Science KS4 curriculum contents list
Years 10 & 11
During these two years students will follow one of the following options:
Option 1. BTEC Applied Science
Option 2. GCSE Science followed by GCSE Additional Science
Option 3. GCSE Biology, Chemistry & Physics
Option 1 BTEC Applied Science:
Students taking this option would study four units. Three of which are folder based
coursework and the last of which is an examined unit. This course would be taken by those
who would struggle with 2 GCSE’s in Science. Reaching a level 2 at BTEC is equivalent to a
grade C at GCSE.
Option 2 GCSE Science & GCSE Additional Science:
This option would be taken by the majority of students. This would cover the same units,
assessment & exams as above in GCSE Science, but all in year 10. Then in year 11 it would
cover GCSE additional Science consisting of units B3, B4, C3, C4, P3 & P4 along with another
controlled assessment task and 2 exams in the June.
Option 3 Separate Sciences:
This option would be taken by the gifted & talented Scientist & those intending further
study in the sciences. This course covers all the above units 1-6 in three science subjects.
Each Science will have a controlled assessment task and 2 GCSE exams.
Curriculum taught in each option.
Below is the full list of units of work covered during each of these courses:
Core science
Biology
Unit B1: Understanding ourselves
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Fitness and diet
Disease and immunity
The nervous system and homeostasis
Drugs, tobacco and alcohol
Variation and inheritance
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Plant growth
Unit B2: Understanding our environment
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Classification and food chains
Carbon and nitrogen cycle
Competition, interdependence and adaptations
Evolution
Pollution and sustainability
Chemistry
Unit C1: Carbon Chemistry
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Crude oil and hydrocarbons
Carbon fuels and air pollution
Alkanes, alkenes and polymers
Cooking and food additives
Smells, nail varnish and testing
Paints and pigments
Unit C2: Chemical resources
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Structure of the Earth and plate tectonics
Construction materials and concrete
Copper, alloys and corrosion
Making ammonia
Acids and alkalis and making fertilisers
Chemicals from salt and electrolysis
Physics
Unit P1: Energy for the home
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Heat and temperature
Conduction, convection and radiation
Insulation and energy efficiency
Electromagnetic spectrum
Analogue and digital
Seismic waves
Unit P2: Living for the future
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Generating electricity
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Global warming
Power
Fossil fuels and biomass
Radiation
Solar system
Additional Science
Biology
Unit B3: Living and growing
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DNA and genes
Proteins and enzymes
Respiration and exercise
Mitosis and meiosis
Circulatory system
Selective breeding
Genetic engineering and cloning
Unit B4: It’s a green world
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Identification keys
Photosynthesis and the leaf
Plant structure
Transpiration
Plant minerals
Decay and recycling
Intensive and organic farming
Chemistry
Unit C3: Chemical economics
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Rates of reaction
Relative formula mass
Conservation of mass
Percentage yield
Energy and reactions
Nanochemistry
Unit C4: The periodic table
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Atomic structure, Ionic and covalent bonding
Group 1 and 7 elements
Transition elements
Metallic structure
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Superconductors
Purifying water
Physics
Unit P3: Forces and motion
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Speed and stopping distances
Work and power
Kinetic energy
Momentum
Collisions and car safety
Gravitational potential energy
Unit P4: Electricity, waves and radiation
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Electrostatics
Current and resistance
Longitudinal waves and ultrasound
Radioactivity and uses of radiation
Nuclear power
Chain reactions and nuclear fusion
Units for separate sciences only
Biology
Unit B5: The living body
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Skeletons, muscles and joints
Circulatory and respiratory systems
Digestive and excretory systems
Reproductive system
Growth
Transplants
Unit B6: Beyond the microscope
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Bacteria, fungi and viruses
Transmission and development of disease
Useful bacteria and brewing
Biofuels
Life in soil and water
Enzymes
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Genetic engineering
DNA fingerprinting
Chemistry
Unit C5: Quantitative analysis
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Moles and molar mass
Percentage composition and empirical formulae
Concentration and dilution
pH curves and titrations
Equilibria
Making sulphuric acid
Making insoluble compounds
Testing ions
Unit C6: Chemistry out there
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Electrolysis of solutions
Fuel cells
Redox reactions and rusting
Fermentation and alcohols
The ozone layer
Water hardness
Emulsions, soap and detergents
Physics
Unit P5: Space for reflection
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Satellites
Equations of motion
Projectiles
Momentum changes
Waves through the atmosphere
The ionosphere and diffraction
Light, refraction and dispersion
Lenses and lens diagrams
Unit P6: Electricity for gadgets
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Resistance, voltage and current
Potential divider
LDRs, thermistors and resistors
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Logic gates
Dynamo effect
Transformers and their uses
Diodes and capacitors
This is an overview of the course for each year.
Further details are included in the Scheme of Work for this subject.
If you wish a copy of the scheme of work you should contact the
school office.
If it is a printed document we will have to make a small photocopying
charge, in accordance with school policies.
Please note the Scheme of Work is a working document which changes
as the year progresses.