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Key Stage 4 |
The GCSE Trilogy Combined Science course at Fernhill includes Biology, Chemistry and Physics and involves two exams for each discipline at the end of Year 11. Students will be awarded two GCSEs grades which will enable them to study any of the Sciences at A level with a grade 6-6 or above. Further details about what each topic involves can be found on the curriculum maps.
The second year of GCSE Science is composed of the following topic areas.
Chemistry; how different atoms bond together and the repeatable rules that govern these reactions.
Biology; how genetic information is transferred from one generation to the next and the rules that govern this, how different members of the same species are different and how this drives evolution, how the human body controls various systems to insure there normal functioning
Physics; how is energy measured, what is it and how it is transferred from one system to another, how electricity is used, measured and calculated, how solids, liquids and gases change from one state to another and how radioactivity is measured and used.
Required practicals include a wide range o f circuit board practicals.
The third year of GCSE Science is composed of the following topic areas.
Chemistry; how chemical reactions can be slow or fast and how to measure these, a close look at a specific group of chemicals known as hydrocarbons, how the Earth’s atmosphere has changed over time and how the resources humans use can be modified to make them more sustainable.
Biology; how Planet Earth’s ecosphere functions and how the fragile systems work together to sustain life. The effect of humans on this ecosphere will also be studied.
Physics; How forces on objects can be categorised and measured, the different laws of Newton and how speed can be measured in various ways. Summarising the different types of waves, how they are measured and their different functions, How magnetism works and how different types of magnets work.
Required practicals including measuring the rate of specific chemical reactions and measuring acceleration.
The Combined Science course is a possible pathway to taking science A levels (grade 6-6 or above), such as biology, human biology, PE, chemistry, environmental science, geology, physics and astronomy. The course counts for two GCSEs, helping students getting to the five required for most college courses.
To support with these career paths, the science department run a trip to Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium. We are also lucky enough to have support from McLaren and The Smallpeice Trust with potential future support for students hoping to follow a science career path.