Western Australian Curriculum: Science 7-10 Curriculum Guide
Western Australian Curriculum: Curriculum Guide
This guide has been produced by the expert team of science teachers, authors, and learning designers at Oxford University Press ANZ. It contains a clear, concise summary of the key changes to structure and content of the Western Australian Science Curriculum and is designed to save you time and help you plan and implement the new curriculum with confidence
Why is the syllabus changing?
The new Western Australian Curriculum Science was released in February 2025.
• The Science curriculum has been revised against the Australian Curriculum version 9, contextualised for the Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline to meet the needs of students and teachers.
• The content has been clarified, and exemplified, to support teachers in planning for teaching, learning and assessment.
• Achievement standards have been updated to ensure they provide specific information for teachers to make informed judgements about student achievement
How is the structure changing?
• Structure is similar to the old curriculum
• Science inquiry skills renamed Science inquiry
• Sub-strand Processing and analysing data and information renamed Processing, modelling and analysing
• Removal of the strand Science as a human endeavour; Content from Science as a human endeavour is incorporated in the new sub-strand Collaborating and applying (included in the strand Science inquiry)
• Examples have been added to clarify content descriptions and, where appropriate, to support teacher understanding and provide contexts for teaching
• The examples are not mandated; teachers may use additional contexts that are appropriate to students and the school community
How is the content changing?
Summary of key changes
Year 7
Old Curriculum New Curriculum
Science inquiry skills is organised in five substrands Emphasis on skills like planning and conducting, processing and analysing data and information, evaluating, and communicating
Science as a Human Endeavour is a standalone strand with focus on how science impacts lives and society.
Biological sciences focus on classification of organisms based on physical features and scientific conventions, food chains and food webs
Chemical sciences focus on mixtures and techniques for separating pure substances
Earth and Space sciences focus on predictable phenomena on Earth (e g seasons, eclipses)
Science inquiry skills reorganised into six substrands, including new strand Collaborating and applying More explicit focus on scientific questioning, planning fair tests, modelling and analysing, and collaboration.
Science as a Human Endeavour is integrated into the new sub-strand: Collaborating and applying –explores how science is used in community, ethics & decision-making
Biological sciences retain similar content, but now includes clearer progression, with local biodiversity examples and more structured focus on keys and conventions
Chemical sciences has addition of states of matter (previously in Year 8) Emphasises particle model and properties of substances Separation techniques retained
Earth and Space sciences now broadened and includes lunar phases, eclipses, and tides Stronger emphasis on celestial bodies and Earth–Moon–Sun system
Physical sciences focus on forces (including Earth’s gravitational attraction, acting on the object) and their effects on motion
Physical sciences remains similar, but with greater clarity on contact vs non-contact forces, and everyday applications
Year 8
Old Curriculum New Curriculum
Science inquiry skills is organised in five substrands. Processing data emphasis on skills like graphing, keys, models and summarising results. Application of science inquiry has some integration with “Science as a Human Endeavour”
Science as a Human Endeavour focus on applications of science in society, nature of scientific knowledge.
Biological sciences focus on cells, multi-cellular organisms and the role of cell structures in life processes
Chemical sciences focus on properties of different states of matter, difference between elements, compounds and mixture, chemical reactions
Science inquiry skills is structured into six substrands, including a new one: Collaborating and applying. Processing data extended to include modelling, and use of representations to explain patterns and relationships Application of science inquiry has explicit links to industry and society, including WA contexts like energy production and geology.
Science as a Human Endeavour is now integrated into inquiry strand: Collaborating and applying Students consider ethics, decision-making, and real-world scientific contributions
Biological sciences has similar content, but strengthened focus on multicellular organisation, and clarity around specialised cells and systems
Chemical sciences is expanded as it builds on Year 7 by introducing the particle model and explores chemical changes in greater detail, with clearer sequencing from physical to chemical changes
Earth and Space sciences focus on rock types, formation, geological timescale
Physical Sciences focus on energy forms and transfer, particularly heat and potential energy
Earth and Space sciences is expanded with the inclusion of plate tectonics (moved from Year 9), linked to rock cycle, volcanic and seismic activity More integrated Earth systems view
Physical Sciences is refocused to explore renewable/non-renewable energy, and energy transformations Ties into real-world applications and sustainability.
Year 9
Old Curriculum New Curriculum
Science inquiry skills is organised in five substrands with focus on planning, processing, evaluating. Application of science inquiry has some integration with “Science as a Human Endeavour”
Science as a Human Endeavour is a standalone strand with a focus on nature and development of science, ethical understanding, use and influence of science and how societal needs and values shape scientific research
Biological sciences focus on multi-cellular organisms, ecosystems and interdependence, energy flow
Chemical sciences focus on atomic structure, chemical reactions (formation of new substances) and chemical reactions; including combustion and the reactions of acids
Earth and Space sciences focus on theory of plate tectonics and continental drift
Science inquiry skills is restructured to six substrands, including Collaborating and applying. Stronger focus on data interpretation, digital tools, and use of models Explicit application to societal issues (e g , climate change, conservation, energy choices), with WA industry/scientific contributions highlighted
Science as a Human Endeavour is integrated under Collaborating and applying in Science Inquiry Students explore ethical, social, and practical implications of science (e.g., energy, ecosystems, pollution)
Biological sciences is expanded to focus on WA biodiversity and conservation, includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge Greater depth in ecological relationships
Chemical sciences focus on atomic structure content moved to Year 9 (was Year 10) Stronger progression: subatomic particles, electron shells, periodic table relationships
Earth and Space sciences focus on Moved to Year 8 Replaced with global systems and climate science, such as the carbon cycle, ocean currents, and atmospheric systems
Physical Sciences focus on energy transfer (particularly electrical energy) through different mediums can be explained using wave and particle models.
Physical Sciences Content now linked to realworld systems, including electric circuits, energy efficiency, and sustainable technologies Focus on modelling and applications.
Year 10
Old Curriculum New Curriculum
Science inquiry skills is organised in five substrands with focus on planning, evaluating, analysing, communicating. Emphasis on skills like graphing and reporting Collaboration and application of science inquiry has some integration with “Science as a Human Endeavour”
Science inquiry skills is reorganised into six clear sub-strands, including Collaborating and applying. Each is accompanied by year-level specific examples Strong emphasis on using models, multimodal data representations, and quantitative analysis Collaboration and application of science inquiry has now a dedicated sub-strand, encouraging students to evaluate scientific applications, consider ethics, and collaborate in investigations and discussions
Science as a Human Endeavour is a standalone strand with a focus on science influences on society, careers, ethics
Biological sciences focus on DNA, genes, and chromosomes, inheritance patterns, natural selection and evolution
Science as a Human Endeavour is removed as a strand; content fully integrated under Science Inquiry – Collaborating and applying Emphasis on contemporary issues (e g , climate, genetics, space), with WA-specific examples (space industry, resource sector, indigenous knowledge). Promotes student reflection on science in daily life
Biological sciences retain similar content retained but refined language and progression. Greater clarity on variation, adaptation, and evidence for evolution
Chemical sciences focus on periodic table, structure of atoms, chemical reactions, conservation of mass
Earth and Space sciences focus on The Big Bang theory, universe formation, global systems (carbon cycle, climate change)
Physical sciences focus on motion and forces, energy conservation and transfer, laws of physics
Chemical sciences focus more deeply on chemical bonding, reaction types, stoichiometry, and predicting products
Earth and Space sciences focus on space exploration and its contribution to understanding the universe and Earth, with a focus on WA’s mining and space industries
Physical sciences core concepts retained but with enhanced focus on modelling, quantitative problem-solving, and real-world applications (e.g., road safety, transport design).
Detailed changes
What’s been added?
Year 7
Separation techniques in Chemical Sciences (previously introduced in Year 6)
Greater emphasis on data patterns and evidence in Inquiry strand
Particle model of matter introduced more explicitly to lay the foundation for Year 8
What’s been added?
Plate tectonics and Earth’s structure [From Year 9]
What’s been removed or moved?
Water as a resource [Moved to Year 8]
Earth, Moon and Sun systems [Moved to Years 5 & 6]
Year 8
Use of particle model now builds on Year 7 to explain properties and changes
Stronger focus on data representation and reliability in inquiry
What’s been added?
Atomic structure (protons, neutrons, electrons, electron shells) [From Year 10]
What’s been removed or moved?
Cells and simple multicellular organisms [Moved to Year 7]
Some aspects of energy transfer and light [Moved to Year 9]
Year 9
Chemical reactions now includes combustion and reactions relevant to living systems
Carbon cycle, global systems, and climate science [From Year 10]
Strengthened focus on energy transfer and electric circuits in real-world systems
Plant adaptations to living in different ecosystems, such as local ecosystems, the southwest of Western Australia, deserts and mangroves
What’s been removed or moved?
Plate tectonics [Moved to Year 8]
Some genetics-related concepts [Moved to Year 10]
What’s been added?
Year 10
Space science and exploration (including WA contributions) introduced
Expanded focus on forces and motion, especially graphical representations (e g , velocity-time)
Chemical bonding and reaction types (builds on atomic theory from Year 9)
How is Oxford supporting implementation?
What’s been removed or moved?
Atomic structure [Moved to Year 9]
Global systems and climate science [Moved to Years 9]
We are currently developing a new edition of Oxford Science 7–10 for the Western Australian Curriculum, as well as a host of supportive resources that will be arriving for implementation in 2026.
This new edition will be hosted on our brand-new Oxford Digital platform, updated to improve usability and accessibility so you can engage students of all abilities and save time in planning and delivering lessons.
Connect with every student with all core content now on our new accessible platform - adjust font sizes, enable read-to-me functionality, and customise content views for diverse learning needs.
Revolutionise your classroom planning with lesson plans written by experts and accessed at the beginning of each lesson
Engage students with key content videos developed with Clickview
Trust the experts. Trust Oxford.
All of our content and resources have been written by experts, ranging learning designers with industry-leading expertise to Heads of Science and many more experienced classroom teachers.
Content has been carefully mapped to the curriculum to ensure that anything you’re teaching in the classroom can be reported against syllabus outcomes and requirements.
Science that clicks –for every learner. M ake science engaging, inclusive, and future-ready with empowering resources and tools.
Oxford Science 7–10 has been designed for mixed-ability classrooms, supporting every student with scaffolded learning and an explicit focus on science inquiry skills. Teachers are supported with time-saving tools and resources – ensuring confident, effective teaching.
Save time and cover all curriculum requirements with best-practice TLAPs, lesson plans and clear curriculum alignment to resources.
Develop science inquiry skills with a series developed with an explicit focus on skills while working scientifically.
Speak with a local education consultant oup.com.au/contact
Allow students to track their own progress and check their learning.
