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the
Thomas Hardye School
SCIENCE
YEAR NINE PARENTS
INFORMATION
The Team
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Mr Andrew Ellison – Head of Science
Dr Jeremy Rowe – Head of Biology
Dr Tim Rand – Head of Physics
Mr Dave Thompson– Head of Chemistry
Mr Andy Sammons – BTEC
Mrs Judith Wardlaw – Industry Liaison
• 21 science teachers
• 5 technicians/admin staff
LINEAR GCSE COURSES…changes to previous years
•no “modules”
•All science GCSEs start in year 9
•All exams are at the end of a GCSE course
•No retakes of any part of the GCSE
Two possible Routes
• Triple award Science
• Double award Science
TRIPLE AWARD
Three separate GCSEs in science, Biology,
Chemistry and Physics
•We follow the AQA triple award syllabus
•They are graded separately.
•Taught by two teachers in year 9 (8 lessons per
fortnight)
•Then 3 teachers in years 10 and 11 (9 lessons per
fortnight).
TRIPLE AWARD
•There are 9 examined units and three ISAs
•B1, B2 and B3 are all Biology units
•C1, C2 and C3 are all Chemistry units
•P1, P2 and P3 are all Physics units
Weighting:
Unit 1 exams = 25%
Unit 2 exams = 25%
Unit 3 exams = 25%
ISA
= 25%
Very challenging – suitable for most able only
Faster pace
CORE
SCIENCE
Taught in
year 9
ADDITIONAL
SCIENCE
Taught in
year 10
FURTHER
ADDITIONAL
SCIENCE
Taught in
year 11
B1
B2
B3
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C1
C2
C3
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+
+
P1
P2
P3
ISAs are completed at
the end of year 10 and
during year 11
All exams in May/June
year 11
“TRIPLE AWARD”
SCIENCE
COURSE
DOUBLE AWARD
• two separate science GCSEs.
• Biology, Chemistry and Physics are still
taught separately but it leads to 2 GCSEs,
not 3.
• Graded separately
DOUBLE AWARD
Core science (B1, C1, P1) - examined summer of year 10
Additional science (B2, C2, P2) - examined summer of year
11
• Slower pace than triple award
• Misses out B3, C3 and P3 units
• Core Science GCSE is completed in year
10, leaving only Additional Science (B2, C2,
P2) to be examined in year 11.
When are the exams?
•CORE science is the first science GCSE.
•3 exam papers, in summer of year 10.
•Additional Science is the second GCSE.
•3 exam papers in summer of year 11.
•NO RETAKES!
CORE
SCIENCE
Taught in
years 9 and
10
ADDITIONAL
SCIENCE
Taught in
year 11
B1
B2
+
+
C1
C2
+
+
P1
P2
+
CORE ISA
Examined in
May/June
year 10
+
ADDITIONAL
ISA
Examined in
May/June year 11
“DOUBLE
AWARD”
SCIENCE
COURSE
What are the written exams like?
• For both triple and double award, papers
are in 2 tiers – Foundation and Higher
• We enter all triple award students for
Higher tier.
• Higher ability students of the double award
science are typically entered for Higher
tier.
BOTH TIERS CONTAIN LONG ANSWER
(6 MARK) QUESTIONS
Example of a long answer
question…..
In this question you will be assessed on using
good English, organising information clearly and
using specialist terms where appropriate.
Describe what happens to a star much bigger than
the Sun, once the star reaches the
end of the ‘main sequence’ period of its life cycle.
Your answer should include the names of the
stages the star passes through.
What about controlled assessments?
•Students take an ISA – Investigative Skills
Assignment in each science subject
•This comprises 25% of each of the
Science GCSE exams (Core science,
Additional science, Biology, Chemistry,
Physics)
What does my son/daughter have to do for the
ISA?
• Research experimental methods for a given investigation.
Plan an experiment and draw a blank table of results.
• Under exam conditions, complete ISA paper 1 written
exam paper
• Carry out the experiment, collecting results.
• Draw a graph
• Evaluate their method and results, then
• Under exam conditions, complete ISA paper 2 written
exam paper
When will students take their ISAs?
• Skills needed, such as research skills, data
analysis, practical skills and “how science
works” are built into lessons and homework
tasks from year 9
They will complete each Science ISA in one
day off timetable.
Double Award
Triple Award
Core ISA taken in Y10
Biology ISA in Y10 or Y11
Additional ISA taken in Y11
Chemistry ISA in Y10 or Y11
Physics ISA in Y10 or Y11
How can I help my child prepare for their ISAs?
• Information booklet
• FROG
• AQA website
http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/support/pdf/AQASCIENCE-CONTROLLED-ASSESSMENTLEAFLET.PDF
Foundation tier grades C – G
Higher tier grades A* - D: longer answer
questions, more data analysis, application of
knowledge.
Double award students can therefore still be
entered for higher tier and gain up to two A*
GCSEs in science.
So….triple or double…???
• If borderline, better to opt for double.
• Two good grades better than three weak ones.
• Access to A levels only if GRADES are good,
not by the number of grades achieved. (Many of
our external students in year 12 have followed
double award)
• A levels are built upon the Core and Additional
Science. Students will not be disadvantaged if
they do double.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How will we decide if a student follows double or triple
award?
•Information from middle schools
•CATs, teacher assessment from middle schools and
results from Key stage 2 tests.
•All students are set this term with students of similar
ability according to data we have
•Taught at same pace for the first term.
•Tests at half term (exam style questions).
•Test at Christmas (exam style questions) to make final
decision
Can a student change groups?
•At the moment, all students are being taught the
same content.
•After Christmas, we will re-set according to middle
school data but also our own understanding of your
child’s abilities and needs (homework and test
results)
•Possible set changes after the internal summer
exams in year 10, depending upon results.
What resources are available for my son/daughter?
• CGP revision guides are excellent and can be
purchased from science dept at reduced price
(£2.75 each)
• Revision notes and quizzes on bitesize
Can students get A* grades in double
award?
• Yes! Access to grades A*-C if
Higher tier paper taken. Level of
entry is decided by teacher,
based on work throughout years 9
and 10
• Core and Additional science are
graded separately.
2014 A*-C : 79%
Assessment
There will be a formal class test each half
term. These are composed of past exam
style questions with a mark scheme
produced by AQA. Tests are differentiated to
allow all students to demonstrate the
progress they should be making.
Results to these tests will help provide
information for Reviews, enable tracking of
individual and group progress. It will also
help us to make an informed decision about
tier of entry choice for external exams.
STEM CLUBS
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Many STEM clubs – run by enthusiastic science teachers!
Research opportunities
Chance to enter competitions
Chance to win CREST awards
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F1 in schools
Fossil Club
Scentsational science
Earthquake detectors club
Astronomy
Green Fuel and Sustainability
Electronics
Lego league
Green power Car
TRIPS
Astronaut Training Camp
Eurospace Centre - Belgium
Here’s some of the activities
included in this amazing trip:
■ Complete missions on board the
US Space Shuttle…
■ Practise on the multi-axis chair,
Moon gravity simulator and the
zero gravity wall…
■ Build and launch rockets and
satellites…
■ learn about the solar system,
space exploration and everyday
life and work in space…