Science

Year 8 science is taught as biology, chemistry and physics strands within a general science course. Biology covers cells, organ systems, reproduction and classification; chemistry covers particles, states of matter, elements, compounds, mixtures and separation.

Physics introduces forces, speed, energy stores and transfers, and simple electrical circuits. Laboratory work becomes formal for the first time — safe use of equipment, Bunsen burners, measurement and risk awareness.

The bigger change is enquiry: pupils identify variables, write a method someone else could follow, tabulate results and evaluate what went wrong. Those write-up skills carry all the way through to GCSE.