Science

Aims

• To maintain and/or stimulate student curiosity, interest and enjoyment in science.
• To enable students to be familiar with a body of scientific knowledge, principles and vocabulary.
• To enable students to see science in the context of a wider body of knowledge and skills.
• To enable students to understand and use scientific method with safety being a major consideration.
• To enable students to develop a range of desirable personal qualities such as politeness, perseverance, initiative and independence and to therefore understand how learning in science contributes to personal development.
• To enable students to be able to work independently and as part of a team.
• To employ teaching methods and resources that allow all students (irrespective of their gender, ethnic origin, academic ability, etc.) to have equal access to science and to experience success and enjoyment in their science work.
• To develop an awareness in students of the implications of science (past and present) for the individual, the community and the environment.
  To allow students to develop informed opinions and to be able to support them by reasonable arguments while encouraging respect for animals and the environment in general.
• To enable pupils to see the benefits of using ICT to enhance scientific knowledge and understanding.

Key Stage 3

All students broadly follow the QCA scheme of work published by central government.

This has been adapted to suit the resources and skills available within Harton Technology College and has undergone some development to ensure adequate differentiation to suit the individual needs.  Students in KS3 have three hours of science per week and study the HASA scheme of work.

HASA
What is HASA?

A new thematic approach to Key Stage 3 Science at Harton introduced in September 2009.  The scheme is based on a fictitious mission to colonise another planet following the destruction of our planet by Global Warming.

Designed by Miss K Walker and Mrs K Pattison in conjunction with Mrs R Gibson and Miss H Swanson.

Aims

• to more actively engage pupils at the beginning of their secondary Science education;

• to condense the Key Stage 3 curriculum taking into account recent National Curriculum changes and subsequent reworking of the Science Programme of Study.

6 Modules:

• The Journey Begins!
• Hi-de-hi, here we are!
• Hartoners the Explorers!
• Aliens Ahoy!
• Martian Mount!
• A Lesson to be learnt!

Pupils are given workbooks for each of the modules and a diary to be kept all year. PowerPoint presentations are also used for each lesson and intra-year group competitions also take place.  All Key Stage 3 students cover the same material in the same way with differentiation mainly by outcome.  This helps to standardise Science lessons for all.

 

Key Stage 4

Students in Key Stage 4 will follow one of the courses below:

• AQA Double Award Modular Science:
  Students follow a broad Science curriculum leading to the award of 2 science GCSEs. During the two years students will study for both a Science GCSE (in year 10) and an Additional Science GCSE (in year 11).

AQA GCSE Science (A) consists of 6 modules, 2 in each of the Science disciplines. 
These are:
B1a – Human Biology
B1b – Evolution and Environment
C1a – Materials from Rocks
C1b – Oils, Earth and atmosphere
P1a – Energy and Energy resources
P1b – Radiation and the Universe

All modules are assessed through examinations which take place in June of year 10.  The coursework component of the course involves Investigative Skills Assessments (ISA’s) carried out in each Science discipline with only the highest mark being submitted to the examination board.


• AQA GCSE Additional Science consists of 3 modules, 1 in each of the Science disciplines. 
  These are:
  B2 – Additional Biology (sub divided into Cells, Plants and Photosynthesis, Ecology, Enzymes, Homeostasis and Inheritance).
  C2 – Additional Chemistry (sub divided into Structures and bonding, Structures and properties, How much, Rates of reaction, Energy and reactions, Electrolysis, Acids, alkali’s and Salts).
  P2 – Additional Physics (sub divided into Motion, Speeding up and slowing down, Work, energy and momentum, Static electricity, Current electricity, Mains electricity and Nuclear physics).
  These modules are assessed through examinations which take place in the May of year 11.  The coursework component of the course again involves Investigative Skills Assessments (ISA’s).
  More details of the course syllabus can be found at www.aqa.org.uk.
• AQA Separate Sciences
  Students follow a more in depth science curriculum leading to the award of individual GCSE’s in Physics, Chemistry & Biology.  The course includes all units studied to obtain both Science and Additional Science GCSE’s but is enhanced by the coverage of 3 further modules, one for each Science discipline.  These are:
  B3 – Further Biology (sub divided into Exchange of materials, Transporting substances and Microbiology).
  C3 – Further Chemistry (sub divided into Development of the periodic table, More about acids and bases, Water, Energy calculations and Analysis).
  P3 – Further Physics (sub divided into Turning forces, Light and sound, Electromagnetism and Stars and space).
  Again further details of the course syllabus can be found at www.aqa.org.uk.
• BTEC First Extended Certificate in Applied Science:
  Students follow an applied science curriculum leading to the award of a qualification which at pass level is the equivalent to 2 grade C GCSEs, merit level 2 grade B GCSEs and Distinction 2 grade A GCSEs. This is a more practical course than the traditional route.  The course is wholly coursework based and consists of five units.

These are:
Unit 1 – Chemistry and our Earth
Unit 2 – Energy and our Universe
Unit 3 – Biology and our Environment
Unit 6 – Health Applications of Life Sciences
Unit 13 – Investigating a Crime Scene

More details of the course syllabus can be found at: www.edexcel.com

 

Teaching Staff

• Miss K Walker, Subject Leader
• Mrs R Gibson, Co-ordinator of Chemistry and Assistant Subject Leader
• Mr J Smith, Co-ordinator of Physics
• Mr A Holder
• Mrs S Hanif
• Mrs K Pattison, Advanced Skills Teacher
• Mrs H Pearson, Science STEM co-ordinator
• Mr G Varley, Director of Learning (Year 11)
• Mr A Williams, Director of Learning (Year 8)
• Miss R Ferguson, Teacher of Science and Geography
• Miss L Smith, Teacher of Chemistry

Associate Staff

• Mr B Lawson, Senior Science Technician
• Ms N Evans, Science Technician
• Mrs K Parkin, HLTA