Our Curriculum for Autumn 2026
Year 7 Curriculum
Focus: Transitioning from primary school descriptions to precise, atomic-level scientific vocabulary and basic mathematical manipulation.
Session 1: Introduction to the Lab & Scientific Scale - Safety, variables, and introducing equipment.
Session 2: Cells – The Building Blocks of Life - Plant and animal cells, using light microscopes.
Session 3: Specialised Cells & Levels of Organisation - Unicellular organisms, tissues, organs, and organ systems.
Session 4: The Particle Model & States of Matter - Solids, liquids, gases, and changes of state.
Session 5: Pure Substances & Mixtures - Elements, compounds, mixtures, and formulations.
Session 6: Introduction to Forces & Vector Arrows - Contact and non-contact forces, balanced and unbalanced forces.
Session 7: Mid-Term Synoptic Review & Assessment - Consolidating half-term progress.
Session 8: Gravity, Mass, and Weight - Mass vs. weight, gravitational field strength.
Session 9: Separating Mixtures – Filtration and evaporation.
Session 10: Separating Mixtures - Distillation (Simple and Fractional).
Session 11: Movement & Organ Systems (The Skeleton) - Joints, antagonistic muscles, and biomechanics.
Session 12: End of Term Assessment & KS4 Horizon Lookup - Review of Term 1 and unpacking of a real, unmodified GCSE Foundation paper for questions on forces to show students how Year 7 learning directly maps to Year 11 exams.
Year 8 Curriculum
Focus: Introducing chemical equations, formula structures, basic circuits, and mathematical energy calculations.
Session 1: Periodic Table & Chemical Symbols - Elements, groups, periods, and basic atomic structure.
Session 2: Elements of Group 1 and Group 7 - Alkali metals and Halogens.
Session 3: Chemical Reactions & Conservation of Mass - Reactants, products, and open vs. closed systems.
Session 4: Energy Transferred & Efficiency - Conservation of energy, energy stores, and pathways.
Session 5: Thermal Insulation & Dissipation - Conduction, convection, and radiation.
Session 6: Digesting Food & Enzymes - The human digestive system and nutrients.
Session 7: Mid-Term Synoptic Review & Assessment - Reviewing chemical changes and energy.
Session 8: Introduction to Current & Voltage - Series circuits, ammeters, and voltmeters.
Session 9: Parallel Circuits & Component Resistance - Parallel loops and adding components, introduction to Ohm's Law.
Session 10: Breathing & Gaseous Exchange - The respiratory system and lung structure.
Session 11: Drugs, Health, and Lifestyle -Nutrients, recreational/medicinal drugs, and health impacts.
Session 12: End of Term Assessment & GCSE Higher Tier Lookup - Term 1 review and breaking down actual GCSE questions on circuit calculations, guiding Year 8 students to solve them using their foundational understanding.
Year 9 Curriculum
Focus: High-level mathematical reasoning, mole introductions, complex wave behaviours, and rigorous scientific application.
Session 1: Photosynthesis & Limiting Factors -The word equation, chloroplasts, and rates of photosynthesis.
Session 2: Cellular Respiration (Aerobic vs. Anaerobic) - Mitochondria, energy release, and oxygen debt.
Session 3: Atomic Structure & Isotopes - Protons, neutrons, electrons, and mass/atomic numbers.
Session 4: Introduction to Bonding (Ionic vs. Covalent) - Chemical bonds and transferring/ sharing electrons.
Session 5: Longitudinal & Transverse Waves -Wave attributes, amplitude, frequency, and wavelength.
Session 6: Wave Interactions (Reflection & Refraction) - Light behaviours and boundary interactions.
Session 7: Mid-Term Synoptic Review & Exam Masterclass - Bridging Year 9 content to the GCSE specification. Deconstructing the marking criteria for 6-mark questions on wave behaviours.
Session 8: Sound, Hearing, and the Ultrasound Horizon - Sound propagation, auditory ranges, and ultrasound echoes.
Session 9: Acids, Alkalis, and the pH Scale - The pH scale, indicators, and neutralisation reactions.
Session 10: Reactivity Series & Metal Extraction-
Displacement reactions and carbon reduction.
Session 11: Inheritance, DNA, and Chromosomes - The nucleus, genes, alleles, and structure.
Session 12: Comprehensive Term Assessment & GCSE Strategy Alignment - Working through a GCSE Higher Tier Paper 1 section.