Science

Staff

Heads of Departments:

  • Since 2010 Mr F Ahmed, B.Sc., M.Ed. (B’ham), P.G.C.E., M.C.C.T.: Head of Science, Biology and Enrichment
  • Since 2005 Mr I Bedi, B.Sc. (Huddersfield), P.G.C.E.: Head of Chemistry (part-time)
  • Since 2019 Mr T Bennett, M.Sci., M.Res. (B’ham), P.G.C.E.: Head of Physics

Teaching Staff:

  • Since 2010 Mr F Ahmed: B.Sc., M.Ed. (B’ham), P.G.C.E., M.C.C.T.: Head of Science, Biology and Enrichment
  • Since 2013 Mr S Alishah: Senior Science Laboratory Technician
  • Since 2012 Mr D Bansal: B.Sc. (De Montfort), P.G.C.E.: Chemistry, Head of Year 7
  • Since 2005 Mr I Bedi: B.Sc. (Huddersfield), P.G.C.E.: Head of Chemistry (part-time)
  • Since 2009 Mrs N Begum: B.Sc. (Wolverhampton), P.G.C.E.: Chemistry, Assistant Headteacher: Teaching and Learning
  • Since 2019 Mr T Bennett: M.Sci., M.Res. (B’ham), P.G.C.E.: Head of Physics
  • Since 2013 Ms M Bilkhu: B.Sc.(Aston), P.G.C.E.(B’ham): Chemistry, A.G&T Co-ordinator
  • Since 2024 Mr S Hastings: B.Sc. (B’ham), P.G.Dip.Ed. (KEC).
  • Since 2000 Miss M Hurley: B.Sc., M.Sc. (B’ham), P.G.C.E.: Biology, Assistant Head of Sixth Form – Head of Year 13
  • Since 2015 Mr J Hussain: B.Sc. (Aston), P.G.Dip.Ed. (B’ham): Biology/ Head of Year 10
  • Since 2018 Mr Z Hussain: B.Sc. (Coventry): Science Laboratory Technician
  • Since 1986 Mr P Jones: B.Sc. (B’ham), P.G.C.E. (Nott’m), C.Phys., M.Inst.P.: Physics (part-time)
  • Since 2011 Mr M Mohsin: B.Sc. (Aston), P.G.C.E.: Chemistry/Physics, Assistant Headteacher (Student Support 11-16)/Staff Governor
  • Since 2021 Miss E Morgan: B.Sc. (B’ham): Geography/KS3 Science/Head of Year 8
  • Since 2023 Mr S Patrick: B.Sc. (BCU), P.G.Dip.Ed. (B’ham): Physics
  • Since 2020 Miss L Sisodia: B.Sc. Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Leicester), P.G.C.E. Chemistry (Nottingham).
  • Since 2015 Miss T Saleem: B.Sc. (Aston), P.G.C.E.: Biology/Head of Year 9

Aims

The Science Faculty’s vision is to provide every student with a science education that stimulates their curiosity and develops their self-belief and self-confidence.

The Science Faculty’s aims are to

  • provide a supportive and caring environment which fosters in our students a desire to learn, enjoy and challenge themselves to achieve across all disciplines of science.
  • enthuse our students through teaching science in an interesting, informative and interactive manner, providing our students with opportunities to develop a wide range of skills, in line with the ‘Building Learning Habits’ agenda.
  • deliver effectively the National Curriculum and the requirements of Post-16 specifications, and, through support and challenge, enable each student to realise his or her full potential.
  • encourage our students to become informed and aware members of society, able to formulate and communicate their own opinions and judgements about developments in science, and evaluate critically scientific claims.
  • develop our students’ application of observational, practical, enquiry and problem-solving skills and understanding within the laboratory and other learning environments.
  • develop our students’ ability to assess potential risk.

Curriculum

For details about teaching orders of topics and assessments for all year groups (subject to change), please follow this link.

For a curriculum topic summary (with textbook references) for Biology follow this link.

For a curriculum progression grid for Biology follow this link.

For a curriculum topic summary (with textbook references) for Chemistry follow this link.

For a curriculum progression grid for Chemistry follow this link.

For a curriculum topic summary (with textbook references) for Physics follow this link.

For a curriculum progression grid for Physics follow this link.

For Knowledge, Retrieval and Practice resources available to students/staff follow this link.

Science 6

Key Stage 3

Extra Key Stage 3 course information for the current Years 7, 8 and 9 can be found from the following link:

Key Stage 3

The Key Stage 3 course follows the KS3 National Curriculum guidelines and uses the Activate Oxford Programme as its basis. It is taught during Years 7, 8 and 9 with Biology, Chemistry and Physics being taught under the umbrella of ‘Science’ in Years 7 and 8 only; students are taught in tutor groups. This is taught over 8 periods per fortnight. The rationale here is to aid their integration into secondary school following their progression from KS2 to KS3, which is a big jump for many given the low-profile Science receives, in some schools, at KS2.

In Year 9, students are split into ability bands and are taught ‘separate’ Biology, Chemistry and Physics by subject specialists. Each subject is taught for 4 periods per fortnight in Year 9 so giving a total of 12 periods of ‘Science’ (going to 5 periods per fortnight in Years 10 & 11). This curriculum design enables us to integrate teaching certain GCSE topics at KS3 and continue the curriculum progression into full GCSE at KS4 in Years 10 & 11. This is done by developing topics (first taught at KS3) further by way of building on the detail of, and making visible, the connections between the various topics, which encourages students to see the big picture through the cross-curricular connections.

Topics covered are:

YEAR 7

Biology

  • Cells
  • Structure and function of body systems
  • Reproduction

Chemistry

  • Particles and their behaviour
  • Elements, atoms and compounds
  • Reactions
  • Acids and alkalis

Physics

  • Forces
  • Sound
  • Light
  • Space

 YEAR 8

Biology

  • Health and lifestyle
  • Ecosystem processes
  • Adaptation and inheritance

Chemistry

  • The periodic table
  • Separation techniques
  • Metals and acids
  • The Earth

Physics

  • Electricity and magnetism
  • Energy
  • Motion and pressure

YEAR 9

Biology

  • Cell structure and transport
  • Cell division
  • Organisation and the digestive system
  • Organising animals and plants
  • Communicable diseases
  • Preventing and treating diseases
  • Non-communicable diseases

Chemistry

  • Atomic structure
  • Structure and bonding
  • Chemical changes
  • Crude Oil and Fuels
  • The periodic table

Physics

  • Conservation and dissipation of energy
  • Energy transfer by heating
  • Molecules and matter
  • Wave properties
  • Electromagnetic waves
  • Energy resources

Students will be placed in one of five sets based upon their Year 7 and 8 test and examination performances, with sets 1-3 being parallel sets (top band) made up of the top 60% of the year group and sets 4 and 5 are parallel sets (lower band) made up from the remaining students.  All students will cover the same material in Year 9.

Assessment Schedule

Formal assessment is by means of end-of-topic tests and an end-of-Year 8 examination. The assessment data will be used to put students into broad ability bands for their Biology, Chemistry and Physics sets in Year 9.

The end-of-year 9 examination is used to determine the students KS4 sets in Year 10 (going from 5 sets in Year 9 to 6 sets in Year 10).

Support Material

Students have access to bespoke electronic textbooks for their Science courses on www.kerboodle.com, together with other resources on the school Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).  Additionally, students have access to high quality teaching PowerPoints, simulations and a myriad of quizzes with automatic marking on www.senecalearning.com   To help develop our students’ examination techniques, students are regularly afforded the opportunity to complete past examination-style questions (on SATS-style papers). Many parents ask about any additional books that may be useful; we recommend the following:

  • CGP – KS3 Science Workbook (Higher)
  • CGP – KS3 Science Revision and practice (Higher)

These can be purchased from WHSmith’s stores, Waterstones, Amazon etc or directly from www.cgpbooks.co.uk.

Key Stage 4

Extra Key Stage 4 course information for the current Years 10 and 11 can be found from the following links:

Year 10
Year 11

All students embarked upon the study of their GCSEs in Science subjects at KS3, particularly at the start of Year 9.  They have had 4 periods in each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics per fortnight, rising to 5 periods per fortnight in Years 10 and 11. In year 10 students continue the curriculum progression into full GCSEs.  The courses are based upon the AQA Specifications, and final assessments will be by means of a series of terminal question papers (at the end of year 11) which contain a variety of question styles.  As part of the course, students will perform or observe a number of ‘required practicals’ (in addition to usual practical work); some examination questions will be related to these.  There is no coursework component in any Science GCSEs.

Subject content is as follows:

Biology

  • Cell Biology
  • Organisation
  • Infection and response
  • Bioenergetics
  • Homeostasis and response
  • Inheritance, variation and evolution
  • Ecology

Chemistry

  • Atomic structure and the periodic table
  • Bonding, structure and the properties of matter
  • Quantitative chemistry
  • Chemical changes
  • Energy changes
  • The rate and extent of chemical change
  • Organic chemistry
  • Chemical analysis
  • Chemistry of the atmosphere
  • Using resources

Physics

  • Forces
  • Energy
  • Waves
  • Electricity
  • Magnetism and electromagnetism
  • Particle model of matter
  • Atomic structure
  • Space Physics (not for Combined Science)

Assessment schedule

Students have now sat their internal Year 9 ‘Finals’ examinations in each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.  These are in addition to the shorter Assessment Tests which have taken place during the year.

In Year 10, students are placed in broad ability bands, with (‘parallel’) Sets 1-3 being comprised of students who performed particularly well in their Year 9 Science examinations.  Sets 4 and 5 are also two ‘parallel’ sets and Set 6 is a smaller set made up of students whose examination performances suggest that they would benefit from a higher level of individualised support.  All students will follow the same programme in Year 10.  The programme then followed by students in Year 11 will depend upon their performances in the end-of-Year 10 examinations and their mock examinations (taken in January of Year 11): they will either be entered for Separate Sciences or Combined Science: Trilogy

Separate Science route

Those students who perform well in the assessments will continue to follow a programme leading to the award of GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics.  They will sit two 1 hour 45 minute papers in each Science subject, each paper being worth 100 marks and consisting of multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open-response questions.  We expect that most students will follow this programme.

Combined Science route

Some students’ performances may indicate that it will be in their interests for them to be prepared for entry into GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy instead of the separate Sciences.  This is a double award qualification; it is worth two GCSEs.  Students will sit two 1 hour 15 minute papers in each Science subject, each paper being worth 70 marks and consisting of multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open-response questions.   As there is less content to be covered, there will be more time to consolidate and revise material during lessons.  It should be noted that this route also allows students to embark upon the study of A levels in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Support materials

Students have access to bespoke electronic textbooks for their Science courses on www.kerboodle.com, together with other resources such as Seneca.  Students have had the opportunity to purchase ‘hard’ copies of these textbooks at a discounted rate through the school; they are also available in the shops – look for Oxford separate GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics books, or the GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy books.  Students can view and download the specification(s) and information about the courses from the website www.aqa.org.uk.  Specimen and past examination papers are also available on the AQA website.

Science 1

 

Key Stage 5

Biology

Science 2

Why study Biology?

Biology is the study of living things. It is a multi-disciplinary subject that includes such varied topics as Human Physiology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Ecology and Disease.

Biology is a popular choice at ‘A-level′ with there usually being 4-5 sets in Year 12 and 2-4 sets in year 13. The courses are based on the NEW AQA Specification. These specifications, together with past papers and mark-schemes, are available on the AQA website (www.aqa.org.uk) and on Moodle (VLE).

Possible degree options

According to bestcourse4me.com, the top seven degree courses taken by students who have an A-level in Biology are:

  • Biology
  • Psychology
  • Sport and exercise science
  • Medicine
  • Anatomy
  • Physiology and Pathology Pharmacology
  • Toxicology and Pharmacy Chemistry.

Information on the NEW AS & A-level qualifications in Biology

For a summary on the NEW AQA qualifications, click here to download the information flyer.

Qualifications needed to study AS/A2 Biology

Qualifications needed to study A level Biology: students must have achieved at least a grade 7 in GCSE Biology, or a grades 7,7 at least in GCSE Combined Science, or acceptable alternatives, in addition to meeting the general entry requirements for the Sixth Form.

 

 


Course Structure – New Course, Year 12

Subject content:

  • Biological molecules
  • Nucleic acids
  • Cell structure
  • Transport across cell membranes
  • Cell recognition and the immune system
  • Organisms exchanging substances with their environment
  • Mass Transport
  • DNA, genes and protein synthesis
  • Genetic diversity
  • Biodiversity
  • Mathematical skills
  • Practical skills

Practicals:

Biology, like all sciences, is a practical subject. Throughout the course students will carry out 12 required practical activities (6 in Y12 and 6 in Y13) in addition the normal teacher practicals. In Y12 the following practicals will be assessed:

  • Required practical 1 – Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction
  • Required practical 2 – Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips; set-up and use of an optical microscope to identify the stages of mitosis in these stained squashes and calculation of a mitotic index
  • Required practical 3 – Production of a dilution series of a solute to produce a calibration curve with which to identify the water potential of plant tissue
  • Required practical 4 – Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the permeability of cell-surface membranes
  • Required practical 5 – Dissection of animal or plant gas exchange or mass transport system or of organ within such a system
  • Required practical 6 – Use of aseptic techniques to investigate the effect of antimicrobial substances on microbial growth
  • Required practical 12 – Investigation into the effect of a named environmental factor on the distribution of a given species (fieldwork)

These practicals will give students the skills and confidence needed to investigate the way living things behave and work. It will also ensure that if a student decides to study a Biology-based subject at university, they will have the practical skills needed to carry out successful experiments at degree level.

To aid with conduct of the fieldwork practical (required practical 12), students are given a choice of a one day field studies trip or a 3 days residential trip to Wales.

One day field trip to Cannon Hill Park (Birmingham)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 days residential trip to Margam Discovery Centre (Wales)

 

 

 

Assessment:

We follow the terminal course structure at KEVI HGS, with external A level examinations only at the end of Year 13.  However, there are regular internal assessment tests in Year 12, including an End of Year assessment in June that results of which are used to inform the students’ UCAS predicted grades for university applications.

In addition, teachers will formally assess students against a set of five practical competencies to determine if students have carried out the practical activities correctly and safely.

More details about course content can be found from the following link:

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/biology-7401-7402

Haemochromatosis Society Conference

Group Interview

Interview with Pavan Chahal

 


Course Structure – New Course, Year 13

Subject content:

  • Photosynthesis
  • Respiration
  • Energy and ecosystems
  • Response to stimuli
  • Nervous coordination and muscles
  • Homeostasis
  • Inherited change
  • Populations and evolution
  • Populations and ecosystems
  • Gene expression
  • Recombinant DNA technology
  • Mathematical skills
  • Practical skills

Practicals:

Biology, like all sciences, is a practical subject. Throughout the course students will carry out 12 required practical activities (7 in Y12 and 5 in Y13) in addition the normal teacher practicals.

Below is a list of the practicals that will be carried out in Y13:

  • Required practical 7 – Use of chromatography to investigate the pigments isolated from leaves of different plants g. leaves from shade-tolerant and shade- intolerant plants or leaves of different colours
  • Required practical 8 – Investigation into the effect of a named factor on the rate of dehydrogenase activity in extracts of chloroplasts
  • Required practical 9 – Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of respiration of cultures of single-celled organisms
  • Required practical 10 – Investigation into the effect of an environmental variable on the movement of an animal using either a choice chamber or a maze
  • Required practical 11 – Production of a dilution series of a glucose solution and use of colorimetric techniques to produce a calibration curve with which to identify the concentration of glucose in an unknown ‘urine’ sample

These practicals will give students the skills and confidence needed to investigate the way living things behave and work. It will also ensure that if a student decides to study a Biology-based subject at university, they will have the practical skills needed to carry out successful experiments at degree level.

Assessment:

There are internal tests during Year 13 but formal external assessment is by means of three 2 hour written examinations taken in May/June of Year 13.  These assess all of the course content.

Paper 1 – will assess all content covered in Y12

Paper 2 – will assess all content covered in Y13

Paper 3 – will assess all content covered in both years as well as the 12 required practicals. It will also include a synoptic essay with 25 marks.

In addition, teachers will formally assess students against a set of five practical competencies to determine if students have carried out the practical activities correctly and safely.

More details about course content can be found from the following link:

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/biology-7401-7402


How is the course delivered?

Study of Biology in the Sixth Form involves a variety of learning experiences including teacher and student presentation, interactive computer programmes, internet research, class discussion, teacher demonstration and class practical work. Question sheets and Biofactsheets to consolidate knowledge and understanding are provided on a regular basis and student progress is monitored through regular assessment tests. Students benefit from access to a variety of on-line tools such as ‘Kerboodle’, ‘Doddle’ and ‘Moodle’ for consolidation and extension.

A wider interest in Science is also encouraged; students should aim to keep abreast of current developments through reading relevant articles on the internet or in the press or scientific magazines e.g. New Scientist, Nature and the Biological Sciences Review which are available in both in the Science Department and in the School Library. Students are encouraged to take out a subscription for the Biological Sciences Review, a quarterly journal published to support the A level Biology curriculum. Ecology field work has always been an important part of the curriculum.

Sci-Biology Field Work 1 Sci-Biology Field Work 2
 

Chemistry

Why study Chemistry?

Chemistry is a very popular choice at ‘AS’ and ‘A2′ levels with their usually being 4/5 sets in Years 12 and 3 sets in yr13. The courses are based on the AQA Specifications and these, together with past papers and mark schemes, are available on the AQA website.

The course builds upon the knowledge and understanding of the GCSE course. It helps to develop many skills including thinking and practical and is recognised as a valuable subject by employers in all fields.

Qualifications needed to study AS/A2 Chemistry

Students must have achieved at least a grade 7 in GCSE Chemistry, or grades 7, 7 at least ins GCSE Combined Science or acceptable alternatives, in addition to meeting the general entry requirements for the Sixth Form.


AS Course Structure – New Course, Year 12

Subject content:

  • Atomic structure
  • Amount of substance
  • Bonding
  • Energetics
  • Kinetics
  • Equilibria
  • Oxidation, reduction and redox reactions
  • Periodicity
  • Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metals
  • Group 7, the Halogens
  • Introduction to organic chemistry
  • Alkanes
  • Halogenalkanes
  • Alkenes
  • Alcohols
  • Organic Analysis
  • Mathematical skills
  • Practical skills

Practicals:

Chemistry, like all sciences, is a practical subject. Throughout the course you will carry out required practical activities including:

  • Making up a volumetric solution and carrying out a titration.
  • Measuring an enthalpy change.
  • Investigation of how the rate of reaction changes with temperature.
  • Carrying out test-tube reactions to identify cations and anions in aqueous solutions
  • Distillation of a product from a reaction.
  • Tests for an alcohol, aldehyde, alkene, and a carboxylic acid.

Assessment:

There is no coursework on this course. However, your performance during practicals will be assessed. Assessment is by means of 3 assessments throughout the year and a final exam towards the end of July. These assessments are important as they will decide predicted grades for University courses.

More details about course content can be found from the following link:

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/chemistry-7404-7405

Science 5


A2 Course Structure – New Course, Year 13

Subject content:

  • Thermodynamics
  • Kinetics
  • The equilibrium constant Kp
  • Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells
  • Acids, bases and buffers
  • Periodicity
  • The transition metals
  • Reactions of inorganic compounds in aqueous solutions
  • Nomenclature and isomerism
  • Compounds containing and carbonyl group
  • Aromatic chemistry
  • Amines
  • Polymerisation
  • Amino acids, proteins, and DNA
  • Organic synthesis and analysis
  • Structure determination
  • Chromatography
  • Mathematical skills
  • Practical skills

Practicals:

Chemistry, like all sciences, is a practical subject. Throughout the course students will carry out practical activities including:

  1. Measuring the rate of reaction
    1. By an initial rate method
    2. By a continuous monitoring method
  2. Measuring the EMF of an electrochemical cell
  3. Investigate how pH changes when a weak acid reacts with a strong base and when a strong acid reacts with a weak base
  4. Preparation of:
    1. A pure organic solid and test its purity
    2. A pure organic liquid
  5. Carry out simple test-tube reactions to identify transition metal ions in aqueous solution
  6. Separation of species by thin-layer chromatography

Assessment:

There is no coursework on this course. However, students’ performance during practicals will be assessed by means of three 2 hour written examinations taken in May/June of Year 12.

In addition, teachers will formally assess students against a set of five practical competencies to determine if students have carried out the practical activities correctly and safely.

You will be assessed externally by having 3 exams which will all be 2 hours long and cover work from year 12 and year 13.

More details about course content can be found from the following link:

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/chemistry-7404-7405


How is the course delivered?

Study of Chemistry in the Sixth Form involves a variety of learning experiences including teacher and student presentations, power points, simulations, video clips, class discussion, teacher demonstration and class practical work. Question sheets to consolidate knowledge and understanding are set on a regular basis and student progress is monitored through regular assessment tests. Students benefit from access to the on-line tool ‘Kerboodle’ for consolidation and extension.

A wider interest in Science is also encouraged; students should aim to keep abreast of current developments through reading relevant articles on the internet or in the press or scientific magazines e.g. Chemistry Review, which is available for perusal both in the Chemistry Department and in the School Library. A wealth of informative and interesting television programmes is also screened nowadays.

Physics

Why study Physics?

A study of Physics is concerned with exploring and justifying what we observe happening around us. It involves not only linking the (macroscopic) properties of an object or substance as a whole to the (microscopic) properties of its constituents, but also trying to explain the interaction between samples of matter. Physicists have inquiring minds, and the answer to one question often leads to the generation of another.

Because of its direct and indirect relevance to so many areas, a study of A level Physics will assist access to a wide range of degree courses and careers ranging from Engineering to Optometry and from Computer Science to Medicine. Progress in Physics in the Sixth Form will be aided by a decent level of competence in Mathematics, the physicist’s tool, and you must be prepared to work hard.

Qualifications needed to study A level Physics: Students must have achieved at least a grade 7 in GCSE Physics, or a grades 7,7 (at least) in GCSE Combined Science, or acceptable alternatives, in addition to meeting the general entry requirements for the Sixth Form.


Course Structure – Year 12 (AS) Content

Subject content:

  • Measurement and their errors
  • Particles and radiation
  • Waves
  • Mechanics and materials
  • Electricity

 

 

Practicals:

Physics, like all sciences, is a practical subject. Throughout the course you will carry out practical activities including the following Required Practicals:

  • Investigation into stationary waves
  • Investigation into interference and diffraction effects
  • Determination of the acceleration due to gravity
  • Determination into the Young Modulus
  • Determination of the resistivity of a wire
  • Investigation of the electromotive force and internal resistance of electric cells

Assessment

We follow the terminal course structure at KEVI HGS, with external A level examinations only at the end of Year 13.  However, there are regular internal assessment tests in Year 12, including the so-called ‘Finals’ in June.


Full A Level Course Structure – Additional Year 13 Course Content

Subject content:

  • Further mechanics and thermal physics
  • Fields and their consequences
  • Nuclear physics
  • Turning points in physics

Practicals, to include the following Required Practicals:

  • Investigation into simple harmonic motion using a mass-spring system and a simple pendulum
  • Investigation of Boyle’s law and Charles’s law
  • Investigation of the charge and discharge of capacitors
  • Investigation of how the force on a wire varies with flux density, current and length of wire
  • Investigation, using a search coil and oscilloscope, of the effect on flux linkage of varying the angle between the search coil and the magnetic field direction
  • Investigation of the inverse square law for gamma radiation

Assessment

There are internal tests during Year 13 but formal external assessment is by means of three 2 hour written examinations taken in May/June of Year 13.  These assess all of the course content.  There is no coursework component but you are assessed on your Practical Competences during all of the Required Practicals mentioned previously.  More details about the course content can be found from the following link:

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/physics-7407-7408


How is the course delivered?

Study of Physics in the Sixth Form involves a variety of learning experiences including teacher and student presentation, class discussion, teacher demonstration and class practical work. Question sheets to consolidate knowledge and understanding are set on a regular basis and student progress is monitored through regular assessment tests. Students benefit from access to the on-line tool ‘Kerboodle’ for consolidation and extension. A wider interest in Science is also encouraged; students should aim to keep abreast of current developments through reading relevant articles on the internet or in the press or scientific magazines e.g. New Scientist, which is available for perusal both in the Physics Department and in the School Library. A wealth of informative and interesting television programmes is also screened nowadays.

Extra-Curricular

The Science Faculty provides a wealth of enrichment activities and students are encouraged to take wide interest in all aspects of science, not just the topics covered in the laboratory.

Recent activities include:

  • Science themed trip to Paris, Berlin and Munich
  • Year 7 Science Club activities
  • Year 8 ‘CSI Day’ in school
  • Year 8 ‘Supercapacitor Car Challenge’ in school
  • Year 9 Wind Turbine Workshops, including presenting at the House of Commons
  • Participation in the CREST (Creativity in Science and Technology) Award Scheme
  • Field work for A level Biology students (day visits and residential trip)
  • Science ‘Big Quizzes’ at Birmingham University
  • KS4 and KS5 ‘Physics Challenge’ and ‘Olympiad’ competitions
  • KS3 students have attended residential ‘Smallpeice Trust’ Science and Engineering Courses
  • Institute of Physics lectures e.g. ‘Exploring the Universe’
  • Year 12 attendance at residential ‘Medlink’ and ‘MedSix’ conferences at Nottingham University

Visits to:

  • The Royal Society Summer Expedition
  • The National Space Centre, Leicester
  • The Eden Project, Cornwall
  • ‘Explore at Bristol’ Centre
  • ‘Thinktank’ at Millennium Point
  • The ‘Big Bang’ Fair
  • Nuclear and hydro-electric power stations
  • Jodrell Bank telescope
  • Manchester and Birmingham Universities