Year 9
This year marks the beginning of our three year GCSE science course following the AQA scheme of work. Students follow either the separate science route providing three GCSEs in chemistry, physics and biology or the AQA Trilogy course which provides a thorough understanding of the three sciences and leads to a dual GCSE qualification in science. The AQA Trilogy course provides a solid background in all three scientific areas for those students who wish to study a broader choice of subjects at KS4 because it does not take up an option choice. Crucially, choosing it, does not prevent progression onto studying sciences at A Level.
Learning outcomes
Year 9 begin the AQA Science (9-1) qualification looking at the early modules from all three separate science qualifications. The teaching, for dual award students, is four hours a week with one or two members of staff and our separate science (option block) students receive 2 hours of specialist teaching in each of the three sciences. Much of the teaching is common to both routes with students on the separate science courses studying each subject in more depth and breadth.
Topics in bold are only taught to the separate science students this year.
Topics taught
Biology (8461)
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Chemistry (8462)
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Physics (8463)
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- Cell biology
- Organisation (Tissues, organs and systems)
- Infection and response
- Communicable and non-communicable diseases
- Photosynthesis and respiration
- The nervous system and hormonal control
- Key ideas
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- Atomic structure and the periodic table
- Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter
- Quantitative chemistry
- Reactivity or metals and redox chemistry
- Electrolysis
- neutralisation
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- Energy
- Electricity
- Particle model of matter
- Atomic structure
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Year 10
Learning outcomes
All students not opting for the separate sciences continue to study the combined dual award science. In common with the separate sciences, there is no controlled assessment but students will complete a set of ‘core practical activities’ which support their learning over time.
The teaching, for dual award students, is four hours a week with one or two members of staff and our separate science (option block) students receive two hours of specialist teaching in each of the three sciences.
Topics taught
Trilogy (8464)
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Biology (8461)
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Chemistry (8462)
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Physics (8463)
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- Chemical Calculations - Quantitative Chemistry
- Communicable Disease
- Molecules and Matter
- Reactivity
- Preventing and Treating Diseases
- Non-Communicable Disease
- Radioactivity
- Electrolysis
- Photosynthesis and respiration
- Forces
- The Nervous System
- Rates of reaction
- Forces and Motion
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- Communicable and non-communicable diseases
- Photosynthesis and respiration
- The nervous system and hormonal control
- Inheritance, variation and evolution
- Key ideas
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- Quantitative chemistry
- Reactivity or metals and redox chemistry
- Electrolysis
- neutralisation Chemical changes
- Energy changes
- The rate and extent of chemical change
- Organic chemistry
- Hydrocarbons
- Alkenes, alcohols and esters
- Polymer chemistry
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- Particle model of matter
- Atomic structure
- Forces
- Waves
- Magnetism and electromagnetism
- Space physics
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Year 11
This is the final year of the GCSE science courses at Teesdale and as such contains the more challenging aspects of the courses. Students continue to either follow the Trilogy course having four hours a week with one or two members of staff or to finish their separate science (option block) course receiving two hours of specialist teaching in each of the three sciences. Subjects in bold are only taught to the separate science students this year.
Trilogy (8464)
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Biology (8461)
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Chemistry (8462)
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Physics (8463)
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- Photosynthesis and respiration
- The Nervous System
- Rates of reaction
- Forces and Motion
- Electrolysis
- Hormonal Control
- Rates of Reaction and Energetics
- Inheritance and Variation
- Electromagnetic Waves
- Hydrocarbon Chemistry and analysis
- Ecology
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- Bioenergetics
- Homeostasis and response
- Inheritance, variation and evolution
- Ecology
- Key ideas
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- Chemical changes
- Energy changes
- The rate and extent of chemical change
- Organic chemistry
- Chemical analysis
- Chemistry of the atmosphere
- Using resources
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- Forces
- Waves
- Magnetism and electromagnetism
- Space physics
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