Key Stage 3

Science

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Science

Year Groups

Year 7

Age 11 - 12

Year 8

Age 12 - 13

Year 9

Age 13 - 14

Careers

At EBS, careers education is a central part of school life. We provide independent, impartial guidance to help students of all ages explore their strengths and passions, and to plan for their future.

From Years 7 – 9 the focus is on career exploration, and students do this through our online platform Unifrog, which helps to identify skills and career interests. We also work with employers, training providers and local colleges to offer real-world experiences. All students complete work experience from Year 10 and meet with our independent Careers Advisor.

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If you require any further information about the curriculum we are following in this subject, please click here to contact the Head of Faculty/Department.

Course ID
N/A
Faculty
Science
Department
Science
Level
Key Stage 3
Head of Faculty
S. Owen
Head of Department
R. Innes
Key Stage 3 Science

Course Overview

Our Key Stage 3 Science curriculum follows a bespoke programme aligned with the National Curriculum, designed to foster curiosity and develop students’ understanding of the world around them. Through engaging and practical lessons, students are encouraged to think scientifically and cultivate a genuine thirst for knowledge. 

Across Key Stage 3, students study a broad range of topics drawn from Biology, Chemistry and Physics, building the core knowledge required for strong progress at Key Stage 4. Lessons develop key scientific skill sets identified within our Science Learning Ladder, including knowledge recall, experimental technique, analytical thinking, mathematical application and scientific literacy. 

Students are taught to plan investigations, interpret data, apply mathematical reasoning and communicate their ideas clearly using appropriate scientific terminology. This carefully sequenced curriculum ensures a secure foundation for GCSE study and supports students in becoming confident, capable and inquisitive scientists. 

 

Course Description

Year 7

Term Unit of Work Assessment
Autumn 1 Working scientifically
This unit provides students with the skills to plan and complete scientific investigations.
 
Autumn 2 Particles
This unit looks at the particle model of solids, liquids and gases and how matter changes from one state to the other.

Cells

This unit looks at plant, animal and bacterial cells. It also looks at how specialised cells perform specific functions and how substances move in and out of cells.
 
Spring 1 Forces
Through a series of investigations, this unit looks at examples of contact and non-contact forces.

Atoms, elements and compounds
Students learn the differences between atoms, elements and compounds. Students also learn how compounds are named and how chemical formulae are used.

Assessment 1
Working Scientifically, Cells, Particles
Spring 2 Chemical reactions
Through a series of practicals, this unit shows that chemical reactions produce new substances and that mass is always conserved in a chemical reaction. It also  investigates the nature of different types of chemical reactions including Thermal decomposition, Exothermic and Endothermic reactions.

Sound

This unit looks at how energy travels in waves and how sounds are detected by the ear.
 
Summer 1 Body Systems
This unit explains how living things are organised into cells, tissues, organs and systems. It then looks in more detail at the respiratory system, skeleton, joints and Muscles.
 
Summer 2 Light
Students investigate how visible light can be separated into colours using prisms and how light rays can be refracted and reflected. How cameras work is also investigated.

Space
Students learn about:

  • The solar system
  • Why a day is 24rs long
  • Why the seasons occur
  • Why eclipses happen
Assessment 2
All Year 7 content to date

Year 8

Term Unit of Work Assessment
Autumn 1 Acids and Alkalis
Students learn about the PH scale and how alkalis and bases can be used to neutralise acids. They will make copper sulfate salt crystals and understand how other salts are made.

Reproduction
This unit looks at the male and female reproductive systems and the changes that happen during adolescence. Students then create a storyboard to describe the process of fertilisation. What happens during pregnancy and plant reproduction is included

 
Autumn 2 Electricity and Magnetism
Students create their own electrical circuits and learn how electrical current, potential difference and resistance are measured and calculated. We also investigate how electromagnets can create such strong magnets and how they are used.

The Periodic table
This unit investigates the patterns that exist in the periodic table and then looks in more details at groups 1, 7 and 0.

Assessment 1 
Acid and Alkalis, Reproduction plus Year 7 content 
Spring 1 Separating Techniques
Students do practicals to investigate the processes of filtration, evaporation, distillation and chromatography.
 
Spring 2 Health and Lifestyle
This unit looks at how our diet, smoking, alcohol and drugs effect our body system. Initially it looks in detail at how different food groups are digested.
Assessment 2 
All Year 8 and Year 7 content to date 
Summer 1 Energy
Students discover the difference between heat and temperature and how heat is transferred via the processes of conduction.
Ecosystems, convection and radiation.
 
Summer 2 The Earth
This unit investigates the Earth’s current structure and atmosphere and how these have changed over time
 

Year 9

Term Unit of Work Assessment
Autumn 1

Adaptation and Inheritance (Biology) 
Students learn about the DNA molecule and how scientists collaborated to discover it’s structure. They learn how the differences found in living things link to the DNA molecule and also the environment they live in.

Metals and Acids (Chemistry) 
Student learn how acids and metals react with different substances and how metals are extracted from the earth.

Motion and Pressure (Physics) 
This unit investigates how speed is measured and illustrated in graphs. It then looks at different examples and uses of pressure in solids, liquids and gases.

 
Autumn 2 Adaptation and Inheritance (Biology) 
Metals and Acids (Chemistry) 
Motion and Pressure (Physics) 
End of Key Stage 3 test. 
Spring 1 GCSE curriculum starts in Science: 
Cell structure and transport (Biology) 
Atomic structure (Chemistry) 
Conservation and dissipation of energy (Physics) 
 
Spring 2 Cell structure and transport (Biology) 
Atomic structure (Chemistry) 
Conservation and dissipation of energy (Physics) 
 
Summer 1 Cell division (Biology) 
The periodic table (Chemistry) 
Energy transfer by heating (Physics) 
 
Summer 2 Cell division (Biology) 
The periodic table (Chemistry) 
Energy transfer by heating (Physics) 
End of Year 9 GCSE mock exam.  

 

Extended Learning

Year 7

Websites Read Visit or Watch Extra
Kerboodle; BBC Bitesize Science.  Activate workbooks; Activate 1, Activate 2.  Science Museum, Natural History Museum, Science 
documentaries, local nature reserves / woodlands. 
 

 

Year 8

Websites Read Visit or Watch Extra
Kerboodle; BBC Bitesize Science.  Activate workbooks; Activate 1, Activate 2.  Science Museum, Natural History Museum, Science 
documentaries, local nature reserves / woodlands. 
 

 

Year 9

Websites Read Visit or Watch Extra
Kerboodle; BBC Bitesize Science.  Activate workbooks; Activate 1, Activate 2.  Science Museum, Natural History Museum, Science 
documentaries, local nature reserves / woodlands. 
 

 

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