Science

Intent

At KS4, students will be taught a wide range of topics and abilities following the GCSE Biology and AQA Entry Level specifications. Each topic builds on their KS3 Science knowledge in terms of complexity, skills, and application. Our goal is for every student to finish KS4 with the ability to comprehend and articulate the scientific environment in which they live, but more crucially, with the abilities necessary to solve problems and evaluate science in our contemporary context. This has been supported by carefully thought-out content design that is in line with the curricular storyline. To address the demand for increased literacy and to offer chances for retrieval practise, adaptive teaching is carefully incorporated into the curricular structure. Science teaching at Beckmead College involves adapting and extending the curriculum to match all pupils’ needs to ensure they are challenged and achieve success, regardless of their starting point. This also guarantees that while expanding on existing knowledge inside each strand, new crucial language is introduced, clarified, and modelled. Assessment of students’ understanding of the curriculum is constant and low stake. This is done through robust regular in class and investigative tasks. The aim of this assessment is to feed directly into planning so that lessons are personalised to meet the needs of all students. 

Qualifications that are taught:

AQA GCSE Biology

AQA Entry Level Science Award / Diploma