Science, Additional and Triple Science GCSE

Course description:

All students must take Science, which is a single GCSE designed to prepare everyone to be able to understand and take an active role in the technological society in which we live. Most students will then take a second science called Additional Science (Science and Additional Science together are equivalent to previous year’s Double Science course). Both Science and Additional Science will allow students to get A* GCSE grades.

Studying Additional Science will allow students to go on to study Science ‘A’ levels and allow them to go to any university including Oxford and Cambridge. Students will learn from theory lessons, where they have ideas and facts explained to them before completing tasks based on this knowledge, and practical lessons, where first hand experience is used to reinforce scientific ideas. Groups are set, so every student is in a class with other students working towards similar targets to themselves.

Homework:

Students will get no more than one hour and a half homework in any week. This may be questions or other written tasks including planning for future lessons, reading, research, learning facts or spellings, or revision for tests and examinations. It will be useful if students can access the learning resources on the school’s website from home.  

Assessment, weighting and timings of assessments:

Two tiers of examination paper are offered: Higher (A* - D) and Foundation (C - G). There are module examinations three times a year; in November, March and June. At these times students will take written papers, either multiple choice or short written answer papers. Students must also complete a range of internal assessments that they will carefully write up and which will be marked as coursework. Most of this work must be completed in school.

Assessment is organised as follows:      
Internal Assessments - 40%         
Written exams  - 60%

Books, equipment, materials and resources recommended / needed:

Students need only normal writing equipment, which includes a protractor and calculator, all other materials are provided. The Science Department usually arranges to buy in revision guides, at a reduced rate, for students who want to purchase them before the first module exam in November. These are not essential however; all a student needs will be in their exercise book.

Opportunities for study beyond Key Stage 4:

Taking Science and Additional Science can lead to courses at Key Stage 5 which include ‘A’ levels in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Taking just Science can lead to courses at Key Stage 5 which include vocational courses or training with a scientific component. Having a Science GCSE qualification indicates a student has a good memory, is capable of clear thinking and can understand a technical subject. Course providers or employers will be interested in how well these abilities are developed in a student.

Career opportunities supported by this subject:

Aeronautics to zoo management including bioengineer, cosmologist, doctor, electronics engineer, field studies ranger, geologist, horticulturist, industrial chemist, journalist, kindergarten teacher, layperson (informed), marine biologist, and we are only half way there.

Triple Science

Triple Science is available to students who achieve a good level 6 (not borderline level 5 / 6) Science SAT. This will give students 15 hours of Science per fortnight and will split the subject into its component parts Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Students wishing to take triple Science will need to use one of their two ‘free’ options to ensure they have sufficient time to complete it. Anyone interested in this option should discuss it with their Science teacher or the Curriculum Manager, Mr D. Holter.