Key Stage 3
The emphasis is placed on allowing pupils to seek answers to scientific problems via practical investigations. Great care is taken to develop the necessary skills for this. These include planning; designing and carrying out experiments; interpreting results; drawing conclusions; and communicating the findings clearly. In addition students begin to value the role of creativity, debate and discussion in the scientific community.
The course is designed to allow pupils to work at their own pace and provides many opportunities for study to a high academic level. All units studied during the Key Stage fit within the broad categories of either Biology, Chemistry or Physics and students are expected to build up a body of knowledge and skills ready for their transition to
Key
Stage 4.
At Key Stage 3 we subscribe to the Exploring Science course which now incorporates How Science Works. Assessing Pupil Progress (APP), as a means of measuring attainment, is now fully implemented.
Key Stage 4
Science is about discovering why things happen and the mechanisms governing the natural world, as well as our interaction with it. It is a very important part of everyday life and because of this all students study Science at Key Stage 4. The topics covered emphasise scientific literacy by developing the knowledge and understanding which students need in order to become educated consumers of Science. Our courses are designed to enable students to:
- Recognise the impact of Science on everyday life
- Make informed decisions about issues which involve Science
- Understand and reflect on the Science reported in the media
- Develop the skills needed for science-related employment
Each course contains elements of the three ‘traditional’ disciplines:
Biology – the study of living things and their interaction with their environment
Chemistry – the study of materials, their manufacture, their interaction and their use
Physics – the study of energy, forces and our place in the Universe
BTEC Firsts in Applied Science
BTEC Firsts are available at either the Certificate, Extended Certificate or Diploma level. Each is a self-contained and well rounded study of the whole subject but, of course, the depth of study varies. A decision is made as to the appropriateness of each course for each student as they approach the end of Key Stage 3.
BTEC Firsts are entirely coursework-based and internally assessed within the College. This allows considerable flexibility regarding pace. Each assignment begins with a vocationally relevant scenario which then leads to the completion of a range of tasks all aimed at developing a specific area of knowledge and capability.
Success on each course is graded at the Pass, Merit, Distinction or Distinction+ level.
GCSE Separate Science
Often referred to as ‘Triple Science’ this course follows a more traditional route. Three separate GCSE subjects are followed over the course of 2 years leading to 3 GCSE qualifications, 1 each in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The course is tailored to those with significant talent in the subject and with a strong desire to enter employment or post-16 education which has a strong scientific element.
Each of the three GCSEs studied comes for the OCR Twenty First Century Science range and each contains a mixture of formal examinations and a coursework element. The C21st range are very modern in their outlook in that they not only provide the content required but also engender a sense of responsibility and encourage students to consider where Science ‘fits’ in the World as a whole.
Mr S J Romaine – Head of Science
