Science

Department Staff

We have a dedicated team including:

Mrs V Kelly Head of Science
Miss M Kenny Associate Assistant Head of Science and Head of Biology
Mr J Talbot Assistant Head of Science and Head of Chemistry
Mr A Roberts Assistant Head of Science and Head of physics
Mr D Pyatt Assistant Headteacher - Teaching, Learning & Technologies
Mr S Page Head of Year 8 and teacher of Science
Mr S Burns Lead Teacher and Associate Assistant Headteacher
Miss S Forrester-Hayles Teacher of Science
Ms A Derkowski Teacher of Science
Mr N Clifford Teacher of Science
M D Allison Teacher of Science
Mr I Rees Teacher of Science
Mrs L Johnson Senior technician
Mrs A Bernard Science technician

 

 

Aims

 

 

We believe science is for everyone, we aim to guide students to become scientifically knowledgeable, literate, problem solvers, with a love of science.

 

We follow a spiral curriculum in which key themes and concepts are encountered every year in order to build mastery of these areas. Content is introduced in an age appropriate way depending on cognitive demand.  Challenging students at every point and in every year group is central to our ethos. The overarching aim of the curriculum is to develop learners’ capacity for scientific thinking, enquiry and analysis. The curriculum empowers students to articulate scientific principles fluently and with confidence in both spoken and written English.  This allows them to problem solve and think critically about evidence in order to establish fundamental truths about the world around them. We aim to do this through well crafted and structured experiences which immerse learners in the language, beauty and mystery of science. This should be followed with a rigorous and thorough assessment structure through which students receive high quality and feedback which allows them to progress.

Key Stage 3

The program of study places less emphasis on science content and more emphasis on how science works skills;

  • use scientific ideas and models to explain phenomena and events;
  • understand a range of familiar applications of science;
  • think about the advantages and drawbacks of scientific and technological developments for the environment and in other contexts, considering the reasons for different opinions;
  • carry out investigations of different types, on their own and in groups, making use of reference sources and evaluating their work
  • learn how scientists work and the importance of experimental evidence in supporting scientific ideas.

Key Stage 4

Pupils follow the AQA GCSE (9-1) Combined science-trilogy specification  or separate science AQA Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSE.

AQA Combined Science: Trilogy

In KS4, students build upon the knowledge and skills gained and apply them to areas within Biology, Chemistry and Physics. We follow the AQA GCSE science (9-1) curriculum and have developed our own enriched scheme of work. This allows us to study ideas further and ensure that pupils can revisit key ideas and embed them fully in their long-term memory. In this way pupils gain a deeper knowledge as opposed to one in which they have only some knowledge of the facts required and are not able to effectively apply it using their scientific skills. Practical work is embedded in science lessons effectively so that pupils develop these important skills.

Pupils begin studying for the practical skills needed for GCSE in KS3 and cover certain themes across all three sciences.  These themes are continued through year 10 and 11, with the latter part of year 11 used for intensive revision of all key concepts.  We will be carrying out regular internal assessments to discover whether students are capable of completing the separate science GCSEs.  

 

AQA GCSE Biology

This course is designed to offer students the opportunity to delve deep into the science of living things.  It develops students' investigative skills by teaching them how  to  plan, interpret, explain, and evaluate  investigations. Students also gain an awareness of the ethical, technological and economic aspects of the subject.

The course also prepares students who wish to progress into further or higher education by studying A level biology or Applied Science BTEC.  

 

AQA GCSE Chemistry

Our chemistry GCSE course is designed to encourage learners to: develop competence and confidence in a variety of practical, mathematical and problem solving skills, develop essential understanding of different areas of chemistry and how they relate to each other and develop their interest in and enthusiasm for chemistry, including developing an interest in further study and careers associated with the subject. The course involves a wide range of practical opportunities including research projects.

 

AQA GCSE Physics 

Our physics GCSE  incorporates historical scientific discoveries so that students can see how scientific understanding has been building throughout the centuries and relate the studied topics to everyday examples and careers so that they can clearly see how Physics fits into everyday life.  Physics concepts are developed using a range of strategies, alongside the subject content students have many opportunities to plan, observe, analyse and evaluate scientific data.  We focus on enhancing students' ability to solve problems, improve numeracy and literacy and create an environment which allows for discussion, questioning, independent study and group work.

 

To find out more about our courses and various qualifications please see the following website for GCSE.   https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse 

Key Stage 5

A number of subjects are offered at AS and A2 level.

OCR Biology (specification A)

This course is designed to offer students the opportunity to devise and plan experimental and investigational activities and interpret, explain, evaluate and communicate results of these. Students also gain an awareness of the ethical, technological and economic aspects of the subject.

The course prepares students who wish to progress into further or higher education, to follow courses in biology, and related subjects, or directly into employment where knowledge of biology would be useful.

OCR A Chemistry

Our chemistry A level course is designed to encourage learners to: develop competence and confidence in a variety of practical, mathematical and problem solving skills, develop essential understanding of different areas of chemistry and how they relate to each other and develop their interest in and enthusiasm for chemistry, including developing an interest in further study and careers associated with the subject. The course involves a wide range of practical opportunities including research projects.

OCR A Physics

OCR Physics is a context-led course placing students’ learning in the environment and in situations in which physics is met in real life. Comments from students include:

  • ‘This physics with all its applications is more interesting and easier to grasp.’
  • ‘With the course you learn the physics but you also think – well I actually see a point in knowing this physics.’
  • ‘We are learning a lot of physics, but I find it easier to learn because it is related to modern day scenarios. When you are looking at things around you, you know it works and what the problem is with it.’

We have moved over to OCR Physics A from September 2012 to bring our qualifications into line so that skills can be developed across the board for all Key Stage 5 courses.

BTEC Applied Science

This qualification will give an understanding of the essential skills and attitudes to begin a professional career or move on to further education. The focus of this qualification is to provide students with the opportunity to specialise in a work-based science qualification, and specific areas within this, such as: criminology/psychology, scientific investigation or mathematics/statistics. 

To find out more about our courses and various qualifications please see the following website for GCSE and science A levels:

http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/

Please visit the following for our BTEC course:

http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-nationals/applied-science-2016.html