Students follow the AQA Combined Science syllabus. The Trilogy course occupies four teaching periods per week and on successful completion leads to two GCSEs.

The course is designed to provide the knowledge and understanding with which students need to engage, as informed citizens, with Science based issues. It uses contemporary, relevant contexts. The course is designed to give students an insight into how scientists work.

The content the students cover is as follows:

Biology

• Cell biology
• Organisation
• Infection and response
• Bioenergetics
• Homeostasis and response
• Inheritance, variation and evolution
• Ecology

Chemistry

• Atomic structure and the periodic table
• Structure, bonding, and the properties of mater
• Quantitative chemistry
• Chemical changes
• Energy changes
• The rate and extent of chemical change
• Organic chemistry
  
• Chemical analysis
  
• Chemistry of the atmosphere
  
• Using resources

Physics

• Energy
• Electricity
• Particle model of matter
  
• Atomic structure
• Forces
• Waves
  
• Magnetism and electromagnetism

Students will take all of their exams at the end of Year 11 and will sit six examinations in total, two Biology, two Chemistry and two Physics. Each of the papers will assess knowledge and understanding from distinct topic areas. Each paper consists of 70 marks and is 1 hour and 15 minutes.

The assessment scheme is designed to allow students to demonstrate their achievement by providing two tiers of entry, Levels 1-5 (Foundation) and Levels 4-9 (Higher).

Biology

• Paper 1 – Cell Biology, Organisation, Infection and response, Bioenergetics.
• Paper 2 – Homeostasis and response, Inheritance, Variation and evolution and Ecology.

Chemistry

• Paper 1 – Atomic structure and the periodic table, Bonding and structure, Quantitative Chemistry, Chemical changes and Energy changes.
• Paper 2 – The rate and exchange of chemical change, Organic Chemistry, Chemical analysis, Chemistry of the atmosphere, and Using resources.

Physics

• Paper 1 – Energy, Electricity, Particle model of matter, and Atomic structure.
• Paper 2 – Forces, Waves, Magnetism and electromagnetism.

If you achieve grade 9-4 in GCSE Combined Science Trilogy you could study BTEC Level 3 Applied Science (which combines all three of the different sciences) at Bourne Academy Sixth Form.

If you achieve grade 9-7 in GCSE Combined Science Trilogy you could study A-level Biology, A-level Chemistry or A-level Physics at Bourne Academy Sixth Form.

Those who follow the sciences will find themselves extremely employable in positions such as environmental science, mechanics, research and development, engineering, medicine, veterinary science, dentistry, pharmaceuticals and architecture to name but a few.