There are 4 possible courses for Year 10 students.
- Most Year 10 students follow a GCSE Science course. Emphasis is placed on understanding how science and scientists work and the social, ethical and cultural context and impact on science.
Students will normally take GCSE Science in Year 10. There are six modules, predominantly biology, chemistry and physics. Topics vary from Understanding Ourselves to Rocks and Metals and to Living for the Future. They will be externally assessed with a 1 hour exam in January and a further 1 hour exam in June. The final third of the marks will come from coursework -–a number of practical ‘can-do’ tasks and a report on Science in the News. Students will complete this first Science GCSE in Year 10 and be certificated in Year 11.
In Year 11 they will take a Second Science GCSE called Additional Science.
- We are also offering GCSE Applied Science for some students who enjoy a more vocational focus to their studies. This course involves 66% portfolio assessment. There are no exams in Year 10. Most of Year 10 is spent studying Unit 1 which is mainly based on a marine theme where possible.
- Some students will be prepared to take three separate Science GCSEs, Biology, Physics and Chemistry. These students will have a level 6 or 7 from SATs and will have chosen science in one of their option blocks. They will study GCSE Science in Year 10 but will also study extra modules so that they can be entered in Year 11 for GCSE Biology, Physics and Chemistry.
- A very few students take Entry Level science which follows a very practical course along similar topics to GCSE but students do not take an examination.
There are 2 levels of entry for all Science GCSEs. Foundation grade G – C and Higher where the grades available are D – A*. |
