Our students will develop the skills and confidence to form ideas and theories of their own to resolve challenges, beyond life at Fortismere.  Our alumni will evaluate the evidence and critically challenge the theories and preconceptions presented to them by the media and other sources both reliable and unreliable.

We aim to instil in our students the same passion for science that we as teachers have.  Teaching materials are designed to both lay a firm foundation to a lifetime of scientific thinking and to enthuse this passion. We aim to integrate the key concepts in all of the sciences as well as the idea of ‘working scientifically’ to develop alumni who are: inquisitive; able to balance the strength of evidence and be confident in their scientific guesses.

The Key Stage 3 Science program of study is planned as a spiral curriculum that re-visits Big Ideas in Years 7 and 8:  Energy; Forces; Electromagnets; Matter; Earth; Reactions; Organisms; Ecosystems; Genes.  Our curriculum is based around these big conceptual ideas that provide an deepening understanding of the sciences; it helps students define the individual disciplines and supports them recognising and understanding their interconnectedness.

Each idea is divided into four smaller topics that are the building blocks of the Big Ideas. Within lessons we will teach knowledge and skills in the context of their application outside the laboratory and with reference to their impact on other subject areas of the school curriculum.

In seeking to transform lives, our curriculum has other aims: to understand and apply the nature of the scientific principle; develop the skills required to engage in scientific activity; appreciate the impact and relationship to other subjects in the curriculum (for example, engineering and mathematics); supporting our students’ mastery of debate through the power of accurate scientific vocabulary and application of an evidence based approach.

Scientific Enquiry

The teaching of Scientific Enquiry is integrated into the Big Ideas and sub-topic principles with identified ‘key practicals’ to ensure equality of opportunity for students.  

Working scientifically is broadly categorised as:

All aspects of scientific enquiry are studied throughout Year 7 & 8 but each half-term has a scientific enquiry theme where key concepts of that enquiry theme are revisited often.

Mastery of Ideas

Mastery is the secure understanding of the Big Ideas.  This is not only “Knowledge” of the skills and facts, but also the flexibility to “Apply” the knowledge across different contexts and situations.  The power of fluency in scientific vocabulary is a knowledge/skill considered necessary for mastery.

Science KS3 Curriculum Map

 KS3 Science Timeline

There are two possible routes that students will follow for their  GCSE course in Science.  They will either follow the Combined Science Trilogy course or the Separate Sciences route. 

Students on the Separate Science route will study towards separate GCSES in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, meaning they will have three separate science GCSEs at the end of Year 11.

Students on the Combined Science Trilogy route will study towards a qualification worth two GCSE grades, which will cover Biology, Chemistry and Physics content.  No decision is made by the Science Department regarding the pathway a student follows until the end of Year 9.  All students in Year 9 study the same topics.

Biology

Our aim is to encourage learning in Biology to be stimulating and exciting for all students. We foster independent study and use exciting cutting edge practical work such as genetic transformation of bacteria. We also provide more well known practical experiences like dissection of mammalian hearts and eyes. We find students are naturally very inquisitive and learn quickly by experiencing at first hand the biology in the world around them.  

Biology KS4 GCSE Curriculum Map

Students follow the  AQA Biology GCSE Specification

Chemistry

Practical work underpins learning in the majority of our lessons, whilst thinking skills and application of knowledge are always emphasised.  Students graduate from our chemistry courses with a firm grasp of the theory and with confidence in their practical skills. A dynamic subject, Chemistry is very popular in the Sixth Form, with many students going on to pursue related courses at university, particularly Medicine. 

Chemsitry KS4 GCSE Curriculum Map

Students follow the  AQA Chemistry GCSE Specification

Physics

Throughout the key stages we encourage students to develop their knowledge and understanding of Physics through practical experience, observation and data analysis, combined with open-ended investigative approaches. Our GCSE course provides effective support for those students who progress their studies to the AQA A Level Physics course where we also teach the Astrophysics Option Block.  This provides a contemporary, dynamic view of the subject with substantial use of ICT resources and modelling software.

Physics KS4 GCSE Curriculum Map

Students follow the AQA Physics GCSE Specification

Combined Science KS4 GCSE Curriculum Map

In Combined Sciences Trilogy students follow the AQA Combined Science Trilogy Specification.

BIOLOGY

Biology A Level KS5 Curriculum Map

For more information on the Biology A Level course and entry requirements click here

Students follow the AQA Biology A Level specification

CHEMISTRY

Chemistry A Level KS5 Curriculum Map

For more information on the Chemistry A Level course and entry requirements click here

Students follow the AQA Chemistry A Level specification

PHYSICS

Physics A Level KS5 Curriculum Map

For more information on the Physics A Level course and entry requirements click here

Students follow the AQA Physics A Level specification

Year 7 Science Club is very popular amongst the younger students. The emphasis is on understanding and loving science without the need to write it down. At Science Club there are many activities that are not part of the taught curriculum. These include; making slime, fire writing, eye dissection and igniting methane bubbles to name but a few. Such experiences inspire our youngsters and get them really enthused about the wonderful world of science. Some of our older students are often eager to be involved in facilitating this club because it is so much fun.

Students in older year groups are encouraged to be part of the British Olympiads in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Astrophysics.  These competitions are facilitated within the school and certified by the national bodies that run them.

Sixth form students are encouraged to visit lectures and events at university colleges such as Imperial and the UCL science lecture series on Friday nights, where physics staff will accompany students initially.  Outside speakers are invited into school to discuss their research and  Ecology field trips remain a firm favourite with our Biology students.

GCSE and A Level homework groups run regularly in Biology, Chemistry and Physics after school as well as support sessions for those who want it.