--- title: "Science" url: "https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/curriculum/subjects/science" school: "The Westleigh School" --- # Science ![](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/images/DSC00099.JPG) ### Intent #### ‘To be curious about the world around us, to learn through scientific discovery, and to be the scientists and innovators of the future.’ Our science curriculum is ambitious, knowledge-rich and coherently sequenced, ensuring all pupils develop secure understanding of biology, chemistry and physics. **Pupils** - Develop substantive and disciplinary knowledge over time - Build scientific thinking and practical skills - Retain knowledge through systematic retrieval practice - Apply, analyse and evaluate ideas in familiar and unfamiliar contexts Knowledge is carefully sequenced and revisited to strengthen long-term retention. The curriculum is inclusive by design, with all pupils accessing the same ambitious content, preparing them for GCSE and future STEM pathways. ### Implementation **Curriculum Structure** At KS3, pupils follow the ARK Mastery curriculum, providing a secure, sequenced foundation: - 3 × 60-minute lessons per week - Pre-tests and end-of-unit mastery quizzes - Weekly Sparx Science homework to consolidate learning In Year 9, pupils complete the KS3 spiral curriculum and transition to the linear AQA GCSE Scheme, enabling greater depth of study and preparing them for the demands of KS4. At KS4: - Combined Science: 5 × 60-minute lessons per week taught by one science specialist - Triple Science: 8 × 60-minute lessons per week taught by three subject specialists The science curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure pupils build secure substantive and disciplinary knowledge over time. Key concepts are revisited throughout Key Stages 3 and 4 through planned retrieval practice, interleaved assessment and homework. Socrative/Do Now recall quizzes and Sparx Follow-Up 5 tasks provide spaced retrieval of previously taught content, helping pupils strengthen long-term memory and make connections between topics. In Year 9, pupils transition from the ARK Mastery curriculum to the AQA KS4 specification. Retrieval and interleaving continue throughout this transition to ensure knowledge from biology, chemistry and physics remains secure as pupils begin GCSE study. **Teaching Approach** KS3 (ARK Mastery) - Do Now: retrieval practice - Structured activities to embed understanding - Exit ticket to check learning - Scientist in the Spotlight to link to careers - Weekly Sparx homework KS4 (AQA) - Socrative recall quizzes - Weekly Sparx homework + Follow-Up 5 - Booklets include: - Must-Know knowledge - Prior/next learning links Big 5 Science skills - Key vocabulary + Frayer models - Reading to develop disciplinary literacy - Linked careers - Regular exam-style questions Adaptive Teaching All pupils access the full curriculum, supported through: - Scaffolding without lowering challenge - Explicit vocabulary teaching - Targeted questioning - Challenge through depth Wider Implementation - Digital booklets on iPads ensure consistency - Practical work is recorded and evaluated digitally Working scientifically is explicitly taught through a consistent approach to practical work, ensuring students can observe, measure, analyse, present and evaluate data across all sciences ### Impact Pupils know more, remember more and can apply their knowledge effectively: - Secure, long-term scientific knowledge - Strong performance in exam-style questions - Accurate use of scientific vocabulary - Confident practical and analytical skills Assessment is used formatively and summatively to identify gaps and inform responsive teaching, including targeted retrieval, live reteaching and adaptation within lessons. All pupils study a broad, ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum. Through consistent routines, retrieval and adaptive teaching, pupils successfully learn, retain and apply scientific knowledge over time. ### Learning Journeys [Science Curriculum Map](https://files.schudio.com/westleigh-high/files/CurriculumMaps/Curriculum_map_2026_-2027_New.pdf) #### "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may be fear less." - Marie Curie ### Enrichment [Click here for further information about science enrichment opportunities at The Westleigh School.](https://thewestleighschool.co.uk/curriculum/subjects/science-enrichment) ### Examination Board The examination board for Science is [AQA](https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science) The specifications for each Key Stage 4 course can be viewed below: - [AQA Combined Science Trilogy](https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/science/specifications/AQA-8464-SP-2016.PDF) - [AQA Biology (Triple Science)](https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/biology/specifications/AQA-8461-SP-2016.PDF) - [AQA Chemistry (Triple Science)](https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/chemistry/specifications/AQA-8462-SP-2016.PDF) - [AQA Physics (Triple Science)](https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/specifications/AQA-8463-SP-2016.PDF) ### External Resources Useful external resources to help students study Science - Seneca - - BBC Bitesize KS3 Science - - BBC Bitesize KS4 AQA Trilogy Science - - Free Science lessons - - Primrose kitten science tutorials - - Physics and Maths tutor - ### Curriculum - [Curriculum Intent](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/curriculum) - [Teaching & Learning](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/curriculum/teaching-learning-new) - [Subjects](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/curriculum/subjects) - [Reading](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/reading) - Careers - [Our Career Offer](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/careers) - [Careers Adviser](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/careers/careers-adviser) - [Information for Students](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/careers/students) - [Guided Choices](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/curriculum/guidedchoices) - [Enrichment](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/students/Enrichment) - ![We are a nut-free school](https://files.schudio.com/westleigh-high/images/partners/Nut_Free_School.png) - [![Shaw Education Trust](https://files.schudio.com/westleigh-high/images/partners/Shaw_Education_Trust_-_CMYK_Logo_on_Light_-_010721_SMALL(1).png)](http://www.shaw-education.org.uk/) - ![Safeguarding Standard](https://files.schudio.com/westleigh-high/images/partners/Safeguarding-Standard(1).png) - [![CEOP Report](https://files.schudio.com/westleigh-high/images/partners/reporttoceop.jpg)](https://www.ceop.police.uk/ceop-reporting/) - ![Disclaimer](https://files.schudio.com/westleigh-high/images/partners/disclaimer3.png) [Embedded content](https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2372.408505190141!2d-2.531707922820416!3d53.5147608621084!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x487b07b56bf718a3%3A0xee805cdf56b0b85c!2sThe%20Westleigh%20School!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1685615514945!5m2!1sen!2suk) ![The Westleigh School](https://files.schudio.com/westleigh-high/images/logo/wlhs-final-school-logo-horizontal-2022-CSp-large_-ofsted.png) **The Westleigh School** Westleigh Lane Leigh WN7 5NL Tel: 01942 202 580 Email: [![Shaw Education Trust](https://files.schudio.com/shaw-education-trust-2/images/logo/set-misc/footer-logo-v1.png)](https://shaw-education.org.uk) **Shaw Education Trust** Kidsgrove Secondary School Gloucester Road Kidsgrove ST7 4DL VAT: GB 358822467 Tel: 01782 948259 Email: Company Number: 09067175 ### Staff Links - [Arbor](https://the-westleigh-school.uk.arbor.sc/) - [Outlook 365](https://outlook.office365.com) - [School Cloud](https://westleigh.schoolcloud.co.uk/Auth/Teacher) - [Remote Access](https://westleighremote.shaw-education.org.uk/RDWeb/Pages/en-US/Default.aspx) - [IT Helpdesk](http://srvweb/portal) - [SISRA Analytics ](https://www.sisraanalytics.co.uk/) - [Student Wellbeing Concern](https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=48aZkktFFECRk1vXiMa8-szV8iaaRgxKjK6_Z-olMT1UMEVDUjBOTkJVMjJDMU5aM0g5WVhCUjFZUi4u) - [Union Provision](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/union-provision) ### Social Media - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/thewestleighschool/) - [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@TheWestleighSchool) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thewestleighschool/) © Copyright 2015–2026 The Westleigh School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)