Please click on the links below to access the Curriculum Summaries for Science: 

Our vision at Spen Valley High School is to ensure that all students develop the skills to become life-long confident, resilient and reflective learners, who enjoy science and achieve up to and beyond their potential. We aim to deliver a curriculum which is knowledge rich, and has been developed with an understanding that knowledge and practical skills are interlinked.  This broad and deep curriculum is designed to encourage students to be able to use scientific knowledge to make informed decisions. We urge students to consider the impact of their decisions by judging the reliability of the evidence they use to come to these conclusions. The heart of our curriculum is developing learners who are inquisitive and question the world around them. Our students will be taught the fundamental ideas of organisms, matter, forces & energy and working scientifically. These are integral common themes throughout the science curriculum five-year journey, which is designed to follow a spiral structure allowing students to acquire an understanding of the fundamental principles and skills required to raise scientific inquiry that gradually builds in complexity.  We aim to enable learners to think deeply about the medical, technological, environmental and industrial problems that will need to be solved over the next century. We are developing a focus on reading to empower students to effectively interpret the world around them, along with encouraging an enjoyment of reading for pleasure. In order to develop the cultural capital of our students, the curriculum goes beyond the national curriculum to study scientific ideas that inspire future scientific/engineering career pathways. This development of cultural capital will be supported by regular opportunities to apply their knowledge to investigate problems using practical work.  The practical skills the students learn will develop in sophistication as they progress through the curriculum.  This will prepare students for their GCSE examinations and also for study and life beyond GCSE.

A student who is excellent at working scientifically will be able to ask questions and develop a line of enquiry based on observations of the real world, alongside prior knowledge and experience. They will make predictions using scientific understanding and confidently select, plan and carry out different types of scientific enquiry with accuracy, precision, repeatability and reproducibility, including identifying independent, dependent and control variables. They will use appropriate techniques, apparatus, and materials during fieldwork and laboratory work, paying attention to health and safety. During this work they will accurately make and record observations and measurements using a range of methods for different investigations; and evaluate the reliability of methods and suggest possible improvements. They can present observations and data using appropriate methods, including tables and graphs and apply mathematical concepts and calculate results. Using their results, they can correctly interpret observations and data, including identifying patterns to draw conclusions.

An excellent student in Biology will be able to recall, describe and communicate a precise, detailed understanding of Biology and its applications. They will understand how scientific advances and their ethical implications can have an impact on society. They will be able to use a broad range of data from different sources to address scientific questions, solve problems and develop arguments and explanations. They will be able to demonstrate a high level of mathematical competence to manipulate, analyse and interpret data.  These skills will allow them to evaluate, explain and make evidence-based conclusions that can be communicated in a logical and coherent manner. This will then enable them to demonstrate a passion for Biology, using scientific ideas and concepts to realise how Biology can influence people and societies and further our understanding of the natural world.

An excellent student in Chemistry will be able to recall, describe and communicate a precise, detailed understanding of Chemistry, its processes and applications. They will be able to use a broad range of information from various sources and their knowledge of practical processes to address scientific questions, solve problems and demonstrate an understanding of the material world. They will be able to manipulate, analyse and interpret data with a high degree of mathematical confidence. These skills will allow them to evaluate, explain and make evidence-based conclusions that can be communicated in a logical and coherent manner. This will then enable them to demonstrate a passion for Chemistry, using scientific ideas and concepts to realise how Chemistry can influence people and societies and further our understanding of the material world.

An excellent student in Physics will be able to recall, describe and communicate a precise, detailed understanding of Physics, its theories, processes and applications.  They show a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the relationships between hypotheses, evidence and theories to explain events and processes. Mathematical language can be used and manipulated to produce, interpret and evaluate a range of data within everyday physical concepts. This enables students to make effective use of the relationships between variables and calculations and then manipulate, visualise, compare and construct data to support the physical theory.

AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy

AQA GCSE Biology

• Exam Board Specification
• BBC Bitesize Website

AQA GCSE Chemistry

• Exam Board Specification
• BBC Bitesize Website

AQA GCSE Physics

• Exam Board Specification
• BBC Bitesize Website