The traditional approach to teaching Science at key stage 3 is one which focuses on content, and in schools where students arrive in year 7 this works well. Because we have a year 9 entrance to our school (coupled with the large number of different feeder schools and hence the vast differences in prior experiences within Science) we felt that simply trying to cover the whole of Key stage 3 content in one year was a futile exercise which often resulted in students becoming somewhat disaffected.
In 2003 we redesigned Key stage 3 Science as a co-ordinated program which although still taught by subject specialists within subject areas fitted together to focus not solely on content, although there's still plenty of this, but more on three core skills; Communication in Science, Numeracy in Science & Experimental skills. There are 6 different groups within year 9 time-tabled in two blocks of 3, the North and South blocks. During year 9 we move students around between groups so that they can be placed in a class which works at a pace which suits them best, and thus enables them to enjoy the Science they study. Our students still sit the SAT exams towards the end of year 9 and these, coupled with teacher assessments and their grades throughout the year are used to guide them in the selection of double or triple award GCSE courses in Key stage 4.
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