Science

“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science.”
Edwin Powell Hubble

Key Stage 3

Our Key Stage 3 (KS3) programme at Verulam follows the AQA KS3 curriculum based around the ’10 Big Ideas’. These are 10 strands of science that build from Year 7 right through to Year 11. The Big Ideas are broken down into smaller sections, and students are encouraged to build critical thinking skills and make connections between all the topics covered. Science lessons at Verulam focus on building students’ practical skills and their ability to solve complex problems.

Big Idea	Content covered through KS3
Forces	Speed, Gravity, Contact Forces, Pressure
Matter	Particle model, Separating mixtures, Elements, Periodic Table
Organisms	Movement, Cells, Breathing, Digestion
Electromagnets	Current, Voltage, Magnetism, Electromagnetism
Earth (project based learning)	Earth Structure, Climate, Changing Scientific Ideas
Reactions	Acids & Alkalis, Metals & Non-Metals, Chemical Energy, Reactions
Genes	Variation, Human Reproduction, Inheritance
Energy	Energy transfer, Energy costs, Work, Heating and Cooling
Waves	Sound, Light, Wave effects, Wave properties
Ecosystems	Interdependence, Plant reproduction, Respiration, Photosynthesis

At KS3 we especially focus on a ‘mastery curriculum’ which is designed to give our students an excellent foundation in the fundamentals and basic concepts of Science. With a secure knowledge of these at KS3, our students acquire the necessary building blocks for entering the Key Stage 4 (KS4) curriculum in preparation for GCSE.

Key Stage 4

At Verulam we follow the AQA Combined Science Trilogy and Separate Science courses at GCSE.

You will study Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in 6 Science lessons each week. You will complete various practicals through the course, and you will be assessed on specific ‘Required Practicals’ during your GCSE exams.

You will sit six exams at the end of the GCSE course, two Biology papers, two Chemistry papers, and two Physics papers.

You will cover the following topics in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics:

Cell Biology, Organisation, Infection and response, Bioenergetics, Homeostasis and response, Inheritance, variation and evolution, Ecology.

Atomic structure and the periodic table, Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter, Quantitative chemistry, Chemical changes, Energy changes, The rate and extend of chemical change, Organic chemistry, Chemical analysis, Chemistry of the atmosphere, Using resources.

Energy, Electricity, Particle model of matter, Atomic Structure, Forces, Waves, Magnetism and Electromagnetism.

Assessment

Students complete an end of chapter test for all topics covered over the three years. Target feedback is given to students on the basis of these test so they are able to tackle misconceptions early on.

As students’ progress further into KS4, we adopt more synoptic testing that mirrors the exam papers that students will sit for their GCSEs. These are the End of Year 9 exams; Year 10 Exam Pathway exams, End of Year 10 exams and two mocks GCSEs in Year 11.

You will sit the following GCSE assessments: Biology Paper 1, Biology Paper 2, Chemistry Paper 1, Chemistry Paper 2, Physics Paper 1, Physics Paper 2

Home Learning

One hour a week will be dedicated to using the online learning tool Educake, where questions will reflect the topics recently taught in lessons.

The second hour will be dependent on the class teacher but will typically revolve around the following; RAG chapter checklist; completing summary pages; preparation for an end of chapter test; book polishing; research; task completion and exam technique.

Students should use the online textbook on Kerboodle to read up on lesson content further.

Alongside home learning in Year 10 and 11 there will be parallel study tasks for students, which aims to support their revision.

Key Stage 5

At Verulam we teach Biology, Chemistry, and Physics at A-level. All Sciences are taught by subject specialists.

We follow:

OCR A Biology
AQA Chemistry
OCR A Physics

Biology

The specification is divided into topics, each covering different key concepts of biology. Teaching of practical skills is integrated with the theoretical topics and they are assessed through the written papers.

Students will complete a Practical Endorsement, which will be awarded along side their A-level grade.

Chemistry

The specification is divided into topics that link to key practicals through the course. The specification leads smoothly from AQA GCSE Chemistry, and prepares students for studying further at University.

Students will complete a Practical Endorsement, which will be awarded along side their A-level grade.

Physics

We deliver a flexible specification divided into topics, each covering different key concepts of physics. As learners progress through the course they will build on their knowledge of the laws of Physics, applying their understanding to solve problems on topics ranging from sub-atomic particles to the entire universe.

Students will complete a Practical Endorsement, which will be awarded along side their A-level grade.

Assessment

Assessments at A Level are synoptic, based on content taught up to the assessment point.

You will sit three exams at the end of the course, which will be added together to determine your A-level grade.

Paper 1 and 2 will focus on content from specific sections of the course, but Paper 3 will focus on a synoptic assessment.

The practical endorsement is awarded along side A-level grades as a ‘Pass’/’Fail’, and is assessed through the course on specific ‘Required Practicals’ or PAGs.

Home Learning

We expect five hours of independent study to be completed weekly if you study a Science at A Level. Students should prepare for lessons by making prep notes for the upcoming topics. This gives the opportunity for lesson time to be used on the application of the subject content where teacher support is fundamental to student understanding.

Home learning will vary from research; PAG/ Required Practical prep; exam questions; extended tasks and presentations.

Extra-curricular enrichment

At Verulam we offer a host of science-related enrichment clubs, opportunities and experiences that enables our curious students to explore and deepen their passion for the subject.

Chief among these is our STEM Club which was recently awarded the Innovation/Project of the Year at the Herts Advertiser’s School Awards 2019. STEM Club aims to help our students understand how science, technology, engineering and maths combine to shape the world around them. This year the club has worked with Transport for London and delivered outstanding work in the Infinity Water and WaterAid’s Challenge which aimed to increase awareness around water shortages.

Year 7 – CREST award, Verulab, STEAM Club, British Science Week, Science Fair
Year 8 –Verulab, STEAM Club, British Science Week, STEM CED, Science Fair
Year 9 – Big Bang Fair Trip, STEAM Club, British Science Week, TED Talks Club
Year 10/11 –STEAM Club, British Science Week, TED Talks Club
Year 12/13 – A Level lecture series trips, British Science Week, STEAM Club

Where can Science take you?

A Science qualification can open many doors into careers both within the discipline and outside of it. Examples of careers include:

Engineering
Medicine
Dentistry
Environmental science
Accountancy
Consultancy
Research scientist
Veterinary science
Geology
Medical and scientific illustrators
Biomedical sciences
Pharmaceuticals
Civil Service

Over the last few years Verulam has a number of successful applicants to Oxford and Cambridge to study the sciences and medicine.

How parents can support their child’s learning?

Parents can support their children by checking the weekly completion of Educake. At KS3 regular testing of your son’s definitions and equations will help them retain this knowledge and put them in good stead for their scientific understanding of new concepts.

There is an extensive amount of content within the science curriculum so revisiting concepts with your son from prior chapters will help him when it comes to the synoptic papers. This can be done through Book Polishing, summary pages or choosing aspects of the checklists within their exercise books to test them.

In Year 10 and 11 they will also have parallel study to be working through to help support them for their upcoming exams. Ensuring students have a plan of how they will work through this will help them manage their revision.

Useful links

https://www.educake.co.uk
https://www.kerboodle.com
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
https://www.my-gcsescience.com

GCSE AQA Combined Science specification:
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/science/specifications/AQA-8464-SP-2016.PDF

GCSE AQA Biology specification:
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/biology/specifications/AQA-8461-SP-2016.PDF

GCSE AQA Chemistry specification:
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/chemistry/specifications/AQA-8462-SP-2016.PDF

GCSE AQA Physics specification:
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/chemistry/specifications/AQA-8462-SP-2016.PDF

Additional Info

Twitter: @VerulamScience / @verulamstemclub

Verulam School

Brampton Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 4PR
Please note that the School also has an entrance on Jennings Road although all visitors should come to the Brampton Road entrance and report to reception.

Telephone: 01727 766100
Absence Line: 01727 754101
Email: admin@verulam.herts.sch.uk
Absence Email: absence@verulam.herts.sch.uk

Verulam School is part of the
Alban Academies Trust

Science

“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science.” Edwin Powell Hubble

Key Stage 3

Extra-curricular enrichment

Where can Science take you?

How parents can support their child’s learning?

Useful links

Additional Info

Verulam School

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“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science.”
Edwin Powell Hubble