Science
The Science Department is characterised by a strong sense of enthusiasm for all science subjects and sharing that enthusiasm with our students. When students enter the laboratory, they are scientists and we develop the communication, enquiring, creativity and questioning skills that good scientists need. The science department have strong links to various Universities, including Cambridge, Bedfordshire and Reading, which provide students with a variety of opportunities to develop their scientific skills and aspirations.
Achievement in science has increased rapidly over the last three years, this has been achieved through staff sharing their enthusiasm and expertise, ensuring a diverse and engaging curriculum, developing an ethos to inspire all students to have a desire to enquire and investigate the world around them. We work closely with the Maths and English department to ensure that we use the same strategies for literacy and numeracy in science.
We have a strong focus on students planning, carrying out and evaluating experiments as well as the academic understanding of all the sciences.
The science department are passionate about their teaching and their students’ learning and supporting each individual to achieve their full potential.
Key Stage 3
Key stage 3 science at Putteridge High School encourages familiarity of scientific concepts and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. The curriculum follows the Pearson exploring science schemes of learning.
The students develop an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer questions about the world around them. KS3 curriculum is aimed to equip students with the skills they will need for KS4 whilst fostering an enjoyment of the subject.
Students will be given access to online materials to support their studies through the Pearson active learn website, details will be given by the class teacher. Topics studied can be found below:
| Year 7 | Year 8 | |
| Biology |
Human body systems Movement and health Reproduction Variation in nature |
Digestion Respiration Plant biology Unicellular organisms |
| Chemistry |
Particle and atomic models Separation techniques Particle and atomic models |
Types of reactions Periodic table Rock cycle |
| Physics |
Energy resources Energy transfers Electrical circuits Forces (inc speed) Sound |
Heat transfer Magnetism Fluids Light Space |
Key Stage 4
Key stage 4 science at Putteridge High School follows the Edexcel 9-1 GCSE combined science scheme of learning. The curriculum model follows a three year key stage 4 plan culminating in two science GCSE grades from six external examinations at the end of year 11.
It is highly recommended that students purchase an Edexcel science revision guide to assist with their studies and use this revision guide regularly, these can be purchased at a discounted rate through the school.
Topics studied in the key stage 4 curriculum are found below:
| Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 | |
| Biology |
CB1 Cells and microscopes (Not enzymes or transport) CB2 Mitosis, Stem cells and nervous system CB3 Genetics |
CB4 Evolution and GMOs CB5 Health and disease including CB1 enzymes CB6 Photosynthesis |
CB7 Hormones and homeostasis CB8 Respiration, exhchange and transport CB9 Ecology
|
| Chemistry |
CC1-2 State of matter and separating substances CC3 and CC4 Atomic structure and periodic table CC5-7 Bonding |
CC9 Calculations involving masses CC13-15 Groups in periodic table rates of reaction CC16-17 Fuels, Earth |
CC10-12 Electrolytic processes CC8 Acids and alkalis |
| Physics |
CP5 Em spectrum CP1 Motion CP12-13 Particle model and forces matter |
CP2 Forces and motion CP3 Energy CP6 Radioactivity CPCP8 Energy - Forces and effects |
CP4 WavesCP9 Electric circuits CP10-11 Electromagnetism and motor effect
|
More details about the course can be found here
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/sciences-2016.html
Students can get help with their studies using these websites
1) BBC Bitesize
https://www.bbc.com/education/examspecs/zqkww6f details of each topic
2) Pearson active learn
https://pearsonactivelearn.com/app/Home (username and password required, school provide these)
3) GCSE Pod
https://www.gcsepod.com/ set up an account using your Putteridge high school details
The new GCSE science specification includes a higher level of demand requiring students to:
a) Recall 20 physics equations from memory.
b) Understand principles of scientific enquiry through comprehensive knowledge of 18 core practical methods (15% of exam papers)
c) Apply scientific knowledge to unfamiliar situations (40% of exam papers)
d) Use mathematics skills (Physics 40%, Chemistry 20% and biology 10%)
Exam Board
For more information on the subject and to review the GCSE specification from the exam board please click here