Science
BackSubject Leader – Mrs Joanna Ainsworth
Teacher – Ms Jessica ClarkeTeacher – Ms Ruby Mullins
Teacher - Ms Georgette Brookes
Science Curriculum Intent
“Building on the foundation of primary school the specialist team of scientists will work with students to actively engage in all 3 disciplines of science covering both the National Curriculum and topics extra to that. This will be a combination of both substantive knowledge but also the science disciplinary knowledge that is a key part of all sciences.
Practical work is a key part of the learning, using our well resourced laboratories. Literacy and numeracy within science will be key in the collaborative approach to inspiring students with an understanding and love for science.”
Curriculum Aim
Building on the foundation of primary school the specialist team of scientists will work with students to actively engage in all 3 disciplines of science covering both the National Curriculum and topics extra to that. This will be a combination of both substantive knowledge but also the science disciplinary knowledge that is a key part of all sciences.
Practical work is a key part of the learning, using our well resourced laboratories. Literacy and numeracy within science will be key in the collaborative approach to inspiring students with an understanding and love for science.
Key stage 3 Learning Journey
During Key Stage 3 students are introduced to key concepts in all 3 science disciplines. The concepts have been sequenced to start students with concrete ideas about the world around them that they go on to apply in future units. Students are challenged to use their essential knowledge to apply to unfamiliar contexts and to explain practical work. Skills around literacy, data analysis, practical work and how the science applies to their life run throughout all of Key Stage 3. Throughout Key Stage 3 consolidation and retrieval practice skills are embedded to ensure a firm grasp of the essential knowledge and prepare students for the GCSE Science course.
Assessment
Students are assessed throughout the units of work using low stakes activities and homeworks. At the end of the unit students sit a short quiz which is a mix of multiple choice and longer answer questions that allow students to check their essential knowledge and practice skills such as data interpretation and writing extended response answers. These are then used to inform flashback work at the beginning of future lessons and retrieval practice homeworks.
Alongside this work all students completed an identified longer piece of work in lessons that allows them to show more breadth and depth in their answers. This is marked by their teachers in a deep marking exercise and then students have time to act on their feedback to improve their knowledge and understanding.
Key stage 4 Learning Journey
Starting in September 2022 all students will begin the GCSE separate sciences course. Each science discipline is a GCSE in its own right and extends the key concepts covered at Key Stage 3. Students will explore biology, chemistry and physics in detail and will be well prepared for A-level sciences or STEM related college courses.
Students who began their GCSE journey in 2021 will continue with either GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy (8464) that is worth two GCSEs. The course covers aspects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics in equal amounts and allows progression onto A-levels in any of the three Sciences or Separate Science GCSE Biology (8461), GCSE Physics (8463), GCSE Chemistry (8462). Each course is a separate GCSE in its own right, including the relevant science content from GCSE Combined Science, plus half as much again. These three courses are designed to be first and foremost a springboard to A-levels in the Sciences and any student seriously considering Science A-levels should carefully consider opting for this triplet of courses.
Assessment
Students will be assessed throughout the course using low stakes work in lessons, homework (including retrieval practice homework) and in end of module assessments. This will be used to target further work in subsequent lessons. At the end of Year 10 students will sit a mock paper on that years work (Paper 1 topics) and in Year 11 students will sit mocks in both Paper 1 and Paper 2 units. These will be used to identify topics for further teaching and revision both individually and across classes.
Additional to the Curriculum
- We have a Science Club from 3-4pm every Thursday! See jessica.clarke@macclesfieldacademy.org for more information.
- Revision Classes are 3-4pm on Tuesdays (Week B).
- In Year 8 we have a science visit to Chester Zoo.
- Year 7 have a trip to Jodrell Bank in April.
- In Year 9 we start field work.
- Information soon to follow for a trip to CERN in Switzerland.
- From Years 7-11 we encourage students to volunteer , demonstrate experiments and chat to parents and children during our open events.
- Throughout their time at school students will get the opportunity to attend university science events, meet and work with STEM ambassadors, take part in community science activities and competitions alongside targeted events such as ‘Girl’s Night Out’ at Jodrell Bank.
The Macclesfield Academy Science Department in the Community
We work with our local primary schools providing support with curriculum delivery and community science events. This year we invited primary school aged children from the local area to our ‘Science of fireworks’ lectures which proved very popular.
Later in the year we hosted the Auriga Astronomy Dome in the department which was a wonderful experience for our own students and those from local Primary schools.
Careers in Science
Science Stars
Each week, each teacher nominates a student as 'Star of the Week' for excellent effort, attitude and attainment. They then enter a half termly draw for a prize.