Science
Teacher contact details
| Ms P Klopper | pam.klopper@southfieldsacademy.com |
| Mr T Bhatti | tariq.bhatti@southfieldsacademy.com |
| Ms E Baxter | ella.baxter@southfieldsacademy.com |
| Ms A Conway | alexandra.conway@southfieldsacademy.com |
| Ms C Croissant | carrie-anne.croissant@southfieldsacademy.com |
| Ms L George | lucy.george@southfieldsacademy.com |
| Mr H Norris | joseph.norris@southfieldsacademy.com |
| Ms C Toffolo | chiara.toffolo@southfieldsacademy.com |
| Dr J Carlyle | jack.carlyle@southfieldsacademy.com |
| Dr D Stackhouse | duncan.stackhouse@southfieldsacademy.com |
| Ms J Dickman | julia.dickman@southfieldsacademy.com |
| Ms D Bouzounieraki | despoina.bouzounieraki@southfieldsacademy.com |
Key Stage 3
Contact Teacher
Ms P. Klopper (Head of Science): pam.klopper@southfieldsacademy.com
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Students are in mixed ability, well differentiated classes throughout Key Stage 3. Continuous assessment throughout takes place to monitor progression of attainment. Assessment also allows for extra support to be given where necessary. Teaching time: Year 7: 4 hours a week, Year 8: 3 hours per week.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
Intro:
Pupils learn how knowledge and understanding in science are rooted in evidence. They discover how scientific ideas contribute to technological change- affecting industry, business and medicine and improving quality of life. They trace the development of science worldwide and 
recognise its cultural significance. They learn to question and discuss issues that may affect their own lives, the directions of societies and the future of the world.
Key concepts
- Scientific thinking - Learning the use of scientific ideas and models to explain phenomena and developing them creatively to generate and test theories.
- Applications and implications of science - Exploring the ethical and moral implications of using and applying science as well as understanding that new technological developments have consequences in the way people think and behave.
- Cultural understanding - Recognising that modern science has its roots in many different cultures and societies.
- Collaboration - Sharing developments and common understanding across the curriculum.
Range and content
The study of science includes the following topics which are taught throughout Key Stage 3
- Energy, electricity and forces.
- Chemical and material behaviour.
- Organisms, behaviour and health.
Over the three years students will be developing essential skills which will enable them to learn and make good progress, these are:
- Practical and enquiry skills
- Critical understanding of evidence
- Communication
Assessment:
In Years 7 and 8 assessment is based on assessing pupils’ progress continually by 
completing assessed pieces of work for each topic. Understanding and knowledge is assessed by end of topic tests and end of year exam.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc
Visit from Zoolab to the school for year 7 students.
Text books used are:
Eureka (Publishers: Heinemann)
Spotlight (Publishers: Stanley and Thornes)
Exploring science (Publishers: Longman)
Homework
Is set once a week, and is usually based on research or consolidation of class work.
How parents can help
Parents can help by ensuring homework is checked for completion and that your child revises science on a weekly basis using a Key Stage 3 revision guide which can be purchased from any good bookshop or from the school at a subsidised price.
Key Stage 4
Contact Teacher
Ms P. Klopper (Head of Science): pam.klopper@southfieldsacademy.com
GCSE Sciences
Exam Board - AQA
The Course
The Science department offers two options for studying science at GCSE. Students can either study a Combined Science GCSE course or study separate Science GCSE courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
The Science curriculum aims to develop the scientific knowledge and skills required for students to understand science in the news and to make informed decisions about everyday issues they will encounter.
Assessment
Combined Science GCSE Course
Students will be following the new 9-1 AQA Trilogy specification at GCSE, gaining two GCSE qualifications. The coursework component of the GCSE qualifications has now been removed so students will be assessed on their exams only. Students will take a total of six exam papers each worth 16.7% of the final grade. There will be two exam papers for Biology, Chemistry and Physics. All papers are 1 hour and 15 minutes long.
Students will be assessed at regular intervals through the year with multiple choice quizzes, mid-topic assessments and end of topic assessments in each topic.
A link to the specification can be found below:
http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/science/specifications/AQA-8464-SP-2016.PDF
Separate Science GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics
This course will involve studying three separate Science GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Students will be covering the same content as the combined science students, plus some additional topics.
This course will run over two years and students will have eight science lessons each week. Each of the three GCSEs is assessed by two pubic exams (50% of each GCSE and 1 hour 45 minutes long), two for biology, two for chemistry and two for physics.
Links to each specification can be found below:
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461 - Biology
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462- Chemistry
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463- Physics
Where it leads
A science qualification can lead to employment at all levels in diverse careers as Medicine, Engineering, Pharmaceuticals and Agriculture.
Key Stage 5
Find out more about our sixth form courses.