Science

Curriculum – Website 

Department  

Science  

KS3 Intent  

At Burton Borough School, our Key Stage 3 Science curriculum is designed to ignite curiosity, foster a love of learning, and lay the foundations for scientific understanding that will prepare students for success at GCSE and beyond. 

KS3 Implementation  

• Topics are sequenced to build on prior knowledge and to make explicit links between Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, as well as drawing from KS2. 

• Students engage in regular practical and investigative work, developing accuracy, safety, and evaluation skills. 

• Teaching explicitly develops scientific vocabulary, numeracy, and reasoning through structured discussion and modelling. 

• Formative assessments identify misconceptions early and guide responsive teaching. 

• Students experience real-world contexts for science — including environmental issues, health, energy, and technology — to make learning meaningful. 

• The KS3 programme is carefully designed to bridge KS2 learning and prepare students for the rigour of KS4. 

KS3 Impact 

By the end of KS3, students will: 

• Have a strong foundation in scientific knowledge and practical competence. 

• Be able to think scientifically — asking questions, designing investigations, interpreting evidence, and justifying conclusions. 

• Demonstrate enthusiasm and confidence in applying science to unfamiliar problems and real-world contexts. 

• Show readiness for GCSE Science, equipped with the skills, curiosity, and resilience to succeed 

KS3 Homework 

Fortnightly homework will be set by your child’s lead teacher. This may be varied in nature from online quizzes, paper-based homework tasks or may even be a creative project such as building a cell. 

KS3 Enrichment  

• STEM Club 

• Fieldwork – ecology investigations. 

• Career Links – NHS, engineering, environment, sustainability 

• Trips & Visits – Science museums, university STEM days. 

• Skills Development – data literacy, collaboration, problem-solving 

KS3 Careers 

We work closely with our careers lead and local partners to ensure students see clear pathways from classroom learning to employment and higher study. 
Our careers provision in science includes: 

• Guest talks and workshops from STEM professionals. 

• Visits to science museums, universities, and local industries. 

• STEM clubs and competitions (e.g. CREST Awards, British Science Week). 

• Explicit links in lessons between curriculum content and job roles. 

• Guidance on GCSE and post-16 subject choices for STEM pathways. 

Science provides strong foundations for further study and careers such as: 

• Medicine and healthcare (doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, biomedical scientist) 

• Engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical, software) 

• Environmental and Earth sciences (ecologist, geologist, environmental consultant) 

• Forensic science and criminology 

• Computing, data science, and AI 

• Research and academia 

• Science communication, journalism, and teaching 

KS4 intent  

At Burton Borough our science curriculum aims to ignite curiosity, foster critical thinking, and develop a deep understanding of the natural world. We believe every student should leave with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to question, investigate, and make informed decisions about scientific issues that impact their lives and the wider world. 

Our intent is to: 

• Build a secure foundation of scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding across Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. 

• Develop students’ ability to think scientifically — to observe, hypothesise, test, and evaluate evidence critically. 

• Cultivate curiosity and enthusiasm for science through engaging, practical, and contextual learning. 

• Equip students with scientific literacy to engage meaningfully with current and future global challenges — such as health, energy, climate, and technology. 

• Ensure progression from KS3 to GCSE so that students are well prepared for further study and STEM-related careers. 

• Promote aspiration, resilience, and collaboration through enquiry-based learning and problem-solving activities. 

KS4 implementation 

Science is taught as a spiral curriculum, where key concepts are revisited and deepened over time. 

• KS3 (Years 7–8) provides strong foundations through exploration of key ideas in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Students develop core practical, mathematical, and investigative skills through hands-on enquiry and real-world contexts. 

• KS4 (Years 9–11) builds on these foundations with increasing depth and application leading to GCSE Combined or Separate Science qualifications. Content is sequenced to connect prior knowledge to new ideas, developing mastery and conceptual fluency. Students will study the AQA syllabus.  

• Students experience a broad range of practical investigations, meeting all required practicals and additional enrichment opportunities that encourage curiosity and independence. 

• Literacy and numeracy are embedded throughout, with emphasis on precise scientific language, data interpretation, and use of equations. 

• Assessment is formative and summative, identifying misconceptions early and supporting personalised feedback and intervention. 

• The curriculum is enriched through STEM clubs, fieldwork, trips, and links to industry and higher education, broadening students’ awareness of science in society 

KS4 Impact  

Through the Science curriculum, students will: 

• Develop secure scientific knowledge and understanding, allowing them to explain, predict, and analyse scientific phenomena confidently. 

• Become independent and reflective learners, capable of applying scientific thinking beyond the classroom. 

• Develop critical thinking skills and develop their scientific literacy and oracy skills to build reasoned arguments.  

• Gain practical competence and understand how scientific evidence is generated, validated, and communicated. 

• Achieve strong outcomes at GCSE, reflecting good progress from individual starting points. 

• Be inspired to pursue further study and careers in STEM fields, and to act as responsible citizens who appreciate the impact of science on society and the environment. 

Ultimately, our science curriculum seeks to empower students to question the world around them, think critically, and contribute thoughtfully to the challenges of the future. 

KS4 Homework 

Fortnightly homework will be set by each of your child’s science teachers. This may take the form of online quizzes using platforms such as Seneca, paper-based tasks including past paper questions/papers. This will surmount to 1 hour per science, per fortnight. 

KS4 Enrichment  

• STEM Club 

• Fieldwork – ecology investigations. 

• Career Links – NHS, engineering, environment, sustainability 

• Trips & Visits – Science museums, university STEM days. 

• Skills Development – data literacy, collaboration, problem-solving 

KS4 Careers 

We work closely with our careers lead and local partners to ensure students see clear pathways from classroom learning to employment and higher study. 
Our careers provision in science includes: 

• Guest talks and workshops from STEM professionals. 

• Visits to science museums, universities, and local industries. 

• STEM clubs and competitions (e.g. CREST Awards, British Science Week). 

• Explicit links in lessons between curriculum content and job roles. 

• Guidance on GCSE and post-16 subject choices for STEM pathways. 

Science provides strong foundations for further study and careers such as: 

• Medicine and healthcare (doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, biomedical scientist) 

• Engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical, software) 

• Environmental and Earth sciences (ecologist, geologist, environmental consultant) 

• Forensic science and criminology 

• Computing, data science, and AI