How do we implement our curriculum for Triple Science?

Students who select this route follow three separate GCSE courses over three years in biology, chemistry and physics and are awarded separate GCSE grades for each subject across the full 9-1 range.

As these courses are separate linear GCSEs, all the external examinations take place in the summer term of Year 11 rather than being spread out through Key Stage 4, as with previous courses.

We guide our students as to which science route will secure them the highest grades at GCSE. We base this decision on a wide range of assessment undertaken over the course of Year 9 and in the knowledge that universities will base their decisions on the quality of the grades gained rather than the particular science GCSE route.
As a result of this, Miss C George and Dr S Jones will review all candidates who apply to pursue this route to ensure their suitability. As part of the process, they may potentially interview some candidates to determine their suitability.

Please consider the main points, highlighted below when considering whether to pursue the Triple Science route.

• A grade is awarded for each subject studied, i.e. a grade for biology, a grade for chemistry and a grade for physics
• These grades are independent of each other.
• There will be no assessment of written quality of communication.
• The minimum examination time for each GCSE will be 3 hours 30 minutes, per subject. This will mean 10 hours 30 minutes of total examination time for the 3 science subjects.
• 15% of GCSE marks will be for practical skills.
• 10% of the marks in biology, 20% in chemistry and 30% in physics will require maths skills.

The above are important factors to consider when considering this course. The content of the course is challenging and the style and length of the examinations is equally challenging. Please be aware of this when considering courses.

What we teach when

Year 10

Year 11