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Science

Leeds West Academy Science Department is passionate about Science. We believe that scientific literacy is vital to ensure our students are confident and prepared to face the challenges of the wider world. Our aim in Science is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to engage with new ideas and explore what interests them. Science has something to offer every student. The

Our core approach is the idea that all students will be inspired and able to engage through practical experiences and investigations in the disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

The department has a large range of equipment to enrich learning from Year 7 to Year 11.

The KS3 schemes of learning ensure that students are adequately equipped with the skills needed to enable a smooth transition into KS4.

Courses in Science

Key Stage 4 

At KS4 most students complete GCSE Combined Science (Edexcel) achieving two GCSEs. Students can choose to opt to complete a Separate Sciences pathway and achieve grades in:

  • GCSE Biology (Edexcel)
  • GCSE Chemistry (Edexcel)
  • GCSE Physics (Edexcel)

Key Stage 3 - Year 7 Curriculum Breakdown

Year 7

Term

Topic

The Learning Journey

Assessments

Autumn


Wonder In Science

This is based on the book Wonder and pupils will learn about:

  • Lab safety and equipment
  • Bunsen burners
  • Methods and measurements
  • Graph skills

Extended question  

Cells

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Observing cells
  • Plant and animal cells
  • Role of different organelles
  • Life processes

 

Quiz and Metacognition

Marking episodes

Particles and their Behaviour

 

In this unit you will learn about:

  • The particle model
  • States of matter
  • Melting and freezing
  • Boiling
  • More changes of state
  • Diffusion
  • Gas pressure

 

Quiz and Metacognition

Marking episodes

Forces

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Introduction to forces
  • Squashing and stretching
  • Drag and friction
  • Forces at a distance
  • Balanced and unbalanced forces

 

Quiz and Metacognition

Marking episodes

 

Reproduction

In this topic you will learn about:

  • Adolescence
  • Reproductive system
  • Fertilisation and implantation
  • Development of a foetus
  • Menstrual cycle
  • Gestation and birth

Quiz and Metacognition

Marking episodes

 

Energy 

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Energy transfers and energy stores
  • Renewable energy
  • Non-renewable energy
  • Kinetic energy
  • Gravitational potential energy
  • Selecting energy resources

Quiz and Metacognition

Marking episodes

 

Spring Atoms, elements and molecules

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Elements
  • Atoms
  • Compounds
  • Chemical formulae
  • Metals and non-metals
  • Chemical reactions

Quiz and Metacognition

Marking episodes

Circuits

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Circuits and current
  • Modelling circuits
  • Voltage and current in series circuits
  • Voltage and currents in Parallel circuits
  • Resistance in a circuit
  • Using electricity at home

Quiz and Metacognition

Marking episodes

Separating Mixtures

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Filtering
  • Crystallization and evaporation
  • Distillation
  • Chromatography

Quiz and Metacognition

Marking episodes

 

  Acids and Alkalis

In this topic you will learn about:

  • Acids and alkalis
  • Indicators and pH
  • Neutralisation
  • Making salts

Quiz and Metacognition

Marking episodes

Summer




Muscles and Bones

In this topic you will learn about:

  • Tissues
  • Organs
  • Muscles and breathing
  • Muscles and blood
  • Investigating heart rate
  • The skeletal system
  • Muscles and movement
  • Types of drugs

Quiz and Metacognition

Marking episodes

Sound

In this unit you will learn:

  • Making sound
  • How sound moves
  • Detecting sound
  • Insulating sound practical
  • Using sound
  • Comparing types of waves

Quiz and Metacognition

Marking episodes

Key Stage 3 - Year 8 Curriculum Breakdown

Year 8

Term

Topic

The Learning Journey

Assessments

Autumn


 

 



Fluids

In this topic you will learn about:

  • The particle model
  • Calculating density
  • Changes of state
  • Pressure in fluids
  • Floating and sinking
  • Investigating the effects of drag

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode 

 

Combustion

In this topic you will learn about:

  • Combustion
  • Oxidation
  • Fire safety
  • Air pollution
  • Global warming
  • Reducing pollution 

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

Energy Transfer

In this topic you will learn about:

  • What causes temperature changes.
  • Transferring energy – Conduction
  • Transferring energy – Convection
  • Transferring energy – Radiation
  • Controlling energy transfer
  • Power and efficiency
  • Paying energy bills

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode


Metals and their Uses

 In this topic you will learn about:

  • Metals and their properties
  • Corrosion
  • Metals and water
  • Metals and acid
  • Collecting gas methods
  • Pure metals and alloys

 

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

 

Unicellular Organisms 

In this topic you will learn about:

  • Unicellular vs multicellular organisms
  • Microscopic fungi
  • Bacteria
  • Protocists
  • Decomposers and the carbon cycle

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

 

 

Light

In this topic you will learn about:

  • Properties of light
  • Reflection
  • Refraction
  • Refraction in lenses
  • Comparing cameras and eyes
  • Colours

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

Spring

 

 

 

Food and Nutrition

In this topic you will learn about:

  • Energy from food
  • Burning food practical
  • Digestion
  • Absorption of nutrients
  • Starch test
  • Benedict’s test
  • Fat and protein test
  • Balanced diet

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

Breathing and Respiration

 

In this topic you will learn about:

  • Dalton’s atomic model
  • Chemical properties
  • Mendeleev’s Periodic table
  • Physical trends
  • Chemical trends

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

 

Summer


 

 

 

 

 

Earth and Space

In this topic you will learn about:

  • Gathering evidence
  • Phases of the moon
  • Seasons
  • Earth’s magnetic field
  • Gravity in space
  • Making scientific comparisons
  • Beyond the solar system

 

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

Plant Reproduction

In this topic you will learn about:

  • Classification and biodiversity
  • Types of reproduction
  • Pollination
  • Fertilisation and dispersal
  • Germination and growth
  • Plant sampling techniques

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

Periodic Table

In this unit you will learn about: 

  • Metals and their properties 
  • Corrosion 
  • Metals and water 
  • Metals and acids 
  • Collecting gas 
  • Pure metals and alloys 

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

Ecosystems

In this topic you will learn about:

  • Variation
  • Adaptations
  • Effects on the environment
  • Energy transfers in food chains
  • Pyramids of biomass and bioaccumulation
  • Human effects on the environment

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

Key Stage 3 Year 9 Curriculum Breakdown 

Year 9

Half Term

Topic

The Learning Journey

Assessments

Autumn

Forces and Motion

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Forces and movement
  • Energy for movement
  • Calculating speed
  • Interpreting distance time graphs
  • Turning forces
  • Using simple machines

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

Genetics and Evolution

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Cells recap
  • Environmental variation
  • Inherited variation
  • Structure of DNA
  • Genes and extinction
  • Natural selection
  • Debating natural selection

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

 

Making Materials

 

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Uses of ceramics and their properties
  • Uses of polymers and their properties
  • Uses of composite materials
  • Problems with materials
  • Recycling materials
  • Peer review and checking discoveries

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

 

Forces and Magnets

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Magnetic fields
  • Gravitational fields
  • Static electricity
  • Current and electricity
  • Resistance in a circuit
  • Uses of electromagnets

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

 

Reactivity

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Types of explosions
  • Reactivity series
  • Energy in reactions
  • Calculating percentage mass change in a reaction
  • Displacement reactions
  • Extracting metals (electrolysis)

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

 

Plant Growth

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Reactions in plants
  • Plant adaptations
  • Plant products and starch test
  • Growing crops
  • Farming vs organic farming

Quiz and metacognition

Marking episode

 

Spring


 

 

 

 

Motion

 

in this unit you will learn about:

 

  • The difference between a vector and scalar
  • Identify examples of vectors and scalars
  • Perform speed, distance and time calculations.
  • Interpret distance time graphs.
  • Identify factors that affect acceleration.
  • Perform acceleration calculations.
  • Interpret velocity/ time graphs.

 

Extended writing tasks

Purple zones

Motion and Forces

In this unit you will learn about:

 

  • The difference between vector and scalar quantities
  • How to calculate speed and acceleration
  • How to represent a journey on a graph
  • How to calculate the weight of an object
  • Newton’s three laws
  • Factors that affect stopping distances

 

Extended writing tasks

    Purple zones

 

Electromagnetic spectrum

In this unit you will learn about:

  • The different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • The uses and dangers of the electromagnetic spectrum

Extended writing tasks

Purple zones

 

Summer


 

 

 

Conservation of Energy

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Energy stores
  • Energy efficiency
  • Reducing energy transfer
  • Gravitational potential energy
  • Kinetic energy
  • The great energy debate

Extended writing tasks

Purple zones

Waves

In this unit you will learn about:

  • The different parts of a wave
  • How to calculate the speed of a wave
  • How waves behave at the boundaries of different mediums

Extended writing tasks

Purple zones

 

Light and the Electromagnetic spectrum

In this unit you will learn about:

  • The different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • The uses and dangers of the electromagnetic spectrum
  • Investigate refraction

 

Extended writing tasks

Purple zones


 Key Stage 4 Year 10 Curriculum Breakdown 

Year 10 Combined Science (Edexcel)

Half Term

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Assessment

Term 1 Autumn


 

 

Key Concepts in Biology  

In this unit you will learn about: 

  • How microscopy has allowed us to find out more about the sub-cellular structures found in plants and animals.
  • The importance of enzymes in nutrition, growth and development.
  • How enzymes are affected by temperature and why each enzyme only works on a certain type of molecule.
  • How substances are carried by diffusion, osmosis and active transport. 

Extended writing

 

Extended purple zones

 

Cells and Control   

In this unit you will learn about:  

  • Mitosis and its importance in growth, repair and asexual reproduction. 
  • How cells become specialised, and the importance of stem cells. 
  • How to identify different specialised cells in the nervous system and explain how the system works. 

Extended writing

 

Extended purple zones

Genetics  

In this unit you will learn about: 

  • How gametes are produced by meiosis. 
  • The structure of DNA.
  • Mutations and how genes cause variation. 
  • Why certain characteristics are passed down through families.  

Extended writing  

  

Extended purple zones 

Natural Selection and Evolution

In this unit you will learn about: 

  • - Darwin’s theory of evolution.
  • - How different methods are used to investigate evolution.
  • - How organisms are classified.
  • - How selective breeding is carried out.
  • How genetic modification is carried out.  

Extended writing  

  

Extended purple zones 

Forces and Motion

In this unit you will learn about: 

  • Newton’s Laws of Motion. 
  • How to calculate weight from an object’s mass. 
  • The factors that affect the stopping distance of a vehicle. 
  • The dangers of large decelerations. 

 

Extended writing  

  

Extended purple zones 

Waves

 In this unit you will learn about: 

  • Waves and how they transfer energy and information. 
  • How to describe the characteristics of a wave. 
  • How the speed of a wave is related to its frequency and wavelength. 
  • How the speed of a wave is related to the time it takes to travel a certain distance. 
  • How waves are refracted at boundaries between different materials. 

 

 

Extended writing  

 

Extended purple zones 

Light and the Electromagnetic     Spectrum   

In this unit you will learn about: 

  • The electromagnetic spectrum, including the uses of the different parts. 
  • The harmful effects of the waves in different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. 

 

Extended writing  

 

Retrieval grids

  

Extended purple zones

Radioactivity 

 In this unit you will learn about: 

  • How particles are arranged inside an atom. 
  • How to represent atoms as symbols. 
  • The different types of radiation, their dangers and how to protect ourselves.

 

Extended writing   

 

Extended purple zones 

 

Term 2 Spring 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Plant Structures and their Functions  

In this unit you will learn about: 

  • Photosynthesis and the factors that affect its rate. 
  • How water uptake is affected by different factors. 
  • How the reactants and products of photosynthesis are transported around a plant.  

 

Extended writing  

Retrieval grids  

Extended purple zones 

Animal Coordination and Homeostasis  

In this unit you will learn about: 

  • The endocrine glands. 
  • How hormones are transported to their target organs. 
  • How the menstrual cycle is controlled. 
  • How hormones are used in contraception. 
  • Diabetes and how blood glucose concentration is controlled. 

 

Extended writing  

 

Extended purple zones

Exchange and Transport in Animals  

In this unit you will learn about: 

  • The different types of respiration. 
  • How the lungs, heart, blood vessels, and the blood are adapted to thier functions. 
  • How to calculate cardiac output.  

  

Extended writing  

  

Extended purple zones

Ecosystems and Material Cycles 

In this unit you will learn about: 

  • How ecosystems are organised.  
  • How communities are affected by biotic and abiotic factors.  
  • How the abundance and distribution of organisms are measured.  
  • Parasitism and mutualism  
  • How humans can affect ecosystems and the importance of maintaining biodiversity.  
  • How materials are cycled through ecosystems 

 

Extended writing  

 

Extended purple zones 

 

The Periodic Table and Atomic Structure 

In this unit you will learn about:

  • How our ideas about atoms have changed over time.
  • What is relative atomic mass
  • How to calculate relative atomic mass for an element

 

Extended writing  

 

Extended purple zones

Bonding 

In this unit you will learn about:

  • How covalent and ionic bonds are formed.
  • The properties of covalent and ionic compounds. 

 Extended writing  

 

Extended purple zones

 

Term 3 Summer


 

 

 

Acids and Alkalis

In this unit you will learn about:

  • The ions in acids and alkalis, and how their concentrations are linked to pH.
  • What happens in the reactions between acids and different types of bases.
  • How different indicators can be used in acid-alkali titrations.
  • How different soluble and insoluble salts can be prepared.

Extended writing  

 

Extended purple zone

Calculations Involving Masses 

In this unit you will learn about: 

  • How to represent elements and compounds as symbols.
  • How mass is conserved during changes of state and chemical reactions.
  • How to show chemical reactions using equations. 

 

 

Extended writing  

  

Extended purple zones

Electrolytic Process and Obtaining Metals

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Oxidation and reduction reactions.
  • The reactivity series.
  • The advantage of recycling materials.
  • How to explain what happens during electrolysis.

 

Extended writing  

  

Extended purple zones

 

Groups and Reactions

 In this unit you will learn about:

  • The properties and reactions of the elements in group 1, 7 and 0.
  • How changes in conditions can affect the rates of reactions.
  • The energy transfers that can occur during chemical reactions.

 

Extended writing  

  

Extended purple zones

 

Fuels and the Earth

In this unit you will learn about:

  • Hydrocarbons found in crude oil and how it can be separated into useful fractions.
  • Alkanes as a homologous series.
  • the problems caused by atmospheric pollutants.
  • How and why cracking of crude oil fraction is carried out.
  • The advantages and disadvantages of different fuels for cars.
  • How the Earth's atmosphere has changes in the past and how it is changing now.
    • The causes and effects of climate change.

Extended writing  

  

Extended purple zones

Key Stage 4 Year 11 Curriculum Breakdown 

Year 11 Combined Science (Edexcel)

Half Term

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Assessment

Term 1 Autumn

Groups and reactions

In this unit you will learn about:

  • The properties and reactions of the elements in group 1, 7 and 0.
  • How changes in conditions can affect the rates of reactions.
  • The energy transfers that can occur during chemical reactions. 

 

Extended writing  

 

Extended purple zones 

Fuels and the Earth

  • In this unit you will learn about:

     

  • Hydrocarbons found in crude oil and how it can be separated into useful fractions.

  • Alkanes as a homologous series.

  • The problems caused by atmospheric pollutants.

  • How and why cracking of crude oil fractions is carried out.

  • The advantages and disadvantages of different fuels for cars.

  • How the Earth’s atmosphere has changes in the past and how it is changing now

  • The causes and effects of climate change.

Extended writing  

 

Extended purple zones 

 

Energy and Forces 

In this unit you will learn about:

  • How energy systems can be changed.
  • How to calculate power and work done.
  • How object interact with each other, through force fields and contact forces

Extended writing

Extended purple zones


Half Term

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Assessment

Term 2

Spring


 

 

Electricity

In this unit you will learn about:  

  • Current, charge and potential difference.
  • How to calculate resistance, power and energy transferred. 
  • The UK domestic electricity supply and electrical safety in homes. 

Extended writing  

 

Extended purple zones

Magnetism and the Motor Effect

In this unit you will learn about:  

  • Permanent and induced magnets, and how to represent a magnetic field.
  • The magnetic field and current around a wire and the factors that affect it. 
  • How to use the power equation for transformers.
  • How transformers are used in the national grid.  

Extended writing  

 

Extended purple zones

The Particle Model and Forces and Matter

In this unit you will learn about:

  • The different densities of substances and how to calculate density.
  • Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat and how to calculate them both.
  • How changing the temperature of a gas effects its pressure.
  • The Kelvin and Celsius temperature scales.
  • Elastic and inelastic distortion.
  • The relationship between force, extension, and how to calculate the extension and spring constant 

Extended writing

Extended purple zones

Term 3

Summer

Year 11 Revision and Exam Preparation

During this time you will: 

  • Develop your exam technique and learn different methods to support you in answering GCSE exam questions.
  • Develop a range of revision strategies to help prepare for the terminal exams at the end of year 11
  • Re-visit key concepts across the syllabus and carry out targeted revision.
  • Re-visit the GCSE core practicals and using simulations learn how to interpret and analyse data.

Extended writing  

 

Extended purple zones 

 

Past 

Papers