Exam Board: OCR Gateway

Course Overview

OCR Gateway Combined Science A is studied over two years. Over  the course of two years, students will study discrete modules of biology, chemistry and physics.

The biology topics are B1: Cell-level Systems; B2: Scaling Up; B3: Coordination and Control; B4: Community Level Systems; B5: Genes, Inheritance and Selection; B6: Global Changes. The chemistry topics are C1: Particles; C2: Elements, Compounds, & Mixtures; C3: Chemical Reactions; C4: Predicting and Identifying Reactants and Products; C5: Monitoring and Controlling Chemical Reactions; C6: Global Challenges. The physics topics are P1: Matter; P2: Forces & Motion; P3: Electricity, Magnetism and Magnetic Fields; P4: Waves and Radiation; P5: Energy; P6: Global Challenges . Students will study practical skills as an integral part of each module covering the key practical skills needed to be successful. At the end of Year 11 students will sit 6 science examinations in total; each paper lasts 70 minutes and being equally weighted, each will account for 16.7% of the final grade. Practical skills and scientific literacy will be assessed throughout each paper.

Assessment: 100% examination 

Within the science department we also offer Triple Science OCR Gateway Science Suite This course allows students to gain three separate GCSE qualifications in the core sciences.

The OCR Gateway Triple Science course covers the full, separate content for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. It is more in-depth and mathematically demanding than the Combined Science GCSE. The biology topics are B1: Cell-level Systems; B2: Scaling Up; B3: Coordination and Control; B4: Community Level Systems; B5: Genes, Inheritance and Selection; B6: Global Changes. The chemistry topics are C1: Particles; C2: Elements, Compounds, & Mixtures; C3: Chemical Reactions; C4: Predicting and Identifying Reactants and Products; C5: Monitoring and Controlling Chemical Reactions; C6: Global Challenges. The physics topics are P1: Matter; P2: Forces & Motion; P3: Electricity, Magnetism and Magnetic Fields; P4: Waves and Radiation; P5: Energy; P6: Global Challenges . Students will study practical skills as an integral part of each module covering the key practical skills needed to be successful. There are 2 papers for every subject which last for 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Assessment: 100% Examination.

Exam Board: Edexcel A levels - Biology B (2015)
 

Course Overview

A level biology provides students with a more detailed understanding of key scientific concepts in Biology. Students will learn about complex biological concepts by incorporating theory based learning with core practical assignments. The combination of theory and practical work will facilitate the development of students analytical and evaluative skills required to be successful in both higher education and in employment. Students will combine a detailed learning of specific scientific phenomena with development of problem solving skills and critical thinking. Both intra - and interpersonal skills are developed as students work collaboratively and communicate their understanding with their peers, with an emphasis on using their knowledge to explain ideas and evaluate, interpret and analyse information and data as appropriate.

Assessment: 100% Examination with Assessed Practicals

Term 1: Working Scientifically & Space

• How do we plan an investigation and analyse results?

• What is in our universe?

Term 2: Particles and Matter

• What are the building blocks of the Universe?

• How does the arrangement and movement of particles affect the properties of a substance?

Term 3: Plant Biology

• How do plants support all life on Earth?

Term 4: Waves and Forces

• How do forces affect our lives?

• What would life be like without waves?

Term 5: Waves and Forces

• How do forces affect our lives?

• What would life be like without waves?

Term 6: Human Biology

• How does the human body work?

Term 1: Chemical Reactions

• What are the reactions of (i) metals and (ii) acids?

Term 2: Human Biology and Electricity & Magnetism

• How does the human body work?

• How do modern electrical devices work?

Term 3: The Periodic Table

• How can we use the Periodic Table to predict reactions?

Term 4: Evolution and Waves

• How are new organisms produced?

• What would life be like without waves?

Term 5: Plant Biology

• How do plants support all life on Earth?

Term 6: Earth and Atmosphere & Space

• What are the Earth and atmosphere made of?

• What is in our universe?

Term 1: The Atomic and Particle Models

• How does the arrangement and movement of particles affect the properties of a substance?

• What are the different ways that chemicals can interact together?

Term 2: Cellular Biology

• How do cells function to support life in a variety of organisms?

Term 3: Forces & Motion Level 2

• How do forces affect our lives?

Term 4: Transport in Animals and Plants

• How do cells function to support life in a variety of organisms?

• How does the human body work?

• How do plants support all life on Earth?

Term 5: Separation Techniques 

• How do we separate solutions? 

Term 6: Bonding

• What are the different ways that chemicals can interact together?

Term 1: C3 - Chemical Reactions

• What are the different ways that chemicals can interact together? 
• How do we use and control chemical changes for our benefit?

Term 2: P5 - Energy

• How can we use machines more efficiently?
• B3 - Organism Level Systems
• How do cells function to support life in a variety of organisms? 
• What processes enable animals and plants to function healthily?

Term 3: B3 - Organism Level Systems 

• How do cells function to support life in a variety of organisms? 
• What processes enable animals and plants to function healthily?
• P3 - Electricity and Magnetism
• What would life be like without electricity and magnetism?

Term 4: P3 - Electricity and Magnetism

• What would life be like without electricity and magnetism?
• B5 - Genes, Inheritance and Selection
• How do species change over time? Nature vs Nurture. Which has more of an effect?

Term 5: B5 - Genes Inheritance and Selection

• How do species change over time? Nature vs Nurture. Which has more of an effect?
• P4 - Waves and Radioactivity
• Why are different types of waves and radiation important to everyday life?

Term 6: P4 - Waves and Radioactivity

• Why are different types of waves and radiation important to everyday life?
• C4 - Predicting and Identifying Reactions and Products
• What are the different ways that chemicals can interact together?

Term 1: C5- Monitoring and Controlling Chemical Reactions

• How do we use and control chemical changes for our benefit?
• B6 - Global Challenges
• How can we monitor and maintain a healthy biosphere for all life? 
• How do we meet the challenge of feeding the human race? 
• How do we ensure the health and wellbeing of our population?

Term 2: B6 - Global Challenges

• How can we monitor and maintain a healthy biosphere for all life? 
• How do we meet the challenge of feeding the human race? 
• How do we ensure the health and wellbeing of our population?
• C6 - Global Challenges
• How can we make chemical processes more efficient and sustainable?
• How do we take steps to ensure global and local pollution is reduced?

Term 3: P6 - Global Challenges

• How will we ensure that we meet the energy demands of future generations?
• What factors lead to designing the safest vehicles for transport?

Term 4: Preparation for the GCSE Examinations

Term 5: Preparation for the GCSE Examinations

Term 6: Preparation for the GCSE Examinations

Term 1:

• How does the structure of biological molecules affect their function and contribute to the overall function of the human body? 
• How does the structure of DNA and enzymes provide the basis of all life?
• How does the structure of an enzyme affect biological processes?

Term 2: 

• The ultrastructure of prokaryotes, eukaryotes and viruses.
• Details of the types of nuclear division are included and how these are involved in animal and plant reproduction. 
• Microscopy and observational skills are developed through the preparation of stained plant tissue.

Term 3:

• How easy is it to classify organisms?
• Why, and how should we try to maintain biodiversity?

Term 4: 

• How does the structure of the cell membrane allow for the transport of substances in our body?
• How are gases exchanged in organisms? 
• How does the structure of the circulatory system allow for the transport of substances in our body?

Term 5:

• Examination Practice and Exams

Term 6:

• How is energy synthesised in the human body? 
• How is energy synthesised in plants?

Term 1:

• How does our knowledge of microbiology help us?

Term 2:

• How can gene Sequencing and gene expression further biological fields
• What are stem cells and what are the ethical concerns around them?
• What is the global debate surrounding gene technology?

Term 3:

• What are the Origins of Genetic variation?
• How do we carry out the Transfer of genetic information?
• Why do we need Gene pools?

Term 4:

• How do different control systems keep organisms functioning?

Term 5: 

• What problems face our ecosystems and do we maintain them?

Term 6:

• Examination

• BBC bite size Science Revision. -https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/z2dqqhv

• Homework platform kayscience.com 

• Doc Browns Revision website For chemistry https://www.docbrown.info/ 

• Science revision https://revisionscience.com/gcse-revision .

CPG revision guide and revision cards. 

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/secondary-books/gcse/gcse-science-ocr

GCSE OSL runs every Tuesday after school from 3pm-4pm.