Year 9 Science

What will my child study in Science during Year 9?

Students study the following Topics. In Year 9 students are taught in sets according to ability. Year 9 is a transition from Key Stage 3 to GCSE and from the second half of the Autumn term students start to study material in preparation for their GCSEs in Science.

Students study the following topics in Year 9:

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Revision of Key Stage 3 units followed by the end of Key Stage 3 Test.

Introduction to GCSE concepts through the following units:

Cell Biology
Atomic Structure and the periodic table
Energy

GCSE concepts introduced through the following topics:

Organisation
Electricity

Bonding, structures and properties of matter
Infection and response

Followed by revision and End of Year exam.

The GCSE topics taught during Year 9 will include a number of Required Practicals. Students will be asked to recall the method for these experiments as well as demonstrating the ability to analyse results.

How will my child be assessed and how will I know how well they are doing in Science in Year 9?

Students will sit a formal test once they have completed the Key Stage 3 curriculum at the end of October. They will also be assessed on the GCSE topics after completion of each unit. There will also be an End of Year 9 exam in the Summer term to asses the GCSE work taught.

What homework will my child be expected to do in Year 9 in Science?

Students will be asked to complete around 45 minutes of homework each week.
Homework may involve finishing a piece of classwork, a research project or learning the meanings or spellings of key words.
In later terms it may also involve practice GCSE questions.

How can I support my child to do well in Science during Year 9?

Ensure that homework tasks are completed on time.
Encourage your child to revisit topics periodically and revise thoroughly before tests.

What equipment may my child need in addition to the standard school equipment?

Students are expected to arrive for lessons with a minimum of pen, pencil, ruler, eraser, pencil sharpener and calculator.
Coloured pencils, scissors and glue are also useful items for use in Science.

By the end of the year, what would an 'expert' be able to do in Science?

Quickly grasp key ideas and concepts and be able to give a detailed explanation.
Apply combinations of these key ideas in new situations.
Design, carry out and evaluate experiments that legitimately test out ideas and provide sufficient accurate data to make a conclusion.
Identify and describe patterns in data using line graphs without help.
Frequently frame questions that can be answered through scientific enquiry.
Use models to explain abstract ideas and be able to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.

My child is struggling during the course, what additional help is available to help them keep up?

If your child feels that they struggling with the concepts taught in lessons we would encourage them to visit www.kerboodle.com where they can access the digital textbooks used in class and a host of learning resources to help improve their understanding.

If they continue to find the work difficult please encourage them to speak to their teacher where further support can be given.

Updated September 2023