Science
Please click HERE for Science Revision Information
SCIENCE at Key Stage 4
GCSE Core Science and GCSE Additonal Science
The majority of our students study the new GCSE Core Science course in Year 10 and GCSE Additional Science in Year 11, attaining 2 two separate GCSE grades. Each of these qualifications is a combined science course, so students cover Biology, Chemistry and Physics in the topic based units, B1, C1 and P1 in year 10 and B2, C2 and P2 in Year 11.
Students will be entered for exams at either Foundation or Higher level. Throughout the year teachers will accurately track and monitor students before engaging in discussions as to which tier of entry students will be best suited to. Students can mix the tiers of entry for each unit.
E.g A student can sit a Higher Tier exam in B1 and Foundation Tier exams in C1 and P1 and be awarded a B grade overall.
Separate Sciences (Triple Science)
Students who have opted for Separate Sciences will complete GCSE’s in Biology, Chemistry and Physics over the next two years with exams in B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3, P1, P2 and P3 all taken in June of Year 11.
For students whose preferrred learning style is less exam assessed we offer the BTEC First Certificate in Principles of Science. This course is predominantly assessed through a portfolio of evidence that the students produce with 25% of the course being assessed through an examination.
All our Science courses will help students to understand the way science affects their everyday lives and they will also develop their questioning, evaluative and analytical skills. They are administered through EDEXCEL.
KEY DATES, DEADLINES, and ASSESSMENTS
All students apart from those doing the BTEC diploma course will sit modular exams this academic year.
Each exam has a weighting of 25% of the final mark (3 exams per certificate). To make up to 100% there is an internal controlled assessment which examines the students’ ability to plan, carry out and analyse an investigation.
The exams will be in May and June 2013. It is really important that your child sit these examinations because they will make up a large part of the final mark for GCSE Science. Year 11 Controlled assessements will start in October 2014 and Year 10 assessments in January 2015
Exam Dates for 2013
Year 10
B1: 20th May 2013
C1 : 23rd May 2013
P1 : 5th June 2013
Year 11 Exams
B3: 20th May : B2 10th June 2013
C3: 23rd May, C2: 13th June 2013
P3: 5th June, P2: 18th June 2013
Please ask teaching staff if you are unsure of which exams you will be sitting.
BTEC Principles of Science: November 2013
In addition to examining course content the new GCSE also examines students’ ability in language and communication skills. The final two questions (20% of the exam) require extended written answers. To aid students with this style of question please see attachments Exam Advice and Glossary of Terms below.
The Science department will run a number of revision sessions for pupils in the run up to the modular exams, these dates will be published here in April 2013. Free access to sample exam papers, mark schemes and the syllabi can be found at:
BBC Bitesize also has an excellent set of resources to help with revision.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
For year 10 Past papers click here
and follow this path: Qualification family - GCSE from 2011 - Science - Show all results
Two guides, published by Edexcel, one for parents and one for students, are available for download below. We have also attached the generic student Controlled Assessment Booklet that students will use for each of their controlled assessments.
We are recommending, as a highly useful revision and subject support package, the Active Learn product. For students who have purchased a subscription to this please login below.
http://www.pearsonactivelearn.com/
Science at Key Stage 3
Year 7, 8 & 9 students.
Our Key Stage 3 students follow the Exploring Science scheme that has a heavy emphasis on the application of science and the development of scientific and investigation skills. Students are taught 12 topics; 4 each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics each year. Each unit will have a teacher assessed task and there are tests at the end of each term. Students will need to act upon the advice given to them by teachers to ensure that the can demonstrate progression in their learning.
To help students with homework, to consolidate classwork and to aid with revision we have in stock one revision guide that covers all aspects of Science at KS3. This guide will be useful to students in Year 7,8 & 9. These are priced at £6 each, less than half the RRP.
Students can purchase revision guides from the school shop, which is open on Monday and Wednesday lunchtimes and Thursday after school with cash, or cheques payable to BHBS.
Some useful websites:
http://www.learningreviews.com/Science-Websites-for-Kids.html
http://www.channel4learning.com/support/websites/science.html
http://www.edexcel.com/i-am-a/student
http://interactivesites.weebly.com/science.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/edexcel
We have included some useful advice and support for students. Please see the attached documents below:
 How to help myself in the Science exams | downloads: 205 | type: pdf | size: 175 kB |
| KS4 GCSE Science exam advice | downloads: 317 | type: pdf | size: 69 kB |
| Student Guide to New Science GCSE | downloads: 483 | type: pdf | size: 171 kB |
| Parent Guide to New Science GCSE | downloads: 417 | type: pdf | size: 198 kB |
| Controlled Assessment Task Student Workbook | downloads: 3357 | type: pdf | size: 72 kB |
| Command words that students need to know | downloads: 3057 | type: pdf | size: 294 kB |
| Year10 Science info evening | downloads: 420 | type: pdf | size: 1 MB |
| CAT Conclusion Advice Section C | downloads: 196 | type: pdf | size: 536 kB |
| Year 10 Science Assembly | downloads: 99 | type: pdf | size: 758 kB |