Key Stage 4 Science
All our students at the Durham Federation study Science up to GCSE but there are a number of different options.
For our GCSE students we offer the OCR Twenty First Century Science courses because we believe they meet the diversity of our students’ needs and aspirations:
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They offers Science for citizens and Science for scientists
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They are modern, practical and relevant courses with accessible scientific issues to motivate all learners
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The opportunity to link Science with industry and ‘real life’ will benefit all learners
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The Additional Science course provides an academic route which can still lead on to A-levels
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There is also natural progression to more vocational courses from the Applied Science course
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Gifted Scientists can extend their knowledge with the Triple Science course and can further this at A-level
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There are different styles of assessment suiting all types of learner
All of our students have to work towards a minimum two GCSE qualifications.
The first of these is GCSE Science. There are nine teaching modules: Biology (B1 You and your Genes, B2 Keeping Healthy, B3 Life on Earth); Chemistry (C1 Air Quality, C2 Material Choices, C3 Food Matters); Physics (P1 The Earth in the Universe, P2 Radiation and Life, P3 Radioactive Materials). Each group of three modules is assessed in 40 minute exams in either January or June of Year 10 and 11. B1, B2 and B3 may be assessed in June of Year 9. There is also a 45 minute exam in June of Year 10 based on pre-release materials. For their coursework (worth 33% of the final grade) our students carry out a topical Case study and a Data analysis task.
Alongside GCSE Science our students will also study either GCSE Additional Science or GCSE Additional Applied Science.
GCSE Additional Science
This is a more traditional course that builds on the biology, chemistry and physics taught in GCSE Science. It extends scientific explanations and gives learners an insight into how scientists help to develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Again, there are nine teaching modules examined as before in Jan and June. There is also a full investigation worth 33% of the final grade, and another exam in June of Year 10 based on pre-release material.
GCSE Additional Applied Science
This course is designed to promote Science through work related concepts making it more relevant and accessible. There are three short exams, again in either January or June based on three modules: Life Care, Scientific Detection and Agriculture & Food. The coursework (worth 50% of the final grade) is a portfolio based on simple practical procedures, suitability tests, and a work related report.
Triple Science
Our more talented students are given the opportunity to study the three sciences in the Twenty First Century Science suite. This is a challenging route that follows the same pattern as the GCSE Science and GCSE Additional Science courses except instead of the exams above based on the pre-release materials the students study three alternative units (one each for biology, chemistry and physics) which themselves have an element based on pre-release material. For coursework (worth 33% of the final grade for each GCSE) the students complete a full investigation in each subject. At the end of Year 11 the students will have three GCSEs: GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics.
Twenty First Century Science web site OCR's web site for Learners and Parents
BTEC Level 2 Firsts in Applied Science
GCSEs need not be the only education route that leads to A levels and university or a successful career. A BTEC course offers applied learning related to work which we believe is the best option for some of our students.
BTECs are work related qualifications suitable for a wide range of students, built to accommodate the needs of employers and allow progression to university. They provide a more practical, real-world approach to learning alongside a key theoretical background. BTECs are recognised by schools, colleges, universities, employers and professional bodies across the United Kingdom and in over 100 countries worldwide.
BTECs are not exam-based qualifications. Exams work well for some students but others find them rather daunting and struggle to see how they fit into the real world of work. Instead, students study real-life, work-based case studies and complete projects and assessments, which contribute to achieving each unit studied.
BTECs allow students to move on to higher education, to progress further in their career, to start their career in a certain industry or in some instances give them the skills to start their own business. They allow the student flexibility and choice in what they choose to do.
The BTEC Firsts in Applied Science have been designed to build on Key Stage 3 science. During this course the course students take on the role of being employed within the science industry when completing assignments/activities. This is achieved by setting activities with a scenario which reflects tasks or projects that employees would be undertaking in the workplace. It is a very popular course with our students and is worth either two GCSEs (Extended Certificate) or four GCSEs (Diploma).
