Science
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Welcome to Braunton Academy Science Department. The Science Department has a dedicated and enthusiastic team of teachers, supported by an excellent team of technicians.
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Together we aim to provide a varied and stimulating science curriculum, in which students are helped to develop the skills they need to become focused independent learners, through the exploration of all aspects of the science curriculum.
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Key Stage 3
During Key Stage 3 we focus on building students' scientific knowledge and developing their skills. Knowledge, skills and understanding are taught, and then assessed using the Academy’s new Assessment Framework. Where a concept or skill is not mastered, judgements of ‘securing’, ‘developing’ and ‘emerging’ will indicate how far the student has come in terms of their mastery of the required element.
Formal assessments are also undertaken regularly each term.
Further information can be found in the Academy’s Assessment Policy.
We aim to inspire students and encourage them to develop an inquisitive approach to their science lessons.
Students will study the following topic areas
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Year 7
Cells
Reproduction
Environment
Variation and Classification
Acids and Alkalis
Chemical Reactions
Particles
Solutions
Energy Resources
Electrical Circuits
Forces and their Effects
The Solar System and Beyond
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Year 8
Food and Digestion
Respiration
Microbes and Disease
Ecology
Atoms and Elements
Compounds and Mixtures
Rocks and Weathering
The Rock Cycle
Heating and Cooling
Magnets and Electromagnets
Light
Sound and Hearing
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Year 9
Fit and Healthy
Plants and Photosynthesis
Metals and Metal Compounds
Types of Chemical Reactions
Energy and Electricity
Forces and Motion
Followed by an introduction to the GCSE courses from February half term onwards.
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GCSE Courses
During Key Stage 4 students follow the AQA science course. This is tailored to suit students' individual needs, resulting in 2 or 3 GCSE science grades.
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A significant number of students opt to choose to study the separate sciences at GCSE level, that is, Biology, Physics and Chemistry (Triple Science).
Take a look at useful links which gives more detail on the combined science (Trilogy) and triple science programs.
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Students will sit all science examinations in the June examination series of year 11.
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Homework / Independent Learning
The aim of the homework we set is to embed and extend the learning that has taken place in the classroom.
Homework is regularly set on the Show My Homework website.
*Homework set could be in the form of a quiz on the “Educake” website (https://www.educake.co.uk/) to which all students have a personal login.
*Revision/ learning homework in preparation for assessments.
*Practice examination questions (KS4)
*For KS4 students (year 10 and 11) homework could be set in the form of a video tutorial, "test yourself" quiz or checkpoint test on "the Everlearner" website (https://www.theeverlearner.com/) to which students have a personal login.
*Research/project work.
Extra-curricular and Enrichment Opportunities
Throughout each year students may have the opportunity to take part in a number of extra- curricular activities. As a STEM subject the science department take advantage of the many activities run by external agencies.
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Some examples of the activities recently completed include, Space Day, Science week visit to Plymouth University, The Big bang at PETROC, The Wonderstruck Science show.
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Useful Links
https://www.educake.co.uk/ (All students will have their own login)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/levels/z4kw2hv
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/levels/z98jmp3
https://www.kerboodle.com/users/login (GCSE Students will have their own login)
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-trilogy-8464
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463
https://www.my-gcsescience.com/
https://www.theeverlearner.com/ (All KS4 students will have their own login)
https://www.gcsesciencerevision.com/
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