Head of Department: Mr G Luxton
Science is a large department within the school, with 12 members of staff and access to 7 specialist teaching rooms. The ethos of the department is driven by the inquisitive nature of the pupils. We thrive on learning by experimentation and pupils enjoy frequent opportunities to challenge the reliability of evidence and the vailidity of information from a range of different sources.
More information coming soon !Saturday 10th March 2012
In year 7, pupils follow an "in-house" scheme of work, delivering a range of key stage 3 science concepts in an accessible and investigative manner. Pupils thrive on the vivid background ideas and the importance placed upon their ideas and suggestions. At the end of year 7, pupils are setted, ready for year 8. Setting is based upon external data including KS2 science results and end-of-unit tests completed in year 7 at Hartismere.
In year 8, pupils continue with three, 100 minute periods of Science per fortnight. Biology, Chemistry and Physics are covered via an "in-house" scheme of work. Teaching is divided into three 13-week units of work. As well as summative end-of-unit tests, pupils also complete an end of year assessment in order to inform setting decisions for year 9 and to select appropriate students for the "Triple Science" program in year 9.
In year 9, all pupils begin GCSE studies. Three teaching groups, of approximately 30 pupils each, begin a "Triple Science" GCSE program - enabling them to complete GCSE's in Biology, Chemistry and Physics (OCR J263, J264 & J265 respectively) by the time they finish year 11. The remaining three sets also follow GCSE Science studies - for the double award. The extra time available under this approach (a 3 year GCSE program) allows us to take a highly investigative approach, embedding How Science Works skills throughout. No pupils take external exams in science in year 9.
In years 10 & 11, the top two sets continue their Triple Science studies, the next two groups study GCSE Science in year 10 and GCSE Additional Science in year 11. The remaining pupils follow a level 2 BTEC Extended certificate in Applied Science. This is a non-exam course, equivalent to 2-GCSE's (if passed).
|
Yr10 Science group |
Course |
Yr 11
Science group |
Course |
|
10 Green |
GCSE Triple Science |
11 Green |
GCSE Triple Science |
|
10 Blue |
GCSE Triple Science |
11 Blue |
GCSE Triple Science |
|
10 Violet |
GCSE Science (higher tier) |
11 Violet |
GCSE Additional Science (H tier) |
|
10 Red |
GCSE Science
(both Foundation & Higher tiers -
with the level of entry
reviewed according to individuals
performance in the run-up to exams) |
11 Red |
GCSE Additional Science
(F & H tier) |
|
10BTEC |
Edexcel level 2 BTEC extended
certificate in Applied Science
(equivalent to 2 GCSE's, if passed) |
11 BTEC |
BTEC First Cert. in Applied Science |
|
|
|
|
|
The A level Sciences are very successful - with numbers of 20 and above at AS level in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Applied Science. If you'd like to know more, please consult the subject pages in the index to the left.