Science

Year 7 and 8

Students follow a programme of study called ‘Science Works’. Both the year 7 & 8 text books can be found on the laptops and this is a good place to start with revision for end of units tests. Specific tasks that are assessed throughout the course can be found on Realsmart.

Year 9 and 10

All students in current Year 9 will complete a 2 year GCSE core (Science A) and Additional Science course.  This will involve 2 components in Biology, 2 in Chemistry and 2 in Physics.

Students will obtain 2 GCSE science grades, one for Core Science and one for Additional Science, over the 2 years.

They will be examined as follows:

• Two Unit 1 components and one Unit 2 component examined in June of the first year. 
• One Unit 2 component examined in January of the second year.
• One Unit 1 component and one Unit 2 component examined in June of final year.

All coursework is controlled assessment which will be carried out in the second year under strict exam conditions in the classroom.

NOTE - All exam courses now have a terminal rule which means that 40% of the course must be examined in the final sitting of exams. The result from one final exam and the coursework must contribute to the student’s final grade, even if a student has a better result from a previous exam series.  We will make sure that the controlled assessment and one unit is assessed in June 2013 for each GCSE.

Students may also study separate sciences over the 3 years by completing Component 3 in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

More information can be found at http://web.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science.php looking at SCIENCE A and ADDITIONAL sections for the CORE and ADDITIONAL.  Or BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY and PHYSICS if taking the 3 separate sciences.

Land and Environment

GCSE Environmental and Land-Based science

• Unit 3 – B493 Management of the Natural Environment 16.7%
• Unit 4 – B494 Care of Animals 16.7%
• Unit 5 – B495 livestock Husbandry 16.7%
• Unit 6 – B496 Coursework – E-portfolio consisting of;
  
  • Practical skills 12.4%
  • Work related Report 14.7%
  • Investigation project 22.9%

Due to the students having to complete electronic coursework having access to a computer and internet at home is highly recommended.

Animal Care Hooded Sweat Shirt

This year students have the opportunity to buy a 'hoodie' for the Animal Care Course. The hoodie will have the child's name on the front right hand side and school emblem on the left, on the back will read Homewood Animal Care. Please see below for further information.

Year 11 Science GCSE’s

These four science options are all one year courses. The biology, chemistry and physics GCSE’s are ideal for students who do not yet wish to pursue an A Level but still want to keep up their science studies, or for students who have not met the entry requirements for A level Sciences but who wish to continue on to do an A Level. The courses cover content from the AS courses and are excellent preparation for them. There are no entry requirements for these courses.

GCSE Biology

• Unit 2 - (B4B5B6) January of year 11
• Unit 3 - (B7 and ideas in context) June of year 11
• Coursework - Either one investigation marked out of 40 or a data analysis & case study (16 + 24 respectively) total 40 marks

GCSE Chemistry

• Unit 1 - (C1C2C3) January of year 11
• Unit 2 - (C4C5C6) January of year 11
• Unit 3 - (C7 and ideas in context) June of year 11
• Coursework - Either one investigation marked out of 40, or a data analysis & case study (16 + 24 respectively) total 40 marks

GCSE Physics

• Unit 1 - (P1P2P3) January of year 11
• Unit 2 - (P4P5P6) January of year 11
• Unit 3 - (P7 and ideas in context) June of year 11
• Coursework - Either one investigation marked out of 40, or a data analysis & case study (16 + 24 respectively) total 40 marks

BTEC Applied Science

This course is equivalent to two A Levels. It is a two year course that requires a C grade or above in core science and one of the science options (additional/applied/land & environment). The course is suitable for well organised students who wish to study science further for vocational qualifications. The course differs from A Levels because it is 100% coursework. There is the same level of academic demand as an A Level but this is tested through coursework during the course. The course covers a comprehensive range of science techniques, skills and knowledge.

A Level Sciences

A Level courses can be started in year 11 or year 12 providing a student has met the entry requirements. To gain a place on this course, students must have attained one of the following minimum entry requirements:

• 1. B grade in core and additional science and predicted or attained B grade in mathematics.
• 2. B grade in the respective single science GCSE and predicted or attained B grade in mathematics.

We recommend that only students who are confident in their sciences attempt A Levels during year 11. These courses are usually recommended to students who have attained a high B grade, A or A* during year 10. Students with lower grade B’s would be better advised to complete a GCSE in the subject they wish to study at A Level. This will provide a strong base to build on. For further information or advice please attend one of the school’s open evenings/option evenings to speak directly to staff. Examinations at A Level standard are taken as a first sitting in the June of each year. Retakes may be taken in January although we discourage students from retaking unless absolutely necessary because of the impact on other subjects.