Science

Department Vision

Science helps us understand our relationships with the world around us and making new discoveries increases our sense of awe and wonder at the complexity of the world we inhabit. The aim of the science department at Wilmington Boys is to create knowledgeable and scientifically literate problem solvers. We aim to foster a spirit of inquiry and through a hands-on science curriculum that includes relevant and real-world science to nurture our students’ curiosity in the world around them.

Through our challenging and bespoke curriculum, we are preparing our students to become informed citizens who are capable of comprehending, analysing and making well-reasoned judgements on global issues. Skills that we believe will last a lifetime and make them more responsible members of society.

At key stage 3 we follow the national curriculum but the syllabus is bespoke to the school and the students are taught science by studying a range of real-life situations.

At GCSE we follow the OCR A syllabus and students can choose to study either combined or triple science.

Science - Year 7

Year 7 Science

Term

Topic

Learning outcome

Term 1

Introduction and safety

The science of the Olympics

Preparation and diet

How to be a scientist and the safety rules needed in Science

The diet of an athlete and the energy in food

Variations within species

The human skeleton

Respiration, breathing and the effects of atmospheric pressure

The effects of drugs and smoking

How does asthma affect athletes?

The air we breathe

Term 2

The science of the Olympics

Equipment and venues

 

 

 

Mendeleev and the periodic table

Metals and non-metals

Polymers and ceramics

Fuels and energy resources

Thermal energy transfers

Term 3

The science of the Olympics

Going for gold

 

The effects of forces in sport

Muscles, joints, movement and speed of an athlete

Energy drinks

Term 4

The Science of medicine

Cells and digestion

 

The use of microscopes in medicine

Animal cells

Cells, tissues and organs

Digestion

Acids and alkalis and neutralisation

Term 5

The Science of medicine

Light and sound

A new life

 

The behaviour of light and how we see    

Sound waves, hearing and ultrasound

Birth, puberty, menstruation, reproduction and pregnancy       

Term 6

The Science of zoos

The beginning of life

Plant and animal cells

Photosynthesis

Reproduction in plants

Chemical and physical changes

 

Science - Year 8

Year 8 Science

term

Topic

Learning outcome

Term 1

The Science of zoos

The zoo keeper

 

 

Aerobic and anaerobic respiration

Food webs and pyramids

Variation and extinction

Biodiversity and biomagnification

The Earth’s atmosphere

Term 2

The science of adventures and explorers

The past

 

The history of the science behind human civilisations and inventions

Egyptians – mummification and the treasures of the pyramids

Scott of the Antarctic – the science behind his journey and why it failed

Survival skills – the best fuel for a fire, the energy needed to survive, obtaining clean drinking water

Term 3

The science of adventures and explorers

The future

 

The structure of the Earth

Understanding space

Why do we explore space?

Mission to Mars

Underwater cities

Term 4

The Science of super heroes

Making movies

 

Super strength

Stunt flight

Animatronics

Levitation

Pyrotechnics

Lighting effects

The stunt double

Term 5

The Science of super heroes

Super abilities

 

In this unit the students will study the science behind the abilities of:

Aquaman

Thor

Spiderman

Groot

Superman

The human torch

Magneto

Term 6

The Science of super heroes

Super tech

 

In this unit the students will study the science behind the technology of:

Antman

Vibranium

Iron man

The helicarrier

Blank panther

Batman

Super hero cars

Biology - Year 9

Year 9 Biology

Term

Topic

Learning outcome

Term 1

 B1.1 cell structures (GCSE)

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on cells and microscopy including differences in structures between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells as well as comparing light and Electron microscopes.

 

Term 2

B2.1 – What happens in cells (GCSE)

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on the structure and discovery of DNA, how proteins are made inside the cell as well as the role enzymes as biological catalysts.

Term 3

B1.3 – Respiration (GCSE)

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts both aerobic and anaerobic respirations as well as the importance of the three main biological molecules, including the synthesis and breakdown of carbohydrates, protein and lipids (fats).

Term 4

B1.3 – Photosynthesis

(GCSE)

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on photosynthesis as an endothermic reaction, as well as looking at the factors which affect the rates of photosynthesis and the interaction of the various limiting factors. The unit also covers a number of required practicals investigations.

Term 5

B2.1 - supplying the cell.

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on how cells transport many substances across their membranes by diffusion, osmosis

and active transport as well as looking at stem cells in plants and animals and how they differentiate into more specialised cells.

Term 6

B2.1 - supplying the cell.

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on how cells transport many substances across their membranes by diffusion, osmosis

and active transport as well as looking at stem cells in plants and animals and how they differentiate into more specialised cells.

Chemistry - Year 9

Year 9 Chemistry

Term

Topic

Learning Outcome

Term 1

GCSE C1.1 and C1.2 Particles

In this topic students learn about the different states of matter, developing the atomic model, subatomic particles, ions and isotopes.

Term 2

GCSE C2.1 Purity and Separating Mixtures

In this topic students learn about the difference between pure substances and mixtures. They become familiar with different separation techniques including filtration, evaporisation and crystalisation, simple distillation, fractional distillation and chromatography. They also look at the history of the periodic table and how to write chemical formulas.

Term 3

GCSE C2.1 Purity and Separating Mixtures

In this topic students learn about the difference between pure substances and mixtures. They become familiar with different separation techniques including filtration, evaporisation and crystalisation, simple distillation, fractional distillation and chromatography. They also look at the history of the periodic table and how to write chemical formulas.

Term 4

GCSE C4.1 Predicting Chemical Reactions

In this topic students explore the properties and reactions of elements from different groups of the periodic table. They include group 0 Noble gases, group 1 Alkali metals and group 7 Halogens. They also look at the reactivity of metals compared to each other in the reactivity series and how reactivity determines the outcome of a displacement reaction.

Term 5

GCSE C4.1 Predicting Chemical Reactions

In this topic students explore the properties and reactions of elements from different groups of the periodic table. They include group 0 Noble gases, group 1 Alkali metals and group 7 Halogens. They also look at the reactivity of metals compared to each other in the reactivity series and how reactivity determines the outcome of a displacement reaction.

Term 6

C6.3 Interpreting and Interacting with Earth’s Systems and Revision

In this topic students look at the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere, both past and present. They learn about and discuss the different factors that change the atmosphere and the impact that has on ecosystems. They also look at potable water and how we can treat waste water before it is released into the environment.

 

 

Physics - Year 9

Year 9 Physics

Term

Topic

Learning outcome

Term 1

Electricity

Current and potential difference

Series and parallel circuits

Resistance

Control circuits

Term 2

Electricity

Control circuits

Power and energy transfers

Cost of electricity

Term 3

Electricity

Methods to generate electricity

Household wiring and plugs

Static electricity

Term 4

Magnetism

Magnetism and magnetic forces

Compasses and magnetic fields

Term 5

Magnetism

Magnetic effects

The force on a current carrying wire

Electric motors

Term 6

Magnetism

Generators

Transformers

Loud speakers and microphones

Biology - Years 10 & 11

Year 10 and 11 Triple Biology

Term

Topic

Learning outcome

Year 10 Term 1

B2.1 - supplying the cell.

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on how cells transport many substances across their membranes by diffusion, osmosis and active transport as well as looking at stem cells in plants and animals and how they differentiate into more specialised cells.

Year 10 Term 2

B2.2 – The challenge of size.

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on the structures and adaptations of the transport systems in plants and animals as well as being familiar with the human gaseous exchange system.

Year 10 Term 3

B3.1 - Coordination and control – the nervous system

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on how the nervous system is arranged as well as the importance of the reflex action and reflex arc in the response to various stimuli.

Year 10 Term 4

B3.2 - Coordination and control – the endocrine system.

 

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on the principles of hormonal coordination and control by the human endocrine system, the role of hormones in the control of the menstrual cycle and the use of hormones in contraception and modern reproductive technologies to treat infertility. Plant hormones also covered

Year 10 Term 5

B3.3 - Maintaining internal environments

 

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on homeostatic mechanisms in the control of body temperature, blood sugar levels as well as looking at type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The gross structure of the Kidney and kidney tubule and effect of ADH.

Year 10 Term 6

B4.1 - Ecosystems

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on different levels of organisation in an ecosystem, abiotic and biotic factors, interdependence and competition and carbon cycle and the water cycle. The y also cover trophic levels, pyramids of biomass and efficiency of biomass transfers

Year 11 Term 1

B5.1 Inheritance.

B5.2 Natural selection and evolution

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on single gene inheritance and the role of meiotic cell division. The also study genetic variation within a population of a species, classification systems, how evolution occurs through the natural selection and the evidence for evolution

Year 11 Term 2

B6.3 Monitoring and maintaining health – communicable diseases and defence.

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on the different types of communicable diseases, disease transmission in plants and animals and methods of defence against pathogens as well as disease prevention.

Year 11 Term 3

B6.3 Monitoring and maintaining health – non-communicable diseases and gene technology in medicine

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on some examples of non-communicable diseases and how lifestyle factors play a role. How stem cells, gene technology and human genome play a role in medicine.

Year 11 Term 4

6.1 - Monitoring and maintaining the environment

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on how living organisms interact with each other, the environment and with humans in many different ways and how their interactions can be managed. The also look at the benefits and challenges of maintaining local and global biodiversity.

Year 11 Term 5

B6.2 - Feeding the human race

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on selective breeding of food plants and domesticated animals and genetic engineering as a process which involves modifying the genome of an organism and using gene technology in modern agriculture.

 

Chemistry - Years 10 & 11

Year 10 + 11 Separate Chemistry

Term

Topic

Learning Outcome

Year 10 Term 1

C4.1 Predicting Chemical reactions and C4.2 Identifying the products of chemical reactions

In this topic students explore the properties and reactions of elements from different groups of the periodic table. They include group 0 Noble gases, Transition metals, group 1 Alkali metals and group 7 Halogens. They also look at the reactivity of metals compared to each other in the reactivity series and how reactivity determines the outcome of a displacement reaction. In addition, students carry out a series of tests on anions and cations to determine the identity of compounds.

Year 10 Term 2

C2.2 Bonding

In this topic students look at the structure and properties of the three main types of chemical bonding: Ionic, Covalent and metallic.

Year 10 Term 3

C2.3 Properties of materials and C3.1 Introducing Chemical Reactions

Students learn about the properties and uses of giant covalent structures, including the allotropes of carbon. They look at the definition of nanoparticles and the impact on human health.

In addition, students are introduced to the term mole and its relationship to number of particles. They then use the mole to solve numerous different calculations including finding unknown masses and limiting reactants.

 

Year 10 Term 4

C3.2 Energetics and C3.3 Types of chemical reactions

In this topic students learn about the difference between endothermic and exothermic reactions. They look at what is happening in terms of bonds as well as energy transfer. In addition to knowing how to represent the reactions as energy diagrams students also need to be able to calculate the energy of a reaction given the energy of the bonds.

 

In the second section, students look at what is an acid and the reactions it can have with various bases and metals. This includes practical skills like forming salts from insoluble bases. It also involves being able to explain the difference between strong and weak acids. They also look at oxidation and reduction reactions, being able to write them as half equations.

 

 

Year 10 Term 5

C3.3 Types of Chemical reactions and C3.4 Electrolysis

Students continue to look at acid and base reactions. This includes practical skills like forming salts from insoluble bases. It also involves being able to explain the difference between strong and weak acids. They also look at oxidation and reduction reactions, being able to write them as half equations.

 

In addition, students look at the process of electrolysis and apply it to both molten and aqueous compounds. They are able to explain what happens at each electrode in terms of transfer of electrons.

 

 

 

Year 10 Term 6

C5.1 Monitoring Chemical Reactions

In this topic, students combine past knowledge of mole calculations and acid reactions to explain and carry out the process of titration. They also look at atom economy and percent yield of varying chemical reactions.  

Year 11 Term 1

C5.2 Controlling Reactions and C5.3 Equilibria

Students look at how the rate of a reaction is influenced by factors such as temperature, pressure and concentration. They need to be able to use collision theory to describe why rate changes as well the impact of adding a catalyst. This section also includes practical skills where students use various methods to obtain rate data, then plot that data on a graph and interpret results.  

 

In addition, they are introduced to reversable reactions and equilibrium. They use Le Chatelier’s principle to explain how the position of equilibrium will shift when changes such as temperature, pressure and concentration are applied.

 

Year 11 Term 2

C6.1 Improving Process and Products and C6.2 Organic Chemistry

In this topic Students apply their knowledge of reduction reactions and electrolysis to explain how different metals are extracted from their ores. They also look at other methods of metal extraction including bioleaching and phytoextraction. In addition, they take their knowledge of equilibrium and use it to explain why certain conditions are used in the industrial Haber process. Usefulness of materials, recycling, corrosion and alloys are also looked at. 

Year 11 Term 3

C6.2 Organic Chemistry

Students are introduced to the concept of organic chemistry. This involves looking at the structure, properties and reactions of Alkanes, Alkenes, Alcohols and carboxylic acids. Students also are able explain how addition and condensation polymers are formed. They also look at how Alkanes can be extracted from crude oil through fractional distillation and how excess hydrocarbons can undergo cracking to meet demand. Another topic that is covered is how chemical cells and batteries work. This section also looks at fuel cells and their use as a replacement for fossil fuels.

Year 11 Term 4

C6.3 Interpreting and Interacting with Earth’s Systems and Revision

In this topic students look at the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere, both past and present. They learn about and discuss the different factors that change the atmosphere and the impact that has on ecosystems. They also look at potable water and how we can treat waste water before it is released into the environment.

 

Revision sessions begin covering identified areas of improvement.

Year 11 Term 5

Revision

Revision sessions covering identified areas of improvement.

 

 

Physics - Years 10 & 11

Year 10 and 11 Triple Physics

Term

Topic

Learning outcome

Year 10 Term 1

Magnetism

Magnetism and magnetic forces

Compasses and magnetic fields

Magnetic effects

The force on a current carrying wire

Electric motors

Generators

Loudspeakers and microphones

Year 10 Term 2

Matter

The history of our understanding of the structure of the atom

Density

Changes of state

Internal energy Specific heat capacity

Specific latent heat

Particle motion in gases

Gas pressures

Pressure in a fluid

Atmospheric pressure

Year 10 Term 3

Radioactivity

Atomic structure

Radioactive decay

Nuclear equations

Radioactive half-life

Background radiation

Year 10 Term 4

Radioactivity

Hazards and uses of radiation

Irradiation and contamination

Uses of radiation in medicine

Fission

Fusion

Year 10 Term 5

Waves

Describing waves

Transverse and longitudinal waves

Measuring wave speeds

The wave equation

Sound waves

Ultrasound

Year 10 Term 6

Waves

The behaviour of light waves

Electromagnetic waves

Lenses

Images and magnification

Colour

Year 11 Term 1

Forces

Scalars and vectors

Speed

Acceleration

Calculations of motion

Motion-time graphs

Newton’s laws

Weight and mass

Momentum

Work done and energy transfer

Year 11 Term 2

Forces

Understanding power

Keeping safe on the road

Forces and energy in springs

Potential energy

Moments

Levers and gears

Year 11 Term 3

Energy

Kinetic energy

Work done and energy transfer

Specific heat capacity

Energy and power

Dissipation of energy

Energy efficiency

Year 11 Term 4

The Earth and Space

Red shift

The Sun and other stars

The Solar System

Temperature of the Earth

Seismic waves

Year 11 Term 5

Revision

 

Combined Biology - Years 10 & 11

Year 10 and 11 Combined Biology

Term

Topic

Learning outcome

Year 10 Term 1

B2.1 - supplying the cell.

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on how cells transport many substances across their membranes by diffusion, osmosis and active transport as well as looking at stem cells in plants and animals and how they differentiate into more specialised cells.

Year 10 Term 2

B2.2 – The challenge of size.

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on the structures and adaptations of the transport systems in plants and animals as well as being familiar with the human gaseous exchange system.

Year 10 Term 3

B3.1 - Coordination and control – the nervous system

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on how the nervous system is arranged as well as the importance of the reflex action and reflex arc in the response to various stimuli.

Year 10 Term 4

B3.2 - Coordination and control – the endocrine system.

 

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on the principles of hormonal coordination and control by the human endocrine system, the role of hormones in the control of the menstrual cycle and the use of hormones in contraception and modern reproductive technologies to treat infertility.

Year 10 Term 5

B3.3 - Maintaining internal environments

 

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on homeostatic mechanisms in the control blood sugar levels as well as looking at type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Year 10 Term 6

B4.1 - Ecosystems

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on different levels of organisation in an ecosystem, abiotic and biotic factors, interdependence and competition and carbon cycle and the water cycle

Year 11 Term 1

B5.1 Inheritance.

B5.2 Natural selection and evolution

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on single gene inheritance and the role of meiotic cell division. The also study genetic variation within a population of a species, classification systems, how evolution occurs through the natural selection and the evidence for evolution

Year 11 Term 2

B6.3 Monitoring and maintaining health – communicable diseases and defence.

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on the different types of communicable diseases, disease transmission in plants and animals and methods of defence against pathogens as well as disease prevention.

Year 11 Term 3

B6.3 Monitoring and maintaining health – non-communicable diseases and gene technology in medicine

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on some examples of non-communicable diseases and how lifestyle factors play a role. How stem cells, gene technology and human genome play a role in medicine.

Year 11 Term 4

6.1 - Monitoring and maintaining the environment

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on how living organisms interact with each other, the environment and with humans in many different ways and how their interactions can be managed. The also look at the benefits and challenges of maintaining local and global biodiversity.

Year 11 Term 5

B6.2 - Feeding the human race

By the end of this unit students should have learned and understood the concepts on selective breeding of food plants and domesticated animals and genetic engineering as a process which involves modifying the genome of an organism and using gene technology in modern agriculture.

Combined Chemistry - Years 10 & 11

Year 10 +11 Combined Chemistry

 

Term

Topic

Learning Outcome

Year 10

Term 1

C4.1 Predicting Chemical Reactions

In this topic students explore the properties and reactions of elements from different groups of the periodic table. They include group 0 Noble gases, group 1 Alkali metals and group 7 Halogens. They also look at the reactivity of metals compared to each other in the reactivity series and how reactivity determines the outcome of a displacement reaction.

Year 10

Term 2

C2.2 Bonding

In this topic students look at the structure and properties of the three main types of chemical bonding: Ionic, Covalent and metallic.

Year 10

Term 3

C2.2 Bonding and C2.3 Properties of materials

In this topic students continue to look at the structure and properties of the three main types of chemical bonding: Ionic, Covalent and metallic. They also learn about the properties and uses of giant covalent structures, including the allotropes of carbon.

 

Year 10

Term 4

C3.1 Introducing chemical reactions

Students are introduced to the term mole and its relationship to number of particles. They then use the mole to solve numerous different calculations including finding unknown masses and limiting reactants.

Year 10

Term 5

C3.2 Energetics and C3.3 Types of Chemical reactions

In this topic students learn about the difference between endothermic and exothermic reactions. They look at what is happening in terms of bonds as well as energy transfer. In addition to knowing how to represent the reactions as energy diagrams students also need to be able to calculate the energy of a reaction given the energy of the bonds.

 

In the second section, students look at what is an acid and the reactions it can have with various bases and metals.

Year 10

Term 6

C3.3 Types of chemical reactions

Students continue to look at what is an acid and the reactions it can have with various bases and metals. This includes practical skills like forming salts from insoluble bases. It also involves being able to explain the difference between strong and weak acids. They also look at oxidation and reduction reactions, being able to write them as half equations.

 

Year 11

Term 1

C3.4 Electrolysis and C5.1 Controlling reactions

In this topic students look at the process of electrolysis and apply it to both molten and aqueous compounds. They are able to explain what happens at each electrode in terms of transfer of electrons.

 

In addition, students look at how the rate of a reaction is influenced by factors such as temperature, pressure and concentration. They need to be able to use collision theory to describe why rate changes as well the impact of adding a catalyst. This section also includes practical skills where students use various methods to obtain rate data, then plot that data on a graph and interpret results.  

Year 11

Term 2

C5.1 Controlling reactions and C 5.2 Equilibria

Students continue to look at how the rate of a reaction is influenced by factors such as temperature, pressure and concentration. They need to be able to use collision theory to describe why rate changes as well the impact of adding a catalyst. This section also includes practical skills where students use various methods to obtain rate data, then plot that data on a graph and interpret results.  

 

In addition, they are introduced to reversable reactions and equilibrium. They use Le Chatelier’s principle to explain how the position of equilibrium will shift when changes such as temperature, pressure and concentration are applied.

Year 11

Term 3

C6.1 Improving processes and products

In this topic Students apply their knowledge of reduction reactions and electrolysis to explain how different metals are extracted from their ores. They also look at other methods of metal extraction including bioleaching and phytoextraction. In addition, they also cover how Alkanes can be extracted from crude oil through fractional distillation and how excess hydrocarbons can undergo cracking to meet demand.

Year 11

Term 4

C6.2 Interpreting and Interacting with Earth’s systems and Revision

In this topic students look at the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere, both past and present. They learn about and discuss the different factors that change the atmosphere and the impact that has on ecosystems. They also look at potable water and how we can treat waste water before it is released into the environment.

 

Revision sessions begin covering identified areas of improvement.

Year 11

Term 5

Revision

Revision sessions covering identified areas of improvement.

 

Combined Physics - Years 10 & 11

Year 10 and 11 Combined Physics

Term

Topic

Learning outcome

Year 10 Term 1

Magnetism

Magnetism and magnetic forces

Compasses and magnetic fields

Magnetic effects

The force on a current carrying wire

Electric motors

Year 10 Term 2

Matter

The history of our understanding of the structure of the atom

Density

Changes of state

Internal energy Specific heat capacity

Specific latent heat

Particle motion in gases

Year 10 Term 3

Radioactivity

Atomic structure

Radioactive decay

Nuclear equations

Year 10 Term 4

Radioactivity

Radioactive half-life

Background radiation

Hazards and uses of radiation

Irradiation and contamination

Year 10 Term 5

Waves

Describing waves

Transverse and longitudinal waves

Measuring wave speeds

The wave equation

Year 10 Term 6

Waves

The behaviour of light waves

Electromagnetic waves

Year 11 Term 1

Forces

Scalars and vectors

Speed

Acceleration

Calculations of motion

Motion-time graphs

Newton’s laws

Weight and mass

Year 11 Term 2

Forces

Momentum

Work done and energy transfer

Understanding power

Keeping safe on the road

Forces and energy in springs

Potential energy

Year 11 Term 3

Energy

Kinetic energy

Work done and energy transfer

Specific heat capacity

Energy and power

Dissipation of energy

Energy efficiency

Year 11 Term 4

Revision

 

Year 11 Term 5

Revision