Course Overview
Science stimulates and excites students’ curiosity and their interest in the world around them. Through their work in science, students begin to understand major scientific ideas, to appreciate how these develop and contribute to technological change, and recognise the cultural significance of science and its worldwide development.
Science offers students the opportunity to take part in a range of practical activities that allow them to link scientific theory to actual experience.
Students learn how the results of experimental evidence and models are used to explain phenomena and events. Through carrying out enquiry-based investigations, students develop key skills and are encouraged to think critically and creatively.
Students also learn how scientific technologies have been used in industry, business and medicine and how these developments have contributed greatly to the quality of life for most people. Students take part in questioning and discussion about science-based issues that affect their lives, the society in which they live and the world as a whole. Through this independent enquiry they become more confident in expressing their views and evaluating decisions about scientific matters.
FAQs
What are the aims of the course?
To encourage candidates to:
- Acquire a systematic body of scientific knowledge, and the skills needed to apply this in new and changing situations;A
- acquire an understanding of scientific ideas, of how they develop, of the factors which may affect their power, and of their limitations;
- Consider and evaluate critically their own data and conclusions, and those obtained from other sources, using ICT where appropriate;
- Evaluate, in terms of their scientific knowledge and understanding and their understanding of the processes of scientific enquiry and of the nature of scientific knowledge, the benefits and drawbacks of scientific and technological developments, including those related to the environment, personal health and quality of life, and considering ethical issues where these arise;
- Select, organise and present information clearly and logically, using appropriate scientific terms and conventions, and ICT where appropriate;
- Interpret and evaluate scientific data and conclusions from a variety of sources;
- Use electronic (internet, CD ROMs, databases, simulations etc.) and/or more traditional sources of information (books, magazines, leaflets etc.) to collect data and ideas on a topic of scientific interest.
What examination will I take?
Year 11 – OCR Twenty First Century GCSE Science Suite
Year 10 – Edexcel Science
For both courses double award is compulsory for most students. Triple award is available for those who choose Science as an option and we recommend this for anyone who wishes to study Science at A level.
What is involved with the examination?
All examinations – including periodic Module Test over the two years – make up 67% of the entire course.
What coursework will I have to complete?
Year 11 – The coursework is worth 33% of the final grade and comprises 2 elements: the critical analysis of primary data and a case study of a topical, scientific issue.
Year 10 – The coursework is worth 25% of the final grade and comprises of controlled assessments, which can only be completed in school.
Who teaches the different science subjects?
You will have one science teacher for the Double Award GCSE and a different teacher with expertise in different sciences if you opt to take extra science in the option blocks.
What other Science courses will there be at KS4?
We offer BTEC Extended Certificate in Applied Science for those students we feel it would benefit the most.
The Science Staff
Mr C Walsh
Head of Science
Miss A Crofts
Lead teacher in charge of teaching and learning
Ms D Chudasama
Assessment and Inclusion Co-ordinator
Mrs E Davis
Science teacher (part time)
Mrs B Kaur-Dheri
Science teacher
Mr T Jones
Science teacher (part time)
Miss D Towey
Science teacher
Miss L Murphy
Science teacher
Mr M Norman
Science teacher
Mr C Gascoyne
Science and Maths teacher (part time)
Laboratory Technicians
Mrs A Didarzadeh
Senior Laboratory Technician
Mrs L Evans
Mrs W Jones
Mrs S Gaffney
Light Hall School 2010.
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