AQA KS3 Science Syllabus
Creating a national curriculum framework
How we contributed to the design of the AQA KS3 Science Syllabus—a framework now widely used across English secondary schools to build student understanding at 11-14 and prepare for the demands of GCSE.
The Context
In 2014, the science education landscape was evolving. With the introduction of new, more rigorous GCSEs emphasising application and analysis, there was a growing concern that 11-14 were becoming 'lost years' where students weren't making sufficient progress.
AQA identified the need for a clear teaching framework that would promote deeper understanding and prepare students to move beyond content coverage to applying what they know.
Tony Sherborne was commissioned to help devise a framework to meet this challenge.
Working with a team of experts and writers, he led the development of a 'mastery-based' framework for the AQA KS3 Science Syllabus. The design was built on three curriculum design principles that remain foundational to all our work in science: Big Ideas, Mastery Goals, and Integrated Enquiry.
View the official syllabus on the AQA website
Principle 1. Big Ideas
Big Ideas are the fundamental concepts that students must grasp to think like scientists. For example, in physics, the idea that 'forces predict motion', or in biology, that 'organisms are interdependent'.
The AQA KS3 Science Syllabus organises all the National Curriculum content within 10 Big Ideas. It offers a spiral progression where each year, students study one 'key concept' within each of the 10 Big Ideas. This structure helps students connect their knowledge over time, building a robust mental framework that makes application easier.
Principle 2. Mastery Goals
A defining feature of the syllabus is its clear progression of learning goals. It moves students from:
- Know: Knowledge and understanding of vital concepts, procedures, and facts
- Apply: Using that knowledge across a range of familiar and new contexts.
- Extend: Engaging in higher-order, analytical thinking
This structure enables a teaching sequence that moves from foundational to deep understanding, allowing teachers to differentiate effectively for all learners.
Principle 3. Integrated Enquiry
The syllabus integrates "Working Scientifically" (as the National Curriculum calls) it directly alongside substantive content, rather than treating it as a separate activity. Enquiry is broken down into four manageable areas: Analyse, Communicate, Enquire, and Solve.
Each area is then broken down further into four skills e.g Analyse: present data, analyse patterns, draw conclusions, discuss limitations. Crucially, each skill follows a progression—starting with simple procedures and moving toward understanding the 'why' behind the 'how', so that students think like scientists, and don't just perform practicals.
Resources to Support the Syllabus
Because our team was deeply involved in the design process, our own curriculum resources—such as the Proper Science KS3 course and the Blueprint Y7/Y8 Planners—are naturally aligned with the principles of the AQA KS3 Science Syllabus. Our free activities are also mapped directly to the Key Concepts covered by the framework.