Science Update: A Term of Curiosity, Practical Discovery, and Scientific Progress

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Jul 9, 2025

As we wrap up an exciting and productive summer term, the Science Faculty is proud to celebrate the achievements of our students across all year groups. It has been a term filled with discovery, hard work, and scientific success!

Key Stage 3

This term at TLA, year7 students have been diving into the world of scientific discovery! Over the last six weeks, students have been working in small groups to design and carry out their own experiments – just like real scientists.  Students chose a question they are curious about, researched the background theory, planned and carried out the experiment using school – friendly materials, collected and analysed data. drew conclusions and presented their findings.  This project is all about exploring the world around us, asking questions, and using evidence to find answers. It also shows how science is used in real life to solve problems and make discoveries.

Year 8

Term 6 for Year 8 was a fantastic start for their GCSE journey!  Here is a quick summary of what they have been exploring.  They have been learning about competition and adaptation – competition between organisms for resources like light, water, space and nutrients.   Adaptations that help organisms survive in their environments. They got the opportunity to do field investigation – estimating daisy populations in the school field using sampling techniques like quadrats and random sampling.  This involved calculating mean number of daisies per quadrate and scaling up to estimate the total.

In Chemistry they have been learning about Atomic Structure - learning about atoms, subatomic particles, atomic number and mass number, and history of the atom.

Year 9

Year 9 students have just completed their internal end of year exams in Biology, Chemistry and Physics during term 6.  These assessments are being used to help determine whether students will follow the separate sciences or combined pathway in Year 10. Here is a quick breakdown of what that typically means:

  • Separate Sciences (Triple Science)
  • Students study Biology, Chemistry and Physics as three distinct GCSEs.
  • More content and depth in each subject.
  • Combined Science (Double Award)
  • Cover all three sciences but in less depth.
  • Results in two GCSEs – suitable for students who want a broader science education without the intensity of triple science.

Key Stage 4

As we wrap up another exciting term in science, we’re thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Year 10 students!

This term, Year 10 completed their Required Practical Exam, demonstrating not only their scientific knowledge but also their growing confidence and competence in practical skills. Their ability to plan, carry out, and evaluate experiments was truly impressive, and their results reflected the hard work they’ve put in throughout the year.

Our Separate Science students took their learning a step further by engaging in a mock A-Level-style chemistry practical. They tackled the Temperature Change Required Practical, applying their understanding of exothermic and endothermic reactions in a more advanced setting. This experience gave them a valuable taste of post-16 science and showcased their readiness for the challenges ahead.

We’re also proud to announce that Year 10 were the first cohort to pilot our new homework platform - Sparx Science. Students have embraced this new way of learning, and their feedback has been incredibly insightful. Many have commented on the clarity and structure of the questions, as well as how the platform supports their independent learning.

We’re incredibly proud of the progress Year 10 have made this term – their enthusiasm, curiosity, and commitment to science have been a joy to witness. As they prepare to return in September as Year 11 students, we’ve provided them with Summer work designed to support their preparation for the upcoming Year 11 Mock exams.

On return to the academic year, all Year 10 students will be preparing for their first set of Year 11 Mocks. As part of preparation, students can use the following platforms to access resources:

(Login: firstname +surname+696 used for Username and password. No spaces or No Capitals)

YouTube Videos

All Sciences:

Required Practicals:

A huge congratulations to our Year 11 and Year 13 students, who have now completed their GCSE and A-Level Science examinations. Their dedication, resilience, and mature approach to revision and assessments have been commendable. We look forward to celebrating their results in August and wish them all the best in the next stages of their academic journeys.

Key Stage 5

Our Year 12 Physicists have been diving deep into the world of nuclear physics, completing a range of practical experiments on radioactivity. From tracking decay rates using Geiger counters to analysing absorption by different materials, students have developed a strong understanding of the principles and real-world applications of ionising radiation. Their precise and safety-conscious approach has impressed all members of staff.

Looking Ahead

As we head into the summer break, we want to thank all students, staff and parents for their continued support of the Science faculty. We are already looking forward to an autumn term filled with new investigations, practicals and even more curiosity-driven learning.  Have a restful and science-filled summer!