Biology, Chemistry and Physics are studied as an important part of the core curriculum. You will be taught for three lessons per week per subject if you opt to continue to study for GCSEs in all three separate sciences (Triple Science). Alternatively, you may choose to take a reduced science course leading to GCSE Combined Sciences which is worth two GCSEs. In this case you will continue to have separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics lessons, totalling six lessons per week. We will be following the Edexcel GCSE Science courses that will provide you with a thorough knowledge of the fundamentals of the three sciences. The work covered will encourage your curiosity and will develop your understanding of the world around you. It will also form an excellent platform for potential further studyof sciences at A level.
Your Science lessons will include a wide variety of activities such as student experiments, practical demonstrations, class discussion and debate, and computer-based simulations and modelling.
Biology GCSE
Edexcel 1BIO (9-1)
Biology is the study of living things. You will continue to learn how plants and animals (including humans) function on a molecular, cellular and physiological level. You will learn about the way organisms fit into their ecosystems and the effects humans have on these ecosystems.
Course content
The course in Years 10 and 11 is a continuation of the material studied in Year 9. Topics covered include health and disease, plant structure and function, mammalian physiology and human effects on ecosystems and material cycles. The remaining core practicals will also occur during Year 10 and 11.
Chemistry GCSE
Edexcel 1CH0 (9-1)
Chemistry is the study of matter and the materials that make up the world. In this course you will be studying the nature of that matter, from the atom up. You will learn how scientists can make new materials, using the world’s resources wisely.
Course content
The course in Years 10 and 11 is a continuation of the material studied in Year 9. Topics covered include atomic structure, bonding and the periodic table, qualitative and quantitative analysis, organic chemistry and fuels, rates and equilibria.
Physics GCSE
Edexcel 1PH0 (9-1)
Physics explains how the world around us works, from understanding the smallest particles to the largest, such as stars and galaxies. Studying Physics helps you understand natural phenomena and technological advances, as well as developing your problem-solving skills. It will also put you in a better position to make your own decisions about important issues such as climate change, energy production, space exploration and resource management.
Course content
The course in Years 10 and 11 is a continuation of the material studied in Year 9. Topics covered include light, electricity, the particle model, astronomy and electromagnetism.
Combined Science GCSE
Edexcel 1SC0 (9-1)
(worth two GCSEs)
This course will contain two thirds of the material covered in the three separate sciences and will provide two GCSE grades. It will be graded and certificated on a 17-point scale from 9–9 to 1–1 using the total subject mark where 9–9 is the highest grade and grades such as 8-7 are possible. It is suitable for those students who would like to spend less of their curriculum time on science. Although it would be preferable to take triple science if you intend to study science subjects at A level, GCSE Combined Science would not necessarily preclude this, though we would strongly recommend the individual sciences if you are intending to take more than one science subject at A level.
Practical work in science GCSEs
For all the science GCSE subjects it is mandatory for students to complete specified core practicals during the course. You have already done some of these in Year 9, and there will be more to complete in Years 10 and 11.
Assessment in science GCSEs
Biology, Chemistry and Physics will each be assessed by two written papers of length one hour 45 minutes. Combined Science will be assessed by six 70-minute written papers. All the exams will be taken at the end of the course.