Year 9 Physics Curriculum Plan

During the first term of Year 9 students follow the first two units of the Exploring Science course. All students are provided with the course textbook. Students are assessed through a formal test at the end of each unit.

All materials used in lessons and for homework are available to staff and students on the school extranet.

P9 Forces, Pressure, Moments

Pupils learn the concept of speed and how unbalanced force can change it. A simple model, that matter consists of particles, is taught to explain pressure effects. This is developed to include hydrostatic pressure in fluids: how hydraulic brakes work and how pressure affects divers. Ideas about levers are used in the context of simple machines such as cranes, and even the human body!

P10 Heat

In this unit, the very successful particle model of matter is again used to explain heat transfer by conduction and convection. Infra-red radiation and the way it is emitted and absorbed by everyday objects leads to an appreciation of why an emergency blanket is shiny and why solar panels are black.

GCSE Unit P1a

In January of Year 9, students start work on unit P1a of GCSE Science which is described in the Years 10-11 Curriculum Plan.

Samples of Pupils' Work