KS3–KS4 Science Curriculum (Years 7–11)

Aligned with the National Curriculum for England – suitable for all exam boards.

Year Biology Chemistry Physics Skills / Assessment
Year 7 Cells, reproduction, ecology basics Atoms, elements, mixtures, reactions basics Forces, energy, motion, light, sound basics Practical skills, observations, data analysis, short reports
Year 8 Human body systems, plant biology, inheritance basics Chemical reactions, acids & alkalis, metals & non-metals Electricity, magnetism, energy transfer Practical experiments, graphing, explaining patterns
Year 9 Cells & organisation, ecology, variation & evolution Reactivity, rates of reaction, periodic table trends Forces, motion graphs, energy, waves, basic nuclear physics Scientific reasoning, interpreting data, experimental design
Year 10 Cell biology, organisation, infection & response, bioenergetics Atomic structure, bonding, quantitative chemistry, chemical changes Energy, forces, waves, electricity, magnetism, space physics basics GCSE-style practicals, calculations, extended explanations
Year 11 Homeostasis, inheritance & evolution, ecology, revision of Y10 Rates, equilibria, quantitative chemistry, organic chemistry basics Forces, motion, energy, electricity, magnetism, waves, space physics GCSE exams, problem-solving, synoptic questions, practical assessments

Autumn Term
  • Biology: Cells, organisation, photosynthesis basics
  • Chemistry: Particles, elements, compounds, mixtures
  • Physics: Forces, motion, energy introduction
Spring Term
  • Biology: Plant biology, reproduction, food chains
  • Chemistry: Simple reactions, acids & alkalis
  • Physics: Light & sound, simple circuits
Summer Term
  • Biology: Ecology basics
  • Chemistry: Metals & non-metals, separating mixtures
  • Physics: Energy transfer, revising motion

Autumn Term
  • Biology: Human body systems, nutrition, circulation
  • Chemistry: Reactions, acids & alkalis, periodic table
  • Physics: Electricity basics, magnetism, energy transfer
Spring Term
  • Biology: Plant reproduction, inheritance basics
  • Chemistry: Metals & non-metals, chemical reactions
  • Physics: Forces, motion, work and energy
Summer Term
  • Biology: Ecology, adaptation
  • Chemistry: Mixtures, separation techniques
  • Physics: Waves, light, sound

Autumn Term
  • Biology: Cells & organisation, variation & evolution
  • Chemistry: Reactivity series, rates of reaction, periodic table trends
  • Physics: Forces, motion, energy, waves basics
Spring Term
  • Biology: Ecology, ecosystems
  • Chemistry: Chemical calculations, simple quantitative chemistry
  • Physics: Electricity, magnetism, energy transfer
Summer Term
  • Biology: Inheritance & genetics basics
  • Chemistry: Acids, alkalis, metals & non-metals revision
  • Physics: Waves, energy, motion revision

Autumn Term
  • Biology: Cell biology, organisation, infection & response
  • Chemistry: Atomic structure, bonding, chemical changes
  • Physics: Energy, forces, waves, electricity
Spring Term
  • Biology: Bioenergetics, respiration, photosynthesis
  • Chemistry: Quantitative chemistry, rates, chemical calculations
  • Physics: Magnetism, space physics basics
Summer Term
  • Assessment prep: practicals, calculations, extended explanations

Autumn Term
  • Biology: Homeostasis, inheritance & evolution, ecology
  • Chemistry: Equilibria, rates, organic chemistry basics
  • Physics: Forces, motion, electricity, magnetism, waves, space physics
Spring Term
  • Revision of all KS4 content
  • GCSE-style source & calculation practice
Summer Term
  • GCSE exams and final assessments
Year 7
Biology
Cells, reproduction, ecology basics
Chemistry
Atoms, elements, mixtures, reactions basics
Physics
Forces, energy, motion, light, sound basics
Skills / Assessment
Practical skills, observations, data analysis, short reports
Year 8
Biology
Human body systems, plant biology, inheritance basics
Chemistry
Chemical reactions, acids & alkalis, metals & non-metals
Physics
Electricity, magnetism, energy transfer
Skills / Assessment
Practical experiments, graphing, explaining patterns
Year 9
Biology
Cells & organisation, ecology, variation & evolution
Chemistry
Reactivity, rates of reaction, periodic table trends
Physics
Forces, motion, energy, waves, basic nuclear physics
Skills / Assessment
Scientific reasoning, interpreting data, experimental design
Year 10
Biology
Cell biology, organisation, infection & response, bioenergetics
Chemistry
Atomic structure, bonding, quantitative chemistry, chemical changes
Physics
Energy, forces, waves, electricity, magnetism, space physics basics
Skills / Assessment
GCSE-style practicals, calculations, extended explanations
Year 11
Biology
Homeostasis, inheritance & evolution, ecology, revision of Y10
Chemistry
Rates, equilibria, quantitative chemistry, organic chemistry basics
Physics
Forces, motion, energy, electricity, magnetism, waves, space physics
Skills / Assessment
GCSE exams, problem-solving, synoptic questions, practical assessments