The Department has 11 science labs each well equipped to allow all types of Biology, Chemistry and Physics practical work to be completed. The science department has three technical staff that support all of the practical work in science.
Our vision
To promote high achievement in science through enjoyment, challenge and quality teaching
Year 9
In the first half term in science students follow a programme of study which allows them to develop/enhance the practical, mathematical and analytical skills started in middle school. Students will also have the opportunity to focus upon key topics which will be required for successful progression through the GCSE course.
Year 10 and 11
Students are offered the choice of studying Combined Science or Triple Science. The triple Science option allows students to study all three separate Science subjects and achieve a full GCSE grade for each one. Combined Science is worth two GCSE grades and combines the separate sciences into one qualification.
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Course
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GCSE Combined Science
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Exam Board/Syllabus
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OCR Gateway J250
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Grade Equivalences
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2 Tiers of entry: Higher (Grade 9 to 4)
Foundation (Grade 5 to 1)
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Hours Taught (per cycle)
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10 hours
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Assessment Route
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There will be one examination series available each year in May/June.
All examined papers must be taken in the same examination series at the end of the course.
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GCSE Combined Science covers aspects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics relevant in everyday life. Practical skills are embedded within the different topics covered with opportunities to carry out practical activities to enhance experience and understanding of science theory and skills.
The course is studied during both Year 10 and 11 with examinations at the end of Year 11. Leading into these exams students will be entered for either Foundation or Higher tier papers based on their performance in assessments completed throughout the course.
If students achieve good grades in the Combined Science qualification, they will be eligible to study A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry or Physics at sixth form. It is important to note that we would recommend that students wishing to study A-levels in Biology, Chemistry or Physics choose Triple Science as the courses cover a more extensive range of subject matter and are an appropriate course for students who are aiming to study sciences at A-Level.
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Course
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GCSE Triple Science
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Exam Board/Syllabus
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OCR Gateway Biology A J247
OCR Gateway Chemistry A J248
OCR Gateway Physics A J249
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Grade Equivalences
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3 separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics each with 2 tiers of entry: Higher (9 to 4) and Foundation (5 to 1)
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Hours Taught (per cycle)
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Triple Science is taught as an option and will therefore be allocated 15 hours per cycle.
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Assessment Route
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There will be one examination series available each year in May/June.
All examined papers must be taken in the same examination series at the end of the course.
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Biology
GCSE Biology will enable students to develop their curiosity about the living world and provide insight into and experience of how science works. They will engage in everyday biology ranging from the global challenges of feeding the world through genetic engineering, to performing dissections helping them to understand the detail of human biology.
Chemistry
Chemistry enables students to investigate the properties and reactions of a range of elements within the periodic table. Students will have opportunities to grow crystals, investigate polymers and even manufacture a simple fertiliser.
Physics
Physics builds mathematical and experimental models of how the universe works including matter and forces, particles and energy, astronomy, waves and electricity. It is an important foundation for many careers including professional sciences and engineering.
Due to the extensive nature of the content covered, students will have to be committed and dedicated to this challenging course. The Triple Science course is available only as an option and students wishing to follow this must choose it as one of their options. Sufficient time has been allocated in the curriculum to allow students to fully develop scientific understanding and application.
Year 12 and Year 13
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Course
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GCE A Level Biology
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Exam Board/Syllabus
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OCR – H421
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Grades
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A*-E
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Course Entry Requirements
In Addition To The School Sixth Form Entry Requirements
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GCSE Grade 5 in Mathematics and GCSE Grade BB in Double Science/GCSE Grade B in Biology
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Assessment Route
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There are three papers taken for A Level in the summer of 2018:
- Biological Processes
- Biological Diversity
- Unified Biology
Practical skills will be examined within the written papers and by the successful completion of practical’s that cover a range of skills. This practical endorsement is recorded separately, as a pass or fail.
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Biology as a subject has great relevance to us all; it investigates many aspects that have direct bearing in our daily lives, topics such as human physiology, health and disease, inheritance, and environmental issues. Indeed biological research is breaking new ground at an ever increasing pace, particularly in the fields of genetic engineering and biotechnology, making Biology more exciting than ever and opening new opportunities for careers in these and other related areas.
Modules:
- Development of practical skills
- Foundations in Biology
- Exchange and Transport
- Biodiversity, evolution and disease
- Communications, homeostasis and energy
- Genetics, evolution and ecosystems
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Learning strategies:
- Decision making, role plays and data analysis.
- Laboratory work and fieldwork.
- Homework including examination questions and research.
- Self-study using school resources.
- Presentation assignments (individual and group) including use of ICT.
- Actively engaged in enquiry into problems, issues and questions.
- Group discussions.
- Out of School visits and lectures.
- Self-Study: Throughout the two years students are expected to carry out self-study activities during study periods to support their studies. This is vital to success in Biology.
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Course
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GCE A Level Chemistry
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Exam Board/Syllabus
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OCR – H434
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Grades
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A*-E
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Course Entry Requirements
In Addition To The School Sixth Form Entry Requirements
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GCSE Grade 5 in Mathematics and GCSE Grade BB in Double Science/GCSE Grade B in Chemistry
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Assessment Route
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Paper 1: Period Table, Elements & Physical Chemistry
Paper 2: Synthesis & Analytical Techniques
Paper 3: Unified Chemistry
Practical skills will be examined within the written papers and by the successful completion of set practical work (marks from the practicals will not count towards the final grade). Practical activities will be formally monitored and successful completion of a full practical profile will lead to an Endorsement of Practical Skills (certificate).
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Chemistry is a subject that has global impact. As a fundamental science it has a profound effect on our planet and is involved in nearly every facet of everyday life. Almost every new technological change and important discovery has its foundation in chemistry. A qualification in Chemistry allows access to many career pathways, including research, medicine, dentistry, forensic science, food technology, polymer science and public health analysis. Chemical research is breaking new ground at an ever increasing pace, particularly in the fields of environmental science and nanotechnology, making Chemistry more exciting than ever and opening new opportunities for careers in these and other related areas.
Modules:
- Development of Practical skills
- Core Principles: Atoms, compounds, molecules and equations; Amount of substance; Acid–base and redox reactions; Electrons, bonding and structure.
- Periodic table and energy: The Periodic table and periodicity; Group 2 and the halogens; Qualitative analysis; Enthalpy changes; Reaction rates and equilibrium (qualitative).
- Core Organic Chemistry: Basic concepts; Hydrocarbons; Alcohols and haloalkanes; Organic synthesis; Analytical techniques (IR and MS).
- Physical Chemistry and Transition elements: Reaction rates and equilibrium (quantitative); pH and buffers; Enthalpy, entropy and free energy; Redox and electrode potentials; Transition elements.
- Organic Chemistry and analysis: Aromatic compounds; Carbonyl compounds; Carboxylic acids and esters; Nitrogen compounds; Polymers; Organic synthesis; Chromatography and spectroscopy (NMR).
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Learning strategies
- Actively engaged in enquiry into problems, issues and questions
- Individual practical work
- Homework including examination questions and research.
- Self-study using school resources.
- Presentation assignments (individual and group) including use of ICT.
- Out of School visits and lectures
- Resources are posted on the school’s intranet and VLE for students
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Course
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GCE A Level Physics
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Exam Board/Syllabus
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OCR – H558
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Grades
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A*-E
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Course Entry Requirements
In Addition To The School Sixth Form Entry Requirements
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GCSE Grade 5 in Mathematics and GCSE Grade BB in Double Science/GCSE Grade B in Physics.
(Students achieving a grade 7 in GCSE Mathematics and/or taking A-Level Mathematics will find the course easier due to its numerical content, but a 5 grade is the required minimum).
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Assessment Route
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Assessment:
A Level:
Paper 1 (135 minute exam) 100 marks 37% of final grade
Modelling physics:
Multiple choice, 15 marks
Structured questions, covering theory and practical skills, 85 marks
Paper 2 (135 minute exam) 100 marks 37% of final grade
Exploring physics:
Multiple choice 15 marks
Structured questions, covering theory and practical skills. 85 marks.
Paper 3 (90 minute exam) 70 marks 26% of final grade
Unified physics:
Structured questions and extended response questions covering theory and practical skills.
40% of A level assessment requires mathematics at or above level 2. Where new mathematical techniques are required beyond top grade GCSE, this will be taught as part of the course.
Finally practical skills are also assessed for the full A level qualification. This is done by a pass/fail non-exam assessment which is reported separately. This consists of a teacher assessed practical profile developed throughout the course. Candidates complete a minimum of 12 practical activities to demonstrate practical competence. Performance is reported separately from the A Level grade.
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Physics has been at the heart of some of the most important technological advances in our society – the development of computers and digital communications for example. It is also concerned with answering the big questions in life – where do we come from, how did the universe begin? Physics is the subject that fits between Mathematics and Science so if you like Maths you’ll enjoy Physics too. The major topics studied include Motion, Car Safety, Electricity, Waves, Energy, Radioactivity, Gravity, Oscillations, Quantum Physics and Astronomy.
Physics A Level content is split into six teaching modules. The modules can be summarised as:
- Development of practical skills. This includes skills of planning, implementing, analysis and evaluation
- Foundations of physics. This includes physical quantities and units, scalars and vectors & measurements.
- Forces and motion. This includes motion, forces in action, work, energy and power, materials, Newton’s laws of motion and momentum.
- Electrons, waves, and photons. This includes: charge and current, energy, power and resistance, electrical circuits, waves & quantum physics.
- Newtonian world and astrophysics. This includes thermal physics, circular motion, oscillations, gravitational fields & astrophysics.
- Particles and medical physics. This includes capacitors, electric fields, electromagnetism, nuclear and particle physics & medical imaging.
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Learning strategies
- Decision making, role plays and data analysis
- Laboratory work
- Homework including examination questions and research
- Self-study using school resources
- Presentation assignments (individual and group) including use of ICT
- Active engagement in enquiry into problems, issues and questions
- Group discussions
- Out of School visits and lectures
- Work for lessons and other activities is posted on the school’s VLE for students
- In September we visit the Physics At Work exhibition at the Cavendish Laboratories at the University of Cambridge and in the spring of the A2 year we visit CERN, the European Centre for Nuclear Research in Switzerland which supports the work we do on particle physics. Also, the University of Cambridge Physics Centre hosts evening lectures every month from October to March for students of A level physics. These aim to use the students’ existing knowledge to stretch and challenge their understanding. Last year’s topics included Space, Dark matter, Large Hadron Collider, Engineering, Energy Mathematics and the Element Polonium 210
- Students are expected to carry out self-study activities during study periods to support their studies. These activities will be actively monitored in school
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Course
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BTEC Applied Science Level 3 National Extended Certificate
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Exam Board/Syllabus
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Edexcel
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Grades
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A*-E
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Course Entry Requirements
In Addition To The School Sixth Form Entry Requirements
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6 GCSE’s at grade C/4
It is recommended that students taking this course have a GCSE Grade ‘C’ in science
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Assessment Route
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See below
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This course is for students who are interested in learning about the sector alongside other fields of study, with a view to progressing to a wide range of higher education courses, not necessarily in applied science.
Mandatory Modules:
(Y12 Units 1 and 2)
- Principles and Application of Science 1
- Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques
(Y13 Unit 3 and 4)
- Science Investigation Skills
- Optional Modules
Assessment:
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Unit title
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Guided learning hours
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Assessment type
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Assessment length
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1.Principles and Application of Science
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90
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Externally set and marked written exam
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90 minutes
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2.Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques
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90
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Internally assessed summative assignments
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3.Science Investigation Skills
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120
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Externally set and marked written task
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90 minutes
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4.Optional Modules
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60
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Internally assessed summative assignments
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Learning strategies:
- Extended research and writing
- Laboratory work and fieldwork
- Designing, carrying out and evaluating practical investigations
- Homework
- Self-study using school resources
- Using ICT to present reports and analyse data
- Group discussions
- Out of school visits and lectures (where available)
- Exam revision and preparation
- Active engagement in enquiry into problems, issues and questions