Key Stage 3 

At Sunbeck, we want every young person to leave us with a strong understanding of the world around them and the confidence to use scientific knowledge in everyday life, further education and the workplace. 

Our Science curriculum is built around the three disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, alongside the practical skills needed to work scientifically. Students learn about cells and the human body, particles and chemical reactions, forces and electricity, light and sound, space and Earth science, genetics and evolution, ecosystems and sustainability. 
 

A curriculum designed around our students 

Sunbeck is different from a mainstream school. Students join us at different points in the year, with different experiences of education and different starting points in their learning. Some students may be with us for a short period before returning to mainstream education, while others may remain with us for much longer. 

For that reason, our Science curriculum follows a 13-week rolling curriculum spine. 

This means that students are not disadvantaged by joining Sunbeck halfway through a traditional academic year. Across each cycle, they encounter a broad range of essential KS3 Science, rather than having to wait until the following year to access important areas of the curriculum. 

The rolling curriculum provides breadth and entitlement, while our approach to mastery provides depth and progression.
 

Progress, not repetition 

A rolling curriculum does not mean that students repeat the same lessons each time. 

When students encounter a topic again, the level of challenge increases. 

For example, a student may first learn to identify and describe the structures within a cell. On a subsequent cycle, they may explain how specialised cells are adapted to their functions. As their knowledge develops further, they may apply their understanding to unfamiliar cells, microscope images and scientific evidence. 

In this way, the curriculum cycles, but the student does not reset. 

Students are assessed against their developing knowledge, understanding, application and independence. Our Science progress tracker allows teachers to identify what each student has mastered, what they are still developing and what they need to learn next. 

Working scientifically 

Science at Sunbeck is not just about remembering facts. 

Students learn how scientists work. They develop their ability to: 

• ask scientific questions 

• make predictions 

• identify variables 

• carry out fair tests 

• measure and record results 

• interpret tables, graphs and other data 

• draw conclusions from evidence 

• evaluate methods 

• use scientific vocabulary 

• work safely and responsibly during practical activities
   

Practical work is an important part of the curriculum. Students have regular opportunities to investigate scientific ideas, collect evidence and use equipment safely. Practical activities are carefully selected to ensure they are accessible, purposeful and appropriate for our setting. 

Building independence 

Our ultimate aim is not simply for students to know more Science. We want them to become increasingly independent learners who can use what they know. 

As students progress, they move from supported learning towards greater independence. They learn to select appropriate information, explain their thinking, solve unfamiliar problems, respond to feedback and evaluate their own work. 

For students preparing to return to mainstream education, these skills are particularly important. We want students to leave Sunbeck able to access Science confidently, follow instructions, work safely, manage resources, ask for help appropriately and apply their knowledge to new situations. 

Preparing students for the future 

Science opens doors to a wide range of future opportunities. Throughout the curriculum, students encounter links to the real world and to careers including medicine, engineering, environmental science, laboratory science, technology, healthcare, construction and many other fields. 

For students who remain at Sunbeck for longer periods, the curriculum becomes increasingly