Science
Why Study Science?
Science affects a very large part of your life – what you eat, what you wear and what you use. The Science GCSE course encourages you to consider the way in which Science is applied to technological developments and will help you to formulate views and opinions about these issues e.g. whether or not you would want your children to be vaccinated, etc.
Course Content & Development of Expertise
This Science course leads to a dual award GCSE grade. The GCSE combined science course covers the three main subject areas Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Students will study and be assessed on two units of Biology, two of Chemistry and two of Physics which will lead to a combined double GCSE grade.
The KS4 Science course begins in Year 9. In Year 10 all students follow the Combined Science modules. These introduce topics such as genetics, atomic structure, energy and forces. These are followed using a mixture of practical work, investigation and discussion. In Year 11, students continue to build up their knowledge; there are topics on organ systems, chemical reactions and radioactivity.
This Science course gives all of the background required for students who may wish to take Biology, Chemistry or Physics at Advanced Level.
Career Pathways
Combined science students can take Biology, Chemistry or Physics at Advanced Level. It can also lead on to a range of vocational courses. It is not necessary to have taken triple science to access these courses.
These courses lead to a wide variety of degrees and employment in engineering, the medical, environmental and research industries, to name but a few.
They can also lead to courses which qualify a student for practical and technological work in a wide range of industries, from health and sports to medical and work as a technician.
Qualification Information
Compulsory Subject
Qualification: GCSE Science
Awarding Body: AQA
Assessment Structure
The exam board is AQA Trilogy. All the examinations are taken at the end of Year 11. There are six examinations each of 1 hour 15 minutes, two Biology, two Chemistry and two Physics. These are available at foundation tier (grades 55-11) and higher tier (99-44). Students must complete all assessments in the same tier.
There are required practical assessments that will need to be completed and are assessed in the written examinations.
Why Study Science?
As well as studying the same content as the Combined Science course, the Triple Science Programme offers extension units for Biology, Chemistry and Physics which turns the Combined Science qualifications into separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
The Triple Science Programme is intended for highly motivated students who intend to study Science further in higher education and is aimed at those students who are high achievers. The expectation for students on the course is high.
Course Content & Development of Expertise
This course allows students to gain separate qualifications in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The early work at KS4 is common to that taken by Combined Science students so it is started in Year 9. The extra material in this course is not essential for progress to Advanced Level, however for students who really enjoy Science this course enables them to study the subject in a greater depth, gives them an extra GCSE and has as a greater overlap with Advanced Level work.
Career Pathways
Triple Science students can take Biology, Chemistry or Physics at Advanced Level. These courses lead to a wide variety of degrees and employment in engineering, the medical, environmental and research industries, to name but a few. Students with Science degrees are highly sought after in many other areas such as accounting, sport and journalism, because an understanding of scientific principles shows the ability to think logically, to apply principles and predict the effects of change.
Qualification Information
Optional Subject and available to some students
Qualification:
GCSE Biology
GCSE Chemistry
GCSE Physics
Awarding Body: AQA
Assessment Structure
The course is linear with all six papers taken at the end of Year 11. Each paper is 1 hour 45 minutes. Papers are available at foundation tier (5-1) and Higher tier (9-4). There are a core set of practical assessments to be completed by the end of the course. The examination papers will test aspects of the practical work done over the three years. Students will receive one GCSE grade for each of biology, chemistry and physics each between 9-1.
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