Curriculum Intent
“What I love about science is that as you learn, you don’t really get answers. You just get better questions.”
—John Green
At Newark Academy, we believe that every student possesses an innate curiosity about their surroundings and that it is our responsibility to provide them with the tools to view and explore the world through a scientific lens.
Studying Science will allow students to make informed decisions when presented with dilemmas that impact them and those around them; including decisions centred around life-style, the environment and medicine. Whilst we believe that all students benefit from becoming scientifically literate, because it will allow them to pursue careers in STEM, these students will not form the majority of our cohort. It is essential that the general public in society are fluent in the fundamentals of Science as it fosters critical thinking and scepticism, which are essential for evaluating political claims and avoiding misinformation.
Our curriculum is ambitious for all, regardless of students’ starting points. It is designed to enrich the enjoyment of everyday experiences and we encourage our students to question, investigate and communicate their ideas. In order for them to do this, we recognise that students have to have a deep and lasting knowledge of the fundamentals on which our understanding of the world around us is built. Our students are taught by subject specialists who challenge and support them throughout their studies. Through our understanding of how the brain and memory works, we continually strive to retrieve prior knowledge in both the context it was taught, and within new contexts. Students are therefore always building on what they already know.
The choices that we have made in our curriculum, reflect our ambitions for students and, therefore, year 7 start their journey by learning about the fundamentals upon which everything else is built. These are then re-visited throughout the curriculum. Once our students are fluent, the curriculum is designed to move from ‘macroscopic’ to ‘microscopic’ within each topic, mirroring the continuous and interconnected nature of scientific exploration. Students will use their knowledge of the fundamentals to learn about large, natural phenomena such as space, Earth’s structure and ecosystems which will then ‘zoom in’ to more abstract concepts such as atoms and cells.
By studying Science at Newark Academy, students leave us with a lasting knowledge and appreciation of the subject. We are committed to ensuring that all individuals leave with a scientific literacy that empowers them to make informed choices, understand complex issues, and contribute thoughtfully to society.
Links to useful resources
- KS3 Bitesize - http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/levels/z4kw2hv
- KS4 Bitesize - http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/levels/z98jmp3
- Seneca Learning - https://senecalearning.com/en-GB/