The following information is for students in Year 9 2024 choosing their science options.
Combined Science (CS)
The majority of students at Saint John Payne follow the AQA Combined Science course. This teaches the three sciences – biology, chemistry and physics – separately each for two periods per week (total six periods), and leads to a Double Award GCSE in Combined Science worth two Progress and Attainment 8 GCSE grades. This course is taught at Higher Tier (accessing grades 5 to 9) and Foundation Tier (accessing grades 1 to 5).
The Higher Tier course is a demanding and as a result, students scoring grade 77 and above will be welcome to pursue any of the science 'A' levels in the sixth form.
The Combined Science course is suited to students who want a wider choice of other subjects as GCSE options and for whom science is perhaps not their main academic interest.
Combined Science Course Details
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-trilogy-8464
Assessment
Examinations (100%)
Six 75-minute exam papers, two for each of biology, chemistry and physics and each worth 16.7% of a GCSE leading to a double award GCSE (one GCSE with two grades). The questions consist of multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open response questions.
Separate Subject Science (SSS)
Saint John Payne also intends to offer two classes per year group of ‘Separate Subject Science’ leading to individual GCSEs in the three sciences. Each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics is taught for three periods per week (total nine lessons) and the net extra three science lessons per week means that students studying Separate Subject Science will have one less option subject.
The Separate Subject Science courses are particularly challenging requiring an extra level of commitment on the part of the students following them. As a result, places on the Separate Subject Science course will be awarded based on Student's prior attainment and behaviour for learning in Year 9. In practice, students should be achieving at around the G3+ level or higher in Year 9 to be able to access the course.
The Separate Subject Science course is best-suited to students who enjoy science, are prepared to commit to studying three tough courses, and who don't mind narrowing their options choices from three to two. It is a good choice for students who definitely want to pursue science 'A' levels and then science at university or apprenticeship.
Course Information
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463
Assessment
Examinations (100%)
* Two 105-minute exam papers for each of biology, chemistry and physics, each worth 50% of a GCSE leading to three separate GCSE awards. The questions consist of multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open response questions.
* Students following the Separate Subject syllabus will sit the Higher Tier papers targeting grades 9 to 5.