction.
Enquiry Question: How are we adapted to survive?
Term 4
Chemistry topics: Acids and metals. Metals and oxygen. Metals and water. Metal displacement reactions. Extracting metals. Ceramics. Polymers. Composites
Enquiry Question: How can we extract materials?
Term 5
Physics topics: Speed and motion. Pressure in gases and liquids. Turning forces.
Enquiry Question: How do we use numeracy in science?
Term 6
Chemistry topics: The Earth and its atmosphere. Sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks. The rock cycle. The carbon cycle. Climate change. Recycling
Enquiry Question: What is the impact of humans on our planet?
Year 9
Term 1
Biology topics: DNA, genetics and inherited diseases. Selective breeding, genetic engineering and cloning. Biotechnology. Enzymes in industry.
Enquiry Question: How can genetics help in farming?
Chemistry topics: Nanoparticles and using nanoparticles. Nanoparticles in medicines.Cars, new fuels, cleaning up exhausts and hybrid electric cars.
Enquiry question: How do we use different materials?
Physics topics:Your phone, house, hospitals, sports and our planet
Enquiry question: How does your world work?
Term 2
Biology topics: Vaccines and antibiotics. DNA. Charles Darwin. Preventing extinction.
Enquiry Question: How can you read like a scientist?
Chemistry topics: Evidence for atoms and looking into atoms. Discovering the periodic table. Lessons from fossils. The oldest primate.
Enquiry Question: What do scientists do with scientific evidence?
Physics topics: Discovering the universe and the Big Bang Theory. Space crafts and satellites. Mission to the moon. Radioactivity. Electromagnetism.
Enquiry Question: What is going on in the universe?
Term 3
Biology topics: Microscopy. Fingerprinting and DNA Fingerprinting. Blood typing. Time of death. Pathology.
Enquiry Question: How can biology help in forensics?
Chemistry topics: forensic investigations.
Enquiry Question: How can chemistry help in forensics?
Physics topics: Detecting planets and alien life. Detecting position. Detecting messages. Detecting particles.
Enquiry Question: What do we use to detect science?
Term 4
Chemistry topics: A simple model of the atom, symbols, relative atomic mass, electronic charge and isotopes. The periodic table.
Enquiry Question: What is the atomic structure?
Biology topics: Cell structure and division. Transport in plants. Osmosis.
Enquiry question: How are plants structured?
Physics topics: Energy changes in a system,the ways energy is stored before and after changes. Conservation and dissipation of energy. National and global energy resources.
Enquiry Question: How does energy change?
Term 5
Chemistry topics:atomic mass, isotopes and electronic charge.
Enquiry question: What is the structure of the atom and periodic table and how has this developed over time?
Biology topics: Cell structure, division, transport in plants and osmosis.
Enquiry Question: How do the structural adaptations of specialised cells enable them to efficiently carry out their specific functions within an organism?
Physics topic: Energy changes in a system.
Enquiry Question: How is energy transferred and utilised in the modern world?
Term 6
Consolidation and closing of gaps.
Chemistry topics; atomic structure and the periodic table.
Enquiry question: What is relative atomic mass and how has the periodic table developed over time?
Biology topics: Structural adaptations of specialised cells.
Enquiry question: How are specialised cells structurally adapted?
Physics topics: Energy storage before and after changes.
Enquiry Question: How is energy transferred and utilised in the modern world?
Recommended websites to support your child’s learning:
BBC Bitesize science
Year 10
Year 10 Combined Science
Terms 1 and 2
Biology topics: Cell biology and organisation.
Enquiry Questions:
How do the structural adaptations of specialised cells enable them to efficiently carry out their specific functions within an organism?
How are substances transported around multicellular organisms?
Chemistry topics: Atomic structure and the Periodic table. Bonding, structure and properties of materials
Enquiry Questions:
What is the structure of the atom and periodic table and how has this developed over time?
How do theories of structure and bonding enable scientists to engineer new materials with specific desirable properties for technological applications?
Physics topics: Energy and electricity.
Enquiry Questions:
How is energy transferred and utilised in the modern world?
How do circuits supply everyday appliances with electricity?
Term 3
Biology topic: Infection and response.
Enquiry Question: How does the body respond to infection?
Chemistry topic: Quantitative chemistry.
Enquiry Question: How do chemists utilise quantitative analysis and reaction classification to characterise and predict chemical behaviour?
Physics topic: Particle model.
Enquiry Question: How is energy transferred in different states of matter?
Terms 4 and 5
Biology topic: Bioenergetics.
Enquiry Question: How do cells synthesise ATP for energy?
Chemistry topics: Chemical changes and energy changes. The rate and extent of chemical changes.
Enquiry Question:
How did organising observations of chemical reactions help scientists predict new substances, create useful materials and understand processes in nature and industry?
How do energy changes in chemical reactions power everyday uses like heating, cooling, and electricity?
How can variables be manipulated to optimise the rate and yield of a chemical reaction?
Physics topic: Atomic structure
Enquiry Question: Why do some atoms emit radiation and what types do they emit?
Term 6
Biology topics: Homeostasis and response.
Enquiry question: How does an organism internally communicate?
Physics topic: Forces.
Enquiry question: How can the analysis of forces be applied to the design and improvement of mechanical systems?
Year 10 Single Science
Term 1 and 2
Biology topics: Cell-level systems and scaling up. Organism level systems
Enquiry Questions:
What are the structures of different types of cells?
How are cells supplied with what they need?
How are organisms adapted to perform living processes effectively?
How does our body respond to changes in the environment and why is this important?
Why do we have hormones and how do they work?
Why is it important to maintain internal environmental levels in our body?
Chemistry topics: Elements, compounds and mixtures.
Enquiry Questions:
What is a pure substance and how do we separate impure substances?
How are all the substances around us made?
Why are different substances used for making different things?
Physics topics: Pressure and forces
Enquiry Questions:
What causes pressure and how do we use knowledge of pressure?
What causes things to move and how do we measure their motion?
Why are Newton’s laws so important in physics?
How do forces affect objects?
Terms 3 and 4
Biology topics: Organism level systems. Ecosystems and Maintaining the environment
Enquiry Questions:
How does our body respond to changes in the environment and why is this important?
Why do we have hormones and how do they work?
Why is it important to maintain internal environmental levels in our body?
How do all living things on the Earth affect each other?
Chemistry topic: Chemical reactions.
Enquiry Questions:
How are new substances formed?
Why do some reactions get hot and others get cold?
What are some of the different reactions in chemistry and why is it important that we know about them?
How is electricity used to separate substances?
Physics topic: Electricity and magnetism.
Enquiry Questions:
What causes static electricity?
How are electrical circuits made and how do we use our knowledge to make the most effective circuits?
How do magnetic fields affect our everyday lives?
What are the uses of magnetism?
Terms 5 and 6
Biology topic: Community level systems.
Enquiry Question: How do living things on Earth affect each other?
Chemistry topics: Predicting and identifying reactions and products
Enquiry Questions:
How can we predict what products form in reactions?
How and why do we analyse reactions?
Physics topic: Waves.
Enquiry Question:
What are waves and why are they important in physics?
What are the uses and dangers of electromagnetic waves?
How do waves interact with each other?
Year 11
Year 11 Combined Science:
Term 1
Biology topic: Homeostasis and response.
Enquiry Question: How does an organism internally communicate?
Chemistry topic: The rate and extent of chemical reactions.
Enquiry Question: How can we control the speed and direction of chemical reactions to sustainably maximise product yield?
Physics topic: Forces.
Enquiry Question: What forces are involved in everyday situations?
Term 2
Biology topics: Inheritance, variation and evolution.
Enquiry Question: How are genetic traits passed onto offspring?
Chemistry topic: Organic chemistry.
Enquiry Questions:
How does carbon’s unique molecular bonding allow us to harvest fuels and engineer modern materials from crude oil?
How must we adapt this chemistry for a sustainable future?
Physics topic: Waves.
Enquiry Questions:
How do waves transfer energy and information across our universe?
How do we safely harness the electromagnetic spectrum for modern technology?
Term 3
Biology topic: Ecology.
Enquiry Questions:
How do living organisms interact within delicate ecological networks?
What is our scientific and ethical responsibility in mitigating human disruption to these systems?
Chemistry topics: Chemical analysis and chemistry of the atmosphere.
Enquiry Questions:
How can we use physical and chemical testing to identify unknown substances, verify purity and determine composition with absolute scientific certainty?
How has the dynamic evolution of Earth's atmosphere shaped our climate and how must we globally and locally manage human impacts to prevent ecological catastrophe?
Physics topics: Magnetism and electromagnetism.
Enquiry Questions:
How do invisible magnetic fields exert physical forces?
How do we exploit this interaction to drive the mechanical rotation of modern electric motors?
Term 4
Chemistry topic: Using resources.
Enquiry Question:
How can chemical engineering and sustainable resource management allow humanity to meet modern global demands without depleting our planet's finite systems?
Terms 5 and 6
Consolidation of learning, closing gaps and exam preparation.
How is this course assessed?
Six written exams. ( Two exams per science subject.) 100 % exam.
Exam Board specification link:
Exam specification - AQA Combined Science.
Year 11 Single Science
Terms 1, 2 and 3
Biology topics: Genes, inheritance and selection. Global challenges.
Enquiry Questions:
Why do we look the way we do?
Why are some people born with genetic disorders?
Why and how have humans developed the way we have?
How is biology applied in the real world?
Chemistry topics: Monitoring and controlling chemical reactions. Global challenges.
Enquiry Question:
How can reactions be monitored and controlled?
How is chemistry applied in the real world?
Physics topics: Energy and global challenges.
Enquiry Question: What global and energy challenges do we face?
Terms 4 and 5
Consolidation of learning, closing gaps and exam preparation.
How is this course assessed?
Six written exams. ( Two exams per science subject.) 100 % exam.
Exam board specification links:
OCR A GCSE Biology Exam Specification Biology
OCR A GCSE Chemistry Exam Specification Chemistry
OCR A GCSE Physics Exam specification physics
Sixth Form Year 12
A Level Biology
Term 1
Topics: Module 2 - cell structure, biological molecules and enzymes.
Term 2
Topics: Module 2 - biological membranes. Module 3 - Exchange surfaces
Term 3
Topics: Module 2 - cell division. Module 3 - transport in animals and plants.
Term 4
Topics: Module 4 - classification and evolution. Biodiversity. Communicable diseases
Term 5
Topic: Module 4 - communicable diseases.
Term 6
Topics: Module 5 - neural communication. Module 6 - genetics and living systems.
A Level Chemisty
Term 1
Topics: Module 2 - atoms and molecules. Formulas and equations. Reactions and calculations. Electrons, bonding and structure.
Term 2
Topics: Module 3 - the periodic table. Module 4 - basic concepts and hydrocarbons.
Terms 3 and 4
Topics: Module 3 - physical chemistry. Module 4 - alcohols and haloalkanes.
Term 5
Consolidation of learning and closing of gaps.
Term 6
Topics: Module 5 - reaction rates. Module 6 - aromatic compounds and carbonyls.
A Level Physics
Term 1
Topics: Module 2 - foundations of physics. Module 3 - motion and forces in action.
Term 2
Topics: Module 3 - work, energy and power. Materials.
Term 3
Topics: Module 3 - laws of motion and momentum. Module 4 - charge and current. Energy, power and resistance.
Term 4
Topics: Module 4 - electrical circuits. Waves 1.
Term 5
Topics: Module 4 - waves 2. Quantum physics.
Sixth Form Year 13
Applied Science
Terms 1 and 2
Topics: Science in society.
Biology:
Epidemiological studies and disease tracking.
Impact of environmental pollutants on public health.
Genetic engineering and bioethics.
Chemistry:
Chemical waste management and industrial footprints.
Green chemistry and sustainable manufacturing.
Development and regulation of pharmaceuticals.
Physics:
Nuclear power generation and public perception.
Renewable energy infrastructures and national grids.
Climate change modeling and atmospheric physics
Official assessment in January 2027.
Terms 3 and 4
Topic: Forensic biology coursework.
Biological traces:
Collection and preservation of body fluids.
Hair and fiber analysis under microscopes.
Forensic entomology and estimating time of death.
DNA profiling:
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and DNA amplification.
Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis.
Gel electrophoresis and matching genetic profiles.
Pathology and anatomy:
Identification of skeletal remains and anthropology.
Assessment of trauma and post-mortem interval (PMI).
Toxicology screens for biological poisons and drugs.
Official coursework to be submitted in May 2027
Terms 5 and 6.
Consolidation of learning, closing gaps and improving outcomes on previous units.
How is this course assessed?
Over the two-year course (ending in Year 13), students are graded through a 40/60 split combining external written exams (40%) and internal coursework/practical assignments (60%).
A Level Biology
Term 1
Topics: Module 5 - neural communication. Hormonal communication. Module 6 - genetics and inheritance.
Term 2
Topics: Module 5 - homeostasis. Plant responses. Module 6 - manipulating genomes. Biotechnology and cloning.
Term 3
Topics: Module 5 - energy. Module 6 - ecosystems.
Term 4
Topics: Module 5 - photosynthesis. Module 6 populations and sustainability.
Term 5
Consolidation of learning, closing gaps and exam preparation.
A Level Chemistry
Term 1
Topics: Module 5 - equilibrium. Module 6 - nitrogen compounds and polymers.
Term 2
Topics: Module 5 - acids, bases and pH. Module 6 - organic synthesis and practical techniques.
Term 3
Topics: Module 5 - enthalpy, entropy and free energy. Module 6 - analysis.
Term 4
Topics: Module 5 - redox and electrode potentials. Transition elements.
Term 5
Consolidation of learning, closing gaps and exam preparation.
A Level Physics
Term 1
Topics: Module 5 - gravitational fields and stars.
Term 2
Topics: Module 5 - cosmology (Big Bang Theory). Module 6 - capacitors.
Term 3
Topics: Module 6 - electric fields and magnetic fields.
Term 4
Topics: Module 6 - particle physics, radioactivity, nuclear physics and medical imaging.
Term 5
Consolidation of learning, closing gaps and exam preparation.