English National Curriculum - Science
Mission Objectives
Describe how new medicines are discovered and developed
Explain the stages of drug testing
Explain why double-blind trials and placebos are used
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Words and meanings to learn
double blind trial
a type of clinical trial where neither the patients nor the doctors know who is receiving the real drug and who is receiving the placebo
efficacy
how well a drug works to treat or cure a disease
preclinical trials
testing a drug in laboratories using cells, tissues and animals to check if it is safe and effective before it is given to humans
clinical trials
a series of tests on healthy volunteers and patients to check a drug’s safety, effectiveness and correct dose
placebo
a fake treatment that looks like the real drug but has no active ingredient; it is used to compare results and make trials fair
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
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Mission assignment film
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