We follow the AQA suite of specifications.
Students have a choice for their GCSE Science courses. We offer:
The Core Option
This route leads to two GCSEs, in Science and
Additional Science. Students work towards GCSE Science in year 10 and GCSE
Additional Science in year 11. The students study Biology, Chemistry and Physics
with three specialist teachers for a total of 6 hours per week. They sit three
unit examinations, one in each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, at the end of
year 10 and complete practical based coursework in lesson time to make up the
Skills component of the Science course. In year 11, the Additional Science
course follows the same format. This is considered by the examination boards to
be an acceptable route for continuing with the Sciences at A Level.
The
students following this route are set by ability from the beginning of year 10.
This enables us to teach the lower ability sets in small groups. We can then
teach in a style and at a pace more appropriate to those students and we can
give them more individual attention. We start with the intention that all
students will be entered for the higher tier examination papers.
The Separate Sciences
This route leads to three GCSEs: Biology,
Chemistry and Physics. Each Science is studied with a specialist teacher. The
total time spent in Science is 8 hours a week. The students sit the same unit
examinations as in Science and Additional Science but also sit an extra paper in
each Science covering the further material in the specification. Students are
taught in the appropriate option block. The uptake for the separate sciences has
been increasing steadily over the last few years. In our opinion, this option is
a more suitable preparation for those students intending to study Science at A
level and beyond.