SubjectsThe Sciences

Our Curriculum Intent

We have embedded the Academy vision within our Science Faculty vision.

‘To provide students with an outstanding education in biology, chemistry and physics and help students aspire to study Science in the future, and contribute to meaningful change in the world’. 

The basis of the Scientific Method is to find a problem and try to solve it. This involves making mistakes and critically, the ability to learn from these mistakes. This is a fundamental skill that is at the centre of our teaching philosophy in Science. 

Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is designed to: 

  • Develop essential literacy and mathematical skills for everyday life 

  • Develop scientific literacy so that students can make informed choices 

  • Inspire students to pursue further study in Science and STEM careers 

  • Maintain curiosity about how the universe works 

Our GCSE curriculum is designed to: 

  • Allow all students to continue the development of key skills from KS3 

  • Understand and experience the full range of extended scientific concepts by studying all three sciences at GCSE 

  • Provide bespoke support and intervention for identified areas of weakness 

  • Inspire students to explore further education and STEM careers 

  • Maintain curiosity about how the universe works 

  • Support students to develop the skills to work independently and think critically to solve problems 

Our A Level curriculum includes Biology, Chemistry and Physics that is designed to: 

  • Develop critical and essential skills for future scientists 

  • Promote independence, critical thinking, strong work ethic and creativity 

  • Provide bespoke support, intervention and advice to refine scientific skills 

  • Be given, and solve problems to identify concepts, laws and theories that can then be further evaluated against scientific evidence. 

As a faculty team, we enrich our teaching further with links to careers, links to everyday life and provide STEM events with outside agencies and our partnership with Cheltenham College. Fundamental values that we hold dear in Science are inclusivity and ambition. We see that Science is a pathway for all students to study. Any potential barriers (including SEND) are dealt with effectively so that all can make outstanding progress and develop key skills that students are fluent in, to give ‘life in all its fullness’.

 

Implementation 

Our teachers provide creative, coherent and personal lessons to our students all rooted in our researched teaching model. This model includes fact recall starters, inspiring teaching and effective modelling of concepts or modelling of how to answer questions efficiently. We also build assessment opportunities so that students can demonstrate progress or make mistakes and learn from them. All of our lesson designs seek to help the student remember and apply content and information.

We have a rigorous assessment schedule, specifically designed to aid teachers with providing constructive feedback to allow students to progress and inform teaching. This also aids the students by providing quick and meaningful feedback to tackle misconceptions and errors.

We include mid-cycle assessments which are used formatively in addition to the end-of-cycle assessments. In Years 11, 12 and 13, as well as mocks, meaningful assessment tasks and/or exam questions are to be completed every lesson.  

Our curriculum contains a well-organised remote learning provision, whether students are out of the Academy or revising from home, resources and information are available. 

Outstanding subject knowledge from our teachers, bespoke lesson design and carefully designed assessment provide a safe space for challenging discussion, problem-solving and application of key information. We also commit to Scientific literacy, an essential ingredient to make informed life choices, through support with key vocabulary, support with structured writing and opportunities such as FameLab, a national STEM communication competition.

 

Impact 

We frequently review our Science curriculum to ensure that knowledge and research are up to date, as well as ensuring that our teaching practice is effective in allowing students to make progress. To measure the impact of our curriculum, we frequently perform learning walks or observations to assess the quality of our teaching.

We record assessment data in clear trackers so that strengths, weaknesses and therefore gaps, can be quickly identified to inform teaching plans, revision cycles and intervention strategies to raise student attainment.

The number of students who are taking at least one A Level in Science is also increasing and we are successfully raising aspirations with the view to further study, employment or training in the Sciences, something we see as vital for a successful British culture and society.   

Student outcomes have increased year on year, with the 2021 cohort continuing that improvement. 

Science KS3 Curriculum Overview Science KS4 Curriculum Overview Biology KS5 Curriculum Overview Chemistry KS5 Curriculum Overview Physics KS5 Curriculum Overview
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