Science – Introduction

Science is all around us! By including Science in the curriculum you will gain knowledge of the subject, its principles and skills in a wide context, seeing the place of Science in the everyday world.

The Science Faculty aims to provide an excellent standard of education, enabling you to achieve your potential in a supportive environment. We aim to make science:

• relevant
• engaging
• challenging
• enjoyable

for all pupils, whatever your ability, within the constraints of the specification followed.

We teach Science as three separate subjects, by subject specialists where possible, from Year 7 (age 11). This enables us to follow the guidelines of the National Curriculum, but to order topics in a way that best suits you.

We aim to start teaching GCSE Science during Year 9 (age 13). All teaching from this age and upwards is taught by subject specialists. We currently offer two options at this stage:

• Science + Additional Science (Double Award)
• Three Separate Sciences (Triple Award)

Either option could lead to studying a Science at AS level or IB, but if you pursue three Separate Sciences you will have a broader foundation for further study post 16.

In 2006 a new GCSE curriculum was started nationally. We follow the AQA suite of specifications.

• Click here to visit this part of the AQA website.

For more information about our courses, please visit the individual departments.

Opportunities for Young Scientists

Our enthusiastic and highly qualified staff are a real strength in this dynamic department.

The Y7 Science Club meets weekly and carries out many hands-on practical activities. Teams of girls from the Science Club regularly enter competitions such as the Salters Festival of Chemistry.

For older students, our Science Society meets every half term after school. Activities might include genetically engineering bacteria to glow by inserting a jellyfish gene, and outside speakers from a variety of Scientific Fields. The programme for the Science Society is devised by our Science Prefects, who are members of the Sixth Form.

Science Writer awards

Each year Lower Sixth students enter the Daily Telegraph Science Writers awards. We have a tremendous track record of success in this, with one former pupil winning this national competition outright and going to the USA as part of her prize.

We have received Runners-up, Highly Commended awards and the ‘Best School’ award for the highest number of good entries on two occasions. We are the only school to have won this twice and the prize money of £1000 has been usefully employed in providing exciting, extra materials for teaching.

Nuffield Science bursaries

Nuffield Science bursaries are available for Lower Sixth students during the summer holidays. We have been very successful in obtaining these, with up to six students in one year being awarded a bursary to complete a minimum of a four week research project. Some of the projects completed by students have been about: radioisotopes, hand-washing techniques in hospitals, testing implants for arthritis sufferers and investigating a potential vaccine component for pneumococcal pneumonia.

Paperclip Physics

We enter the Paperclip Physics competition (run by the Institute of Physics) each year. Teams of pupils explain a Physical concept to non-Scientists using everyday items. We have won the local round and have been regularly commended for our excellent presentation skills. This competition has now been replaced with a similar competition where teams will produce a video clip.

 

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