Why learn Science?
What are the world’s problems? Who is going to solve them? Science is important because it give us an understanding of the world around us and allows us to think logically to solve a problem. It aims to stimulate our natural curiosity in finding out why things happen in the way they do. It equips us with not only knowledge, but essential skills such as critical thinking, analysing, decision making, problem solving and evaluating. Studying science opens a whole world of possibilities where the skills you learn are transferable to many different career pathways. It can open the door to many STEM related careers such as engineering, architecture, medicine, agriculture, cosmetics, building and construction.
Science Curriculum Overview
Please click the year group and half-term to view additional information.
| Half Term 1 |
| Knowledge |
| Introduction to Science Skills |
| Chemistry: Particle Model Biology: Cells |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Science Skills: Safety, Equipment, Using Bunsen Burners, Rounding, Averages, Percentages, Identifying Variables. Plotting Graphs, Extrapolating Data. |
| Particle Model: Investigating Solids, Liquids and Gases, Changing State, Density. |
| Cells: Microscopes, Animal Cells, Plant Cells, Specialised Cells, Diffusion, Bacterial Cells. |
| Links to prior learning |
| KS2 Living Things and Habitats |
| KS2 Animals, including humans |
| Assessment |
| Cells CAP |
| Particle Model CAP |
| Half Term 2 |
| Knowledge |
| Physics: Forces |
| Biology: Movement |
| Chemistry: Elements, Compounds and Mixtures |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Forces: Forces, Balanced and Unbalanced Forces, Resultant Forces. Floating and Sinking, Friction, Stretching. |
| Movement: The Skeleton, Muscles, Joints, Dissection. |
| Elements and Compounds: Atoms, Elements and Compounds, Investigating Elements and Compounds, Relative Formula Mass. |
| Links to prior learning |
| KS2 Animals, including humans |
| KS2 Forces |
| KS2 Forces and Magnets |
| Assessment |
| Forces CAP |
| Movement CAP |
| Elements Compounds CAP |
| DC1 science exam |
| Half Term 3 |
| Knowledge |
| Physics: Pressure and Energy |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Pressure: Pressure, Pressure Calculations, Pressure in Fluids. |
| Energy Transfers: Different Types of Energy, Energy Transfers, Energy Stores, Wasted Energy, Efficiency. |
| Links to prior learning |
| KS2 Forces |
| Assessment |
| Pressure CAP |
| Energy CAP |
| Half Term 4 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Breathing |
| Chemistry: Chemical Reactions |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Breathing: Breathing System, How we Breath, Investigating Height and Lung Volume, Breathing Measurements. |
| Chemical Reactions: Chemical and Physical Changes, Combustion, Thermal Decomposition, Displacement, Conservation of Mass, Balancing Equations, Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions, Catalysts. |
| Links to prior learning |
| KS2 Properties and changes of materials |
| KS2 Animals, including humans |
| Year 7 Cells |
| Assessment |
| Breathing CAP |
| Chemical Reactions CAP |
| Half Term 5 |
| Knowledge |
| Physics: Universe |
| Biology: Digestion |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| The Universe: Mass vs Weight, Gravity. Stars and Galaxies, The Solar System, Eclipses, Days and Nights, Seasons, Space Exploration. |
| Digestion: Food Groups and Balanced Diets, The Digestive System, Enzymes, Energy in Food. |
| Links to prior learning |
| KS2 Animals, including humans |
| Year 7 Cells |
| KS2 Earth and space |
| KS2 Forces |
| Assessment |
| Universe CAP |
| Digestion CAP |
| Half Term 6 |
| Knowledge |
| Chemistry: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table |
| Physics Waves and Sound |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Atomic Structure: Atomic Structure, Electron Configuration, History of the Atom. Structure of the Periodic Table, History of the Periodic Table. |
| Waves and Sound: Types of Waves, Wave Calculations, The Electromagnetic Spectrum, Investigating Sounds, Sound Waves, Hearing Sounds, The Ear, Hearing Problems. Ultrasound. |
| Links to prior learning |
| KS2 Sound |
| Year 7 Particle Model |
| Year 7 Elements and Compounds |
| Assessment |
| Atomic Structure CAP |
| Waves and Sound CAP |
| DC2 End of Year exam |
| Half Term 1 |
| Knowledge |
| Physics Waves and Sound |
| Chemistry: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table |
| Biology: Reproduction |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Waves and Sound: Types of Waves, Wave Calculations, Investigating Sounds, Sound Waves, Hearing Sounds, The Ear, Hearing Problems. Ultrasound. |
| Atomic Structure: Atomic Structure, Electron Configuration, History of the Atom. Structure of the Periodic Table, History of the Periodic Table. |
| Reproduction: Reproductive Organs, Menstrual Cycle, Fertilisation, Foetal Development, Structure of a Flower, Methods of Pollination, Plant Fertilisation, Seed Dispersal. |
| Links to prior learning |
| KS2 Living Things and Habitats |
| KS2 Animals, including humans |
| KS2 Plants |
| KS2 Sound |
| KS2 Electricity |
| KS3 Energy Transfers |
| Assessment |
| Waves and Sound CAP |
| Atomic Structure CAP |
| Reproduction CAP |
| Half Term 2 |
| Knowledge |
| Physics: Electricity |
| Biology: Inheritance |
| Chemistry: Separation Techniques |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Electricity: Simple Circuits, Modelling Circuits, Current, Voltage, Series and Parallel, Investigating Potential Difference, Resistance, Investigating Resistance. |
| Inheritance: Causes of Variation, Continuous and Discontinuous Variation. |
| Separation Techniques: Investigating Solubility, Filtration, Crystallisation, Distillation, Chromatography. |
| Links to prior learning |
| KS2 Evolution and Inheritance |
| KS2 Living things and habitats |
| KS2 States of Matter |
| KS2 Properties and changes of materials |
| KS2 Forces and Magnets |
| Assessment |
| Electricity CAP |
| Inheritance CAP |
| Separation Techniques CAP |
| DC1 science exam |
| Half Term 3 |
| Knowledge |
| Physics: Magnets |
| Chemistry: Acids and Alkalis |
| Biology: Respiration |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Magnets: Magnetism, Magnetic Fields, Earth’s Magnetic Fields, Electromagnets Investigation, Uses of Electromagnets. |
| Acids and Alkalis: Identifying Acids and Alkalis, The pH scale, Making an Indicator, Neutralisation, Applications of Neutralisation. |
| Respiration: Respiration, Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration. |
| Links to prior learning |
| KS3 Breathing |
| KS2 Properties and changes of materials |
| KS3 Breathing |
| KS3 Forces |
| Assessment |
| Magnets CAP |
| Acids and Alkalis CAP |
| Respiration CAP |
| Half Term 4 |
| Knowledge |
| Physics: Speed |
| Chemistry: Metals |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Speed: Resultant Forces, Calculating Speed, Investigating Speed, Distance Speed Graphs. |
| Metals: Properties of Metals and Non-Metals, Reactions of Metals with Oxygen, Reactions of Metals with Acids, Displacement Reactions, Making Metal Salts. |
| Links to prior learning |
| KS2 Plants |
| KS2 Living things and habitats |
| KS2 Properties and Changes of materials |
| Assessment |
| Speed CAP |
| Metals CAP |
| Half Term 5 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Photosynthesis |
| Physics: Light |
| Biology: Interdependence |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Photosynthesis: Photosynthesis, Structure of the Leaf, Testing a Leaf for Starch, Rate of Photosynthesis. |
| Light: How Light Travels, Reflection, Refraction, Using Refraction, Sight Problems, Dispersion, Seeing Colours/ |
| Interdependence: Food Chains, Food Webs, Factors Affecting Populations, Bioaccumulation. |
| Links to prior learning |
| KS3 inheritance |
| KS2 Evolution and Inheritance |
| KS2 Animals, including humans |
| KS2 Light |
| Assessment |
| Photosynthesis CAP |
| Light CAP |
| Interdependence CAP |
| DC2 End of Year Exam |
| Half Term 6 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Evolution |
| Physics: Heating and Cooling |
| Chemistry: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Evolution: Natural Selection, Darwin’s Finches, Extinction, Biodiversity. |
| Heating and Cooling: Heat and Temperature, Conduction, Convection, Radiation, Insulation, Specific Heat Capacity. |
| Climate: Fuels, Combustion, Pollutants, Global Warming, Acid Rain, Global Dimming, Reducing Pollutants. |
| Links to prior learning |
| KS2 Living things and their habitats |
| KS2 States of Matter |
| KS2 Properties and changes of materials |
| KS3 Particle Model |
| KS3 Energy Transfers |
| Assessment |
| Evolution CAP |
| Heating and Cooling CAP |
| Climate CAP |
| Half Term 1 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Cell Biology |
| Chemistry: Atoms, Elements, Compounds and Mixtures |
| Physics: Particle Model |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Cells: Animal Cells, Plant Cells, Bacterial Cells, Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Cells, Organisation, Microscope Calculations, Using microscopes, stem cells, the cell cycle |
| Atom Elements, Compounds and Mixtures: Atoms, Elements, Compounds, Mixtures, Pure Substances, Chemical Formula, Naming Compounds, Balancing Equations. |
| Separation Techniques: Filtration, Crystallisation, Distillation, Chromatography. |
| Particle Model: States of Matter, Internal Energy, Changing States, Chemical and Physical Changes. |
| Density Calculations, Finding the Density of Regular Objects and Liquids, Finding the Density of Irregular Objects. |
| Pressure in Gases, Changing Pressure in Gases, Boyles Law. |
| Links to prior learning |
| Year 7 Cells |
| Year 7 Elements and Compounds |
| Year 7 Particle Model |
| Year 8 Separating techniques |
| Y7 pressure |
| Assessment |
| Cell Biology CAP |
| Atoms, elements, compounds, mixtures CAP |
| Particle model CAP |
| Half Term 2 & 3 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Digestion |
| Chemistry: The Periodic Table and Atominc Structure |
| Ionic and Covalent Bonding |
| Physics: Energy stores and transfers |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Organisation: the digestive system, enzymes, food tests |
| The Periodic Table and Atomic Structure: History of the Periodic Table, Atomic Structure, Electron Configuration, Isotopes, History of the Atom. |
| Ions and Ionic Bonding: Forming Ions, Ionic Bonding, Ionic Formula. |
| Covalent Bonding: Covalent Bonding, Identifying Gases. |
| Energy stores and transfers: name the stores of energy, energy transfers, efficiency, power, energy calculations |
| Links to prior learning |
| Year 7 Cells |
| Year 7 Digestion |
| Year 7 Particle Model |
| Y7 atomic structure and the periodic table |
| Assessment |
| Organisation CAP |
| Periodic table and atomic structure CAP |
| Ions and ionic bonding, and covalent bonding CAP |
| Energy stores and transfers CAP |
| DC1 science exam |
| Half Term 4 |
| Knowledge |
| Chemistry: Metals |
| Physics: Electricity |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Metals: Properties of Metals and Non-metals, Reactions with Acids, Displacement Reaction, Heating with Carbon, Electrolysis, Aluminium Oxide Extraction, Alternative Extraction Methods, Oxidation and Reduction. |
| Electricity: Circuit Components, Series Circuits, Parallel Circuits, V=IR, Resistance of a Wire; Q=It, E=QV. |
| Links to prior learning |
| Y7 atomic structure and the periodic table |
| Y8 metals |
| Y8 electricity |
| Assessment |
| Metals CAP |
| Electricity CAP |
| Half Term 5 & 6 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Bioenergetics |
| Chemistry: Groups in the Periodic Table |
| Physics: Energy Resources |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Bioenergetics: photosynthesis, rate of photosynthesis, factors that affect photosynthesis, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, response to exercise, metabolism |
| Groups in the periodic table: Group 1 metals and reactions, Group 7 elements and reactions, Group 0 elements |
| Energy resources: renewable and non-renewable, energy futures |
| Links to prior learning |
| Y7 breathing |
| Y8 respiration |
| Y8 photosynthesis |
| Y7 atomic structure and the periodic table |
| Y8 metals |
| Y7 energy stores |
| Assessment |
| Bioenergetics CAP |
| DC2 End of Year Exam |
| Half Term 1 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Cell Biology |
| Chemistry: Acids, Groups in the Periodic Table |
| Physics: Atomic Structure |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Cell biology: cell division; transport in cells |
| Acids: reactions of acids; neutralisation; soluble salts; pH scale; titrations; strong and weak acids |
| Groups in the Periodic Table: Structure of the Periodic Table, Group 1 Metals, Group 7 Elements, Group 0 Elements. |
| Atomic structure: history of the atom; atomic structure; isotopes; radioactive decay; nuclear equations; half life; contamination; background radiation; uses of radiation; nuclear fission; nuclear fusion |
| Links to prior learning |
| Year 7 Breathing |
| Year 7 Particle Model |
| Year 8 Periodic Table |
| Year 8 Energy Transfers |
| Year 9 Health and Disease |
| Assessment |
| Cell biology topic test |
| Atomic structure and the periodic table topic test |
| Atomic structure topic test |
| Half Term 2 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Organisation |
| Chemistry: Metals |
| Physics: Electricity |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Organisation: The heart and blood vessels; plant tissues, organs and systems |
| Metals: Metallic Bonding, Alloys, Corrosion and its Prevention, Oxidation and Reduction. |
| Electricity: IV Characteristics, Sensing Circuits, Resistors in Series; Mains Electricity, Power of Appliances, The National Grid. |
| Links to prior learning |
| Year 7 Breathing |
| Year 7 Respiration |
| Year 7 Particle Model |
| Year 7 Energy Costs |
| Year 8 Periodic Table |
| Year 9 Health and Disease |
| Assessment |
| Organisation topic test |
| Metals topic test |
| Half Term 3 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Infection and Response |
| Chemistry: Covalent Molecules |
| Physics: Electricity |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Infection and response: communicable diseases; human defence systems; vaccinations; plant disease |
| Covalent Molecules: Covalent Bonding, Properties of Covalent Molecules, Diamond and Graphite, Fullerenes, Nanoparticles. |
| Electricity: IV Characteristics, Sensing Circuits, Resistors in Series; Mains Electricity, Power of Appliances, The National Grid. |
| Links to prior learning |
| Year 8 Photosynthesis |
| KS2 Properties and changes of materials |
| Year 8 Acids and Alkalis |
| Year 9 Cells and Microscopes (Plant Structure) |
| Year 9 Electricity |
| Assessment |
| Covalent molecules topic test |
| Electricity topic test |
| DC1 science exams |
| Half Term 4 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Homeostasis and Response |
| Chemistry: Chemical Calculations |
| Physics: Forces |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Homeostasis and response: the nervous system; the endocrine system; contraception; plant hormones |
| Chemical energy: endothermic and exothermic reactions; reaction profiles |
| Electrolysis: the process of electrolysis; electrolysis of molten compounds and aqueous solutions; metal extraction; half equations |
| Forces: Scalars and Vectors, Interacting Forces, Gravity, Resultant Forces; Centre of Mass, Moments, Forces and Elasticity. |
| Links to prior learning |
| Year 8 Photosynthesis |
| Year 8 Interdependence |
| Year 9 Cells and Microscopes (Plant Structure) |
| Year 9 Ionic Bonding |
| Year 9 Metal Extraction |
| Year 9 Electricity |
| Assessment |
| Homeostasis and response topic test |
| Chemical energy and electrolysis topic test |
| Forces topic test |
| Half Term 5 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Ecology |
| Chemistry: Chemical Calculations |
| Physics: Forces and Motion |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Ecology: adaptations; interdependence; competition; ecosystems; levels of organisation; the carbon cycle; biodiversity; trophic levels; food production |
| Chemical calculations: conservation of mass; balanced equations; relative formula mass; moles; concentration; atom economy |
| Forces and motion: Newton’s laws, speed, distance, acceleration, velocity, d-t graphs, v-t graphs; momentum; stopping distances |
| Links to prior learning |
| Year 8 Photosynthesis |
| Year 8 Interdependence |
| Year 8 Contact Forces |
| Year 9 Cells and Microscopes (Plant Structure) |
| Year 9 Covalent Bonding |
| Assessment |
| Rates of reaction topic test |
| Forces and motion topic test |
| Half Term 6 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Ecology |
| Chemistry: Rates of Reaction |
| Physics: Forces and Motion |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Ecology: adaptations; interdependence; competition; ecosystems; levels of organisation; the carbon cycle; biodiversity; trophic levels; food production |
| Rates of Reaction: Collision Theory, Factors Affecting the Rate of Reaction, Catalysts, Measuring the Rate of a Reaction, Rate of Reaction Graphs. |
| Forces and motion: Newton’s laws, speed, distance, acceleration, velocity, d-t graphs, v-t graphs; momentum; stopping distances |
| Links to prior learning |
| Year 8 Contact Forces |
| Year 10 Organisation in the Body |
| Year 10 The Three States of Matter |
| Assessment |
| Ecology topic test |
| DC2 science exams |
| Half Term 1 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Ecology |
| Chemistry: Organic Chemistry |
| Physics: Forces |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Ecology: Ecosystems, Biotic and Abiotic Factors, Global Warming, Pollution, Bioaccumulation, Adaptations, Trophic Levels, Cycling of Materials, Sampling, Food Security, Decomposition. |
| Organic Chemistry: Crude Oil, Fractional Distillation, Cracking, Combustion, Polymers, Alcohols, Carboxylic Acids, Esters, Condensation Polymers. |
| Forces: speed, velocity, Newton’s laws of motion; acceleration; momentum |
| Links to prior learning |
| Year 8 – Inheritance, Evolution and Variation |
| Year 8 Chemical Energy |
| Year 8 Speed |
| Year 8 Wave Properties and Wave Effects |
| Assessment |
| Organic chemistry topic test |
| Waves topic test |
| DC1 Exam |
| Half Term 2 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Inheritance and Variation, Evolution |
| Chemistry: Potable Water, Pollutants |
| Physics: Waves |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Inheritance and Variation: DNA Structure, Variation, Protein Synthesis, Mendel’s Work, Inherited disorders, Embryo screening, Stem Cells. |
| Evolution: Evolution, Mutations, Speciation, Antibiotic Resistance, Fossils, Extinction, Selective Breeding, Animal Cloning, Plant Cloning, Classification. |
| Potable Water: Ground Water Treatment, Salt-Water Treatment, Distillation, Reverse Osmosis, Analysing Water Samples, Waste Water Treatment. |
| Pollutants: Problems with Combustion, Global Warming, Acid Rain, Global Dimming, Human Activities, The Carbon Footprint. |
| Waves: Features of Waves, Properties of Waves, Waves Required Practical, Waves in a Solid, Reflection, Refraction, Lenses, Sound, Wave Imaging, The Electromagnetic Spectrum, Infra-Red, Blackbody Radiation. |
| Links to prior learning |
| Year 8 – Inheritance and Variation |
| Year 7 Magnetism and Electromagnets |
| Year 10 Three States of Matter |
| Year 7 Climate and Fuels |
| Year 7 Earth’s Resources |
| Assessment |
| Inheritance and variation topic test |
| Potable water topic test |
| Magnetism and electromagnetism topic test |
| Half Term 3 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Inheritance and Variation, Evolution |
| Chemistry: Rates of Reaction |
| Physics: Magnetism and Electromagnetism |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Inheritance and Variation: DNA Structure, Variation, Protein Synthesis, Mendel’s Work, Inherited disorders, Embryo screening, Stem Cells. |
| Evolution: Evolution, Mutations, Speciation, Antibiotic Resistance, Fossils, Extinction, Selective Breeding, Animal Cloning, Plant Cloning, Classification. |
| Rates of reaction: factors that affect rate, investigating rates of reaction, collision theory, activation energy, catalysts, |
| Magnetism and Electromagnetism: Magnetic Fields, Electromagnets, Motor Effect, Electric Motors. |
| Links to prior learning |
| Year 8 Interdependence |
| Year 10 Evolution and Speciation |
| Year 7 Earth’s Resources |
| Year 8 Gravity |
| Year 8 The Universe |
| Year 9 Separation Techniques |
| Assessment |
| Paper 1 and Paper 2 MOCK Exams |
| Half Term 4 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Paper 1 & Paper 2 Revision, Exam Preparation |
| Chemistry: Reversible Reactions, Chemical Analysis |
| Physics: Magnetism and Electromagnetism |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Bespoke revision and exam preparation informed by QLA and regular teacher assessment. |
| Reversible reactions: reversible reactions, energy changes, equilibrium, effect of temperature, concentration and pressure on equilibrium |
| Magnetism and Electromagnetism: Magnetic Fields, Electromagnets, Motor Effect, Electric Motors. |
| Links to prior learning |
| Year 9 Separation Techniques |
| Assessment |
| GCSEs |
| Half Term 5 |
| Knowledge |
| Biology: Paper 1 & Paper 2 Revision, Exam Preparation |
| Chemistry: Earth's Resources, Paper 1 & Paper 2 Revision, Eam Preparation |
| Physics: Paper 1 & Paper 2 Revision, Exam Preparation |
| Skills / application of knowledge |
| Bespoke revision and exam preparation informed by QLA and regular teacher assessment. |
| Earth’s Resources: Sustainable Development, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Life Cycle Assessment, Ceramics, Polymers and Composites. |
| Bespoke revision and exam preparation informed by QLA and regular teacher assessment. |
| Assessment |
| GCSEs |