Science at RPA

The intent of the Science Department at Richmond Park Academy is to prepare students to deeply explore, critically question, and intellectually engage with the scientific world they experience. Richmond Park Academy scientists build long term retention of knowledge by making links between the powerful ideas of the three science disciplines. Our aim is to provide opportunities to develop the scientific skills of observing, hypothesising, problem-solving, and analysing so students can better independently investigate and understand the community and world in which they live.

Science at Richmond Park Academy is all about equipping students with the skills required to ask and seek answers to the questions in the science they encounter in their everyday lives. Our aim is to support the development of curious, methodical, and inquisitive young people who are prepared to engage in the scientific process. 

The science department consists of 6 state of the art laboratories and a physics suite. Each year students will hone their scientific skills through a rigorous series of theory lessons and practical experiments. 

The science team also offers extracurricular activities. The RPA Eco Club is hard at work building RPA as a certified sustainable school. This includes initiatives such as reducing plastic use and waste, increasing recycling, and finding ways to create a more green space at the academy.  Science Open Lab is an opportunity for students to work in the laboratory on their own scientific inquiry. Students learn a series of new laboratory techniques and are encouraged and supported to apply their scientific skills to investigate inquiries of their own design.

What we do when

In Key Stage 3 students participate in 3 lessons per week. The curriculum of each year is built around a Big Idea, and the powerful knowledge of each unit links back to this Big Idea. The units cover the three major content areas - biology, chemistry, and physics. The Big Ideas build logically over the course of the 3 years of Key Stage 3, to fully prepare students for science study at GCSE. Each unit embodies our 3 Es - with students exploring new topics and disciplines, experiencing those concepts first hand, through practical work, and evaluating ethical principles which are ever present in the scientific world.

Year 7 - The Building Blocks of Science

Units covered:

• Basic Science Skills

• Cells

• Atoms

• Energy

• Elements, Compounds, Mixtures

• Digestion

• Reproduction

• Forces

• Respiratory and Skeletal Systems

Year 8 - Interactions Between Building Blocks

Units covered:

• Advanced Science Skills

• Chemical Reactions

• Respiration and Photosynthesis

• Waves

• Motion

• The Earth and its Resources

• Electrical Energy

• Magnets and Electromagnets

• Interdependence in Nature

• Evolution

• Gravity and Space

Year 9 - Foundations of Science

Year 9 is about building the foundations for a successful GCSE course of study. Students in year 9 consolidate their knowledge from all 3 subject areas and then proceed to further deepen those understandings at high level with GCSE calibre content.  Students begin to synthesise ideas from across biology, chemistry, and physics in a supportive, but rigorous curriculum.

Units covered:

• Basics of Biology

• Cornerstones of Chemistry

• Principles of Physics

• Atomic structure and the Periodic Table

• Energy

• Cell Division and Transport in the Cell

• Infection and Response

• The Particle Model of Matter

• Chemical Bonding 

• Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions

Key Stage 4

In year 10 students have the option to proceed with AQA Combined Science Trilogy (worth 2 GCSEs) or AQA Separate Science (worth 3 GCSEs). Students have 4 lessons per week as well as a period 5 in year 11. Students are also asked to complete 2 hours of homework fortnightly. The GCSE course continues to embody our school 3E’s curriculum by supporting students to deeply explore the content, experience the practical application of the science but also see where the wide variety of scientific concepts are experienced in their everyday lives. Additionally, the GCSE curriculum regularly demands students evaluate the ethical principles facing modern science.

Year 10 (Topics for Separate and Combined Science)

Biology 

• Organisation of Plants and Animals (digestion and the cardiovascular system)

• Bioenergetics (Respiration and Photosynthesis)

• Homeostasis

Chemistry 

• Chemical Changes

• Quantitative Chemistry

• Rates of Change

• Chemistry of the Atmosphere

Physics

• Atomic Structure and Radioactivity

• Electricity

• Forces

• Year 11 (Topics for Separate and Combined Sciences)

Biology 

• Inheritance

• Variation and Evolution

• Ecology

Chemistry 

• Organic Chemistry

• Chemical Analysis

• Using the Earth’s Resources

Physics

• Waves

• Magnetism

Science GCSE Revision

Students will be asked to purchase a revision guide to support their homework and independent revision. More information about the fortnightly revision homework assignment can be found here. 

Other websites which are helpful for independent practice are: 

www.gcsepod.com

www.senecalearning.com

Key Stage 5

The science courses at the RPA Sixth Form are incredibly popular.  We teach A Level Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Computer Science and follow the AQA specification. Students are required to have a grade of 6 or higher are GCSE to qualify for A Level study. 

Who to contact

Alexa Pinner

Achievement Director, Science

apinner@richmondparkacademy.org