Science
Introduction to Science at Harris Academy Morden
In Science at Harris Academy Morden, lessons are focused around a key question to promote a spirit of enquiry and curiosity, helping pupils to become confident and well-rounded individuals who have an interest about the world around them. We aim to foster a love of learning, our lessons are focussed on leaving the students in a place where they want to know more, and we encourage them to find out about the scientific world around them. We aim to encourage students to see ‘science in the real world’ using science to explain and investigate everyday experiences. Our aim in science is to develop student’s literacy skills to present reasoned explanations, predictions and hypotheses. Students will be given the opportunity to engage in a variety of practical learning activities to systematically develop their scientific attitudes and working scientifically skills appreciate, and be prepared for, opportunities for future study and/ or careers in STEM.
Pupils are encouraged to use and apply their knowledge to understand new and unfamiliar concepts and use logic reasoning to make informed decisions. A wide range of activities provides access to a wealth of knowledge and information, which enables all pupils to have access to the curriculum and make progress.
We believe that all students should gain a level of scientific competency allowing them to succeed in all areas of their life. In order to do this, we have created a curriculum that offers our pupils the opportunity to gain a depth and breadth of knowledge in our exciting, innovative and ever changing subject and to develop a range of knowledge and skills, including scientific enquiry, literacy, numeracy, evaluation and the advanced skill of synopticity.
Science skills are highly desirable by employers. They demonstrate the ability to problem solve, integrate effectively with others, utilise high numeracy and literacy skills and to assess and evaluate to a high standard Scientific knowledge and understanding.
More importantly, we teach about the world as it currently is, how populations and products are developed, real problems faced by humans and our moral obligations to the planet. Our curriculum is designed to teach from a positive perspective, to show how the development of Scientific technology has saved lives and protects environments and a real hope for future generations to create a more equitable and sustainable world.
Our curriculum is based on a 5-year spiral plan, in Year 7 we introduce a range of topics like Cells, Energy, Interdependence, Forces, Particle and The Periodic Table, in subsequent years students build on their basic knowledge as the topics become increasing specialised as they continue to study science.
There was a need for a new bespoke year 9 syllabus that would allow for consolidation of the KS3 national curriculum and provide a thorough grounding for starting the GCSE specifications in earnest at the end of Year 9. A series of units with overarching themes was developed that mixed the three traditional disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics to encourage more lateral thinking from students so they can draw in several aspects of science within the same task – a vital skill for higher demand GCSE and beyond. The topics have been selected so that they are engaging and relevant to students to help revitalise their interest in science in what can too often become a lost year.
Topics are interleaved and spaced when deciding sequence to aid long term recall of powerful and important knowledge and build on skill as each topic is re- visited with increasing complexity.
