KS4 General Information
Review of the New KS4 Curriculum after two years by Heads of Science new
This review was carried out by Heads of Science at the SLDM on 15th May 2008 and provides an insight into school’s feelings on the new curriculum and gives an insight into the directions they are taking.
General Information
As schools get to grips with the new GCSE courses, different teaching approaches are emerging, e.g. Core and Additional in Series or in Parallel or on rotation. Many schools are delivering Additional Applied Science for the first time this year. All schools are in the same boat regarding coursework delivery and marking and in preparing their students for examinations.
There is also the entitlement for Level 6+ students to study Triple Science if they so wish from 2008 onwards, which requires careful planning well in advance.
Here is an extract on this subject from the DCSF website:
Triple science is a combination of three GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. It will normally be a course of study for students in years 10 and 11. It provides the fullest coverage of these three subjects at key stage 4 including all of the compulsory Programme of Study for Science, provided all three are taken during the key stage.
In September 2006, new science GCSEs, including Biology, Chemistry and Physics were introduced. These incorporated a new Programme of Study (PoS) for Key Stage 4 and included a wider range of science GCSEs.
From September 2007 there will be a new statutory entitlement for all students to study science courses leading to at least two GCSEs.
From September 2008, all pupils achieving at least level 6 at Key Stage 3 will be entitled to study triple science. This need not all be in their own school, for example it could be through collaborative arrangements with other schools, FE colleges and universities.
Also from September 2008, all specialist science schools will be required to offer triple science at least to all pupils achieving level 6+ at the end of Key Stage 3.
The Government is keen to see more students taking A levels in science, and the new entitlement to study Triple Science at GSCE is designed to support this. Now a publication from LSN, 'Triple Science GCSEs - Strategies for Raising Attainment' provides advice for schools exploring the possibility of introducing Triple Science GCSEs. It focuses on strategies for raising attainment generally but within the context of Triple Science, and has sections on teaching and learning, assessment, exam techniques, policies and strategies for 'optimising' the results.
'Triple Science GCSEs - Strategies for Raising Attainment' is available (free) from LSN which has also published guides to the individual science subjects, and there is also Triple Science Support website.
Summary
In regards to KS4, we highly recommend the following:
- Visit your exam board’s website. An awful lot of material was added over the summer as the boards ran the exams for the first time and can now make improvements and give feedback.
- Mark coursework early and send a sample off to your board – most of them offer a free ‘marking-advice’ service – see websites/specifications for details.
- Alert your head to the potential problems surrounding timetabling of Triple Science in 2008 before the curriculum plan is written.
- Contribute to the relevant Herts email list – AQAScience, Gateway or Spatula (C21) – all schools are experiencing the same issues and it is good to talk!
|
