At KES we are passionate about science and the endless possibilities it presents to our students! They will have the opportunity to develop mathematical skills, problem solving, independence and will become inquisitive to the world around us. We prepare students well for their next steps and hope that they leave with a love of our wonderful subject!
We follow the AQA Combined Science specification for the majority of students and this year we have trialled offering the single Science GCSEs to a class of students. This will hopefully continue into next year too which gives the option of studying individual sciences and gaining independent grades in each subject.
The AQA Trilogy Combined Science course is worth 2 GCSEs, both graded up to a 9-9. Students will either sit the foundation paper and achieve up to a grade 5-5, or if possible, they will sit the higher paper and achieve a grade between a 4-4 and a 9-9. Students will study all 3 scientific components and will work through a range of working styles. Students will take part in regular practical investigations to support their theoretical study and will prepare for their next steps in science learning.
The alternative pathway is the single science GCSEs where students gain a separate GCSE in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, again graded up to a 9 for higher tier or a 5 for foundation tier. This course prepares students well for further study into IB, A Level or BTEC science disciplines.
Cell biology
Organisation
Infection and response
Bioenergetics
Homeostasis and response
Inheritance, variation and evolution
Ecology
Atomic structure and the periodic table
Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter
Quantitative chemistry
Chemical changes
Energy changes
The rate and extent of chemical change
Organic chemistry
Chemical analysis
Chemistry of the atmosphere
Using resources
Forces
Energy
Waves
Electricity
Magnetism and electromagnetism
Particle model of matter
Atomic structure
Space Physics (triple science only)