Science

 Introduction

 

Staff:     Mr. B Dillard (Head of Physics, Science Co-ordinator)

              Ms. C Weaver (Head of Biology)

              Dr. D Jackson (Head of Chemistry)

 

“Where the world ceases to be the scene of our personal hopes and wishes, where we face it as free beings admiring, asking and observing, there we enter the realm of Art and Science” Albert Einstein

To be able to understand the world around us we are forced to ask the question “how does that work?”  This is where we believe science starts and where we want to take our students, encouraging them to study how our world works and to ask questions and seek answers. We hope this will not only educate our young people, but also empower them, helping them to respect the world they live in and to contribute to science and society.

 

Key Stage 3

Year 7 science combines all three sciences and is topic based.

There is a particular focus on the development of practical skills and on gaining experience with scientific apparatus.  There is a strong focus on investigative work leading students to design their own investigations. A more detailed outline of the Year 7 science course is given here.

Year 8 and 9 Sciences are taught by specialist teachers as separate subjects and have the national curriculum at their core but have additional content that provides valuable preparation for GCSE studies which will begin towards the end of Year 9.

A more detailed subject specific outline of our courses is given for biology, chemistry and physics.

Key Stage 3 Science achievement is examined at Christmas and in summer.  Students sit one exam per science discipline except for Year 7 students who sit one combined science paper.  These key assessments are supplemented by end of topic tests throughout the year.

Key Stage 4

GCSE Science courses start towards the end of Year 9 and follow the AQA Science specifications.  Details can be found at: http://www.sciencelab.org.uk.  The sciences are still taught by specialist teachers as separate subjects

The key dates for the exams are given here. The AQA exam board offers a number of different routes through the modular system leading to several different Science GCSEs. We offer two different routes which successfully cater to our students various strengths and needs.

The table below outlines the modules available to be taken in the three sciences:

	GCSE: Biology	GCSE: Chemistry	GCSE: Physics	Controlled Assessment
GCSE: Science A	B1	C1	P1	Best level 1 ISA
GCSE: Additional Science	B2	C2	P2	Best level 2 ISA
	B3	C3	P3
Controlled Assessment	Best Biology ISA	Best Chemistry ISA	Best Physics ISA

All our students study the Biology 1, Chemistry 1 and Physics 1 specifications starting towards the end of Year 9 and concluding towards the end of Year 10.  Our current expectation is for our students to sit these exams in the summer of Year 10.

Our students subsequently study the Biology 2, Chemistry 2 and Physics 2 specifications starting towards the end of Year 10 and concluding by the end of the first term of Year 11.  This content can be examined in the January or June of Year 11.

The majority of our students will then continue their Science course by studying the Biology 3, Chemistry 3 and Physics 3 specifications for assessment in the June of Year 11.

We offer two routes through the Science specifications:

Triple Science: A student studies and sits all three Biology, Chemistry and Physics modules and adds their best Controlled Assessment result from the appropriate Science to obtain GCSE: Biology and GCSE: Chemistry and GCSE: Physics.

Dual Award: Students combine their results for Biology 1, Chemistry 1 and Physics 1 with their best level 1 Controlled Assessment result to obtain GCSE: Science A.  This Controlled Assessment result could be obtained from Biology, Chemistry or Physics.  Similarly, students combine their results for Biology 2, Chemistry 2 and Physics 2 with their best Level 2 Controlled Assessment result to obtain GCSE: Additional Science.

Helpful links

http://web.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science.php

 The new AQA science syllabus 2012

The Science specifications will change as of September 2011 and new examinations will be in available from January 2012

	Availability of units				Availability of certification
	Unit 1       Biology 1	Unit 2    Chemistry 1	Unit 3 Physics 1	Unit 4 (controlled assessments)	GCSE
January 2012	Y	Y	Y
June 2012	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
January 2013 and after	Y	Y	Y		Y
June 2013 and after	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y

The significant changes include:

•       the abolition of multiple choice papers
•       the introduction of longer written answers
•       longer modular exams
•       changing the details of the Controlled assessments
•       students will be limited to one re-sit per module and at least 40% of their GCSE marks must be obtained in their final exam session.

The course details for KS4 found in the chemistry, physics and biology pages are for the current GCSE (those completing their Year 11 in 2012). New course changes will be made available in summer 2011.

Science in Year 7

Details of the Year 7 course include the topics covered through the year.

•    How to work safely in the laboratory
•    Electricity and electrical circuits
•    Cells
•    Particles and solutions
•    The Jelly project investigation
•    Energy
•    Combustion
•    Design for living
•    Space and the solar system
•    Forces

This course is currently being delivered by Dr Jackson.  Homework is normally set twice weekly for a Tuesday hand in.