Floreat scholar
Cryptiensis
The Crypt Physics Department PoS KS4 2025-26
Our primary aim is to instil a genuine love of the sciences and the confidence to question our understanding of the natural and physical world. The programme of study aims to develop inquisitive minds into critical thinkers through acquiring theoretical knowledge, practical skills and scientific literacy. Students will understand how science continuously builds upon previous advancements and understanding; linking the topics studied with realworld application ensures that our pupils develop key investigative, analytical and evaluative skills to prepare for their life ahead.
In years 7 and 8, our bespoke curriculum embeds the key foundations of biology, chemistry and physics whilst allowing students’ natural enthusiasm and curiosity to flourish. From year 9 onwards, the three science strands are taught separately through challenging and enriching lessons which build students’ resilience. Additional opportunities beyond the classroom at all key stages further strengthen the curriculum and reinforce the key role science and its applications have in understanding contemporary issues, future developments and the challenges of the modern world.
Topics: Waves 1 (Properties)
Topics: Waves 2 (Electromagnetic Spectrum), Energy 1 (Energy, Work, Power)
Key Skills: Calculations, learning equations, units, significant figures, standard form, prefixes, practical skills, key words
Key Skills: Calculations, learning equations, units, significant figures, standard form, practical skills, extended writing, literacy, key words
Topics: Energy 2 (Energy Resources)
Topics: Energy 2 (continued) Forces and Motion
Topics: Forces and Motion
Topics: Forces and Motion
MP1: Properties of Waves Test
MP2: Mid-year Test
Key Skills: key words, comparing, evaluation, discussion, research, ethics, Calculations, units, significant figures, standard form, prefixes
Key Skills: Graph drawing and interpretation, calculations, learning equations, units, significant figures, standard form, prefixes
Key Skills: calculating resultant forces, scale drawings
Key Skills: Extended writing, explanation, application
- Use strategies for learning and recalling the key equations
- Rearrange and use the equations to make calculations, showing clear working and writing the units
- carry out experiments appropriately, having due regard to the correct manipulation of apparatus, the accuracy of measurements and health and safety considerations
- Confidently use prefixes and powers of ten for orders of magnitude and express answers in both decimal and standard form.
- Convert between units
MP3: Specific Heat Capacity GAT
MP4: Energy Resources Test
MP5: Motion Test
MP6: End of Year Exam
- Understand that energy can be transferred from one store to another. Describe the energy stores and pathways for a variety of scenarios. Apply the principle of conservation of energy to make calculations.
- Evaluate the use of renewable and nonrenewable energy resources and understand the economic, environmental, social and ethical issues surrounding energy resources.
- Understand the difference between scalar and vector quantities; explain the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of objects and draw and interpret motion graphs.
- Describe the properties of waves and understand the uses and dangers of the waves in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Year 10
Triple
AQA GCSE
Physics
Topics: Heating, Static Electricity
Key Skills: Calculations, practical skills, analysing, explaining, predicting
MP1: Y10 Equations GAT
MP2: Heating Test
Year 10
Combined
AQA GCSE
Combined
Science: Trilogy
Topics: Heating
Key Skills: Calculations, practical skills, analysing, explaining, predicting
Topics: Circuit Electricity
Topics: Household Electricity, Radioactivity
Key Skills: Calculations, application of knowledge, practical skills
MP3: Static Test
Topics: Circuit Electricity
Key Skills: Calculations, application of knowledge, practical skills
Key Skills: Calculating, working safely, analysing
Topics: Nuclear, Revision
Key Skills: Calculating, practical skills, modelling, literacy, extended writing
MP4: Mid-year Test
MP1: Y10 Equations GAT
MP2: Specific Heat Capacity GAT
MP3: Heating Test
Topics: Circuit Electricity
Key Skills: Calculations, application of knowledge, practical skills
Topics: Household Electricity
Key Skills: Calculating, working safely
Topics: Pressure Key Skills: Ethics, explaining, modelling, interpreting diagrams
MP5: End-of-year exam
Topics: Magnets and Electromagnets
Key Skills: Practical skills, explaining, application of knowledge
MP6: Pressure Test
- Use scientific theories to develop hypotheses and plan and carry out investigations to test hypotheses, make observations and explore phenomena
- interpret observations and other data, including identifying patterns and trends; make inferences and draw conclusions
- Evaluate data in terms of accuracy, precision, repeatability and reproducibility and identify potential sources of random and systematic error
- Design and build circuits that can be used to investigate the I-V characteristics of different components
Topics: Radioactivity
Key Skills: Calculating, practical skills, modelling, literacy, extended writing
MP4: Mid-year Test
MP5: End-of-year exam
Topics: Radioactivity
Key Skills: Practical skills, explaining, application of knowledge
MP6: Radioactivity Test
- Solve circuit problems to determine the current through and pd across components in series and parallel; define current and pd
- Explain how energy is used in the home and define power
- Investigate the magnetic fields of permanent magnets and electromagnets and explain their applications in everyday life
- Explain the link between electricity and magnetism and how this is used in motors, generators (triple only) and transformers
- Use the particle model to explain density, changes of state and pressure. Calculate the energy changes when substances are heated or change state.
- Explain how scientists’ understanding of the atom has changed over time, and how models are constantly being developed as new evidence is discovered; the importance of publishing results and peer review
- Understand radioactive decay and the importance of nuclear fission and fusion as energy resources
Year 11
Triple
AQA GCSE Physics
Topics: Space, Newton’s Laws and Momentum
Key Skills: Practical skills, explaining, application of knowledge
MP1: AQA End-of-Year 10 Test
MP2: Space Test
Topics: Newton’s Laws and Momentum, Triple Electromagnetism
Key Skills: Calculating, application of knowledge, explaining, Practical skills
MP3: December Mock Exam (Paper 1)
Topics: Light
Year 11 Combined
Topics: Magnetism and Electromagnetism
Topics: Newton’s Laws and Momentum, Paper 1 Revision
AQA GCSE
Combined Science: Trilogy
Key Skills: Calculating, application of knowledge, explaining, Practical skills
Key Skills: Calculating, application of knowledge, explaining, Practical skills
Key Skills: Application of knowledge, explaining, Practical skills, analysing, modelling
Topics: Triple Momentum, Revision
Key Skills: Calculating, Revision strategies, exam technique, application of knowledge
MP4: March Assessment – (Paper 2)
Topics: Revision
Key Skills: Revision strategies, exam skills, application of knowledge
MP5: Practice Paper 2
MP1: AQA End-of-Year 10 Test
MP2: Magnetism and Electromagnetism Test
MP3: December Mock Exam (Paper 1)
Topics: Newton’s Laws and Momentum, Paper 2 Revision
Key Skills: Calculating, application of knowledge, explaining, Practical skills, exam technique, revision strategies
Topics: Revision of Paper 2 Topics
Key Skills: Calculating, application of knowledge, explaining, Practical skills, exam technique, revision strategies
MP4: March Mock (Paper 2)
Topics: Revision Key Skills: Revision strategies, exam skills
- Understand how the skills developed in Physics lessons can be used in a range of careers
- See connections between topic areas, particularly through big ideas like the particle model and energy changes.
- Critically evaluate data, information and claims through critical analysis of the methodology, evidence and conclusions, both qualitatively and quantitatively
- Suggest and verify mathematical relationships between variables
- Apply knowledge to a range of unfamiliar contexts
- Rearrange and use complex equations with four or more variables
- Express answers to an appropriate number of significant figures
- Use strategies to learn and recall the 23 key equations
- Apply Newton’s three laws to explain the effects of forces on the motion of an object
- Apply the conservation of momentum to make calculations about collisions and other events (triple only)
- Explain how gears and levers are used in machines to multiply forces and gain a mechanical advantage (triple only)
MP5: Practice Paper 2
- Understand the life cycles of stars and how the elements are formed (triple only)
- Understand the Big Bang theory for the beginning of the universe and the evidence that supports this theory (triple only).
12
T1: Module 3
Topics:
2.Foundations
3. Motion
T2: Module 4
Topics: 1.Practical Skills
8. Charge and Current
Key Skills: Calculating, using a lab book, interpreting data, application of knowledge, explaining, practical skills
Key Skills: Calculating, interpreting data, application of knowledge, explaining, practical skills
MP1: Baseline Test
MP2: Foundations Test
T1: Topics: 4. Forces in Action
5. Work, Energy and Power
Key Skills: Research, referencing, presenting
T2: Topics: 9. Energy, Power, Resistance 10. Electrical Circuits
Key Skills: Calculating, interpreting data, application of knowledge, explaining, practical skills
T1: Topics: 6. Materials