The Science curriculum is designed to provide students with the skills, tools and knowledge to build, develop and deepen their understanding of the natural world. It is divided into three disciplines. Biology is the study of life and living organisms, from the molecular mechanisms within a cell to the interactions of entire ecosystems. Chemistry is the study of matter and its properties, and the changes it undergoes. Physics is the study of matter and energy, and their interactions which drive the laws that govern the Universe from the sub-structures of an atom to entire galaxies.
The KS3 curriculum is based upon the Springboard Science syllabus, which has been written by national leading practitioners of science education. It is designed to build, develop and sustain students’ knowledge and understanding of science in order to develop the scientific thinking of students, while also establishing a firm foundation for future learning.
At KS4, all students study the AQA Separate Science specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics, which covers a broad range of skills and areas from each discipline. Students will be entered independently for either the Higher or Foundation tier exams for each science subject, and this will be evidenced by end-of-topic tests and mock exams.
At KS5, students study the AQA specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics, each providing an advanced course of study that builds off the foundations from KS3 and KS4, while also preparing them for further post-18 study.
The pedagogy of science teaching at Wood Green School is underpinned by:
- High-quality and carefully designed explanations that focus on developing students’ depth of understanding as well as their wider knowledge of science through use of a range of multimedia resources.
- Explicit linking between topics at the point of teaching in order to guide students to see the broader picture of how science works and to build upon their prior knowledge.
- Regular opportunities for students to improve through feedback, driven by frequent checking of student understanding and homework activities designed to test students’ knowledge.
- A culture of retrieval, built upon interleaving and spaced practice to ensure that students develop a deep understanding of concepts over a prolonged period of time and commit knowledge to their long-term memory.
- Opportunities for hands-on learning through practical investigations and teacher-led demonstrations, during which students will develop a range of practical skills.
At the end of every topic, students will be tested on what they have learned using appropriate assessment methods, and will receive feedback from this in order to support future learning.
Year 7
Term 1:
- Cells (Cell Structure, Microscopes, Unicellular Organisms, Specialised Cells)
- Skeletal System and Organisation (The Skeleton, Biomechanics, Organisation)
- The Particle Model (Simple Particle Model, Properties of Different States, Changes of State, Gas Pressure)
- Atoms, Elements and Compounds (The Atomic Model, Symbols and Formulae, Elements and Compounds)
- Energy (Energy Stores and Transfers, Power, Energy Resources)
- Speed (Speed, Distance-Time Graphs, Relative Motion)
Term 2:
- Nutrition and Digestion (Healthy Diet, Energy Requirements, Diet)
- Pure and Impure Substances (Diffusion, Pure and Impure, Separation)
- Forces (Force Diagrams, Stretching and Squashing, Moments, Motion)
- Pressure in Fluids (Pressure in Liquids, Atmospheric Pressure, Calculations)
Term 3:
- Gas Exchange Systems (Ventilation, Gas Exchange, Exercise, Asthma, Smoking)
- Chemical Reactions (Reactions and Conventions, Combustion, Thermal Decomposition, Oxidation, Displacement, Conservation of Mass)
- Sound (Types of Waves, Sound Waves, Microphones and Ultrasound)
Year 8
Term 1:
- Reproduction (Sexual Reproduction, Reproductive Organs, Fertilisation, Fetal Development, Menstrual Cycle, Plant Reproduction)
- Acids and Alkalis (Acids, Alkalis, pH, Reactions of Acids with Metals and Alkalis)
- Energy Changes (Changes of State, Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions)
- Light (Light and Ray Models, Interactions of Light, Mirrors, Cameras and the Eye, Light and Colour)
- Electricity in Circuits (Conductors and Insulators, Current, Potential Difference and Resistance, Series and Parallel Circuits)
Term 2:
- Photosynthesis (Photosynthesis, Leaf Structure)
- Respiration (Aerobic Respiration, Anaerobic Respiration)
- The Periodic Table (Properties of Metals and Non-Metals, Groups, Periods)
- Materials (Metal Reactivity, Metal Extraction with Carbon, Ceramics, Polymers and Composites)
- Static Electricity (Static Charges, Electric Fields)
- Magnets (Magnets and Magnetic Fields, Earth’s Magnetism, Electromagnets and Motors)
Term 3:
- Ecosystems (Food Chains, Food Webs, Interdependence, Insect Pollination, Food Security)
- Inheritance (DNA, Chromosomes, Variation, Competition, Natural Selection and Biodiversity)
- The Earth and its Atmosphere (Composition and Structure of the Earth, Rock Cycle, Atmosphere, Carbon Cycle, Recycling)
- The Particle Model (Particle Motion and Density, Energy in Matter)
- Space (Stars, Planets and Galaxies, The Seasons, Weight)
Year 9
Term 1:
- Cell Structure
- Ecosystems
- Energy (Energy Stores, Energy Resources, Power)
- Electricity (Static Electricity, Current, Potential Difference, Resistance and Domestic Electricity)
Term 2:
- Cell Transport (diffusion, osmosis and active transport)
- Electricity (Static Electricity, Current, Potential Difference, Resistance and Domestic Electricity)
- Particle Model (States of Matter, Gas Pressure, Density)
Term 3:
- Particle Model (States of Matter, Gas Pressure, Density)
- Atomic Structure (Structure of the Atom, Isotopes, Types of Radiation, Dangers of Radiation)
Key Stage 4 - GCSE
GCSE Biology specification
GCSE Chemistry specificationGCSE Physics specification
Year 10
Term 1:
- Plants and Photosynthesis
- Digestion and Respiration
- Reactions of metals
- Acids and alkalis
- Electrolysis of ionic compounds
-
- Energy (Thermal Conductivity, Efficiency, Energy Transfer Calculations)
- Electricity (Components in Series and Parallel, Components, Power, National Grid)
Term 2:
- Breathing and Circulation
- Energy changes and calculations
- Rates of reactions and chemical equilibria
- Particle Model (Changes of State, Latent Heat and Heat Capacity, Pressure-Volume Law)
- Atomic Structure (Nuclear Decay, Half-Life, Radiation Uses)
Term 3:
- Health and disease
- Paper 1 mock in June/July covering cells, plants and photosynthesis, digestion and respiration, breathing and circulation and health and disease.
- Forces (Types of Forces, Resultant Forces, Elasticity, Moments, Pressure)
- Motion (Speed, Acceleration, Motion Graphs, Newton’s Laws, Momentum)
- Paper 1 Mock in June/July covering Energy, Electricity, Particle Model and Atomic Structure
Year 11
Term 1:
- Chemistry:
- Chemical analysis
- The Atmosphere
- Physics:
- Waves (Wave Properties, Light, Electromagnetic Waves, Sound, Seismic)
- Electromagnetism (Magnetism, Motor Effect, Electromagnetic Induction, Uses)
Term 2:
- DNA and cell division
- Variation and Evolution
- Paper 1 mock in February covering cells, plants and photosynthesis, digestion and respiration, breathing and circulation and health and disease.
- Sustainable development
- Paper 1 Mock in February covering Atomic structure and the Periodic Table, Structure, bonding and the properties of matter, Chemical Calculations, Chemical changes and Energy changes
- Electromagnetism (Magnetism, Motor Effect, Electromagnetic Induction, Uses)
- Space (Solar System, Stars, Satellites and Orbits, The Big Bang and Universe)
- Paper 1 Mock in February covering Energy, Electricity, Particle Model and Atomic Structure
Term 3:
- Revision for GCSE Exam
- Paper 2 mock in April covering Homeostasis, DNA and cell division, variation and Evolution, Ecosystems and Biodiversity
- Revision for GCSE Exam
- Paper 2 Mock in April covering The Rate and Extent of Chemical change, Organic Chemistry, Chemical analysis, The atmosphere and Sustainable development.
- Revision for GCSE Exams
- Paper 2 Mock in April covering Forces, Motion, Waves, Electromagnetism, Space
Key Stage 5 - A-Level
Biology
A-Level Biology Curriculum
A-Level Biology specification
Year 12
Term 1:
- Cells
- Transport across cell membranes
- Biological Molecules
- The Immune system
Term 2:
- DNA and Cell division
- Genetic Diversity
- Exchange surfaces
- Mass Transport in Animals
Term 3:
- Mass Transport in Plants
- Biodiversity
- AS-level Papers 1 and 2 Mocks in June/July covering All the topics taught during Year 12.
- Populations in ecosystems (year 13 topic)
- Energy in ecosystems (year 13 topic)
Year 13
Term 1:
- Photosynthesis
- Respiration
- Survival and Response
- Nervous coordination
Term 2:
- Homeostasis
- Gene expression
- Inheritance
- Selection and speciation
- Gene technologies
- Paper 1 mock in February covering cells, transport across cell membranes, Biological molecules, the immune system, DNA and cell division, Genetic diversity, exchange surfaces, mass transport in animals and plants and Biodiversity
Term 3:
- Revision for A level Exams
- Paper 2 mock in April covering populations in ecosystems, energy in ecosystems, photosynthesis, respiration, survival and response, nervous coordination, homeostasis, gene expression, inheritance, selection and speciation and gene technologies
- Paper 3 mock in April covering all A level content
Chemistry
A-Level Chemistry Curriculum
A-Level Chemistry specification
Year 12
Term 1:
- Atomic Structure
- Amounts of substance
- Bonding
- Chemical equilibria and Le Chatelier’s Principle
- Equilibrium constant, Kc, for homogeneous systems.
Term 2:
- Energetics
- Kinetics
- Introduction to Organic Chemistry
- Alkanes
- Halogenoalkanes
- Alkenes
- Alcohols
- Organic Analysis
Term 3:
- Oxidation, Reduction and REDOX equations
- Periodicity and Group 2
- AS-level Papers 1 and 2 Mocks in June/July covering All the topics taught during Year 12.
- Thermodynamics: Born-Haber Cycles (Year 13 subject)
- Rate equations (Year 13 subject)
Year 13
Term 1:
- Thermodynamics: Gibbs free energy change, DG and entropy change, DS.
- Equilibrium constant Kp, for homogeneous systems.
- Electrode potentials and cells
- Acids and bases
- Optical isomerism
- Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides
Term 2:
- The Carbonyl group
- Aromatic Chemistry
- Amine
- Polymers, amino acids and DNA
- Organic synthesis, NMR spectroscopy and Chromatography
- Transition metals and variable oxidation states
- Paper 1 Mock in February covering Atomic Structure, Amount of Substance, Bonding, Energetics, Chemical Equilibria, Le Chatelier’s Principle and Kc, Oxidation and Reduction and Redox Equations, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems, Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells, Acids and Bases, Periodicity, Group 2, the alkaline earth metals, Group 7, the Halogens Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides, Transition Metals and Reactions of ions in aqueous solutions
- Term 3:
- Revision for A-level Exams
- Paper 2: Mock in April covering Amount of substance, Bonding, Energetics, Kinetics, Chemical equilibria, Le Chatelier’s Principle and Kc, Rate equations, Introduction to Organic Chemistry, Alkanes, Halogenoalkanes, Alkenes, Alcohols, Organic Analysis, Optical isomerism, The Carbonyl group, Aromatic Chemistry, Amine, Polymers, amino acids and DNA and Organic synthesis, NMR spectroscopy and Chromatography.
- Paper 3 Mock in April covering All the content and all the Practical Skills.
Physics
A-Level Physics Curriculum
A-Level specification
Year 12
Term 1:
- Waves and Optics (Polarisation, Phase Difference, Stationary Waves, Interference Patterns, Refraction)
- Mechanics and Materials (Energy, Equilibrium, Equations of Motion, Netwon’s Laws, Momentum, Materials)
Term 2:
- Particles and Radiation (Photons, Interactions, Quarks, Hadrons, Leptons, Energy Levels, Photoelectricity)
- Electricity and Circuits (Current and Potential Difference, Resistance and Resistivity, Circuit Rules, Potential Dividers, Internal Resistance and emf)
Term 3:
- Periodic Motion (Circular Motion, Centripetal Forces, Simple Harmonic Motion, Damping, Resonance)
- Thermal Physics (Temperature, Latent Heat and Heat Capacity, Ideal Gas Laws, Kinetic Theory of Gas)
- AS-level Papers 1 and 2 Mocks in June/July covering Waves and Optics, Mechanics and Materials, Particles and Radiation, Electricity and Circuits
Year 13
Term 1:
- Gravitational Fields (Newton’s Law of Gravitation, Gravitational Potential, Equipotential, Satellites and Orbits)
- Electric Fields and Capacitance (Coulomb’s Law, Electric Potential, Equipotential, Capacitance, Charging and Discharging Capacitors, Dielectric)
- Electromagnetism (Motor Effect, Charged Particles in Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetic Induction, Alternating Current, Transformers)
- Nuclear Physics (Types of Radiation, Half-Life and Decay, Nuclear Instability, Binding Energy, Fission and Fusion)
- Paper 3 Mock in November covering Waves and Optics, Mechanics and Materials, Particles and Radiation, Electricity and Circuits, Periodic Motion
Term 2:
- Turning Points in Physics (The Discovery of the Electron, Quantum Physics, Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity)
- Practical Skills (Practice and Revision for Paper 3A)
- Paper 2 Mock in February covering Thermal Physics, Gravitational Fields, Electric Fields and Capacitance, Electromagnetism, Nuclear Physics
Term 3:
- Revision for A-level Exams
- Paper 3 Mock in April covering Practical Skills (Paper 3A), Turning Points (Paper 3B)
Updated November 2025
