English National Curriculum - Science
Mission Objectives
Describe the body’s first and second lines of defence against pathogens
Describe and explain how vaccinations work
Explain how vaccination reduces the spread of disease in a population, including the concept of herd immunity and the prevention of epidemics
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Words and meanings to learn
antigens
substances on the surface of a pathogen that are recognised as foreign and cause the immune system to produce antibodies
antibodies
protein molecules produced by white blood cells (lymphocytes) that are specific to a particular antigen on a pathogen
vaccine
a substance containing dead or inactive pathogens that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies and protect against disease
epidemic
when an infectious disease spreads quickly and affects many people in a population at the same time
herd immunity
when enough people in a population are immune to a disease, making it difficult for the pathogen to spread and protecting those who are not immune
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.
In her spare time, Samantha enjoys playing the accordion with her local orchestra and has recently taken up cricket.
Handouts
Expert film
Mission assignment film
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