Sciences

Sciences

Board AQA Specification Specification Specification Specification Biology 8461 Chemistry 8462 Physics 8463 Combined Science Trilogy 8464

All pupils in Year 10 follow the same AQA GCSE Sciences course, allowing access at the end of Year 10 to either the trilogy science pathway: GCSE Combined Science Trilogy or the triple science pathway: GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The Trilogy Course is comprised of all three sciences, but has slightly less content and is therefore worth two GCSEs only and is the pathway followed by most pupils. At GCSE, all students, regardless of pathway, are taught by subject specialists, in specialist laboratories, and all are prepared for access to A level study.

Initially all Year 10 pupils are streamed in the sciences on the basis of the science assessments conducted in Year 9 or by entrance paper performance. All pupils in Year 10 follow the same course. At the end of Year 10, school examinations take place across the three sciences and all pupils are re-streamed for Year 11 on the basis of their scores. To maximise success at GCSE, it is at this point that most pupils will be guided to continue with GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy), or be recommended to attempt the three single sciences (Triple award). Prospective Triple award pupils should expect to excel in Year 10 sciences and be adept at independent study.

External examination of all students takes place at the end of Year 11, where two papers are taken in each science. The papers for the triple award are longer and include questions on additional material drawn from A level specifications. Experimentation is part of each subject programme, must be completed by all pupils and is examined in the final papers.

The grade requirement for A level study at Ashford is a grade 7 in the relevant single science or grade 77 in Trilogy.

Aims:

To encourage students to: • Acquire a systematic body of scientific knowledge, and the skills needed to apply this in new and changing situations, in a range of domestic, industrial and environmental contexts. • Acquire an understanding of scientific ideas - how they develop, and the factors which may affect their development and their power, as well as their limitations. • Plan and carry out investigative tasks, and consider and critically evaluate their own data, and that obtained from other sources, using ICT where appropriate. • Use electronic (internet, apps, databases, simulations etc.) and/or more traditional sources of information (books, magazines, leaflets etc.) to research and plan an investigation. • Select, organize and present information clearly and logically, and use appropriate scientific terms and conventions, and ICT, where appropriate. • Interpret and evaluate scientific data from a variety of sources.

Note:

• Examination is at either Foundation or Higher tier. It is usual that all but the occasional entry will be at the Higher tier. Foundation papers limit grades to 1-5. • Assessed progress is monitored by the Head of Science in an on-going way. If during Year 11 it becomes apparent that a change from the triple award pathway to the dual award is in the best interests of an individual pupil then this decision will be made by the Head of Science, following consultation with teachers, pupil and parents.

Content Summary:

Year 9 Biology Chemistry

Year 10 Physics

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Year 11 Biology

Chemistry

Physics

4.1.1 Cell structure, 4.2.1 Principles of organisation 4.8.2 Identification of common gases, 4.9.1 The composition and evolution of the atmosphere, 4.9.3 Atmospheric pollutants, 4.10 Using materials, 4.1.1 Atomic structure, 4.1.2 The periodic table, 4.6.1 Rate of reaction 4.5.1 Exothermic and endothermic reactions, 4.1 Energy, 4.2 Electricity

4.1.3 Transport in cells, 4.2.1 Principles of organisation, 4.2.2 Animal tissues, organs and organ systems, 4.4 Bioenergetics, 4.5 Homeostasis and response, 4.6 Inheritance, variation and evolution 4.10.1 Earth's resources, 4.10.2 Life cycle assessment, 4.4.1 Reactivity of metals, 4.7.1 Carbon compounds, 4.9.2 Greenhous gases, 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 Bonding, structure and properties, 4.2.3 Structure and bonding of carbon, 4.2.4 Bulk and surface properties of matter, 4.6.1 Rate of reaction, 4.5.2 Energy Changes, 4.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography,4.4.2 Reactions of acids 4.3 Particle model of matter, 4.4 Atomic structure, 4.5 Forces, 4.6 Waves

4.2.3 Plant tissues, organs and systems, 4.3 Infection and response, 4.3.2 Monoclonal antibodies, 4.3.3 Plant disease 4.3.1 Conservation of mass and quantitative chemistry, 4.3.2 Amounts of substance, 4.4.3 Electrolysis, 4.6.2 Reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium, 4.10.4 The Haber process 4.1.3 Transition metals, 4.7.2 Reactions of alkenes, alcohols and carboxylic acids, 4.7.3 Synthetic and natural polymers, 4.8.3 Identification of ions, 4.3.3 Yield and atom economy, 4.3.4 Concentrations of solutions, 4.3.5 Molar gas volumes, 4.5.2 Chemical cells and fuel cells, 4.7 Magnetism and electromagnetism, 4.8 Space

What next?

There are many scientific fields, leading to many careers: Astronomy Ecology Human Biology Botany Engineering/Technology Maths Chemistry Food Science and Nutrition Materials Science Earth Science Health and Medicine Nanotechnology Physics Science Communication Zoology Etc., . . .

You can be anything you want to be.

Applied Mathematician, Asset Manager, Electricity Lines and Cables, Astronomy Lecturer, Astrophysicist, BBC Radio Producer, Biotechnology Research Manager, Broadcast Technology Project Director, Chartered Mechanical Engineer, Chemical Physicist, Climate Change Centre Coordinator, Climate System Modeller, Clinical Scientist, Corrosion Engineer, Curator, Curriculum Project Coordinator, Doctor - General Practitioner, Drug Discovery, Electrical Design Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Energy Analyst, Experimental Research Physicist, External Communications Manager - Climate Change, Face Research, Forensic Scientist, Graduate Safety Engineer, Human Gene Naming, Immunologist, Information Services Manager, Innovation Manager, Inorganic Electrochemist, Inventor, Laser Physicist, Lecturer in Physiology and Pharmacology, Management Consultant, Marine Biogeochemist, Marine Biologist, Materials and Corrosion Consultant Engineer, Mechanical and Forensic Engineer, Mechanical Biased Development Engineer, Medical Device Development, Molecular Plant Pathologist, Museum Curator, Neuroscientist, Nutrition Policy and Advice

Manager, Nutrition Scientist, Operations Manager, Optoelectronics Physicist and Engineer, Organic Chemist, Patent Examiner, Physical/Chemical Oceanographer, Planetarium Astronomer, Planetary Scientist, Plant Systematist, Process Development Engineer, Process Scientist, Public Awareness of Science Manager, Research Biochemist, Research Engineer, Research Scientist & Science Communicator, Science Communications Consultant, Science Communicator, Science Correspondent, Science Exhibit Developer, Science Information Officer, Science Journalist, Science Programme Manager, Science Promotion, Science Teacher, Scientific Adviser, Seabird Ecologist, Senior Lecturer – Genetics, Senior Projects Engineer, Senior Scientific Officer, Nutrition (Food Standards Agency), Senior Space Technologist, Senior University Lecturer in Biochemistry, Skin Care Technology Scientist, Software Engineer, Space and Extreme Environment Physiologist, Special Needs Science Teacher, Sports Materials Engineer, Staff Scientist, State Registered Dietician (SRD), Structural Engineer, Technology Translator, Television Producer, Theoretical Physicist, University Lecturer in Colour Science, University Parapsychology Researcher, Veterinary Surgeon, Wind Energy Engineer, Young People's Programme Officer.

Source

:http://www.planet-science.com/nextsteps/index.html?page=/profiles/search.html

Further Information:

If you are not sure whether you should study a specific area of science at A level, then the following websites provide more detailed information: Biology www.iob.org Physics www.careers.iop.org Chemistry www.rsc.org Engineering www.semta.org.uk

The following website offers good general advice: www.connexions.gov.uk