Science
Department Ethos
Our Science curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity, foster a deep understanding of the world, and empower students with the knowledge and skills to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and responsible global citizens.
Our intent is to:
- Inspire and engage all students by delivering a broad, balanced, and ambitious curriculum that sparks curiosity and nurtures a love for science.
- Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the disciplines of biology, chemistry, and physics, in line with the National Curriculum.
- Equip students with the skills of scientific enquiry, enabling them to understand the nature, processes, and methods of science through practical work and critical evaluation.
- Promote scientific literacy, so students can confidently analyse data, evaluate evidence, and communicate their findings using appropriate scientific vocabulary.
- Support progression by building knowledge sequentially from KS3 through to KS4 (and beyond), ensuring pupils are well-prepared for further education, employment, or apprenticeships in STEM fields.
- Make science relevant by linking learning to real-world contexts, careers, and contemporary scientific issues.
- Promote inclusivity and high aspirations for all learners, regardless of background or ability, through targeted support, challenge, and enrichment opportunities.
Our goal is to ensure that students leave with a strong foundation in science, empowered to question, explore, and shape the world around them
Science Curriculum Content
Learn more about science at KS3
Key Stage 3 Science is taught over two years at Cams Hill School. In Year 7 pupils are taught in their tutor groups, before being divided into slightly smaller mixed ability classes in Year 8, with class sizes of approximately 25.
The key aim of the Key Stage 3 Science Curriculum is to give pupils the opportunity to develop their investigative skills as well as advancing their understanding of the four key ideas in Science, Cells, Particles, Energy and Forces. Pupils are also challenged to apply their knowledge in different contexts to demonstrate their understanding. In doing this it is our aim that when pupils move on to study Science at GCSE they are equipped with the skills and confidence needed to succeed. Pupils are provided with exercise books but are expected to bring lab coats to their Science lessons so that they can undertake practical work safely.
Learn more about science at KS4
KS4 starts in Year 9 for Science. All classes will be taught Biology, Chemistry and Physics by separate teachers. This enables more time for the individual Science qualifications to be completed and also allows the pupils to receive as much specialist teaching as possible.
Initially, all pupils will study individual Sciences with the potential to complete three separate GCSEs. Based on assessments during Years 9 and 10, the decision will be made as to whether your child will continue on the triple route. This will be done on an individual basis. If your child is selected, they will have the opportunity to sit the triple qualification.
If it is in your child’s best interest to complete the double course and not the triple, they will have extra time in Year 11 to finish and re-cap the double course, perfect examination technique and complete targeted intervention, all of which will put them in the best stead possible to successfully complete their exams at the end of Year 11.
Pupils are stetted groups which are have approximately 25 pupils per class. As in KS3 pupils are provided with exercise books but are expected to bring lab coats to their Science lessons so that they can undertake practical work safely.
GCSE details
The GCSE Science specification is based on a series of topics related to the living world and relevant to students. It is designed to help them understand how Science can be used to explain the world in which they live and the impact humans have.
The specification integrates the principles of ‘How Science Works’ throughout the units. The course helps put Science in the context of students’ everyday lives with topics ranging from ‘Keeping healthy’ to ‘Humans and their environment’.
Teachers develop students’ practical skills with hands-on work which helps engage and enthuse them along with completing required practical work. Students can see how Science is used to solve problems ranging from infectious diseases to creating biofuels.
The courses cover various topics.
Biology:
- Cell biology
- sation
- 3. Infection and response
- 4. Bioenergetics
- Homeostasis and response
- Inheritance, variation and evolution
- Ecology
Chemistry:
- Atomic structure and the periodic table
- Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter
- Quantitative chemistry
- Chemical changes
- Energy changes
- The rate and extent of chemical change
- Organic chemistry
- Chemical analysis
- Chemistry of the atmosphere
Physics:
- Energy
- Electricity
- Particle model of matter
- Atomic structure
- Forces
- Waves
- Magnetism and electromagnetism
- Space physics (triple only)
Extra-curricular opportunities
GCSE triple Scientists attend the Science Live event in Year 10.