Key stage 4
Pupils will follow one of two pathways at Key Stage 4:
Combined Science (2 GCSEs) is where pupils study all three sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) but end up with two GCSE's.
Triple Separate Sciences (3 GCSEs) is where pupils study all three sciences in greater depth and end up with three GCSE's.
Combined Science
Combined Science is offered to all pupils at Blessed Trinity to ensure all pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum. It is important to emphasise that the level of challenge in the Combined Science course is the same as the Separates courses, but there is less content to cover. Sciences at Blessed Trinity are taught by enthusiastic subject specialists on a rotation basis. The course structure provides a total of nine science lessons, which is equivalent to two GCSE subjects in the timetable. Each science subject is examined in a separate paper at the end of Year 11 and the results are then combined to give two Science GCSE grades (e.g. 9,9, 9,8, 8,8, 8,7 etc.). Although there is no coursework, practical work is a key component of the course, and pupils complete a number of required practicals during their studies which are then examined in the written papers.
Separate Sciences
This route allows pupils who have a keen interest in and aptitude for the Sciences to focus on their academic strengths. Most A Level candidates across the science subjects have taken the Separate Sciences course. There are five lessons in Biology, Chemistry and Physics each week, a total of fourteen lessons, which is the equivalent of three GCSE subjects in the options structure. Pupils will have a separate teacher for each Science discipline. Each science subject is examined in separate papers at the end of Year 11 and the results lead to a separate grade (e.g. 9; 8; 7 etc.) for each subject. Although there is no coursework, practical work is a key component of the course, and pupils complete a number of required practicals during their studies which are then examined in the written papers.