Science

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Introduction

Science is intrinsically fascinating and inspiring, and while the inquisitiveness of the young lends itself naturally to scientific study and endeavour, nobody ever really loses the desire to know more about the workings of the world around them.

Whether you consider yourself a scientist or not, there is no doubting that science touches every part of your life from the alarm clock that wakes you up in the morning to the toothpaste you use before bed and, of course, the way you are able to read this right now.

We aim to ensure that students are given the experiences which will enable them to:

Gain the necessary knowledge and understanding to become confident citizens in an ever increasingly technological world
Recognise both the usefulness and the limitations of scientific technique
Realise that Science is relevant to many aspects of everyday life
Continue their studies in a scientific field after they leave school, should they wish to do so Science teaching focuses on student centred learning which encourages the development of scientifically literate students equipped to succeed in the twenty first century.

KS3

At Loxford we pride ourselves in developing pupil’s skills of Science from their primary years.

The Science department are using the 2 Year Activate SOW , which presents Science in an Innovative way, in order to engage pupils’ interest and KS3 SOW is covered in Year 7 + Year 8.

Over the next three years pupils will build upon the experiences and skills they learnt at KS2 Science, and develop these to a higher level.
Pupils will be studying a variety of science based topics, during the curriculum, which are taken from the three main schools of Science – Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
In addition to the knowledge of Science pupils will also be encouraged to develop their skills in specific areas of Science that they may not have come across yet, such as:

Ethics- The moral codes a Scientist should be working with in order to reduce harm to Humanity, and the Natural World.
How science works- To be able to understand how experiments are planned, variables to be used, and how to evaluate work.
Ecology- To be able to understand the delicate balance of ecosystems and how they can be damaged by human activity.
Conserving Energy- To know how humans in their eagerness to develop, they have altered the natural balance of the world. And what man is doing in order to prevent further damage.

Observational and practical skills will be built upon in order to make pupils more rounded Scientists, and get them ready for GCSE.

Once a year pupils across KS3 will be involved in National Science Week. During this week pupils will be taking part in fun and exciting new ways of looking at Science. For example; pupils in year 8 will have to work out who the murderer is in a Forensic Laboratory!

Students at KS3 follow the fusion programme of study, with elements of HSW (How Science Works) and practical investigative work embedded into the schemes of work from Year 7 to Year 8.

Students are taught all three disciplines of Science and are continuously assessed to help aid their progress. Students are inducted in a 2 week programme emphasising the Health and Safety aspects of working in a lab and are set after taking their GOAL tests.

The emphasis of the programme is to prepare students for the rigour of KS4 as well as to develop a number of key skills.

Topics followed by students at KS3:

	Biology	Chemistry	Physics
Year 7	Cells Structure and function of body systems Reproduction	Particles and their behaviour Elements, atoms, and compounds Reactions Acids and alkalis	Forces Sound Light Space
Year 8	Health & Lifestyle Ecosystem processes Adaptation and inheritance	The periodic Table Separation Techniques Metals and acids The Earth	Electricity and magnetism Energy Motion and Pressure

KS4

We follow the AQA GCSE Combined Trilogy & AQA Separate which consists of Biology, Chemistry and Physics at GCSE level. Majority of our students study the combined GCSE Science Trilogy with exceptional students studying the Separate science which consists of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Human Biology – Co-ordination and control, Healthy eating, Drug abuse, Controlling infectious diseases.
Biology – Cells, How plants produce food, Energy flows, Enzymes, Homeostasis, Inheritance
Evaluation and Environment – Adaption for survival, Variation, Evolution, How people affect the planet
Energy and Energy Resources – Heat transfer, Using energy, Electrical energy, Generating electricity
Physics – Motion, Speeding up and slowing down, Work energy and momentum, Static electricity, Current electricity, Mains electricity, Nuclear physics
Radiation and the Universe – Electromagnetic waves, Radioactivity, The origins of the Universe
Products from Rocks – Rocks and buildings, Rocks and metals, Crude oil.
Chemistry – Structures and bonding, Structures and properties, Rates of reaction, Energy and reactions, Electrolysis, Acids alkalis and salts.
Oils, Earth and Atmosphere – Products from oils, Plant oils, The changing world.
Biology – Exchange of materials, Transporting substances around the body, Microbiology
Chemistry – Development of the periodic table, More about acids and bases, Water, Further Chemistry
Physics – Turning forces, Light and sound, Electromagnism, Stars and space.

GCSE Results 2022

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving:

Combined Science - 60% 9-4
Biology - 100% 9-4
Chemistry - 100% 9-4
Physics - 100% 9-4

GCSE Results 2021

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving:

Combined Science - 80% 9-4
Biology - 100% 9-4
Chemistry - 100% 9-4
Physics - 100% 9-4

GCSE Results 2020

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving:

Combined Science - 86% 9-4
Biology - 100% 9-4
Chemistry - 97% 9-4
Physics - 100% 9-4

Future Careers for Science:

Through studying science students receive a broad knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics topics.

From learning about the human body, to chemical equations to energy processes science is a subject that is hugely varied.

Whilst studying science students develop mathematical, data handling, research, practical and communication skills.

There is a vast array of scientific careers that are available to science students with many people following a career in research, medical, education, technology or business job sectors.

As technology continues to change in the future there will always be a high demand for talented scientists.