Science Department
Our Aims and Objectives
Differentiating Science Work / Experience
As teachers we recognise that we should provide appropriate learning experiences for the full range of ability to be found within our classes. We should ensure we plan carefully and match all scientific opportunities and challenges with each pupil's capabilities.
Scientifically Less Able Children
Science is an area of the curriculum, which offers opportunities for success to the less able child. The practical nature of the subject often appeals and provides stimulating challenges. Individual pupils need to be catered for through flexibility of teaching styles, and the size of steps within the task or indeed the size of task itself. Children who lack confidence or ability for example would need more guidance and support, perhaps adopting a more didactic approach. Clearer aims would need to be given and smaller, well defined steps, incorporating a great deal of discussion would need to be built into the activity. Where appropriate access should be given to a computer.
Scientifically More Able Children
Provision must be made through scientific activities to stretch the more able children at Frewen College. Science through its investigative approach provides excellent opportunities to develop creativity and aesthetics through problem and design challenges. A wider range of scientific skills can then be fostered and developed. These tasks should aim to stimulate and challenge the child. As teachers we recognise that our role for such children will be more and more of a facilitator, for independent learning. Differentiation will also be shown for individual children in the daily lesson plans. We also seek to transfer our high expectations for improving the standard of work to every child within each class.
Year by Year
Year 7
All students in Year 7 study a Science course which meets the requirements of the KS3 program of study. Our course is based on the QCA scheme of work. Practical work is central to the course, each topic being introduced and studied in an experimental context wherever possible. Throughout Year 7 and especially in the first term, students are provided with a thorough grounding in safe working practice and basic laboratory skills.
Topics covered include Acids and Alkalis, Cells, Reproduction, and Particle Models of Solid, Liquid and Gas.
Year 8
All students in Year 8 study a Science course which meets the requirements of the KS3 program of study. Our course is based on the QCA scheme of work. Practical work is central to the course, each topic being introduced and studied in an experimental context wherever possible. Throughout Year 8 students are provided with a thorough grounding in safe working practice and basic laboratory skills.
Topics covered include Atoms & Elements, Ecological Relationships, and Light & Sound.
Year 9
All students in Year 9 study a Science course which meets the requirements of the current KS3 program of study. The course is based on the QCA scheme of work. Practical work forms an integral part of the course and wherever possible, theory is introduced in an experimental context.
Topics covered include Inheritance & Selection, Plants for Food, Reactions of Metals, Patterns of Reactivity, Energy & Electricity and Pressure & Moments.
GCSE
In Years 10 & 11 students study science at GCSE level, following the AQA Science syllabus which contains modules of study from all three traditional sciences. The new criteria attach importance to the knowledge, skills and understanding of how science works in the world at large as well as in the laboratory. Practical coursework forms an important and integral part of the subject and accounts for 25% of the final GCSE grade. Extended experiments are planned and extensive results carefully collected; students then use their own data to answer questions set by the examination board under controlled conditions.
