Science



For further information about Science at St John's please contact E Mulligan (emulligan@stjohnsrc.org.uk)

Curriculum information pages:

Year 7 Science

Year 8 Science

Year 9 Science

Year 10 Biology

Year 10 Chemistry

Year 10 Physics

Year 10 Combined Science

Year 11 Biology

Year 11 Chemistry

Year 11 Physics

Year 11 Combined Science



Key Stage 3 Science

Topics covered in year 7:

  • Practical skills
  • Acids and alkalis
  • Cells and reproduction
  • Electricity and magnetism
  • Materials and properties
  • Energy
  • Environment
  • Earth and space

Topics covered in year 8:

  • Practical skills
  • The human body
  • Light and sound
  • Elements, compounds and mixtures
  • Metals and their reactions
  • Plants
  • Science in the news

Useful/Interesting links:

 

KS4 Course information

Students will study either GCSE combined Science (2 GCSEs) or GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Exam board AQA. Link: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/new-science-gcse-specifications

Units of study - Combined Science:

  • Biology - including cells, bioenergetics, infection, responses, homeostasis, inheritance and ecology
  • Chemistry - including atoms, bonding, chemical changes, energy, rates of reaction, organic chemistry, analysis, green chemistry
  • Physics - including forces, waves, magnetism, electricity, energy, particles

There will be 16 required practical experiments as part of the course, and the course will all be externally assessed in year 11.

GCSE Biology:

  • Cell biology
  • organisation
  • infection and response
  • homeostasis
  • bioenergetics
  • inheritance and evolution
  • ecology

There will be 8 required practical experiments as part of the course and the course will all be externally assessed at the end of year 11.

GCSE Chemistry:

  • Atoms and the periodic table
  • bonding and structure
  • quantitative chemistry
  • chemical changes
  • energy changes
  • rates and Equilibria
  • organic chemistry
  • chemical analysis
  • chemistry of the atmosphere
  • using resources

There will be 8 required practical experiments as part of the course and the course will all be externally assessed at the end of year 11.

GCSE Physics:

  • Forces
  • energy
  • waves
  • electricity
  • magnetism and electromagnetism
  • particle model of matter
  • atomic structure
  • space physics

There will be 8 required practical experiments as part of the course and the course will all be externally assessed at the end of year 11.

Useful links (for combined and each of the separate sciences):

 

Sixth Form Courses

Science News

  • A group of 4 year 10 students have won a North-East competition run by Newcastle University. Pupils had to identify a problem or issue connected to the marine environment that interests them and devise a research solution to this problem. The competition was open to 14-19 year olds, and the year 10 team of Emma Dodds, James Pirie, Sophie Peat and Laura Allison were ranked first with their project about Phytoplankton and climate change. They have won a trip on Newcastle University's new marine research vessel to experience how real marine scientists collect data, and they will be involved in carrying out surveys and sampling techniques at sea.
 
 
  • Three year 12 students have won Nuffield foundation bursaries for this summer. Nuffield Bursaries offer aspiring young scientists the opportunity to explore their chosen field of science, technology, engineering or maths during a 4 to 6 week summer placement. Students work on projects which contribute, in a real way, toward the research work of local Universities. Emma Burnett has been offered a Chemistry bursary with Newcastle University, Aiden Lee has been offered a Pharmaceutical bursary with Sunderland University, and Laura Collinson has been offered a Medicinal Chemistry bursary at Sunderland University.

 

  • Two year 12 students have arranged a Science show which they are taking in to local primary schools over the next 3 weeks. Emma Burnett and Megan Thompson visited Newcastle University to meet with a Chemistry lecturer and from this have developed a Science show for key stage 2 students, which they are taking around a number of feeder primary schools this half term.