Science education at Hungerhill School has been designed not only to foster enthusiasm for the subject but to help students fulfil their scientific potential. We want to produce environmentally responsible citizens with a moral and social conscience who can critically evaluate technological and scientific advancements, and understand how they contribute to economic development in a society that we want them to flourish in.  

It is vital that our students are empowered to understand the impact that they can make as both individuals within the local community, but also globally, through deep understanding of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.  

At Hungerhill our curriculum will: 

Develop the character of all students 

We deliver a science education that ensures that pupils understand the ‘big ideas’ of science. We want pupils to master investigative and practical skills that underpin the development of scientific knowledge and apply these to new situations. We encourage our students to be inquisitive, observant, and analytical thinkers who work both independently and within a team.  

Students are offered an aspirational pathway in either AQA Triple or Trilogy science specifications. These courses offer a wide range of new topics and skills that build upon prior knowledge, recycle their learning as they progress along the course and challenge students in terms of skills, complexity and application. We want our students to strive for excellence, achieve the best they can and leave Hungerhill able to understand and explain the scientific world around them, by nurturing the values of respect, honesty and compassion towards others and the environment.   

Ensure all students are literate and numerate 

The science curriculum is predominantly a knowledge-based curriculum. It allows our students to be scientifically literate and ensures that our students can present reasoned explanations of the big ideas in science by developing and understanding the morphology and etymology of scientific vocabulary. Incorporating Reciprocal Reading strategies into our curriculum enables students to improve their reading comprehension using stimulating topics that engage and interest them beyond the AQA specification. We apply the school’s literacy policy giving regular written feedback during marking. In essence, we want students to be able to ‘speak like a scientist’. To ensure all our students are numerate we have good links with the maths department to identify the timeline that we are teaching common mathematical skills. Investigations, skills of enquiry and working scientifically allow students to practice and apply their numeracy opportunities to mathematic related science theory in each of the subjects.  

Build knowledge and aspirations of all students 

Students follow a strong academic core curriculum from KS3 which then leads them on to the English Baccalaureate (EBACC) pathway throughout KS4 in Triple or Trilogy. Our curriculum aims to ignite curiosity, excitement, and admiration for the world around them. As students move through the curriculum from KS3 to KS4 they build upon the foundations of key knowledge and concepts and learn how to use methods, processes and working scientifically to explain natural phenomena and evaluate the strengths and weakness of models and theories from the smallest atomic particle to the magnitude of the universe. The science curriculum at Hungerhill has been designed based on evidence informed practice and has used the seven key recommendations from the EEF ‘Improving Secondary Science Guidance Report’ in 2018. Recent research developments in science curriculum design have helped us to establish several key principles.  

The key principles used in designing a new curriculum are:

• To understand the preconceptions that students bring to lessons and allow time to challenge these misconceptions 
• To model our thinking to help students develop their metacognition and cognitive knowledge 
• use models to develop a deeper understanding of scientific concepts 
• To revisit and retrieve knowledge whilst attending to cognitive load on the working memory 
• To provide purposeful practical activities to develop scientific reasoning 
• To support students to read and write about science. 
• To provide structured feedback to move students’ thinking onwards. 

Ensure all students have the secure foundations to progress into further education and employment 

We work collaboratively with primary schools ensuring the transition of students from KS2 to KS3 revisits and builds upon prior knowledge. We support and build confidence in or new KS3 students by identifying gaps in their prior learning and providing intervention, if required, that deepens students understanding and scientific skills.  

Through our links within our Trust and the science department there are plenty of opportunities to for our students to progress into further education and employment. The eight Gatsby benchmarks that provide the framework for our high-quality careers programme are linked into our science curriculum to highlight and help students recognise how science links to vocational and academic careers. We want students to understand that a robust science education develops highly employable skills and is a gateway to exiting careers in many sectors.  

Develop cultural capital of all students 

Science students have access to a broad development programme consisting of enrichment activities such as trips to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, extra-curricular opportunities in the Science Seekers after school club which explores a range of exciting experiments in Year 7. As part of the Doncaster Innovation Project we looked at environmental solutions to the use of plastics and we also offer Science leadership experience.  

SMSC/Fundamental British Values/Equality and Diversity and the school core values are fully embedded in the science curriculum so they can integrate themselves into society as educated citizens with an appreciation for human creativity and the perspectives and values that makes the world a better place.