Year 8 Science
Students follow content according to the National Curriculum for science using a clear strand-based approach, which reviews and builds on the understanding from KS2. Practical skills are modelled for students with opportunities for students to develop the skills of enquiry and working scientifically.
During Key Stage 3 students will also have the opportunity to experience areas of science beyond the National Curriculum, these are planned to include subjects such as astronomy, psychology, marine biology, geology. Using the expertise of the wider trust, we are able to offer our students the opportunity to experience short programs of study in these areas, with links to science locally in the Wakefield area and possible careers.
Sparx Science is a home learning platform. You can click on the link below to find out more.
Our Year 8 Curriculum Content
Year 8 students continue to build on their scientific knowledge by exploring key topics including electricity and magnetism, evolution and inheritance, and climate and Earth’s resources. They will deepen their understanding of how energy flows through electrical systems, how living things adapt and evolve over time, and how natural resources are used and managed. Throughout the year, pupils will further develop their “working scientifically” skills, such as planning investigations, interpreting data and evaluating evidence. Learning is enriched through practical activities and opportunities to apply their knowledge to real-world contexts, fostering curiosity and critical thinking.
| Pedagogy | Enrichment | Further |
| Our pedagogy is supported by: Strand-based approach to teaching, allowing students to revisit content and deepen their knowledge; Clear modelling of scientific concepts and high quality teacher instruction; Demonstrate and connect marking which informs planning and addresses misconceptions; Trust wide assessments and timely intervention; Using errors as a learning opportunity and building resilience. | We will enrich our curriculum by: Extended tasks outside of academy, research projects, science clubs, visits to local and national sites of scientific interest; Encouraging students to become eco-students using the curriculum as a mechanism to enhance awareness of local and global issues; Continue to develop inter-academy STEM links and STEM clubs; Continue to build on existing cross-curricular links; Complete bespoke short POS in areas of interest. | Our curriculum will enable students to: Learn within a coherent and progressive, strand-based approach allowing students to revisit and move at a more personalised rate; Develop new skills through a variety of interesting contexts to ensure engagement; Develop a wide range of practical skills, deepen skills of enquiry; Improve their social and moral understanding of the world and be able to form reasoned opinions around ‘big’ scientific questions. |
