Science

Introduction

Are you curious? Have you ever wondered how medicines are developed? How we could live on Mars? How you can build your future world and combat climate change? Science is relevant to everything and everyone. It’s the process of learning about our world, acquiring knowledge, observing and experimenting.

The Science team at Pilgrim aim to develop student’s curiosity, scientific knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts by studying the three main areas of Science – Biology, Chemistry and Physics. We aim to equip students to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for their future.

We know that students will have experienced different aspects of science when arriving with us. We use our hopeful curriculum model which includes a range of qualifications, use of robust schemes of work, memory recall, assessment for learning -use of schemas (which include disciplinary language and keywords), WAGOLLS, dynamic formative assessment, hearing a hopeful voice in lessons (dovetailing with our hopeful heroes’ key messages and our science specific heroes) as well as fundamental British Values, for example Rule of Law in genetics, Democracy in scientific developments and Individual Liberty for Health and safety and science careers. We are especially passionate to enable students to participate in practical work and have forged strong links with the Royal Society of Chemistry and the British Science Association. This approach ensures all students receive the best possible personalised experience they can to give them as wider options as possible when leaving us.

Goal

We have an overall Line of Sight for KS3 and 4. However, this is malleable and often personalised towards individual classes or students having the capacity to support or extend as necessary, for example in KS3 to blend year groups and in KS4 for ELC or triple science.

Similarly, our schemas are used to support a student’s line of site and may also be adapted to support individual needs.

Example Schema

Pathways

At KS3 and KS4 we follow a scheme of work based on the National curriculum.

For KS3 we have adapted the Edexcel Mastery Curriculum. This supports students to gain a good understanding of the big ideas and concepts in science including cells, particle model and energy. Schemas guide students through each topic and have a clear knowledge-based pathway through their learning disciplinary literacy along the way. These are also used to quickly visualise gaps in learning quickly. Students are dynamically assessed in lessons with more formal testing takes place 3 times per year – students are assessed using a baseline shortly after arrival.

Using this pathway supports students link to the next stage in their learning (whether with us or at mainstream). The majority of students follow an adapted Edexcel scheme of work, personalised for our students. Most student study combined science, however, there is opportunity for triple science award. We have the capacity to teach other exam boards (e.g. AQA) which is especially important when students join our school having studied an alternative board.

We strongly believe that science education and qualifications must be accessible for all students. For some, GCSE might not be appropriate, or they may need a stepping stone to GCSE. Students are able to take Entry Level Certificate (ELC) for science as an alternative or, as topics are aligned, in addition to the GCSE combined science.

As with KS3, students are dynamically assessed within lessons with more formal testing (post baseline) taking place 3 times per year and at the end of year 11 in formal examinations.

KS4 Course details

GCSE Combined Science (2 GCSES)

Edexcel Combined Science route which leads to 2 GCSE qualifications. This is made up of 6 units, 2 from each area of Science - Biology (B1, B2), Chemistry (C1, C2) and Physics (P1, P2).

GCSE Triple Award (3 GCSEs) – students still sit 6 units but study extra subject content for each Science.

Entry level Science (ELC)

This qualification includes the same topics as GCSE Combined Science but there are no final exams.

It is designed so that it can be co-taught alongside GCSE Combined Science with the same topic structure and content to enable students to easily progress from ELC to GCSE if appropriate. They can then be entered for just ELC, GCSE or both. ELC students are assessed through mini-tests throughout the qualification. Depending on how many of these they complete and their mark, depends on the grade for the final qualification – Entry Level 1, 2 or 3.

Agency

Science is relevant to everything we see and do in the world around us – it’s not just important for a career in Science, but for you to understand how things work in your future lives. From learning about the human body, to chemical equations to energy processes science is a subject that is hugely varied. Whilst studying science you will also develop your maths, data handling, research, practical and communication skills useful for many different careers.

Scientists work in so many fields to try to improve the life and health of the planet. Some will be in research, perhaps working on the cure for cancer or developing the technology for the next generation of electric cars or inhabiting Mars. Other scientists may be working in hospitals, as weather forecasters, dieticians, marine biologists, forensics, sports scientists, even teachers, writers, architects and journalists. As technology continues to change in the future there will always be a high demand for talented scientists A career in Science is available and accessible to everyone!