We take pride in our Science Department and endeavour to spark enthusiasm and curiosity throughout the curriculum. The Science Department constantly strives to find new ways of making the material accessible and memorable. Particular emphasis is placed on any unfamiliar vocabulary and we regularly review key information.
Year 9
The Year 9 curriculum is designed to lay strong foundations for the Science GCSE course. Pupils are introduced to key GCSE concepts and vocabulary. These are revisited in greater depth at Key Stage 4. The Year 9 pupils are divided into three science groups based on their learning needs. The three sciences are taught separately within these groups. The Year 9 pupils have 50 minutes of Biology, 50 minutes of Chemistry and 50 minutes of Physics each week.
Year 10 & Year 11
We run a variety of Science GCSEs using the Edexcel examination board. They vary in response to the specific needs of each cohort. Course options are reviewed annually and information is shared ahead of the Year 9 to Year 10 Key Stage 4 transition.
Pupils are assessed through terminal examinations. There are two tiers of papers: Foundation (Grades 1-5) and Higher (Grades 4-9). 15% of the marks are awarded for demonstrating mathematical skills.
Alternative Pathways
The Edexcel Science Entry Level Certificate is available for pupils who would benefit from a more manageable workload or who want to focus their time and attention on other subjects. The Entry Level Certificate is not equivalent to a GCSE. Pupils are assessed through six short examinations. They can be taken at any time during the year and repeated if necessary. This helps to reduce the pressure of the Year 11 exam season.
Explore the school
Open Days
To see how our school could support your child, come and meet us at an open day, or explore our Sixth Form to see where the journey can lead.