KS3 Science Curriculum
What is KS3 science?
Pupils across Years 7, 8, and 9 follow the National Curriculum guidelines and are taught with the new (2019) KS3 Exploring Science Working Scientifically framework. This scheme of learning provides an engaging and inspiring way to develop pupils’ love of science, while building skills that are critical to GCSE (9–1) success.
Over the three years, pupils will experience over 150 different practical activities introducing them to a full range of skills and techniques in preparation for the GCSE (9-1) Core/required practicals.
Building a foundation in Year 7, Exploring Science encourages pupils to apply knowledge to unfamiliar context, develop evaluation skills and recognise and respond to GCSE-style command words.
As well as enthusing pupils in science, the Exploring Science scheme implements terminology and approaches consistent with mathematical teaching.
Each year pupils will work through 12 units across the three disciplines of science. Exploring Science Working Scientifically provides a seamless progression to Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Science qualifications. Topics are mapped to Pearson Edexcel’s 11–16 Science Learning Pathway, Entry Level Certificates and GCSE (9–1) specifications.
Year 7 Learning Pathway
7a - Cells, Tissues, Organs And Systems | 7b - Sexual Reproduction In Animals | 7c - Muscles And Bones | 7d - Ecosystems |
7e - Mixtures And Separations | 7f - Acids And Alkalis | 7g - The Particle Model | 7h - Atoms, Elements And Compounds |
7i - Energy | 7j - Current Electricity | 7k - Forces |
7l - Sound |
Year 8 Learning Pathway
8a - Food And Nutrition | 8b - Plants and their Reproduction | 8c - Breathing and Respiration | 8d - Unicellular Organisms |
8e - Combustion | 8f - The Periodic Table | 8g - Metals and their Uses | 8h - Rocks |
8i - Fluids | 8j - Light | 8k - Energy Transfers |
8l - Earth and Space |
Year 9 Learning Pathway
Year 9 is divided into 12 Units. 6 units (A, B, E, F, I and J) complete the Key Stage 3 National Curriculum. There are then 3 units of revision and project work, and 3 units that prepare pupils for the transition to GCSE.
9A - Genetics And Evolution | 9B - Plant Growth | 9C - Biology Revision And Projects | 9D - Biology Transition To GCSE |
9E - Making Materials | 9F - Reactivity | 9G - Chemistry Revision And Projects | 9H - Chemistry Transition To GCSE |
9I - Forces And Motion | 9J - Force Fields And Electromagnets | 9K - Physics Revision And Projects | 9L - Physics Transition To GCSE |
Assessment
In Key Stage 3 all students are assessed 3 times within each unit of work:
Flag 1 – Multiple choice Recall questions will be set as homework. These need to be learned and will be assessed in class.
Flag 2 – A formative assessment will focus on a particular skill which will work on a rotation. See skills below:
- Laboratory safety
- Planning a practical
- Graph Drawing
- Graph analysis
- Table Analysis
- Data Handling
- Equations
- Evaluating data
- Evaluating a practical
- 2-3 Mark
- Long answer questions
Flag 3 - An end of topic test (30 mins) will be given at the end of the unit to inform how well the unit has been understood.