English National Curriculum - Science
Mission Objectives
Recall examples of composites and their components
Compare the physical properties of glasses, ceramics, polymers, composites, and metals
Explain and select materials for specific uses based on their properties
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Words and meanings to learn
glass
a solid material made by heating sand and other substances until they melt and then cooling them to form a hard, transparent and brittle structure
soda-lime
the most common type of glass, made from sand, limestone and sodium carbonate; it melts at a relatively low temperature and is used for windows and bottles
borosilicate
a type of glass made from sand and boron trioxide; it has a higher melting point and is more heat-resistant than soda-lime glass, so it is used for cookware and laboratory glassware
ceramic
a hard, brittle, heat-resistant material made by shaping and heating clay or other inorganic substances; ceramics have strong bonds and are electrical insulators
composites
materials made from two or more different substances that are combined to improve properties; one material acts as a matrix and surrounds fibres or fragments of another material (the reinforcement)
Samantha is an accomplished science educator whose current work centres on curriculum design and professional development, supporting teachers to deliver high-quality science education through evidence-informed approaches. She is a former Head of Chemistry and Sixth Form Tutor with extensive Key Stage 4 and 5 experience, and has worked as an AQA examiner, giving her valuable insight into assessment standards and what students need to succeed.
Samantha has written the complete KS4 Science curriculum, fully aligned with the AQA GCSE Science: Trilogy specification. Covering biology, chemistry and physics, the curriculum is carefully sequenced so that students build knowledge cumulatively and see clear connections between concepts across the three sciences. Drawing on her experience as an examiner and on research into effective teaching, she has designed it to embed retrieval practice, clear explanation, worked examples and the required practicals throughout, preparing students for the demands of the GCSE exams. Grounded in the realities of the classroom, the curriculum is rigorous for students and manageable for busy teachers.
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Sarah is a former headteacher and charity CEO who founded Developing Experts in October 2015 with the goal to create a fit-for-purpose curriculum for schools. The company has created a science curriculum for children ages 4-16 which is delivered through sequenced lessons mapped against the National Curriculum in biology, chemistry, and physics. Developing Expert's innovative approach to learning has already been road-tested and voted 'best EdTech product in Europe', winning Tech Nation’s Rising Stars earlier in 2019 and a place on Google for Startups Immersion program 2020. In 2022 Developing Experts won the BETT Awards for Best Classroom Resource - Teaching Aid. Sarah is a 'LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leader' 2022. In October 2022 Developing Experts joined Tech Nation's Upscale 8.0 programme.
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