The Crypt School - Chemistry Department
VISION:
AQA GCSE Chemistry
[*Teaching order and assessments may change during year] Updated June 2026
Our primary aim is to instil a genuine love of the sciences and the confidence to question our understanding of the natural and physical world. The programme of study aims to develop inquisitive minds into critical thinkers through acquiring theoretical knowledge, practical skills and scientific literacy. Students will understand how science continuously builds upon previous advancements and understanding; linking the topics studied with real-world application ensures that our pupils develop key investigative, analytical and evaluative skills to prepare for their life ahead.
Term 1 Year 9
KS4 and KS5 PoS with endpoints (2026-7)
Topics: Bespoke: Introduction to GCSE Chemistry
Key Skills: Key words, (common content Compound formulae, for GCSE Chemistry balancing equations, & GCSE Combined ratios, reaction science) observations and practical skills, calculations. GCSE Required practical. MP: Compound Formulae Assessment
Term 2 Topics: Atomic Structure & Periodic Table Key Skills: Literacy (extended writing), creativity, IT, history, analysing, comparing, evaluating, command words, key words
MP: Introduction to GCSE Chemistry Test
Term 3
Term 4
Topics: Topics: Bonding, Structure & Bonding, Structure & the properties of matter the properties of matter Allotropes of carbon Key Skills: Literacy Nanoparticles (extended writing), creativity, IT, history, Key Skills: key words, analysing, comparing, drawing dot & cross evaluating, command diagrams, comparing words, practical skills, , models, evaluating, drawing dot & cross comparing, extended diagrams, key words writing, command words, applications to MP: Half Year Exam real world
Term 5 Topics: Rate of Reaction Key Skills: key words, command words, balancing equations, practical skills, planning an investigation, extended writing, reaction observations, comparing, evaluating, graph skills, calculations from data and graphs, tangents. GCSE Required practicals MP: Bonding, Structure & properties of matter test
Term 6
YEAR ENDPOINTS
Understand how to write compound formulae correctly and how to balance symbol equations - Correctly identify bonding types and be able to explain how and why this occurs in terms of electrons Key Skills: Key words, - Using key-terms (disciplinary literacy), explain how command words, bonding type affects the structure & physical properties balancing equations, - Describe the different allotropes of carbon, their building practical skills, properties & uses planning an - Explain when a chemical reaction will happen, the investigation, extended factors that affect the rate and describe methods to writing, reaction measure this in the laboratory
Topics: Rate of Reaction Graph & Practical skills
observations, comparing, evaluating, graph skills, calculations from data and graphs, tangents. GCSE Required practicals. MP: Yr9 EOY Exam
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