Science

Science 

RATIONALE

Our science curriculum at Cloughwood Academy is designed for pupils in a specialist provision who have often experienced disrupted learning, exclusion from mainstream education and a wide range of additional needs. Many arrive with limited prior knowledge of science and low confidence in their ability to succeed.

 

To re-engage these learners, we have created a bespoke Cloughwood Science Curriculum that:

• Thematic and Cross-Curricular – Mirrors our school’s half-termly themes and links with other curriculums across the school. This focus (e.g. World Cup, Spy School, Crime Scene Investigation) provides meaningful context for investigation and reinforces key skills.
• Practical and Hands-On – Prioritises experiments, demonstrations and enquiry, so pupils learn through doing. This supports curiosity, deepens understanding and provides opportunities to practise scientific skills in real situations.
• Safety-Focused – Embeds laboratory safety from the start. Pupils are explicitly taught to write risk assessments and to apply safe working practices so that practical science is secure, purposeful and professional.
• Progressive and Preparatory – Carefully sequences Biology, Chemistry and Physics from Year 7 foundations to GCSE-level concepts in Year 9, ensuring pupils are ready for KS4 and capable of achieving a GCSE Biology qualification.

INTENT

Our intent is to provide a science curriculum that is:

• Engaging and Inspiring – Sparking curiosity and enjoyment in learners who may have disengaged from education, building a positive attitude toward scientific discovery.
• Rooted in Real-World Purpose – Showing how science explains the world and links to everyday life, future study and employment, while reinforcing mathematical skills through measurement, data handling and analysis.
• Safety-Conscious and Responsible – Developing pupils’ understanding of laboratory hazards, risk assessment and safe conduct so that practical work is meaningful and secure.
• Progressive and Ambitious – Moving from core enquiry skills and key concepts in Year 7, through deeper systems understanding and abstract ideas in Year 8, to GCSE-ready knowledge and skills in Year 9, particularly in Biology.

IMPLEMENTATION

To deliver this intent, we:

• Provide four science lessons per week, balancing theoretical knowledge with extensive practical and investigative work.
• Structure learning around half-termly whole-school themes, enabling purposeful cross-curricular links with mathematics and other subjects.
• Cover the full KS3 National Curriculum across Biology, Chemistry and Physics, ensuring a clear progression of knowledge and skills each year.
• Embed practical enquiry as a core element, including regular experiments, demonstrations and project-based investigations to develop scientific thinking.
• Place a strong focus on laboratory safety, teaching pupils how to identify hazards, write and review risk assessments and apply correct procedures before every practical session.
• Use scaffolded support and small-group teaching, visual models, and step-by-step guidance to ensure all pupils can access complex content and develop confidence.
• Incorporate spaced retrieval and interleaving of key concepts, ensuring long-term retention and preparation for the demands of GCSE Biology.

In Years 10 and 11, pupils focus exclusively on GCSE Biology. Sessions are designed to be accessible to pupils of all abilities, using scaffolded resources, targeted interventions and practical activities that mirror the style and expectations of the GCSE specification. Pupils are given opportunities to sit the GCSE examination in Year 10 to provide valuable exam experience, build confidence and reduce anxiety, before sitting the formal GCSE Biology exam in Year 11 with greater preparation and familiarity.

IMPACT

We measure success through:

• Increased engagement and participation, evidenced by positive behaviour for learning, improved attendance at science lessons, and enthusiastic involvement in practical work.
• Improved scientific knowledge and enquiry skills, including accurate use of apparatus, data collection, analysis and the ability to plan and evaluate investigations.
• Secure understanding of laboratory safety, demonstrated by pupils independently producing risk assessments and consistently following safe working practices.
• Greater confidence and aspiration, with more pupils progressing to KS4 science and successfully preparing for the GCSE Biology examination.
• Retention and application of key concepts, shown in assessments and practical tasks, enabling pupils to connect science to everyday life and future opportunities.
• Successful preparedness for GCSE Biology, supported by early entry opportunities in Year 10 that build confidence, develop exam skills and improve outcomes in Year 11.

This approach ensures that science at Cloughwood Academy is practical, inspiring, and empowering—building curiosity, resilience, and the skills pupils need to succeed in further study, employment, and life.