Triple/Separate Science (KS4)

*This course will be discontinued. The last cohort to study this course is cohort 2017 (students taking their final GCSE examinations in 2017)

Exam Board:
AQA

Qualification:
Triple Science GCSE (3 GCSEs)

Assessment:
Coursework 25%
Examination 75%

Outline of course content:
This course will allow natural progression to science A-Levels. Careers which require scientific qualifications include medicine, veterinary science, environmental and conservation work, sports science, and food science. The types of skills developed during this course will include the ability to plan your own individual science investigation, selecting appropriate apparatus to use, and controlling key variables; to collect accurate data; to analyse and evaluate the data obtained, and the method used.

Areas of study in this qualification include; how human organ systems work to maintain the body; the properties of metals; how rocks and oil are rich raw materials; how electricity is generated; how forces can affect the movement of objects; the way heat can travel; how humans make use of electromagnetic radiation in everyday objects, eg. mobile 'phones, microwaves; how the processes of respiration and photosynthesis drives life; the structure of the periodic table; how raw materials are used to manufacture important chemical products; the laws of motion; and how components are used to build electrical circuits.

Outline of course structure:

Students will start the Core Science GCSE around January at the beginning of Year 9, moving onto the Additional Science GCSE as soon as the Core GCSE material has been completed. Students will be examined on the Core Science GCSE in June of Year 10.

Students will then complete the Additional Science GCSE and Further Science GCSE, both of which will be examined in June of Year 11.

They will also complete an Investigative Skills Assessment for each of the GCSEs; two in Year 10, which will make up 25% of the Core Science GCSE grade, an Additional Science GCSE grade, and one in Year 11 that will make up 25% of the Further Additional Science GCSE grade.

For cohort 2018, the following course will be available, which commenced in September 2015:

Triple/Separate Science GCSE

Assessment:
Examination 100%

This course consists of a GCSE in each of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. All will be examined at the end of Year 11 and the course comprises 100% exam material with no coursework. The examinations will include questions on twenty-four key practicals that students will have studied in normal science lessons. Therefore, excellent attendance throughout the year is imperative so that these key practicals are not missed and the examination score is not compromised.

Exam Board:
AQA

Qualification:
GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry, GCSE Physics

Assessment:
Examination 100%

Outline of course content:

GCSE Biology:
- cell biology
- organisation
- infection and response
- Bioenergetics
- homeostasis and response
- inheritance, variation and evolution
- Ecology
GCSE Chemistry:
- atomic structure and the periodic table
- bonding, structure and the properties of matter
- quantitative chemistry
- chemical changes
- energy changes
- the rate and extent of chemical change
- organic chemistry
- chemical analysis
- chemistry of the atmosphere
- using resources
GCSE Physics:
- forces
- energy
- waves
- electricity
- magnetism and electromagnetism
- particle model of matter
- atomic structure
- space physics

Outline of course structure:

to plan your own individual science investigation, selecting appropriate apparatus to use and controlling key variables
to collect accurate and valid data
to analyse and evaluate the data obtained and the method used