KS4 SCIENCE
Exam board: Edexcel
It is a statutory requirement for all students to study biology, chemistry and physics up to the age of 16. The aim is that pupils:
- Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
- Develop an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
- Are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
At The Bicester School, we meet these aims by offering all our students either Combined Science or Triple Sciences as subjects.
We offer Triple Science to the students who will get the most success out of this option. Students will know if they have been offered Triple Sciences as it will come up as an option on the Pathways form that is completed in Year 9.
What’s the difference between Combined Science and Triple Sciences?
| Combined Science | Triple Sciences | |
| Hours per fortnight | 9 | 14 |
| Number of exams | 6 (2 Biology, 2 Chemistry, 2 Physics) | |
| Length of each exam | 1 hour 10 mins (60 marks) | 1 hour 45 mins (100 marks) |
| Grading | Marks from all six exams totalled to produce 2 grades | Marks from each science are totalled to produce 3 grades |
| Tiers | Foundation and higher tier | Higher tier only (at TBS) |
| Number of teachers | 2 | 3 |
| Suitable for | Everyone | People who really enjoy science and would like to study more of it at GCSE |
KS4 topics by year
COMBINED SCIENCE
Year 10
Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
Term 4
Term 5
Term 6
COMBINED SCIENCE
- Key concepts in Biology
- Atoms and the periodic table
TRIPLE SCIENCE: BIOLOGY
- Key concepts in Biology
TRIPLE SCIENCE: CHEMISTRY
- Atoms and the periodic table
TRIPLE SCIENCE: PHYSICS
- Conservation of energy
COMBINED SCIENCE
- Energy
- Waves and the electromagnetic spectrum
TRIPLE SCIENCE: BIOLOGY
- Genetics
TRIPLE SCIENCE: CHEMISTRY
- Bonding and substances
TRIPLE SCIENCE: PHYSICS
- Waves
COMBINED SCIENCE
- Genetics
- Bonding and structure
TRIPLE SCIENCE: BIOLOGY
- Evolution
TRIPLE SCIENCE: CHEMISTRY
- Acids
TRIPLE SCIENCE: PHYSICS
- Light and the electromagnetic spectrum
COMBINED SCIENCE
- Evolution
- Acids
TRIPLE SCIENCE: BIOLOGY
- Health and disease
TRIPLE SCIENCE: CHEMISTRY
- Obtaining metals
TRIPLE SCIENCE: PHYSICS
- Radioactivity
COMBINED SCIENCE
- Health and disease
- Reactivity, calculations and extraction of metals
TRIPLE SCIENCE: BIOLOGY
- Health and disease
TRIPLE SCIENCE: CHEMISTRY
- Obtaining metals
TRIPLE SCIENCE: PHYSICS
- Astronomy
COMBINED SCIENCE
- Ecosystems
- Radioactivity
TRIPLE SCIENCE: BIOLOGY
- Ecosystems
TRIPLE SCIENCE: CHEMISTRY
- Analysis, equilibria and cells
TRIPLE SCIENCE: PHYSICS
- Energy and forces
Year 11
Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
Term 4
Term 5
Term 6
COMBINED SCIENCE
- Energy and forces
- Groups and rates of reaction
TRIPLE SCIENCE: BIOLOGY
- Plants
TRIPLE SCIENCE: CHEMISTRY
- Groups and rates
TRIPLE SCIENCE: PHYSICS
- Electricity and static electricity
COMBINED SCIENCE
- Plants
- Electricity and magnetism
TRIPLE SCIENCE: BIOLOGY
- Hormones
TRIPLE SCIENCE: CHEMISTRY
- Fuels and the atmosphere
TRIPLE SCIENCE: PHYSICS
- Magnetism and electromagnets
COMBINED SCIENCE
- Hormones
- Earth Science
TRIPLE SCIENCE: BIOLOGY
- Exchange and transport
TRIPLE SCIENCE: CHEMISTRY
- Hydrocarbons, alcohols and polymers
TRIPLE SCIENCE: PHYSICS
- Particle model and forces
COMBINED SCIENCE
- Exchange and transport
- Particles
TRIPLE SCIENCE: BIOLOGY
- Revision
TRIPLE SCIENCE: CHEMISTRY
- Analysis and nanoparticles
TRIPLE SCIENCE: PHYSICS
- Revision
COMBINED SCIENCE
- GCSE Exams
TRIPLE SCIENCE: BIOLOGY
- GCSE Exams
TRIPLE SCIENCE: CHEMISTRY
- GCSE Exams
TRIPLE SCIENCE: PHYSICS
- GCSE Exams
COMBINED SCIENCE
- GCSE Exams
TRIPLE SCIENCE: BIOLOGY
- GCSE Exams
TRIPLE SCIENCE: CHEMISTRY
- GCSE Exams
TRIPLE SCIENCE: PHYSICS
- GCSE Exams
Key Contact
If you would like any more information about this subject, please contact
Head of Science: Samantha Drewett