Science

Pupils follow a programme of study closely linked to the National Curriculum. Science is taught in the students main classroom and in the laboratory with the emphasis being on hands-on activities with pupils learning by experimenting and investigating. Topics may be taught in a different order to the list below.

Curriculum Overview

Year	Topics
3	Nutrition, Skeletons & Muscles Forces and Magnets Light Plants Rocks
4	Digestion Electricity Living Things & their habitats (Classification I ) Sound States of Matter
5	Changes on human beings to old age Earth and Space Forces Living Things & their habitats (Life Cycles) Properties and changes of material
6	Organ systems Electricity Evolution and Inheritance Light Living Things & their habitats (Classification II )
7	What is Science? Cells & Organisation Reproduction States of matter & Separating Mixtures Energy changes & Transfers Forces
8	Health & the Human Body Photosynthesis and Respiration Chemical Reactions Earth and Atmosphere Electricity and Magnetism Space
9	Inheritance and Evolution Ecosystems and Interdependence Acids and Alkalis Materials and Recycling Motion and Pressure Waves
10 & 11	In Years 10 and 11 pupils either continue their Entry Level Certificate course or progress to GCSE science. Most lessons are taught in the laboratory. Entry Level Certificate: AQA Science This is made up of 6 topics (covering biology, chemistry and physics) each of which is assessed by an end of topic test and a practical task. GCSE: AQA Combined Science This course gives pupils access to grades 1-5. There are six separate exams to be taken in Year 11, each of which is worth 16.7% of the total mark.

News & Stories

Careers Program – 16/10/25

Some of our learners visited Orchard Nurseries as part of the careers program. This gave them an opportunity to explore careers within horticulture. They were shown

Horticulture Apple Juicing – 07/10/25

At Philpots Manor School we have a number of different varieties of apple trees spread across our site. Our learners have enjoyed picking, crushing and

Guinea Pigs – 30/09/25

We recently had two gorgeous guinea pigs come to stay with us. Their names are Spirit and Dozer. They are just 20 weeks old