Overview

The Science curriculum at UBHS is designed to challenge, spark curiosity, and make Science relevant for all learners. The curriculum equips learners with the knowledge and skills required to question the world around them, critically evaluate information; and think innovatively to find solutions to problems. We teach the national specification as a minimum whilst consistently providing students with opportunities to develop a host of transferable and desirable skills. This includes but is not limited, evaluating information and testing hypotheses. This ensures students receive a broad range of substantive and disciplinary knowledge. All of which opens doors to a wide variety of career pathways and enables the learners to succeed in the choices that they make.

Year 7

Introduction to secondary science, Microscopy, Solids, liquids and gases, Measuring density, Cells and unicellular organisms, Solutions, Forces, Reproductive system, Mixtures, Pressure, Gestation and birth, Acids and alkalis, Energy stores, Movement, Neutralisation, Understanding waves, Current electricity, Ecosystems and Earth’s atmosphere

Year 8

Food & deficiency diseases, Atoms and elements, Solids, liquids & gases, Ventilation, Drugs, Reaction of acids, Sound, Respiration, Combustion, Unicellular organisms and diffusion, Photosynthesis, Earth and space, Reaction of metals, Static electricity, Plants and reproduction

Year 9

This is a bridging year between KS3 and KS4, key concepts are covered in Science with a chance to build on skills required to learn.

Learners will cover the following topics: Cells and transport, Atomic structure, Energy, Electricity, States of matter and bonding, Organisation, Chemical reactions, Introduction to radioactivity, Particles and changes of state, Energy changes, Bioenergetics, Waves, Magnetism, Control systems, Inheritance, Ecology

Years 10 and 11

At the start of KS4 learners are offered two routes for GCSE Science:

Pathway 1

AQA Triple science leads to 3 GCSEs in Separate Sciences from Year 9 and this leads to 3 separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. There are two tiers of entry; Higher and Foundation.
 
Learners who sit the Higher Paper can achieve grades 9-4. Those taking the Foundation Paper can achieve grades 5-1.
 
The course is 100% externally assessed units.

Pathway 2

AQA Combined Science. This leads two GCSE (studying Biology, Chemistry and Physics) but not in as much depth as the triple science option. There are two tiers of entry; Higher and Foundation.
 
Learners who sit the Higher Paper can achieve grades 9-4 and those taking the Foundation Paper can achieve grades 5-1.
 
The course is 100 % externally assessed. 

Extracurricular and Enrichment Opportunities

There is a Science intervention after school every week and as we get closer to exams breakfast revision with additional after school electives will prepare  learners who need support for their upcoming exams.

Other Details

The triple science option studies the subjects in greater depth and learners need to demonstrate a good understanding in science and should be working at Grade 4 in English, Maths and Science or above by the end of Year 8 for them to succeed at this option.