Lincoln UTC
Science curriculum
GCSEs in the three separate sciences (biology, chemistry and
physics) are often seen as the preserve of the most able and, in many schools,
only taken by students in the top sets. It is undoubtedly true that they have
the potential to enhance any young person’s CV and to open a myriad of doors in
their future. All Lincoln UTC students (regardless of prior attainment,
disadvantage, or special educational need) take the three separate sciences.
Science graduates are highly sought after. The study of
science opens up some of the most rewarding career opportunities, both in terms
of salary and job satisfaction. Scientists have the highest employment rates of
any subject.
Our students’ learning in science complements their work in
engineering. The chemical engineer needs to understand the chemistry of
polymers and the composition of alloys. The innovators who will engineer the
cars of tomorrow need to understand electromagnetism and Newton’s laws of
motion.
Our aim is for all our students to have the skills, the knowledge
and the qualifications to help them secure the very best careers.
The sciences are essential to an appreciation of the world
we inhabit and the impact we, as individuals, can have on it, on each other and
on all the species with whom we share the planet. The study of science includes
the exploration of difficult moral and ethical questions in medical research
and genetic technology. It is a vital part of understanding our own bodies and
how best to stay healthy. It provides students with the environmental knowledge
they need to behave in a responsible and sustainable manner.
Our curriculum and our approach to teaching is designed to
ensure that our students ‘think like scientists’, developing confidence in
handling data and weighing up the evidence that supports or challenges theories
and models. Practical and experimental work is a significant part of the
curriculum, carefully mapped to make sure that students develop the necessary
skills in each of the three disciplines.
Our curriculum is spiral in nature. The teaching is designed
to ensure that all students are secure in the basics within each topic through
repetition and practice which promotes recall, fluency and automaticity…
checking that key subject knowledge is transferred to long-term memory. Topics
are re-visited regularly and frequently (typically, one lesson each week), with
work that helps students understand the links between topics, between different
subjects and with real world, employment related contexts.
KS5 - A Level Biology, Chemistry & Physics
In KS5, we offer A Levels in biology, chemistry and physics. For each subject students can expect five lessons a week at AS and six lessons a week for A2 studies. In 2019/20 we achieved a 100% pass rate for all A Level sciences, and a 100% success rate for practical endorsements. In addition, we deliver the physics units of the L3 BTEC Engineering qualification.
Why Study A Level Biology?
Simply put, biology is the scientific study of life, and just like life, biology is a rich and diverse field of study. Just like the living organisms it focuses on, biology is versatile and ever-changing making it a study subject that is full of excitement, beauty and wonder. Biologists study life at various levels, from the tiniest of cells, and organisms to entire ecosystems. Studying biology promises students an exciting and rich study career with a wide array of opportunities to study what you love.
Why Study A Level Chemistry?
Chemistry is sometimes known as the "central science" because it helps to connect physical sciences, like maths and physics, with applied sciences, like biology, medicine and engineering. Chemists conduct experiments to study how elements work in different conditions, test how they mix, and work out what they are made up of right down to the tiniest particle. The results can be ground-breaking, colourful, explosive, or almost impossible to see. Chemistry helps you to develop research, problem solving and analytical skills. It helps to you challenge ideas and show how you worked things out through logic and step-by-step reasoning.
Why Study A Level Physics?
Physicists look for all the hidden laws that explain why all matter (that’s every physical thing) and energy in the known universe exists, where it comes from and how it behaves the way it does. The goal of physics is to understand how things work from first principles. Studying physics will reveal to you the mathematical beauty of the universe at scales ranging from subatomic to cosmological. Studying physics strengthens quantitative reasoning and problem solving skills that are valuable in areas beyond physics.