Science is a National Curriculum Core Subject and is taken by all students until the end of KS4.
In KS3, we base our teaching around the Exploring Science teaching scheme. Classes in KS3 have three lessons per week.

In KS4, the range of courses is more varied. All students do a Core Science GCSE at the end of Year 10. The most able and motivated can opt for Triple science, but need to choose extra science as one of their options at the end of yr 9, giving them 7 lessons per week, as opposed to the normal 5. The remainder make a guided choice at the end of Year 10, to follow a theoretical Additional Science Course, or a more practical and work related Additional Applied science course in Year 11. Our aim is to provide every student with a science course they will find relevant and accessible, whatever their ability.

Name of staff including Head of Department and contact emails

• Mr P Biggs, Head of Department – pbiggs@stbedes.cambs.sch.uk
• Mr P Matthews, Second in Science – pmatthews@stbedes.cambs.sch.uk
• Mr R Chappell, Director of e-learning – rchappell@stbedes.cambs.sch.uk
• Mrs S Sheerman – ssheerman@stbedes.cambs.sch.uk
• Mrs A Swinney – sswinney@stbedes.cambs.sch.uk
• Mrs L Bain – lbain@stbedes.cambs.sch.uk

Specialised pupil equipment required

All students should bring the normal everyday equipment. At KS4, students need to buy a Revision Guide to help with their studies. These are sold, at a discount, through the school. A typical revision guide costs £3.

Course descriptors for KS3 and KS4

KS3 Science:
In Yr 7 and 8, the curriculum is covered in 12 topics each year. There are four topics for each of the sciences. At the end of each topics there is a topic test. The results of these tests form a major part of the assessment for setting the following year. Students are also assessed under the new APP (Assessing Pupil Progress) initiative, and this continual assessment of progression throughout the year is taken into consideration when students are set the following year.

In Yr 9 there are 6 topics, followed by a revision course, in preparation for our own end of KS3 exam in May. These results are used for setting the following year.

KS4 Science:
Year 10 follow the OCR 21st Century Core Science syllabus and COMPLETE that GCSE in Year 10, with exams in June. They complete 2 pieces of coursework, largely in school, between November and March. One is a Case study, involving research into controversial science issues and the other is a Data Analysis of experimental results.

In Yr 11, the most able and motivated complete the Triple award science course, while the more theoretically able students follow the OCR Additional course, in preparation for A level sciences, while others with a more practical bent follow the Additional Applied course. All students can achieve levels A* - G. The Applied course has 50% coursework, which includes a Work-Related Report, a Suitability Study and some in-school practical assessments.

Trips planned for this academic year

A variety of opportunities for Gifted and Talented students in all year groups
Year 10 - Physics at Work