The Science Department includes 10 members of staff, each with their own areas of expertise and is a busy and lively Department. We aim to inform, stimulate and challenge pupils of all ability levels and to provide them with an opportunity to improve skills, both mental and practical that will be useful not only in their academic careers but also in everyday life. We take seriously our responsibility to help prepare students for the future; pupils are encouraged to become confident citizens in a technical world with an informed interest in their environment.

In this course we essentially follow the National Curriculum programme for Key Stage 3 (using the Spotlight Science 7-9 scheme) but our students do not sit externally-assessed SATs tests. We focus on those aspects of the KS3 curriculum which help our students build a solid foundation in preparation for the GCSE programme which begins in Year 9. Our aim is to work in small sets of mixed ability at this stage.

In Year 9 we begin teaching the GCSE programme using the AQA Sciences suite, following the Science B route initially. The work is at GCSE standard but is covered at a more manageable pace than would be typical of Year 10 or Year 11 work. This gives an opportunity to ask questions and to develop a ‘How Science Works’ approach to investigation. In Years 10 and 11 teaching groups are structured to allow some students to progress faster through Additional Science allowing access to separate science awards in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Specifications for first assessment in 2009 have been chosen to give the best match with GCSE work and to give the most coherent programme of study. 

Biology (OCR Specification) can be downloaded by clicking the link below.

www.ocr.org.uk/Data/publications/key_documents/AS_ALevel_GCE_Biology_Summary.pdf

Chemistry (OCR Specification A) can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.

www.ocr.org.uk/Data/publications/key_documents/AS_ALevel_GCE_Chemistry_A_Summary.pdf

Physics  (AQA Specification B)

www.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/physics_b_summary_new.php

Click on the link below for access to GRENVILLE SCIENCE HOT LYNX, all you need to know about science in the Web world!

GRENVILLE SCIENCE HOT LYNX (WORD DOC and more)

www.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/physics_b_new.php - Physics specification (Physics in Context, 2455)

www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/asa_levelgceforfirstteachingin2008/biology/ - Biology specification

www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/asa_levelgceforfirstteachingin2008/chemistry_a/index.html - Chemistry specification