The Key Stage 4 curriculum in Science has been reviewed nationally for first examination in 2012. Since the introduction of the new Science specifications, we have carefully considered all options and believe that we have chosen the courses most suitable for our students.

At Nonsuch all students follow GCSE courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics (separate award). For Biology and Chemistry students will be following the OCR Gateway Science Specifications and for Physics students will follow the AQA separate science specification. Whilst we do not currently offer vocational courses in Science at Nonsuch, we emphasise the importance of vocational teaching and learning with opportunities for our students to learn about Science in the 'real world'.

Astronomy is an optional GCSE for students entering Year 10. The GCSE course will be following the Edexcel GCSE astronomy specification.

More information about the GCSE courses can be found on the OCR Examination Board, AQA Examination Board or Edexcel Examination Board websites. A summary of the assessment schemes for the Key Stage 4 courses can be found below.

Edexcel GCSE Astronomy

Unit 1 Understanding the Universe
Topic 1 Earth, Moon and Sun
Topic 2 Planetary Systems
Topic 3 Stars
Topic 4 Galaxies and Cosmology

Unit 1: External examination at the end of year 11: 75% of total mark

Unit 2 Observing the Universe
Unaided Observations
Aided Observations

Unit 2: Internal Assessments (25%) carried out throughout the course

OCR Gateway Biology

Yr 9
B1: Understanding Organisms
B2: Understanding Our Environment

Yr 10
B3: Living And Growing
B4: It's A Green World

Yr 11
B5: The Living Body
B6: Beyond The Microscope

In Year 11 students will also complete a controlled assessment which is 25% of the total GCSE.

There are two written papers which make up the remaining 75%, these contain both short answer and extended writing questions.

OCR Gateway Chemistry

Yr 9
C1: Carbon Chemistry
C2: Chemical Resources

Yr 10
C3: Chemical Economics
C4: The Periodic Table

Yr 11
C5: How much?
C6: Chemistry Out There

In Year 11 students will also complete a controlled assessment which is 25% of the total GCSE.

There are two written papers which make up the remaining 75%, these contain both short answer and extended writing questions.

AQA Physics

Yr 9: Unit 1
The transfer of energy by heating
Energy and Efficiency
The usefulness of electrical appliances
Methods used to generate electricity
The use of waves for communication and evidence that the universe is expanding

Yr 10: Unit 2
Forces and their effects
Kinetic energy of objects speeding up and slowing down
Currents in electrical circuits
Using mains safely and the power of electrical appliances
Radioactive decay
Nuclear fission and nuclear and fusion

Yr 11: Unit 3
Medical applications of physics
Using physics to make things work
Keeping things moving

In Year 11 students will also complete a controlled assessment which is 25% of the total GCSE.

There are 3 written papers which make up the remaining 75%, these contain both short answer and extended writing questions.