Physics

At Westbourne, the aim is to make Physics accessible and engaging for all pupils, ensuring positive progress for each

At Key Stage 3, pupils have one Physics lesson per week, building a solid foundation in the subject. At Key Stage 4, pupils can choose to study Physics as a single GCSE or as part of the AQA Combined Science GCSE. Pupils follow the AQA KS3 Physics syllabus, which prepares them for more detailed GCSE study.

Key Stage 3 (Years 7-8)

• Year 7: Forces, sound, light, and space.
• Year 8: Electricity, magnetism, energy, and energy resources.

GCSE Physics (Years 9-11) syllabus covers key topics such as:

• Energy
• Electricity
• Particle model of matter
• Atomic structure
• Forces
• Waves
• Magnetism and electromagnetism
• Space physics (Physics only)

Pupils are encouraged to think imaginatively about Physics and are actively involved in all stages of learning. They are supported and encouraged to develop their learning skills and apply their knowledge of Physics to real-world situations.

The GCSE Physics assessment consists of two 1-hour 45-minute papers, each worth 50% of the final grade. For Combined Science, the Physics papers are 1 hour and 15 minutes long and contribute a third of the final grade. Both courses are available in two tiers: Foundation (grades 1-5) and Higher (grades 3-9).