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Lower KS3 | Upper KS3 | IGCSE

Our supportive and nurturing Science courses for home-learners are designed to develop a framework for understanding the self, world and universe. All topics cover the Key Stage 3 (KS3) English national curriculum (and more!) and are written specifically to inspire and motivate learners. Together the Lower KS3 and Upper KS3 topics provide a solid platform from which to progress and study GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Tutor Andy (BSc, PGCE)
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Tutor Led Learning Science Pathway

Students may join at any point along the pathway – even during term time (if places are available). Just get in touch.

Lower KS3 (over one or two years)

Students take topics in Biology and/or Chemistry and/or Physics. As well as broadening subject vocabulary and understanding, students begin learning how to apply what they know to the bigger picture. Each subject includes content on working scientifically (investigations) and developing mathematical skills.
Equivalent to Year 7 and Year 8 at an English Secondary School.
Our Lower KS3 Science students are typically aged 10-12*

Upper KS3 (over one or two years)

Students take topics in Biology and/or Chemistry and/or Physics. Lower KS3 concepts are extended and students are increasingly asked to compare, evaluate and predict. Upper KS3 lessons start introducing GCSE content. Each subject includes content on working scientifically (investigations) and developing mathematical skills.
Equivalent to Year 8 and Year 9 at an English Secondary School.
Our Upper KS3 Science students are typically aged 12-14*

IGCSE biology (over two years)

Having completed KS3 science, students now focus on studying Edexcel’s IGCSE Biology specification. One live tutorial a week over 2 years (11 terms to allow for exam season) allows students to develop the necessary skills, learn specific content and prepare for the exams. Quality resources are shared online and weekly homework is set and marked with feedback.
Equivalent to Years 10 and 11 at an English Secondary School.
Our students are typically aged 13-16*

*Ages/year groups are included as a guide only. Students of differing ages may be in the groups as we know that ability is not necessarily defined by age.

Lower KS3 biology

Lower KS3 Science equates roughly to Year 7 and Year 8 at an English Secondary School. Our Lower KS3 Science students are typically 10-12 years of age. Science students are encouraged to develop their mathematical, reading, writing and comprehension skills by completing tasks in KS3 workbooks alongside the live tutorials. Our KS3 English tutorials will further develop communication skills.

Lower KS3 Biology

Term 1: Movement

This dynamic topic gives students a good basic understanding of the anatomy of the human body by considering 1) The human skeleton, 2) Muscles and 3) Biomechanics. We then develop our scientific thinking skills by considering how to set up a scientific 4) Muscle investigation. The final two tutorials give us chance to review our learning by looking at 5) Damage and Disease and considering the bigger picture by exploring 6) Animal movement.

Term 2: Cells

This topic provides an excellent foundation for understanding ‘What is Life?’. We start by considering 1) Organisation of living things and then focus on 2) Animal and plant cells and 3) Specialised cells. The next tutorial on 4) Microscopy reveals an amazing minature world all around us leading to 5) Micro-organisms and disease and finally, on a lighter note, a study of 6) Useful micro-organisms.

Term 3: Ecosystems

More and more people are becoming aware of the human impact on the environment. This topic provides a solid foundation to understand 1) Food chains and food webs, 2) Competition within and between species and the importance of 3) Decomposers. By studying 4) Pollinators we are reminded of our own reliance on other organisms. The final two tutorials give us chance for some big picture thinking by considering 5) Human impact on the environment and how we are 6) Improving biodiversity.

Term 4: Plant reproduction

Plants are a fascinating and essential part of the living world (and GCSE Biology!) but often overlooked in favour of animals. This lively and engaging topic comprises of an 1) Introduction to plants, 2) Sexual reproduction – flowers, 3) Asexual reproduction and 4) Seed dispersal. Next we take a broader view of some amazing relationships between 5) Plants and animals before finishing with an exploration of how to 6) Grow your own plants. It’s sure to ignite a new found interest in plants and maybe you can even look forward to some tasty homegrown food!

Term 5: Variation

Genetics is sure to be one of the biggest growth areas in Biology over the coming years. This topic gives students a fascinating insight into 1) An introduction to variation, 2) Genetic variation, 3) Selective breeding and 4) Dog breeds. Having learnt some key concepts and vocabulary we are now ready to study one of the greatest ever theories in science 5) Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. We finish with a sensitive look at 6) Mutations (genotypes and phenotypes) and the advantages and disadvantages they can bring.

Term 6: Human Reproduction

Surely one of the largest and most perplexing questions in all of science is ‘Where do I come from?’. This topic on Human Reproduction provides some useful answers whilst giving students a safe place to learn important scientific information about their own bodies. We start by learning about 1) Human reproductive systems and 2) The menstrual cycle and fertilisation before exploring different methods of 3) Contraception and IVF. We then take a fascinating look at the development of life from 4) Life in the womb, to 5) Childhood and puberty to 6) Adulthood and aging. Please get in touch if you have questions about this topic.

Topic tickets can be purchased in advance of each term (subject to availability) – look out for the weekly newsletter for reminders!

Alternatively you can secure your child’s place over the whole acadmic year by buying all remaining topics now.

Lower KS3 chemistry

Lower KS3 Science equates roughly to Year 7 and Year 8 at an English Secondary School, our students are typically 10-12 years of age. Science students are encouraged to develop their mathematical, reading, writing and comprehension skills by completing tasks in KS3 workbooks alongside the live tutorials. Our KS3 English tutorials will further develop communication skills.

Lower KS3 Chemistry

Term 1: Particle Model

This topic lays the foundation for thinking about what everything is made of. We start our learning journey by exploring the origin of atoms, in the heart of stars, with a tutorial on 1) Stardust. We then learn about 2) The paricle model and study some key experiments to do with 3) Solids, liquids and gases. By studying 4) Diffusion we start to think about concepts which are important for future study, especially in Biology. We then consider 5) Pure and impure substances before finishing with a recap of learning by considering 6) What is it?

Term 2: Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

This topic title almost speaks for itself! Over six engaging tutorials we will study (guess what…) 1) Elements, 2) Compounds and 3) Mixtures. We will then consider some important practical techniques by looking at 4) Separating techniques 1 and 5) Separating techniques 2. Finally we will extend our learning with some consideration of graphs and 6) Dissolving and solubility curves.

Term 3: Metals and non-metals

Metals make up by far the biggest section of the Periodic Table. This strong, shiny and malleable topic will provide an 1) Introduction to metals and non-metals so we can move on and study the 2) Properties of metals and non-metals. Students always love a bit of fire so the next tutorial is about 3) Burning metals. We continue looking at chemical reactions by studying 4) Metals and acids and 5) The reactivity series. To finish we take a broader, big picture look at the 6) Extraction of metals around the world.

Term 4: Acids and alkalis

Many students have a basic grasp of what an acid is from thinking about vinegar, fizzy drinks or perhaps something more gruesome. This topic develops prior learning by providing 1) An introduction to acids and alkalis then a tutorial on 2) The pH scale and indicators. Having laid the groundwork we can progress to learn about 3) Neutralisation reactions, 4) Acids and metal oxides and 5) Acid rain. We finish with a fun tutorial where we explore 6) FIZZ! Fab metal reactions.

Term 5: Earth’s Structure

We begin this topic by considering the 1) Formation of the Earth and Moon. We then consider how the Earth is changing and what it is made of with tutorials on 2) Changing continents, 3) Types of rocks, 4) The rock cycle and 5) Ores and minerals (with more than a passing reference to Minecraft!). Our last tutorial is an intriguing exploration of 6) Fossils… always guaranteed to reveal students who know more than the tutor about dinosaurs!

Term 6: The Universe

It might seem a bit odd to put The Universe under Chemistry but it kind of follows on from Earth’s Structure and Physics is full so here it is! Many students find Space one of the most engaging of all science topics but sadly little of it is taught in most schools. This specially written topic takes a good look at 1) Time, 2) The moon and 3) The solar system before adventuring a little deeper to look at 4) Stars and galaxies, 5) Space exploration and, last but not least, the 6) The search for alien life!

Topic tickets can be purchased in advance of each term (subject to availability) – look out for the weekly newsletter for reminders!

Alternatively you can secure your child’s place over the whole acadmic year by buying all remaining topics now.

Lower KS3 physics

Lower KS3 Science equates roughly to Year 7 and Year 8 at an English Secondary School, our students are typically 10-12 years of age. Science students are encouraged to develop their mathematical, reading, writing and comprehension skills by completing tasks in KS3 workbooks alongside the live tutorials. Our KS3 English tutorials will further develop communication skills.

Lower KS3 Physics

Term 1: Forces and Gravity

This classic Physics topic introduces some important concepts including 1) Balanced and unbalanced forces, 2) Friction and upthrust and 3) Gravity. In the next tutorial we gently introduce some maths and look at working with 4) W = mg. We then go on to consider a scientific investigation into 5) Hooke’s Law which includes graphing skills. Finally we push things a bit further by considering 6) Turning forces.

Term 2: Speed

Speed is a great topic for introducing some basic mathematical concepts such as working with simple equations and plotting graphs. We start by exploring 1) s = d/t and how this maps onto 2) Distance/Time graphs. We then take a change of direction and consider some 3) Speed investigations. The final three tutorials are a broader look at speed and a chance to think more deeply and apply previous learning in different contexts. 4) Fastest machines on Earth, 5) Fastest organisms on Earth, 6) Fastest objects in space.

Term 3: Electricity

Where would we be without the discovery of electricity? A question that leaves me in the dark (sorry…). This specially written topic takes a supportive look at a notoriously tricky area of Physics. We begin with 1) An introduction to electricity before moving on to study 2) Series and parallel circuits, 3) Voltage and current (theory) and 4) Voltage and current (practicals). The next tutorial reveals some fascinating applications of 5) Static electricity and a look at 6) Electric vehicles – content which keeps needing to be updated!

Term 4: Energy

What is energy? Go on, have a go at defining it. Not easy! This topic starts be considering 1) Different forms of energy before a more practical look at 2) Energy costs and efficiency. We then consider 3) Energy from the sun before looking at the all important subjects of 4) Non-renewable energy and 5) Renewable energy. We conclude with a fascinating, big picture, exploration of how people are 6) Generating energy around the world.

Term 5: Sound

This fun and lively topic gives students a chance to explore various concepts relating to sound. We begin by asking 1) What is sound? before moving on to look at 2) Wave properties (which is a full topic at Upper KS3 level). By studying 3) Hearing we get to play around with some different frequencies to see who can hear what (optional). We then study 4) Microphones and speakers and apply our learning to some weird and wonderful 5) Animal sounds and 6) Human sounds.

Term 6: Light

Light is a brilliant Physics topic reaching across many traditional subject boudaries. We begin by asking 1) What is light? and then look at 2) Reflection and mirrors and 3) Refraction and lenses. 4) Colour is a fascinating exploration of how we see what we see leading nicely to a discussion about 5) Cameras and eyes. We end with a broad look at 6) Uses of light across many fields of study.

Topic tickets can be purchased in advance of each term (subject to availability) – look out for the weekly newsletter for reminders!

Alternatively you can secure your child’s place over the whole acadmic year by buying all remaining topics now.

Upper KS3 Biology

Upper KS3 Science equates roughly to Year 8 and Year 9 at an English Secondary School, our students are typically 12-14 years of age. Science students are encouraged to develop their mathematical, reading, writing and comprehension skills by completing tasks in KS3 workbooks alongside the live tutorials. Our KS3 English tutorials will further develop communication skills.

Upper KS3 Biology

Term 1: Breathing

Sadly not a topic on yogic practices to calm the mind, but instead a fascinating study of 1) Anatomy of the respiratory system, 2) Alveoli, 3) Breathing, 4) Exercise, 5) Smoking and disease and finishing with a big picture look of 6) Animal breathing. A super topic for anyone thinking of taking GCSE Biology.

Term 2: Digestion

Digestion is the breaking down of larger molecules into smaller ones so they can be absorbed into a living organism. This wide ranging topic considers 1) A balanced diet, 2) The digestive system, 3) Enzymes, 4) Biological molecules, 5) Unbalanced diets and 6) Special dietary requirements.

Term 3: Respiration

Respiration is the critical process that releases energy from glucose. To start we compare 1) Aerobic respiration with 2) Anaerobic respiration before looking at the usefulness of 3) Yeast. We then consider how to go about 4) Investigating exercise. By studying 5) Respiration in extremophiles we can broaden our knowledge base (and contemplate alien life) before finishing with a charming look at 6) Hibernation.

Term 4: Photosynthesis

Surely one of the most important chemical reactions on Earth?! Without photosynthesis life would be very different indeed. This critical Biology topic starts with 1) An introduction to photosynthesis before studying 2) Amazing leaves and 3) Roots and stems. Then it’s time for a classic Biology experiment where we look at 4) Investigating photosynthesis. Finally we consider 5) Plants as food and 6) Growing plants.

Term 5: Evolution

Organising life into groups makes it much easier to study and make comparisons which is why we start this incredible topic with a look at 1) Classification. We then begin considering Evolution directly with tutorials on 2) Variation, 3) Investigating variation, 4) Natural selection, 5) Evidence for evolution and 6) Extinction.

Term 6: Inheritance

This final Upper KS3 Biology topic is a good introduction to GCSE level genetics. We work together to consider 1) DNA and genes, 2) Mitosis and meiosis, 3) Genetic crosses and 4) Inherited conditions. We finish with a pair of tutorials aiming to introduce students to an area of massive development in science 5) Genetic engineering (theory) and 6) Genetic engineering (application).

Topic tickets can be purchased in advance of each term (subject to availability) – look out for the weekly newsletter for reminders!

Alternatively you can secure your child’s place over the whole acadmic year by buying all remaining topics now.

Upper KS3 Chemistry

Upper KS3 Science equates roughly to Year 8 and Year 9 at an English Secondary School, our students are typically 12-14 years of age. Science students are encouraged to develop their mathematical, reading, writing and comprehension skills by completing tasks in KS3 workbooks alongside the live tutorials. Our KS3 English tutorials will further develop communication skills.

Upper KS3 Chemistry

Term 1: Periodic Table

1) The history of the periodic table is a fascinating look at how different scientists tried, over many years, to find patterns between the properties of different elements. From here we study the periodic table in some detail looking at 2) Patterns and trends, 3) Group 1, 4) Group 7, 5) Group 0 and 6) Transition metals.

Term 2: Elements

Building on topic 1 we now consider 1) Elements, compounds and formulae, 2) The first 10 elements (H to Ne), 3) The next 10 elements (Na to Ca). We then broader our study by looking at 4) Transition elements, 5) Radioactive elements and isotopes and 6) Polymers, ceramics and composites.

Term 3: Chemical Energy

This broad ranging topic takes a good look at different types of chemical reactions. We study 1) Sources of chemical energy and 2) Exothermic reactions before we consider 3) Investigating the energy content of food. The second half of the topic covers 4) Endothermic reactions, 5) Catalysts and 6) Reversible reactions.

Term 4: Types of Reaction

Building on topic 3 we are now able to study 1) Combustion, 2) Fuels, 3) Thermal decomposition, 4) Conservation of mass, 5) Balancing equations before finishing with a bang: 6) Explosions.

Term 5: Climate

It’s hard to think of a more pressing topic to study than climate! This wide ranging topic brings together various parts of science to consider 1) The carbon cycle and 2) Greenhouse gases before moving on to explore how we are 3) Measuring climate change. We then look at 4) The effects of climate change before moving to a more positive look at 5) Global action and 6) Individual action.

NB This topic is supported with a climate change Discovery Pack.

Term 6: Earth’s Resources

Awareness of the finite nature of Earth’s resources is only going to grow over the coming years. This broad topic considers a wide range of areas including 1) Fossil fuels, 2) Ores and minerals, 3) Animals, 4) Plants, 5) The clothing industry and 6) Sustainability and recycling.

Topic tickets can be purchased in advance of each term (subject to availability) – look out for the weekly newsletter for reminders!

Alternatively you can secure your child’s place over the whole acadmic year by buying all remaining topics now.

Upper KS3 physics

Upper KS3 Science equates roughly to Year 8 and Year 9 at an English Secondary School, our students are typically 12-14 years of age. Science students are encouraged to develop their mathematical, reading, writing and comprehension skills by completing tasks in KS3 workbooks alongside the live tutorials. Our KS3 English tutorials will further develop communication skills.

Upper KS3 Physics

Term 1: Heating and Cooling

We begin with 1) An introduction to heating and cooling before moving onto the classic subjects of 2) Conduction, 3) Convection and 4) Radiation. We then delve a little deeper by considering 5) Changing states and finally 6) Insulation.

Term 2: Pressure

Under pressure? Pressure machine? Got me under pressure? No, not a lesson on songs but a study of 1) An introduction to pressure, 2) P = F/A 3) Liquids, 4) Gases, 5) Machines and finally a link to the weather by looking at 6) Atmospheric pressure.

Term 3: Work

This physics topic has a good mix of theory, maths and application to the real world. We start with a reminder of 1) Energy transfers before considering 2) Simple machines and 3) W = Fd. We use our new knowledge to look at 4) Power before considering its application to 5) Strongest animals and 6) Strongest machines.

Term 4: Magnetism

We start with an 1) Introduction to magnets before moving onto 2) Electromagnets and some fabulous 3) Magnet investigations. We then look at the bigger picture by considering the 4) Earth’s magnetic field and the practical uses of magnets in 5) Uses of magnets 1 and 6) Uses of magnets 2

Term 5: Wave Properties and Effects

This fascinating topic really does cahnge the way you look at the world. We start by exploring 1) The Electromagnetic spectrum and visible light before focussing in on 2) Radio, micro and IR then 3) UV, X-rays and gamma radiation. The next tutorial considers 4) Sound waves, then we look at 5) Refelction, transmission and absorption before finishing with a global look at 6) Earthquakes and tsunamis.

Term 6: WOW! Future of Physics

This specially written topic seeks to engage and enthuse learners about the broader picture of international, ground-breaking physics related research. We begin by exploring the depths of the universe by looking at 1) JWST, then the 2) Large Hadron Collider, then we tackle 3) Nuclear fusion. The next tutorial looks at an impending technological leap forward with 4) Quantum computing. The tutorial on 5) Robots includes a section on AI and to end this learning journey we explore 6) Colonising Mars. A varied topic for curious minds!

Topic tickets can be purchased in advance of each term (subject to availability) – look out for the weekly newsletter for reminders!

Alternatively you can secure your child’s place over the whole acadmic year by buying all remaining topics now.

IGCSE biology

Our IGCSE Biology Courses are password protected. Please get in touch if you would like to join a group.

Courses are booked in termly blocks, but get in touch if you would like to secure your child’s place over the entire academic year.

“I cannot recommend TLL sessions enough both Tutor Andy & Tutor Dave are amazing they are such genuine & enthusiastic teachers. I consider myself truly lucky to have found them.”
Parent J D
Home-educating mum
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