Science at Oriel – what can you expect?
Overview
Science is an exciting and dynamic subject, often you will be learning about concepts and contexts that are still under investigation by scientists themselves.
In science at Oriel High School we aim to equip our students with the skills to be able to investigate scientific problems for themselves and make decisions
centred around scientific issues as well as learn the biological, chemical and physical concepts that underpin life as we understand it.
In key stage 3 students follow the OXBOX science works scheme of work, building on the skills and knowledge that they gained during primary school.
Students complete a term of Biology, a term of Chemistry and a term of Physics, teaching is not simply from textbooks but utilises a wide range of activities
including a large proportion of practical investigative work. Students are assessed via tests and longer more open ended formative tasks and sit end of year
exams in the summer of year 7 and 8.
In year 9 students initially all study a bridging unit, Upd8 Segue, between key stage 3 and 4 before a fast track group begin GCSE in year 9, this allows a group
of students to study the extremely challenging courses in separate sciences (Biology/Chemistry/Physics GCSEs)
At key stage 4 a variety of courses are available to personalise science learning, the majority of students sit GCSE core science in year 10 and additional
science in year 11 while smaller groups undertake GCSEs in separate sciences or the BTEC level 2 in applied science qualifications.
Moving forward into key stage 5 there are plenty of opportunities for further science study, AS and A2 courses are available in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and
Psychology with progression for students who have taken the BTEC level 2 route at key stage 4 being available in the form of a BTEC level 3 in applied science.
Curriculum plan
Year
7
Course/Specification/Qualification
All students initially follow an Oriel specific introduction to science unit; this includes
equipment, simple investigations, risk assessment and an assessment of learning
covered during primary school.
All students then follow this with the Science works OXBOX year 7 scheme of work.
The content covered is:
Introduction to science unit

Safety rules
Assessment
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
 End of unit tests –
students mark and set
targets in lessons.
Tracked in student
progress booklet
 Students take part in
target setting and
assessing their own
progress during a
Homework
3 x projects based
home works.
1x SAM learning
homework per week




Lab equipment and practical work
Bunsen Burner passport
How to present work in science
Thinking frames and explaining ideas
Science works OXBOX year 7












8

Cells
Reproduction
Differences
Classification
Acids
Particles
Elements and compounds
Chemical reactions
Electricity and Magnetism
Energy
Forces
Space
These units then feed straight into the year 8 science works OXBOX scheme of work
that all students in year 8 follow.
All students follow the science works OXBOX scheme of work, the units followed are:
Science works OXBOX year 8









lesson at the end of
every unit
Presentation and effort
grades every 2 weeks
End of year test (SATS
style)
Life Support
Keeping healthy
People and environment
Shaping life
The periodic table
Inside materials
Metal reactions
What’s in rocks?
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
 End of unit tests –
students mark and set
targets in lessons.
Tracked in student
progress booklet
 Students take part in
target setting and
assessing their own
progress during a
lesson at the end of
every unit
3x project based home
works
1x SAM learning
homework per week




Heating and cooling
Light
Sound
Moving around


Presentation and effort
grades every 2 weeks
End of year (SATS style)
test
At the end of year 8 students will sit a formal exam and will be guided onto the most
appropriate year 9 option for their learning style and ability.
9
CORE
The majority of year 9 students will follow the upd8 Segue scheme of work
focussing on the transition from KS3 to KS4 and GCSE. This will then lead to GCSE
core and additional science GCSE or BTEC Applied science in year 10 and 11.
It is important to realise that at least core and additional science are the entry
requirement for acceptance onto a science A level course in any college or 6th form
and by taking this route students are not limiting their options post 16.
Upd8 Segue
A context based science course. It is based on four units, each of which will take half a
term
Students will intersperse this with 3x controlled assessment units which will be used
to prepare them for the controlled assessment component of the GCSE or BTEC
course
HOLLYWOOD
Based on Physics concepts
RECONSTRUCTORS
Based on Chemistry concepts
RICH
Based on a mixture of Biology, Physics and Chemistry concepts
METAHUMAN
Based on Biology concepts
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
 End of sub unit
formative assessment
tasks
 End of unit tests
 Easter exam in year 9
(SATS style)
1x SAM learning
homework per week
3 x project homeworks
9
FAST
TRACK
After initially following the Upd8 Segue course a small number of students will begin
the GCSE course after Easter of year 9, allowing them to achieve separate science
GCSEs in year 11. This decision will be made by the science department and will be
based on:
 Attainment throughout year 7/8/9, both in tests and teacher assessment
 Effort and attitude through year 7/8/9
 The students ability to work independently and submit homework tasks on
time
 The students ability to work at a sustained fast pace and to assimilate new and
challenging content and concepts quickly.
 Performance on an end of year 9 (taken before Easter) exam and controlled
assessment
B1 – Influences on life
 Classification, variation and inheritance
 Responses to a changing environment
 Problems of, and solutions to a changing environment
C1 – Chemistry in our world
 The Earth’s sea and atmosphere
 Material from the earth
 Acids
 Obtaining and using metals
 Fuels
P1 - Universal physics
 Visible light and the solar system
 The electromagnetic spectrum
 Waves and the universe
 Waves and the earth
 Generation and transmission of electricity
 Energy and the future
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
 As for all year 9 and
then:
 Unit formative
assessment tasks
 End of Summer term
test
Up to Easter
1x per week SAM
learning task
After Easter
Weekly set and
marked by teachers
Focussing on the skills
needed for
examination
questions. E.g.
learning home works,
practice
questions/calculations
10
Separate
sciences
Edexcel separate sciences
September to Christmas
B1 Influences on life (recap)
C1 Chemistry in our world (recap)
P1 Universal physics (recap)
Christmas to July
B2 – The components of life
 The building blocks of cells
 Organisms and energy
 Common systems
C2 – Discovering chemistry
 Atomic structure and the periodic table
 Ionic compounds and analysis
 Covalent compounds and separation techniques
 Groups in the periodic table
 Chemical reactions
 Quantitative chemistry
P2 – Physics for your future
 Static and current electricity
 Controlling and using electric current
 Motion and forces
 Momentum, energy, work and power
 Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion
 Advantages and disadvantages of using radioactive materials
10
Edexcel GCSE Core science
B1 – Influences on life
 Classification, variation and inheritance
Core and
 Responses to a changing environment
Additional
 Problems of, and solutions to a changing environment
science
C1 – Chemistry in our world
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
 Topic formative
assessment tasks
 3 tests per topic –
based on past paper
questions
 Full end of unit mock
exam
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
 9x exams at the end of
year 11
 3x controlled
assessment to be
moderated/submitted
at the end of year 11
Fortnightly set and
marked by teachers
(Bio/Chem/Phys)
Focussing on the skills
needed for
examination
questions. E.g.
learning home works,
practice
questions/calculations
.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
 End of sub unit
formative assessment
tasks
 3x test per unit for
each B1/C1/P1
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Fortnightly set and
marked by teachers
(Bio/Chem/Phys)
Focussing on the skills
needed for
examination
questions. E.g.
 The Earth’s sea and atmosphere
 Material from the earth
 Acids
 Obtaining and using metals
 Fuels
P1 - Universal physics
 Visible light and the solar system
 The electromagnetic spectrum
 Waves and the universe
 Waves and the earth
 Generation and transmission of electricity
 Energy and the future
10
BTEC
11
Separate
sciences
(for
students
that
started
their
GCSE
studies in
Edexcel BTEC Core principles of applied science
Unit 1 – Principles of science (externally assessed examination unit)
Unit 2 – Chemistry and our earth
Unit 3 – Energy and Our universe
Unit 4 – Biology and Our environment
Edexcel GCSE Biology/Chemistry/Physics
September to March
 B2 – The components of life – continuation of year 10
 C2 – Discovering chemistry – continuation of year 10
 P2 – Physics for your future – continuation of year 10
March to June
B3 – using Biology
 Control systems
 Behaviour
 Biotechnology



3x exams at the end of
year 10 leading to a
GCSE in core science
1x CAU submitted and
moderated at the end
of year 10
There is not the option
to retake these units
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
 3x Assignment based
internally marked and
externally moderated
units (Units 2,3,4)
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
 1x Externally marked
and set examination
(Unit 1)
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
 End of topic internal
tests
 During topic formative
assessment tasks
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
 9x examinations at the
end of year 11
learning home works,
practice
questions/calculations
Completion of
assignments
Research for
assignments
Fortnightly set and
marked by teachers
Focussing on the skills
needed for
examination
questions. E.g.
learning home works,
practice
questions/calculations
Sept
2012)
11
C3 – Chemistry in action
 Qualitative analysis
 Quantitative analysis
 Electrolytic processes
 Gases, equilibrium and ammonia
 Organic chemistry
P3 – Applications of physics
 Radiation in treatment and medicine
 X rays and ECGs
 Production, uses and risks of ionising radiation from radioactive sources
 Motion of particles
 Kinetic theory and gases
Edexcel GCSE Additional science
B2 – The components of life – continuation of year 10
 The building blocks of cells
Additional
 Organisms and energy
science
 Common systems
(for
C2 – Discovering chemistry – continuation of year 10
students
 Atomic structure and the periodic table
that
 Ionic compounds and analysis
started
 Covalent compounds and separation techniques
their
 Groups in the periodic table
GCSE
 Chemical reactions
studies in
 Quantitative chemistry
Sept
P2
–
Physics for your future – continuation of year 10
2012)
 Static and current electricity
 Controlling and using electric current
 Motion and forces
 Momentum, energy, work and power
 Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion
 Advantages and disadvantages of using radioactive materials
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
 End of topic tests
 During topic formative
assessment tasks
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
 3xexternal exams at
end of year 11
 1x CAU submitted in
May of year 11
Fortnightly set and
marked by teachers
Focussing on the skills
needed for
examination
questions. E.g.
learning home works,
practice
questions/calculations
11
BTEC
12
CHEM
BTEC Applied science diploma (QCF)
Assignments to be completed and finalised
BIO
12
PHYS
Completion of
assignments
Research for
assignments
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
2 x 1hour 30 external
examinations (summer exam
series/40% each)
Internally marked/externally
moderated practical
examinations (20%)
Regular independent
study tasks set by class
teachers,
approximately one
hour of guided study
or homework task for
each hour of taught
subject time (8 hours
per fortnight)
Students completing summer 2013 – last certification of this course
Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry
Unit 1: formulae, equations and amounts of substance energetics and energy in
chemical reactions, atomic structure and the periodic table, bonding (covalent,
metallic, ionic), introductory organic chemistry (alkanes, alkenes and their reactions)
Unit 2: shapes of molecules and ions, intermediate bonding and bond polarity,
intermolecular forces, redox, the periodic table (group 2 and 7), kinetics - why do
reactions happen? equilibria, organic chemistry (alcohols and haloalkanes)
12
All units units internally
marked and externally
moderated
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
End of topic tests, series of
Unit 3: practical chemistry, tasks including quantitative tasks, qualitative (observation) assessments as indicated in
tasks, preparation of a chemical tasks
the 6th form students planners
and calendar
OCR GCE AS Biology
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Regular independent
2 x external examinations F211 study tasks set by class
F211: cells, exchange and transport - 30% (cell structure, cell membranes, cell
(30%) F212 (50%)
teachers,
division, cell diversity, cellular organisation, exchange surfaces and breathing,
approximately one
transport in animals, transport in plants
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
hour of guided study
End of topic tests, series of
or homework task for
F212: Molecules, biodiversity, food and health 50% (biological molecules, enzymes,
assessments as indicated in
each hour of taught
nucleic acids, diet and food production, health and disease, biodiversity, classification, the 6th form students planners subject time (8 hours
evolution, maintaining biodiversity)
and calendar
per fortnight)
F213 Practical skills in biology 1 - 20% (practical biology activities)
OCR GCE AS Physics (Advancing physics)
G491:Physics in action – communication and designer materials
G492:Understanding processes and experimentation and data handling – waves and
quantum behaviour and space time and motion
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
2 x external exams G491
(30%), G492 (50%). Internally
marked externally moderated
piece of work (G493 – 20%)
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Regular independent
study tasks set by class
teachers,
approximately one
hour of guided study
or homework task for
G493: Physics in practice – Quality of measurement – internally marked investigation
focusing on quality of measurements taken during experiment, physics in use –
presentation on a use of physics – internally marked
12
PSYCH
12
AQA GCE AS Psychology
PSYA1: Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Research Methods:
Cognitive Psychology – Memory, Models of memory, Memory in everyday life,
Developmental Psychology – Early Social Development, Attachment, Attachment in
everyday life, Research methods – methods and techniques, Investigation design,
data analysis and presentation
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
2 x external examinations –
summer examination series
(PSYA1 and PSYA2) each worth
50% of the final AS
qualification and both 1hr 30
minutes long
PSYA2: Biological Psychology, Social Psychology and Individual Differences. Biological
psychology – stress, stress as a bodily response, stress in everyday life, Social
psychology – social influences, social influence, social influence in everyday life.
Individual difference – psychopathology, defining and explaining psychological
abnormality, treating abnormality.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
End of topic tests, series of
assessments as indicated in
the 6th form students planners
and calendar
Level 3 BTEC certificate Applied science
Unit 1: Fundamentals of science
Unit 2: Working in the science industry
Unit 4: Scientific practical techniques
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
None
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Internally marked and
externally moderated
assignments for
Regular independent
study tasks including
work on assignments,
work towards merit
and distinction criteria
and further research
and reading
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
2 x 1hour 30 external
examinations (summer exam
series/40% each)
Regular independent
study tasks set by class
teachers,
approximately one
BTEC
Level 3 BTEC Subsidiary diploma Applied Science
As above plus
Unit 5: Perceptions of science
Unit 6: Using mathematical tools for science
Unit 8: Using statistics for science
Unit 28: Industrial applications of organic chemistry
13
End of topic tests, series of
each hour of taught
assessments as indicated in
subject time (8 hours
the 6th form students planners per fortnight)
and calendar
Edexcel GCE A2 Chemistry
Unit 4: How fast? Rates of reaction, How far? Entropy, equilibria (quantitative),
application of rates and equilibria, acid based equilibria, organic chemistry (chirality,
carbonyl compounds, carboxylic acids and derivatives), spectroscopy and
Regular independent
study tasks set by class
teachers,
approximately one
hour of guided study
or homework task for
each hour of taught
subject time (8 hours
per fortnight)
CHEM
chromatography.
Unit 5: application of redox equilibria, transition metals and their chemistry, organic
chemistry (arenes, organic nitrogen compounds, amines, amides, amino acids,
proteins, polyesters, polyamides, organic synthesis)
13
BIO
13
PHYS
13
PSYCH
Internally marked/externally
moderated practical
examinations (20%)
hour of guided study
or homework task for
each hour of taught
subject time (8 hours
per fortnight)
INTERNAL ASSESSSMENT
End of topic tests, series of
Unit 6: practical chemistry, tasks including quantitative tasks, qualitative
assessments as indicated in
(observation) tasks, preparation of a chemical tasks
the 6th form students planners
and calendar
OCR GCE A2 Biology
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Regular independent
F214: Communication, homeostasis and energy 30% (communication, nerves,
2 x external examinations F214 study tasks set by class
hormones, excretion, photosynthesis, respiration)
(30%) F215 (50%)
teachers,
F215: Control, genomes and environment 50% (cellular control, meiosis and variation,
approximately one
cloning in plants and animals, biotechnology, genomes and gene technology,
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
hour of guided study
ecosystems, populations and sustainability, plant responses, animal responses, animal End of topic tests, series of
or homework task for
behaviour)
assessments as indicated in
each hour of taught
F216Practical skills in biology 2 - 20% (practical biology activities)
the 6th form students planners subject time (8 hours
and calendar
per fortnight)
OCR GCE A2 Physics (Advancing physics)
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Regular independent
2 x external examinations
study tasks set by class
G494:The rise and fall of the clockwork universe: models and rules. matter in
(summer examination series)
teachers,
extremes
G494 – 30%, G495 – 50%)
approximately one
G495: Field and particle pictures: Fields, fundamental particles
Internally marked, externally
hour of guided study
G496: Practical investigation, research briefing
assessed component (20%)
or homework task for
each hour of taught
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
subject time (8 hours
End of topic tests, series of
per fortnight)
assessments as indicated in
the 6th form students planners
and calendar
AQA GCE A2 Psychology
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Regular independent
2 x external examinations –
study tasks set by class
PSYA3: Topics in Psychology: Biological rhythms and sleep – biological rhythms,
summer series
teachers,
circadian rhythms, disorders of sleep. Perception – theories of perceptual
PSYA3, PSYA4
approximately one
organisation, development of perception, face recognition and visual agnosias,
hour of guided study
Relationships – the formation, maintenance and breakdown of romantic
relationships, evolutionary explanations of human reproductive behaviour, effects of
early experience and culture on adult behaviour. Aggression – social psychological
approaches to explaining aggression, biological explanations of aggression, evolution
and human aggression. Eating behaviour – eating behaviour, biological explanations
of eating behaviour, eating disorders. Gender – psychological theories of gender
development, biological influences on gender, social influences on gender.
Intelligence and learning – theories of intelligence, animal learning and intelligence,
human intelligence. Cognition and development – development of thinking,
development of moral understanding, development of social cognition.
13
BTEC
PSYA4: Psychopathology, Psychology in Action and Research Methods –
Psychopathology – schizophrenia, depression, phobic disorders, obsessive compulsive
disorder. Psychology in action – media psychology, the psychology of addictive
behaviour, anomalistic psychology. Psychological research and scientific method –
the application of scientific method in psychology, designing psychological
investigations, data analysis and reporting on investigations
Level 3 BTEC Subsidiary diploma Applied Science
Unit 15: Microbiological techniques
Unit 20: Medical physics techniques
Unit 22: Chemical laboratory techniques
Level 3 BTEC Diploma Applied Science
As above plus
Unit 3: Scientific investigation
Unit 11: Physiology of human body systems
Unit 40: Astronomy
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
End of topic tests, series of
assessments as indicated in
the 6th form students planners
and calendar
or homework task for
each hour of taught
subject time (8 hours
per fortnight)
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT –
none
Regular independent
study tasks including
work on assignments,
work towards merit
and distinction criteria
and further research
and reading
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
All assignments linked to the
modules studied (indicated
opposite) are internally
marked and externally
moderated