Science topics explained for parents
Science in England runs from Year 1 to Year 11, growing from noticing plants, animals and everyday materials into biology, chemistry and physics. Primary children study living things, forces, light, electricity, rocks and the Earth in space; at secondary school the same ideas return with particles, energy, cells and genetics. Throughout, children learn to ask questions and test ideas fairly.
Key Stage 3 science
- Acids, alkalis and neutralisation
- Analysing and evaluating data
- The carbon cycle, atmosphere and climate
- Atoms, elements and compounds
- Balanced forces, equilibrium and motion
- Cells and organisation
- Aerobic and anaerobic respiration
- Energy in systems and conservation
- Chemical reactions and equations
- Current, voltage and resistance
- Deformation, friction and Hooke’s Law
- Speed and distance-time graphs
- Fuel uses and energy costs at home
- The Earth, the rock cycle and resources
- Energy changes in reactions and changes of state
- Energy changes and transfers
- Energy in matter
- Planning science investigations
- Forces, force diagrams and moments
- Breathing, gas exchange and drugs
- Hearing, microphones and ultrasound
- DNA, genes and variation
- Light waves and reflection
- Magnetism and electromagnets
- Reactivity series and materials
- Units, equations and calculations
- Mirrors, lenses, the eye and colour
- Natural selection and biodiversity
- Diet and digestion
- The particle model of matter
- States of matter and the particle model
- The Periodic Table
- Photosynthesis
- Physical changes, density and diffusion
- Pressure in fluids, floating and sinking
- Pure substances, mixtures and separation
- Food webs and ecosystems
- Reproduction in humans and plants
- Scientific attitudes
- Skeleton and muscles
- Gravity, stars, galaxies and seasons
- Static electricity and electric fields
- Water waves and sound waves
Key Stage 4 science
- Acids, pH, electrolysis and redox
- Analysis and evaluation
- The atmosphere and climate change
- Atomic structure, isotopes and moles
- Biodiversity and human impact
- Bonding and properties of matter
- Carbon chemistry and carbon structures
- Cells, stem cells and biological molecules
- Purity, separation and reacting masses
- Current, resistance, charge and circuits
- Communicable disease and immunity
- The development of scientific thinking
- Ecosystems and material cycles
- Efficiency and energy resources
- The electromagnetic spectrum
- Energy changes and reaction profiles
- Energy stores, transfers and power
- Enzymes and respiration
- Experimental skills and strategies
- Motion, acceleration and road safety
- Forces, fields, work done and pressure
- Formulae, equations and gas tests
- Crude oil, cracking and metal extraction
- The genome and inheritance
- Hormones and homeostasis
- Life cycle assessment and recycling
- Magnetic fields and transformers
- Mains electricity and power
- Nervous system and reflexes
- Lifestyle disease and medicines
- The nuclear model and isotopes
- The Periodic Table and group trends
- Photosynthesis and its rate
- Air pollutants and potable water
- Properties of waves
- Radioactivity, half-life, fission and fusion
- Rates of reaction and reversible reactions
- Selective breeding and biotechnology
- The solar system and orbits
- Density, changes of state and specific heat
- Transport systems
- Variation, natural selection and classification
- Units, symbols and nomenclature