Guide to the Shell Curriculum 2023 - 2024

Biology Covid-19 brought Biology to the very forefront of media headlines in the last few years and never before has there been the relevance, the interest and the extent of career opportunities in the field. Science All Shell pupils will set out on the Triple Award Science syllabus, which leads to an IGCSE in each of the three Sciences - Biology, Chemistry and Physics - each examined separately. Based on each individual pupil’s progress and internal assessment results, the Heads of Sciences will recommend which pupils proceed to complete Triple Award Science, and which undertake Double Award Science. The latter course includes content from each of the three Sciences, with separate

examinations in each, but with less syllabus content than the Triple route, and with a final award of two IGCSE grades representing an average across the three Sciences.

In the Shell year, you will begin by building on your knowledge and understanding of fundamental topics including molecules and cells. We place a lot of emphasis on the development of key practical and investigative skills, as well as data presentation and maths skills to allow you to interpret your findings. We then explore the movement of substances in both living and non-living systems. These topics cover essential concepts which will be further built upon in the Fourth and Fifth Forms. In the Summer Term, there is a focus on Ecology, with opportunities to learn outside the classroom.

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GUIDE TO THE SHELL CURRICULUM 2023-2024