Science Department

The department has a staff of 8 specialist full time teachers (3 Biology, 3 Chemistry and 2 Physics).  We have 6 teaching laboratories and an additional teaching room.

• To stimulate curiosity, interest and enjoyment in Science.
• To appreciate man’s place on this planet and his impact in our environment and beyond.
• To help produce Technologically aware citizens who appreciate the importance of the role which engineers play.
• To understand and know about How Science Works in our everyday lives.
• To recognise and appreciate the usefulness and limitations of Scientific method.

   

  Key Stage Three

  We follow the published course ‘Exploring Science’.  Students are encouraged to participate in "hands on Science”, practical work or mini-investigations.  They might also be asked to make presentations to their class.  During the key stage they should develop an awareness and understanding of How Science Works (HSW).

  
  

In years 7and 8:

• Each student will have access to text books in school and at home through the schools VLE or by a borrowed CD ROM.
• As far as possible students carry out practical tasks in groups of two.
• Students’ progress and subject knowledge is monitored through end of topic tests in which they are expected to achieve a good mark which is in line with their potential.  Their investigative skills (Sc1) are also assessed in an ongoing process.
• Students have 8 fifty minute periods over two weeks.
• In years 7 and 8 as far as possible we try to timetable classes with one specialist Science teacher although it might be two.                  

   

  Key Stage 4

  All GCSE students presently follow the Edexcel 360 Core Science and additional Science Courses.  Each course has 10% internal assessment of practical skills and 30% on exam board set Internal Assessment activities.  These activities are written exams of 45minutes in length based on practical work carried out during the topic.  They are challenging and need to be prepared for by revising thoroughly.  The exams also test skills developed in all subject areas during the course and therefore answering questions about practical work to include writing methods for practicals (including how to make them reliable and valid), processing results, drawing graphs and evaluating results and suggesting improvements are an essential part of some homeworks.  The Core Science is externally examined by 6 multiple choice papers in years 9/10.  The Additional Science is examined during year 11 by 3 multiple choice tests (one per subject area) and  three  structured papers (one per subject area). Each student will have a text book for each course to use both at home and School. Students lessons for each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics are taught by specialists.  Should candidates be suitable there might be the opportunity for them to study triple award Science  (Biology, Chemistry and Physics as separate GCSE exams), examined by externally set written exams at the end of year 11. 

   

  A level

  A levels are a popular choice in the 6th form.  Salters courses are used for Chemistry and Physics. These look at the subject through a context led approach.  Students find this stimulates their learning. The Physics course includes the Physics involved in Archaeology, compact disc players and materials used for human transplant.  In Chemistry topics include What’s in a medicine, The Elements of Life and the Chemistry of the Atmosphere and the Oceans. The Biology course examined by OCR includes Ecology, Biochemistry, Cells and the chosen option of Mammalian Physiology and Behaviour.

   

  Examination Syllabuses and Textbooks