Science

		print page	|	updated: 22/02/2012 11:27:00

Staff

•    Mr A Wright (Head of Faculty)
•    Mr J Szewczyk (Director of Teaching & Learning, Chemistry)
•    Miss A Hobbs (Director of Teaching & Learning, Biology)
•    Mr A Broadhurst (Subject Leader for Physics)
•    Mrs D Hickmore (Head of Sixth Form)
•    Mr S Lord (SENCo)
•    Mr V Postoyalko
•    Mr J Hickmore
•    Mrs A Goldstraw
•    Mrs C Almond (Senior Science Technician)
•    Mrs J Horstwood (Science Technician)

Teaching Rooms

The school has 7 fully equipped Science Laboratories (two specialist labs for each of the three separate subjects and one all purpose general science laboratory).  Each laboratory is equipped with all essential equipment for practical work, TV and video/DVD, visualiser, computer stations on all teacher benches and a ceiling mounted data.  Three laboratories are equipped with SmartBoard Interactive Whiteboards.  Each laboratory has access to a Prep Room with adequate storage facilities.  Two of the Prep Rooms have additional staff work spaces.

The faculty also has access to an ICT suite containing 30 networked PC’s and a staff computer linked directly to an Interactive Whiteboard.

Resources

The faculty uses class sets of ‘Starting Science’ and ‘Thinking Through Science’ text books for Key Stage 3.  In addition there are ‘Biology’, ‘Chemistry’ and ‘Physics First’ text books that provide a good introduction to the separate sciences delivered in Year 9.  A variety of GCSE and AS and A2 text books are available for students to use at Key Stages 4 and 5.  In addition to this all GCSE students and A level students in Biology and Chemistry have their own personalised login to an on-line text book and bank of resources, which can be accessed both in school and at home.

A number of software programmes are available through the network in the ICT suite.  One of the most popular of these is the ‘Boardworks’ package for KS3, KS4 (Core, Additional and Separate Sciences) and AS and A2 level in all three sciences.

Curriculum

Key Stage 3

Y7 and Y8 follow a topic based General Science course.  In both years there is a time allocation of 3 hours per week (12% curriculum time).  In Year 7, one hour a fortnight is given over to one of the activities from the CASE Thinking Science scheme.  Schemes of Work for Y7 and Y8 have been updated over the last two years to take on the format of and many ideas from the QCA Scheme for Key Stage 3.  In Year 7, the Units of Work include Observation and Measurement, Separating and Purifying, Acids and Alkalis, Humans as Organisms, Forces, Heating Chemicals and Reproduction.  In Year 8, the students study Water, Earth and Space, Materials and their Uses, Living Things and their Environment and Energy.

In Y9, the students follow courses in each of the three separate sciences with 3 hours per fortnight for each subject (18% curriculum time).  Key Stage 3 assessments are completed in the first two terms of Y9; the final term is used to begin the delivery of the GCSE course.

Key Stage 4

In Y10 all students follow the AQA Science course.  The vast majority of students will follow the Triple Science course, although there are a number each year that will take the Double Award option.  Physics, Chemistry and Biology is delivered by subject specialists, where possible, throughout Key Stage 4. In Y10 the time allocation is 3 hours per subject per fortnight, which increases to 4 hours per subject per 10 day cycle in Y11.

The course is currently assessed through modular examinations in Y10 and Y11, although schemes of assessment are under review by the examination boards.  Each examination is worth 25% of the final grade; 25% of the marks are also achieved through a practical Investigative Skills Assessment, which is completed in Y11.

Key Stage 5

Post-16 courses are offered within the co-educational Sleaford Joint Sixth Form and, in recent years, Science has proved to be an extremely popular choice, attracting additional students into the school.  Our current Y12 has 59 students taking Biology, there are 59 students studying Physics and 46 following Chemistry at AS level. It is expected that these numbers will be matched in the intake for 2012.  Biology and Chemistry offer the AQA AS and A2 courses and the Edexcel course is studied at AS and A2 level in Physics.  Further information on each of these courses can be obtained from the relevant exam board websites.  A requirement of at least a B grade at GCSE is considered to be the qualification for entry onto AS level courses. Each course is allocated 4 hours of teaching time per week and is assessed through written modular examinations and a coursework assessment.

Extra-curricular opportunities

Since our redesignation as a Sports and Science College the faculty has operated an after school Science Club offering Y7 students the opportunity to undertake the British Association STEM CREST Bronze Award.  In addition to this, there are also opportunities to participate in various educational visits and competitions, such as Project X (run in conjunction with the RAF), Target Mars, Dead on Time and the Salter’s Chemistry competition.  Science activities also feature as part of the school’s house competitions.