Science

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Students follow a varied curriculum at KS3 to prepare them for GCSE Science at KS4. At GCSE they study the AQA Trilogy specification.

The Science Department is committed to providing a high-quality science education, setting the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils will be able to recognise the power of rational explanation using evidence and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They will understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.

The Science Department aspires to develop students who are skilled critical thinkers, problem solvers, innovators and team players. We will develop the minds of life-long learners by providing access to a variety of course offerings that will support the creativity and curiosity of all students.   At the conclusion of their school career, our students will be capable of applying their scientific knowledge to contemporary issues, making connections between scientific disciplines, and pursuing post-secondary education or careers in the fields of science and engineering.  We view science as a subject for all, those who may not study science post 16 will still gain valuable experiences and skills.  We will empower them to fulfil their duty as citizens and help them feel more confident in the decisions they may need to make about family health and nutrition or environmental concerns. 

The science department is committed to ensure there is a cohesive and supportive team who work collaboratively to plan and deliver quality lessons. Staff are offered opportunities to regularly engage in professional development to ensure everyone is confident within their role and ready to inspire our students. The teaching schemes are carefully sequenced with well-considered, purposeful and stimulating lessons that ensure all students are able to not only access the curriculum but thrive and continue their engagement beyond the classroom. Students are supported with their literacy to ensure they can access exam questions to allow them to take full advantage of the opportunities this will offer. Students are given access to a variety of resources to support their learning, improve retention of knowledge and foster independence; both in thought and approaches to learning. We strive to broaden the curriculum to ensure students have a greater appreciation of the wider cultural context and the applications of their studies to the wider world. Our aim is for students to continue their science studies into a rewarding career, but ultimately, we want our students to be armed with the skills to engage with science throughout their lives and make quality decisions based upon their own reasoning.

The mission of the RRMA science department is to create knowledgeable, scientifically literate problem solvers.  We aim to foster a spirit of inquiry, nurture our pupils’ curiosity and bring current, relevant and real-world science into the classroom experience.  We want to prepare our pupils to become informed citizens who are capable of comprehending, analysing and making well-reasoned judgments on global and local issues.

In Science we strive to broaden the curriculum to ensure students have a greater appreciation of the wider cultural context and the applications of their studies to the wider world. Our aim is for students to continue their science studies into a rewarding career, but ultimately, we want our students to be armed with the skills to engage with science throughout their lives and make quality decisions based upon their own reasoning.  Each unit of work is carefully planned to incorporate real life contexts to so that there is relevance and application to the science the students are studying.

Careers education is an important part of the Science curriculum. In Key Stage 3, all students complete the topic “Careers in Science” week which explores the vast career opportunities in science.  The aim of this week is to spark some enthusiasm and interest into potential pathways in further education or work in the science area.  By providing students with information and experience this will help widen their knowledge to the opportunities around them.

We also focus on key employability skills, each topic has an application element, not just content, whereby transferrable life skills are practiced such as evaluation, describe, explain, data analysis, conclusion writing.

Lindsay Lee - Subject Leader

Ashleigh Coatman - Second in Department

Gavin Parker-Smith - Second in Department

Emily Grierson - Science Teacher

Robert James - Science Teacher

James Furmston-Evans - Science Teacher

Laura Boughey - Science Technician

Curriculum Maps

 

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