Aims and Philosophy

The Science Department aims to provide an education in the principles and concepts of science and their responsible applications to the problems encountered in daily life. It also looks to encourage pupils to enjoy their learning of science.

Key Stage 3

Pupils in sets 1 and 2 follow an accelerated science course and are taught by three teachers covering the three subjects – biology, chemistry and physics. Schemes of work have been developed using the ‘Longman’ textbooks as a guide. Pupils in these sets will begin their study of GCSE in biology, chemistry and physics (the three separate sciences) in the 3^rd year.   

Pupils in sets 3, 4 and 5 are following the Key Stage 3 programme of study based on the ‘Collins’ materials.  Topics studied include, in biology, “Cells, Tissues and Organs”, “Classification and Food Webs” and “Reproduction”.  The topics studied in chemistry are “Working in a Laboratory” and “Particles and Reactions”.  The topics studied in physics are “Energy Transfers” and “Forces and Speed”. 

Key Stage 4

Pupils who have opted to study the three separate sciences (triple award) are placed in set 1 and study the OCR Gateway Biology, Chemistry and Physics courses.  The rest of the cohort is setted according to ability into sets 2 - 6.  Those in sets 2-6 have 5 periods (5 hours) of science per week.  They study OCR ‘Gateway Science’ in the 4^th year and OCR ‘Gateway Additional Science’ in the 5^th year thereby obtaining 2 science GCSEs. Those studying triple award (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) have 7 periods in one week and 8 periods in the next – the equivalent of 2 ½ hours per GCSE.  

Topics studied in the Science course are “Understanding Ourselves”, “Carbon Chemistry”, “Energy for the Home”, “Understanding Our Environment”, “Rocks and Metals” and “Living for the Future”.

Topics studied in the Additional Science course are “Living and Growing”, “The Periodic Table”, “Forces for Transport”, “It’s a Green World”, “Chemical Economics” and “Radiation for Life”.

The extra topics covered for the Biology GCSE are “The Living Body” and “Beyond the Microscope”.

The extra topics covered for the Chemistry GCSE are “How Much?” and “Chemistry Out There”.

The extra topics covered for the Physics GCSE are “Space for Reflection” and “Electricity for gadgets”.

The internally assessed coursework element of the 2 year courses include Can-Do Tasks, Science in the News reports, Research Studies and Data Tasks.

Can-Do Tasks provide opportunities to demonstrate practical capabilities and explore the ways in which scientific evidence is collected.

Science in the News reports aim to motivate pupils and give them an insight into how science is reported to the public, the validity of underlying research and claims or recommendations made based on research.

Research Studies require each candidate to undertake some research and then to answer five specific questions. 

The Data Tasks are primarily designed as a focus to allow candidates to develop the skills of collecting, recording, processing and evaluating data, and then to consolidate these skills by linking them with the knowledge and understanding of the contents of the course. The data tasks provide the opportunity for candidates to collect for themselves first hand data using the practical techniques based on activities in the laboratory.

Sixth Form

Biology

The biology students follow the OCR AS (H021) course in the lower sixth.  This consists of two theory units entitled “Cells, Exchange and Transport” and “Molecules, Biodiversity, Food and Health” and practical coursework

The structure of the OCR A2 (H421) course in the upper sixth is similar with two theory courses and practical coursework assessment. The units are entitled “Communications, Homeostasis and Energy” and “Control, Genomes and Environment”

Chemistry

The chemistry students follow the Edexcel Chemistry AS (8CH01) and A2 (9CH01) course.

In the lower sixth the AS course is divided into two theory units entitled: Unit One – The Core Principles of Chemistry and Unit Two – Applications of the Core Principles of Chemistry. Students also undertake an internally assessed unit, Chemistry Laboratory Skills I.

In the upper sixth the A2 course is also divided into two theory units entitled: Unit Four – General Principles of Chemistry I (Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry) and Unit Five – General principles of Chemistry II (Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry). Students also undertake an internally assessed unit, Chemistry Laboratory Skills II.

Physics

The physics students follow the AQA Physics (A) AS and A2 course.  This aims to introduce students to new and exciting areas of physics as well as to develop essential knowledge and understanding of the key principles of the subject.  There is a practical coursework component in both the lower sixth and upper sixth.   The two units in the lower sixth are entitled “Particles, Quantum Phenomena and Electricity” and “Mechanics, Materials and Waves”.  In the upper sixth the units are entitled “Fields and Further Mechanics” and “Nuclear and Thermal Physics plus optional unit”.

Extra curricular activities

Over recent years the department has organized a number of extra curricula activities.  These have included participation by various year groups in hands on workshops run by the Natural History Museum, visits for the 6^th form to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich and field trips to Wales and Holland Park.  Inspirational talks organised by the Institute of Physics have been attended by a number of year groups.  Our 2^nd year pupils have regularly been very successful at the Salter’s Festival of Chemistry. 

A number of visits to the school are also regularly arranged.  For instance a group of researchers from University College London and Royal Society of Chemistry visited the school as part of the gifted and talented programme to deliver a workshop on infra red spectroscopy.  Talks by speakers from University College, London, Queen Mary College, London and Imperial College have been organised for a number of year groups.

Since the award of Specialist Science Status in April 2008, a number of extra activities have been initiated.  These include a gifted and talented chemistry club, and a gifted and talented astronomy club, and booster chemistry classes.  In addition regular work with primary schools is being undertaken, as well as primary inset. A “taste of physics” course has been offered to parents.