Science · KS3 & KS4
Physics
With this curriculum, we aim to develop an interest in and passion for science by exploring answers to big questions like "How do forces make things happen?" We combine substantive and disciplinary knowledge to make practical skills, mathematical proficiency and scientific practices meaningful.
2026/27 at a glance
Each year is split into Autumn, Spring and Summer. Scroll sideways on small screens, or use the year-by-year detail below.
| Year | Autumn | Spring | Summer |
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| Year 7KS3 |
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| Year 8KS3 |
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| Year 9KS3 |
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| Year 10KS4 |
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| Year 11KS4 |
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Year by year
Year 7 Key Stage 3
Autumn
- Forces Quantifying and comparing energy transfers in different processes, such as changes in motion, electrical circuits and burning fuels.
- Cells Cell structures, their functions, and the differences between plant and animal cells.
- Our solar system and beyond Gravity as the force between masses, including calculating weight using gravitational field strength.
Spring
- Solutions Pure substances, mixtures, and diffusion in liquids and gases.
- Sound, light and vision Sound and light waves: frequency, echoes, reflection, absorption, and why sound needs a medium to travel.
- Separation techniques Filtration, evaporation, distillation and chromatography, and how to identify pure substances.
Summer
- Human skeleton and muscles The structure and functions of the skeleton: support, protection, movement and blood cell production.
- Heating and cooling Energy transfer by conduction and radiation, insulators, and thermal equilibrium.
- Climate change and living sustainably The greenhouse effect, global warming and the impact of climate change on weather events.
Year 8 Key Stage 3
Autumn
- Human digestive system The digestive system, including the roles of tissues, organs, enzymes and beneficial bacteria.
- Biodiversity How environmental change affects species' survival and adaptation, and can lead to extinction.
- Understanding chemical reactions Conservation of mass in changes of state and chemical reactions, including how atoms rearrange.
Spring
- Species and classification (differences between species) Differences between species, and using observations and data to find patterns and draw conclusions.
- Variation (differences within species) Continuous and discontinuous variation within species, using measurements and graphs.
- Series circuits Current, potential difference and resistance in series and parallel circuits.
Summer
- Fuels and energetics Energy changes in changes of state, exothermic and endothermic reactions, and energy transfers.
- Making images How light is absorbed, scattered and reflected, and using the ray model for images, refraction and lenses.
- Climate change and greenhouse gases Greenhouse gas emissions from transport and industry, and how renewable energy and better transport could reduce them.
Year 9 Key Stage 3
Autumn
- Breathing and respiration The human gas exchange system, how breathing works, and adaptations for function.
- Magnets and electromagnets Magnetic poles and fields, Earth's magnetism, electromagnets and DC motors.
- Plant nutrition and photosynthesis How plants make carbohydrates, take in water and minerals, and exchange gases through stomata.
Spring
- Hidden forces Forces, deformation, Hooke's Law, moments and work done.
- Adaptations, competition, natural selection and evolution Variation within and between species, competition and natural selection.
- Waves Sound and water waves: transverse and longitudinal motion, reflection, superposition and the speed of sound.
Summer
- Patterns in the periodic table Mendeleev's periodic table, periods and groups, and metals and non-metals.
- Resistance and parallel circuits Electrical circuits, appliance power ratings, and domestic fuel use and costs.
- Climate change and biodiversity How agriculture, deforestation and climate change affect biodiversity and food production.
Year 10 Key Stage 4
Autumn
- Particle explanations of density and pressure What density is and how it varies between states of matter.
- Measuring and calculating motion Vectors and scalars: displacement, distance, velocity and speed.
- Electric fields and circuit calculations Static electricity, electric fields, and current in series and parallel circuits.
Spring
- Measuring waves Wave motion: amplitude, wavelength, frequency and velocity.
- Energy of moving objects Energy changes in systems through heating, forces and electrical work.
Summer
- Energy of moving particles Energy changes in systems due to heating, forces and electrical work.
- Circuit components Current, resistance and potential difference.
Year 11 Key Stage 4
Autumn
- Forces make things change Forces, interactions and Newton's laws, including motion, rotation and momentum.
- Nuclear physics Atomic structure, isotopes, radioactive decay and half-life.
Spring
- Electromagnetism Permanent and induced magnets, magnetic fields and Earth's magnetism.
- Electromagnetic waves Reflection, refraction and lenses using ray diagrams.
Summer
- Mains electricity The UK a.c. supply, mains wiring safety, power ratings and energy transfer.
- Gravity in space The solar system: planets, moons and satellites.