Sciences
The Science Department is committed to providing stimulating and rigorous teaching to enable all pupils to fulfil their academic potential. We also aim to extend the awe of the subjects by offering a range of quality extra-curricular activities throughout all the year groups.
All the Sciences are taught by subject specialists in recently re-furbished laboratories. We teach Science in a practical, investigative way which develops pupils' scientific knowledge by nurturing their skill of analysis and enquiry.
Key Stage 3: Years 7 & 8.
The emphasis on the teaching of Science at Key Stage 3 is on 'How Science Works', meaning that pupils will
- develop their understanding of scientific ideas
- work out scientific ideas for themselves using results from practical investigations
- see how Science is used in everyday life
- think about how we can use Science for good.
The topic content broadly follows the National Curriculum, though it is compressed to allow for the introduction of GCSE Physics, Chemistry and Biology specifications to be taught in Year 9.
Key Stage 4: Years 9, 10 and 11.
At GCSE the route which a student follows is tailored to their individual need.
In Year 9, all students are taught the first units of the GCSE AQA Science Course, which includes all higher content. After this, students will take one of the following routes:
- GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy. This covers the three science disciplines in the traditional fashion, much like the Core and Additional Science GCSE. This is a route at the end of which students gain two GCSEs.
- Triple Science. This involves pupils studying three separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics and ultimately gaining three GCSE qualifications.
Practical work is a key element of all the courses and all students are provided with the resources to fully develop their practical skills in our five well-equipped labs.
