Our Updated KS4 Science Curriculum: Designed for Clarity, Confidence and Results

At Developing Experts, our mission is to make our KS4 curriculum engaging, practical and fully aligned with the AQA specification. We’re excited to share the latest updates to our KS4 curriculum, including a complete set of physics units, with chemistry and biology close behind.

Our brand-new curriculum has been designed not only to cover the content but to build scientific thinking, strengthen exam technique and support teachers with ready-to-use, curriculum-aligned resources that reduce workload.

A Curriculum Built for GCSE Success

Each KS4 pathway—separate sciences and combined science—has been carefully structured to give teachers a smooth, sequenced route through the content. Rather than dropping students straight into complex ideas, lessons build conceptual understanding gradually, moving from foundation knowledge to higher-level explanations and mathematical applications.

Separate Sciences

The separate physics curriculum is now fully complete, featuring all major GCSE topics such as energy, electricity, particle model of matter, waves, magnetism, forces (including motion, acceleration and pressure) and space physics. Each topic includes clear explanations, practical applications, videos and opportunities for retrieval.

Separate chemistry and biology are nearing completion and will include the full sequence of core GCSE content—from atomic structure and the periodic table to ecology, organisation, bonding, chemical changes and energy changes. These units follow the same pedagogical design as physics: clear sequencing, practical modelling and questions that stretch and challenge.

Combined Science

Our combined science curriculum mirrors much of the separate science content but is structured to support the slightly adjusted depth and breadth required for the Combined Science (Trilogy) pathway. Students build confidence through repeated exposure to core concepts, scaffolded explanations and visuals that bring abstract processes to life.

Pedagogy That Supports Every Learner

Every lesson breaks down complex scientific ideas into logical steps, using:

• Explanatory models
• Visual demonstrations
• Real-world examples
• Teacher-friendly lesson plans and presentations that ensure clarity

This approach ensures that regardless of prior knowledge, students can follow the thinking—and teachers can spend more time supporting students instead of planning.

Practicals That Bring Science to Life

Hands-on science is central to GCSE study. Our curriculum includes:

• Clear, accessible demonstrations
• Required practicals (physics, chemistry, and biology)
• Step-by-step teacher guidance
• Safety notes and equipment lists
• Follow-up questions that help students interpret findings

Whether schools have fully kitted labs or limited equipment, our resources make practical science achievable and meaningful.

Building Exam Technique Throughout

Exam success comes from practice—so every KS4 unit includes:

• Retrieval questions
• Exam-style multiple-choice questions
• Longer written responses
• Maths-in-science practice such as calculations, rearranging equations, interpreting graphs and using significant figures

These features are woven throughout the curriculum to help students build exam confidence long before revision begins.

Try the Updated KS4 Curriculum for Free

If you’re looking for a fully sequenced, beautifully explained and teacher-friendly GCSE Science curriculum, now is the perfect time to explore Developing Experts.

Start your free trial today and experience the difference for yourself.