Science Department at
Mark Rutherford
Important dates
Year 9 students are starting to study the Core Science GCSE course in November 09.
Most year 10 students have their first GCSE Core Science exam on Thursday14th January 2010. They will have another exam in June.
Most year 11 students have a GCSE Additional Science exam on Wednesday 20th January 2010. They will have another exam in June.
Follow the link for dates for other Science examination dates.
Recent Results
We are very pleased to announce that 80% of all the students in year 11 last year achieved A*to C grades in their Core Science GCSE (or the equivalent in the BTEC first diploma in Applied Science).
100% of the students doing the separate science GCSEs in Physics, Chemistry and Biology achieved A* to C grades.
Sciences continue to be popular choices in the Sixth Form and many of last year's students have gone on to study science or engineering at University.
The Science Department
There are 10 laboratories, of which 9 have been recently refurbished. Each lab has a ceiling mounted data projector to connect to the teacher’s laptop for use with interactive software or the school ICT network. Six labs have interactive whiteboards, one lab has a suite of computers and we have just acquired a digital visualiser and wireless graphic tablet. These facilities will continue to be added to as the Department’s ICT development plan rolls out.
There is an emphasis on doing as much practical work as possible and Science is a popular subject at all levels with most students gaining at least 2 GCSEs in Science. There are 14 science teachers and students are taught Physics, Chemistry and Biology by subject specialists. The department is serviced by a large, well equipped, recently refurbished Preparation Room staffed by 3 technicians.
We are developing an environmental area at the back of the science block and have set up a pond, meadowland and marsh area. Students doing A level Biology have made very good use of this area and have already seen a great increase in biodiversity.
Courses offered to pre 16 students:
OCR Gateway Core Science GCSE
OCR Gateway Additional Science GCSE
OCR Entry level Science
OCR Gateway Biology
OCR Gateway Chemistry
OCR Gateway Physics
Edexcel BTEC First Diploma in Applied Science
Post 16 courses:
AS and A2 AQA Biology
AS and A2 AQA Chemistry
AS and A2 Edexcel Physics
Edexcel BTEC First Diploma in Applied Science
Edexcel BTEC National Award in Applied Science (worth one A level)
Most of our current year 10 students are doing their Core Science GCSE this year, covering elements of Biology, Physics and Chemistry. Current year 11 students are doing the Additional Science GCSE which also covers all three sciences. We also have 60 students in year 10 doing the BTEC First Diploma.
About 70 students in year 10 and a smaller group in year 11 have opted to do extra science lessons after school with the intention of gaining GCSEs in the separate sciences (see the website extracurricular page for details of lesson times). They will not do any exams for the separate sciences until they are in year 11.
Numbers studying Sciences in the Sixth Form are very healthy, as always, with many students successfully following Physics, Biology and Chemistry A level courses or BTEC in Applied Science.
New Curriculum Model in Science this year
Following the Government’s decision to abolish Key Stage 3 SATs we have decided to start Science GCSE in year 9 to give more time and more flexibility later on. Year 9 students will do a short programme of skills lessons and then start the OCR Gateway Core Science GCSE course in the November of year 9. In year 10 there will be a range of different courses available to meet different needs. Students may take all three separate Science GCSEs in Physics, Chemistry and Biology during normal Science lesson time. Many students will do two GCSEs in Core and Additional science and there will also be the option of taking the BTEC First Diploma in Applied Science which is equivalent to 4 GCSEs and is assessed through coursework alone. A small number of students will take Entry level Science alongside Core GCSE.
|
