Science

Science is a core subject in the curriculum and a central part of learning at Highgate Wood School.

Science is an integral part of a child’s understanding of the universe and more importantly, of the science that they encounter each day. In the age of misinformation, we equip students with scientific literacy, enabling them to make appropriate scientific decisions throughout their lives.

The curriculum is grounded in the key foundational concepts of the ‘big ideas of science’ and students study biology, chemistry and physics in a spiral curriculum, moving from concrete to abstract thinking. Students are equipped with the practical, mathematical and literacy skills needed for further study. Training students to experiment, fully aware of mitigating risks, to collect and interrogate evidence is fundamental to our approach.

There is a sharp focus on inclusivity, improving the life chances of disadvantaged students. Teaching groups, including triple science GCSE sets, reflect the true diversity of the school. To improve the gender balance of our A level subjects we have implemented changes through the curriculum that tackle the unconscious bias deterring some students from further study.

Students continue to develop experimental, analytical and evaluative skills throughout their learning in science. These skills are valuable in every field and provide a robust knowledge base for further education or employment.

All students at Key Stage 3 and 4 study science in our specialist science laboratories.

Combined Science Trilogy

Students are taught by two teachers over the two years, each will be a specialist in one of the three sciences. They will share the third science between them. Two tiers are available for this qualification, Foundation and Higher. The most appropriate tier will be decided following discussions between your child and their science teacher. The content is the same for both tiers. The qualification will be graded on a 17-point scale: 1–1 to 9–9 – where 9–9 is the best grade. A student taking Foundation Tier assessments will be awarded a grade within the range of 1–1 to 5–5. A student taking Higher Tier assessments will be awarded a grade within the range of 4–4 to 9–9.

There is no coursework for Combined Science. It is 100% based on examinations at the end of Year 11.
This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the
course. As all of the exams take place in the Summer term of Year 11 (May/June 2018), there are no opportunities
for resitting.

There are six papers: two Biology, two Chemistry and two Physics. Each of the papers will assess knowledge and understanding from distinct topic areas. Each exam is 1 hour 15 minutes long, consists of 70 marks, is 16.7% of the GCSE and contains multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response questions. The topics below refer to the examination board specification and NOT the Kerboodle textbook. Biology Paper 1 assesses Biology topics 1–4: Biology Paper 2 assesses Biology topics 5–7 Chemistry Paper 1 assesses Chemistry topics 8-12: Chemistry Paper 2 assesses Chemistry topics 13-17 Physics Paper 1 assesses Physics topics 18-21: Physics Paper 2 assesses Physics topics 22-24.

There is a greater emphasis on application and maths skills questions in this course than the previous GCSE. Students must learn 21 Physics equations off by heart. Teachers will set Key Assessed Pieces (KAPs) which will be carried out under examination conditions or as homework. The tests will contain cumulative questions that will be used to judge what has been committed to students’ long-term memory. Please enquire regularly from your child when these are and ask to see the marked test papers so you can be aware of how they are progressing. There are a minimum of 21 Required Practicals which must be carried out and written up in Laboratory Books. 15% of the exams will draw on the knowledge and understanding that students have gained by carrying out these practical activities.

Triple Science

Students are taught by subject specialists as three separate GCSEs. All triple science students will be entered for the Higher tier. Grades will be awarded within the range of 4–4 to 9–9.

There is no coursework for Triple Science. It is 100% based on examinations at the end of Year 11. This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all of their exams at the end of the course. As all of the exams take place in the Summer term of Year 11 (May/June 2018), there are no opportunities for resitting.

There are six papers: two Biology, two Chemistry and two Physics. Each of the papers will assess knowledge and understanding from distinct topic areas. Each exam is 1 hour 45 minutes long, consists of 100 marks, is 50% of EACH GCSE and contains short answer and extended response questions. The topics below refer to the examination board specification and NOT the Kerboodle textbook. Biology Paper 1 assesses Biology topics 1–4: Biology Paper 2 assesses Biology topics 5–7 Chemistry Paper 1 assesses Chemistry topics 1-5: Chemistry Paper 2 assesses Chemistry topics 6-10 Physics Paper 1 assesses Physics topics 1-4: Physics Paper 2 assesses physics topics 5-8.

Triple science covers much of the same content as Combined Science: Trilogy. Some of the topics are extended and there are additional topics such as Space Physics. There is a greater emphasis on application and maths skills questions in this course than the previous GCSE. Teachers will set Key Assessed Pieces (KAPs) which will be carried out under examination conditions or as homeworks. The tests will contain cumulative questions will be used to judge what has been committed to students’ long-term memory. Please enquire regularly from your child when these are and ask to see the marked test papers so you can be aware of how they are progressing. There are Required Practicals (10 for Biology; 8 for Chemistry; 9 for Physics) which must be carried out and written up in Laboratory Books. 15% of the exams will draw on the knowledge and understanding that students have gained by carrying out these practical activities. Students must learn 23 Physics equations off by heart.

Biology

Biology can be used as a route to many different university courses and opens up a wide range of future careers including teaching, veterinary sciences, biomedical sciences, pathology, nursing and dentistry. Biology can supplement Chemistry and Physics, but also works well with studying other subjects such as History or English. Our Biology course involves a high proportion of practical work in the laboratory. Students also enjoy a wide variety of lectures and visits to gain wider experience of developments in the subject. Biology students have taken part in residential field trips which have proved to be extremely popular and also useful for university application

Subject Content:

  • Biological molecules
  • Cells
  • Organisms exchange substances with their environment
  • Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms
  • Energy transfers in and between organisms (A-level only)
  • Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (A-level only)
  • Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems (A-level only)
  • The control of gene expression (A-level only)

Chemistry

Chemistry is a stimulating, enjoyable and challenging A level and gives those who take it a sound basis for science and non-science based degree courses. Chemistry A level is a requirement of many future pathways including medicine, dentistry and veterinary science. Chemistry A Level provides a wide variety of experiences, from demonstrating academic mastery through developing an understanding of scientific theories to improving practical skills by setting up experiments, working as a team and communicating to an audience, as well as hugely valuable independent study and reasoning skills.

Written examinations take place at the end of the AS and A Level course. Two papers are sat at the end of the first year and three are taken at the end of the second year.

Subject Content:

  • Physical chemistry
  • Inorganic chemistry
  • Organic chemistry

Physics

Physics provides a sound basis for science and non-science based degree courses, and is a requirement of many future pathways including engineering, construction, mechanics, robotics, aviation and computing. Physics A Level provides a wide variety of experiences, from developing academic mastery through developing an understanding of scientific theories to improving practical skills by setting up experiments, working as a team and communicating to an audience.

Key Stage 3

All students at Key Stage 3 and 4 study science in our specialist science laboratories.

Key Stage 4

Combined Science Trilogy

Students are taught by two teachers over the two years, each will be a specialist in one of the three sciences. They will share the third science between them. Two tiers are available for this qualification, Foundation and Higher. The most appropriate tier will be decided following discussions between your child and their science teacher. The content is the same for both tiers. The qualification will be graded on a 17-point scale: 1–1 to 9–9 – where 9–9 is the best grade. A student taking Foundation Tier assessments will be awarded a grade within the range of 1–1 to 5–5. A student taking Higher Tier assessments will be awarded a grade within the range of 4–4 to 9–9.

There is no coursework for Combined Science. It is 100% based on examinations at the end of Year 11.
This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the
course. As all of the exams take place in the Summer term of Year 11 (May/June 2018), there are no opportunities
for resitting.

There are six papers: two Biology, two Chemistry and two Physics. Each of the papers will assess knowledge and understanding from distinct topic areas. Each exam is 1 hour 15 minutes long, consists of 70 marks, is 16.7% of the GCSE and contains multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response questions. The topics below refer to the examination board specification and NOT the Kerboodle textbook. Biology Paper 1 assesses Biology topics 1–4: Biology Paper 2 assesses Biology topics 5–7 Chemistry Paper 1 assesses Chemistry topics 8-12: Chemistry Paper 2 assesses Chemistry topics 13-17 Physics Paper 1 assesses Physics topics 18-21: Physics Paper 2 assesses Physics topics 22-24.

There is a greater emphasis on application and maths skills questions in this course than the previous GCSE. Students must learn 21 Physics equations off by heart. Teachers will set Key Assessed Pieces (KAPs) which will be carried out under examination conditions or as homework. The tests will contain cumulative questions that will be used to judge what has been committed to students’ long-term memory. Please enquire regularly from your child when these are and ask to see the marked test papers so you can be aware of how they are progressing. There are a minimum of 21 Required Practicals which must be carried out and written up in Laboratory Books. 15% of the exams will draw on the knowledge and understanding that students have gained by carrying out these practical activities.

Triple Science

Students are taught by subject specialists as three separate GCSEs. All triple science students will be entered for the Higher tier. Grades will be awarded within the range of 4–4 to 9–9.

There is no coursework for Triple Science. It is 100% based on examinations at the end of Year 11. This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all of their exams at the end of the course. As all of the exams take place in the Summer term of Year 11 (May/June 2018), there are no opportunities for resitting.

There are six papers: two Biology, two Chemistry and two Physics. Each of the papers will assess knowledge and understanding from distinct topic areas. Each exam is 1 hour 45 minutes long, consists of 100 marks, is 50% of EACH GCSE and contains short answer and extended response questions. The topics below refer to the examination board specification and NOT the Kerboodle textbook. Biology Paper 1 assesses Biology topics 1–4: Biology Paper 2 assesses Biology topics 5–7 Chemistry Paper 1 assesses Chemistry topics 1-5: Chemistry Paper 2 assesses Chemistry topics 6-10 Physics Paper 1 assesses Physics topics 1-4: Physics Paper 2 assesses physics topics 5-8.

Triple science covers much of the same content as Combined Science: Trilogy. Some of the topics are extended and there are additional topics such as Space Physics. There is a greater emphasis on application and maths skills questions in this course than the previous GCSE. Teachers will set Key Assessed Pieces (KAPs) which will be carried out under examination conditions or as homeworks. The tests will contain cumulative questions will be used to judge what has been committed to students’ long-term memory. Please enquire regularly from your child when these are and ask to see the marked test papers so you can be aware of how they are progressing. There are Required Practicals (10 for Biology; 8 for Chemistry; 9 for Physics) which must be carried out and written up in Laboratory Books. 15% of the exams will draw on the knowledge and understanding that students have gained by carrying out these practical activities. Students must learn 23 Physics equations off by heart.

Key Stage 5

Biology

Biology can be used as a route to many different university courses and opens up a wide range of future careers including teaching, veterinary sciences, biomedical sciences, pathology, nursing and dentistry. Biology can supplement Chemistry and Physics, but also works well with studying other subjects such as History or English. Our Biology course involves a high proportion of practical work in the laboratory. Students also enjoy a wide variety of lectures and visits to gain wider experience of developments in the subject. Biology students have taken part in residential field trips which have proved to be extremely popular and also useful for university application

Subject Content:

  • Biological molecules
  • Cells
  • Organisms exchange substances with their environment
  • Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms
  • Energy transfers in and between organisms (A-level only)
  • Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (A-level only)
  • Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems (A-level only)
  • The control of gene expression (A-level only)

Chemistry

Chemistry is a stimulating, enjoyable and challenging A level and gives those who take it a sound basis for science and non-science based degree courses. Chemistry A level is a requirement of many future pathways including medicine, dentistry and veterinary science. Chemistry A Level provides a wide variety of experiences, from demonstrating academic mastery through developing an understanding of scientific theories to improving practical skills by setting up experiments, working as a team and communicating to an audience, as well as hugely valuable independent study and reasoning skills.

Written examinations take place at the end of the AS and A Level course. Two papers are sat at the end of the first year and three are taken at the end of the second year.

Subject Content:

  • Physical chemistry
  • Inorganic chemistry
  • Organic chemistry

Physics

Physics provides a sound basis for science and non-science based degree courses, and is a requirement of many future pathways including engineering, construction, mechanics, robotics, aviation and computing. Physics A Level provides a wide variety of experiences, from developing academic mastery through developing an understanding of scientific theories to improving practical skills by setting up experiments, working as a team and communicating to an audience.