Floreat scholar Cryptiensis
The Crypt Physics Department PoS KS4 2024-25
Our primary aim is to instil a genuine love of the sciences and the confidence to question our understanding of the natural and physical world. The programme of study aims to develop inquisitive minds into critical thinkers through acquiring theoretical knowledge, practical skills and scientific literacy. Students will understand how science continuously builds upon previous advancements and understanding; linking the topics studied with realworld application ensures that our pupils develop key investigative, analytical and evaluative skills to prepare for their life ahead.
In years 7 and 8, our bespoke curriculum embeds the key foundations of biology, chemistry and physics whilst allowing students’ natural enthusiasm and curiosity to flourish. From year 9 onwards, the three science strands are taught separately through challenging and enriching lessons which build students’ resilience. Additional opportunities beyond the classroom at all key stages further strengthen the curriculum and reinforce the key role science and its applications have in understanding contemporary issues, future developments and the challenges of the modern world.
Year9
AQA GCSE Physics
Topics:Waves1(Properties)
Topics:Waves2 (ElectromagneticSpectrum), Energy1(Energy,Work, Power)
KeySkills:Calculations, learningequations,units, significantfigures,standard form,prefixes,practical skills,keywords MP1:WaveEquationGAT
MP2:PropertiesofWaves Test
KeySkills:Calculations, learningequations,units, significantfigures,standard form,practicalskills,extended writing,literacy,keywords
Topics:Energy2(Energy Resources)
Topics:Energy2 (continued) Forcesand Motion
Topics:Forcesand Motion
Topics:Forcesand Motion
KeySkills:keywords, comparing,evaluation, discussion,research, ethics,Calculations,units, significantfigures, standardform,prefixes
MP3:Mid-yearTest
KeySkills:Graph drawingand interpretation, calculations,learning equations,units, significantfigures, standardform,prefixes
KeySkills:calculating resultantforces,scale drawings
KeySkills:Extended writing, explanation, application
- Use strategies for learning and recalling the key equations
- Rearrange and use the equations to make calculations, showing clear working and writing the units
- carry out experiments appropriately, having due regard to the correct manipulation of apparatus, the accuracy of measurements and health and safety considerations
- Confidently use prefixes and powers of ten for orders of magnitude and express answers in both decimal and standard form.
- Convert between units
MP4:MotionTest
MP6:EndofYear Exam
- Understand that energy can be transferred from one store to another. Describe the energy stores and pathways for a variety of scenarios. Apply the principle of conservation of energy to make calculations.
- Evaluate the use of renewable and nonrenewable energy resources and understand the economic, environmental, social and ethical issues surrounding energy resources.
- Understand the difference between scalar and vector quantities; explain the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of objects and draw and interpret motion graphs.
- Describe the properties of waves and understand the uses and dangers of the waves in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Year10
Triple
AQAGCSE Physics
Topics:Heating,Static Electricity
KeySkills:Calculations, practicalskills,analysing, explaining,predicting
MP1:Y10EquationsGAT
MP2:HeatingTest
Topics:Heating
KeySkills:Calculations, practicalskills,analysing, explaining,predicting
Topics:CircuitElectricity
Topics:Household Electricity,Radioactivity
KeySkills:Calculations, applicationofknowledge, practicalskills
MP3:StaticTest
KeySkills:Calculating, workingsafely,analysing
Topics:Nuclear, Revision
KeySkills:Calculating, practicalskills, modelling,literacy, extendedwriting
MP4:Mid-yearTest
Topics:Pressure
MP1:Y10EquationsGAT
MP2:SpecificHeatCapacity GAT
Topics:CircuitElectricity
KeySkills:Calculations, applicationofknowledge, practicalskills MP3:HeatingTest
Topics:CircuitElectricity
KeySkills:Calculations, applicationofknowledge, practicalskills MP4:Mid-yearTest
Topics:Household Electricity
KeySkills:Calculating, workingsafely
KeySkills:Ethics, explaining, modelling, interpretingdiagrams
MP5:End-of-year exam
Topics:Magnets andElectromagnets
KeySkills:Practical skills,explaining, applicationof knowledge
MP6:PressureTest
- Use scientific theories to develop hypotheses and plan and carry out investigations to test hypotheses, make observations and explore phenomena
- interpret observations and other data, including identifying patterns and trends; make inferences and draw conclusions
- Evaluate data in terms of accuracy, precision, repeatability and reproducibility and identify potential sources of random and systematic error
- Design and build circuits that can be used to investigate the I-V characteristics of different components
Topics:Radioactivity
KeySkills: Calculating,practical skills,modelling, literacy,extended writing
MP5:End-of-year exam
Topics: Radioactivity
KeySkills:Practical skills,explaining, applicationof knowledge
MP6:Radioactivity Test
- Solve circuit problems to determine the current through and pd across components in series and parallel; define current and pd
- Explain how energy is used in the home and define power
- Investigate the magnetic fields of permanent magnets and electromagnets and explain their applications in everyday life
- Explain the link between electricity and magnetism and how this is used in motors, generators (triple only) and transformers
- Use the particle model to explain density, changes of state and pressure. Calculate the energy changes when substances are heated or change state.
- Explain how scientists’ understanding of the atom has changed over time, and how models are constantly being developed as new evidence is discovered; the importance of publishing results and peer review
- Understand radioactive decay and the importance of nuclear fission and fusion as energy resources Year10
Year11
Triple
AQAGCSE Physics
Topics:Space, Newton’sLawsand Momentum
KeySkills:Practicalskills, explaining,applicationof knowledge
MP1:AQAEnd-of-Year10 Test
MP2:SpaceTest
Topics:Newton’sLawsand Momentum,Triple Electromagnetism
KeySkills:Calculating, applicationofknowledge, explaining,Practicalskills
MP3:DecemberMockExam (Paper1)
Topics:Light KeySkills:Applicationof knowledge,explaining, Practicalskills,analysing, modelling
Topics:Triple Momentum,Revision
KeySkills:Calculating, Revisionstrategies, examtechnique, applicationof knowledge
MP4:March Assessment–(Paper2)
Topics:Revision KeySkills:Revision strategies,exam skills,applicationof knowledge
MP5:PracticePaper2
Year11
Combined AQAGCSE
Combined Science: Trilogy
Topics:Magnetismand Electromagnetism
Topics:Newton’sLawsand Momentum,Paper1Revision
KeySkills:Calculating, applicationofknowledge, explaining,Practicalskills
KeySkills:Calculating, applicationofknowledge, explaining,Practicalskills
Topics:Newton’sLawsand Momentum,Paper2 Revision
Topics:Revisionof Paper2Topics
KeySkills:Calculating, applicationofknowledge, explaining,Practicalskills, examtechnique,revision strategies
MP1:AQAEnd-of-Year10 Test
MP2:Magnetismand ElectromagnetismTest
MP3:DecemberMockExam (Paper1)
KeySkills:Calculating, applicationof knowledge,explaining, Practicalskills,exam technique,revision strategies
MP4:MarchMock (Paper2)
Topics:Revision KeySkills:Revision strategies,examskills
MP5:PracticePaper2
- Understand how the skills developed in Physics lessons can be used in a range of careers
- See connections between topic areas, particularly through big ideas like the particle model and energy changes.
- Critically evaluate data, information and claims through critical analysis of the methodology, evidence and conclusions, both qualitatively and quantitatively
- Suggest and verify mathematical relationships between variables
- Apply knowledge to a range of unfamiliar contexts
- Rearrange and use complex equations with four or more variables
- Express answers to an appropriate number of significant figures
- Use strategies to learn and recall the 23 key equations
- Apply Newton’s three laws to explain the effects of forces on the motion of an object
- Apply the conservation of momentum to make calculations about collisions and other events (triple only)
- Explain how gears and levers are used in machines to multiply forces and gain a mechanical advantage (triple only)
- Understand the life cycles of stars and how the elements are formed (triple only)
- Understand the Big Bang theory for the beginning of the universe and the evidence that supports this theory (triple only).
T1:Module3
Topics:
2.Foundations
3.Motion
T2: Module 4
Topics: 1.Practical Skills
8.Charge andCurrent
KeySkills: Calculating, usingalabbook, interpreting data,application ofknowledge, explaining, practicalskills
KeySkills: Calculating, interpreting data, application of knowledge, explaining, practical skills
MP1:Baseline Test
MP2: Foundations Test
MP1: Chargeand CurrentTest
T1: Topics: 4.Forcesin Action
5.Work, Energyand Power
KeySkills: Research, referencing, presenting
T2: Topics: 9.Energy, Power, Resistance
10.Electrical Circuits
KeySkills: Calculating, interpreting data, application of knowledge, explaining, practical skills
MP3: MotionTest
MP4:Forces inAction Test
T1: Topics: 6.Materials