Shelley College: Science

Head of Department: Mr P Beaumont

The Science faculty offers a broad range of courses for our students. It also offers a variety of extra-curricular experiences for those students wishing to broaden and enrich their experience of the science curriculum.

Key Stage 3
On entry to the college, students participate in transition courses in biology, chemistry and physics that are designed to ensure students are well-prepared for their GCSE course. These courses place an emphasis on experimental skills and the development of the necessary scientific knowledge from years 7 & 8.

Key Stage 4
GCSE - Core Science
The vast majority of students will begin this course in Y9 and complete it before the end of Y10, giving them the opportunity to study for a second science GCSE before the end of Y11.
The course develops the scientific knowledge needed by citizens of the 21st Century and places an emphasis on ‘how science works’ in the real world.
Topics:

1. B1 you and your genes, B2 keeping healthy, B3 life on earth
2. C1 air quality, C2 material choices, C3 food for life
3. P1 the earth in the universe, P2 radiation and life, P3 radioactive materials

Assessment:

1. 4 module exams - 67%
2. Coursework (1 case study and 1 data analysis task) – 33%

GCSE – Additional Science
This course is taken by students in Y11 wishing to study the more academic side of science in preparation for A-level study in Biology, Chemistry or Physics.
Topics:

1. B4 homeostasis, B5 growth and development, B6 brain and mind
2. C4 chemical patterns, C5 chemicals of the environment, C6 chemical synthesis
3. P4 explaining motion, P5 electric circuits, P6 the wave model of radiation

Assessment:

1. 4 module exams – 67%
2. Coursework (1 investigation) – 33%

GCSE – Additional Applied Science
This course is taken by students in Y11 wishing to study a more vocational, practical, work-related course and prepares students for A-level Applied Science. The course has a larger component of coursework than the Additional Science course.
Topics:

1. Life Care, Materials and Performance, Harnessing Chemicals

Assessment:

1. 3 module exams – 50%
2. Coursework (6 standard procedures, 1 Work related report, 1 suitability test) – 50%

GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics (Triple Science)
This course leads to three separate GCSE qualifications and the emphasis is on a thorough academic preparation for post-16 study in the sciences. Due to the high demand on this course students selected to study for this qualification begin at the start of Y9. The topics covered include those in the core and additional GCSEs as well as a further study unit in each of the three sciences

Topics:
Biology: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6 & B7 further biology
Chemistry: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 & C7 further chemistry
Physics: P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 & P7 further physics

Assessment (for each subject):

1. 3 module exams - 67%
2. Coursework (1 practical investigation) – 33%

GCSE Double Award Applied Science
This is a vocational science course which places the emphasis on practical work and health and safety in the workplace.

Topics:

Assessment (for each subject):

1. 1 module exam - 33%
2. Coursework (6 practical investigations, Work-Related Portfolio) – 67%

Key Stage 5
The department offers AS and A2 courses in Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
To find out more about the structure of these courses please click on the relevant links below:

Applied Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics