1 Science at GCSE into the Twenty First Century

2  Why study science?  What choices are on offer at school/college?  What choices are there after GCSE?  More help to make our choice?

3 Why study science at GCSE?  It’s natural to be curious about the physical world, and how things work  Studying science develops important skills  Everyone has to make decisions in life that involve science  More and more jobs use science

4 Science at  Twenty First Century Science courses  Trialled by schools in England and Wales since 2003  Course developers with outstanding track records (University of York and Nuffield Curriculum Centre)  Approved as preparation for further study, by Institute of Biology, Institute of Physics and Royal Society of Chemistry

5 What choices are on offer? GCSE Science GCSE Additional Science GCSE Additional Applied Science GCSE Biology, Chemistry & Physics and Entry Level or GCSE Science Entry Level and GCSE Additional Applied Science

6 GCSE Science Essential course for all students including future scientists  Making sense of science in our everyday lives  Learning how science works  Coursework is worth 33.3% of marks: – case study – practical data analysis

7 Entry Level  Supports students developing science skills  Very relevant to science in everyday life  Build up marks during the course  Can lead to GCSE Science

8 GCSE Additional Science  Concentrates on knowledge and skills needed for further study in the sciences  Coursework is an investigation worth 33.3% of marks

9 GCSE Additional Applied Science Science related to the work-place  practical, problem-solving approach  Three larger modules: –  50% of marks from coursework

10 Separate Sciences  Extending knowledge and understanding  For those with a very keen interest in science  Leads to three Awards – GCSE Biology – GCSE Chemistry – GCSE Physics  Coursework worth 33.3% of marks

11 What happens post-16? CourseLeading to post-16 courses … Entry LevelGCSE Additional Applied Science GCSE ScienceGCSE Additional Science GCSE Additional Applied Science Other vocational courses GCSE Science + GCSE Additional Science AS level science courses GCSE Science + GCSE Additional Applied Science AS Applied Science, range of vocational courses and Separate SciencesAS level science courses

12 More help on course choice?  Think about these questions: – What do you like about science? – What do you want to do after GCSEs? – How would you rather learn? – How would you rather earn your marks – exams or coursework?  Talk to your teacher  Look at the website

13  When will the exams be?  What are the coursework dates?  What can we do to help (e.g. collect media reports of science-related stories)  What resources will our son/daughter be given?  Can we buy any other resources, e.g. revision books?