ScienceMiss.S.Hirst : Head of Department (Responsibility for KS5 & Chemistry)
Miss.C.Harrington : Head of Department (Responsibility for KS4 & Combined Sciences) Mr.Z.Christo : Responsibility for A Level Physics Mr.P.Curati : Responsibility for GCSE Physics Mrs.V.Dansey : Responsibility for KS3 Mrs.N.Cheetham: Responsibility for Biology Mr.A.Waring : Responsibility for KS4 Mrs.H.Byrne Dr.L.Ivings Dr.S.McDonald Dr.D.O’Brien Mr.J.Oles Mr.G.Percival Dr.P.Weglicki Technical Staff Mr.C.Wort - Head Lab Technician Miss.S.Costello – Lab Technician Mrs.L.Parkes - Lab Technician Mission StatementDesigning cleaner fuels, developing medicines and improving health care are just a few reasons among thousands why developing scientific knowledge is essential to society. The young people we work with at King David are the future and we are devoted to imparting scientific knowledge, understanding and skills to them to give them a broad appreciation of the applications and implications of science, in addition to allowing them to discover a passion for an exciting, varying subject area. The science department offers a diverse range of courses to pupils as they progress to allow them to develop according to their individual needs and enable them to fulfil their potential.
Curriculum
Experiments delivered in our well-resourced laboratories are central to all of our Science teaching, but especially so in the lower school; as a department of teachers who are passionate about the practical, hands-on aspects of the sciences, we can think of no better way of getting students excited and engaged and believe this is an excellent way of introducing students to the skills, knowledge and language they will need to develop as enthusiastic scientists!
Students are assessed formatively throughout KS3, in addition to the more formal Winter and Summer School Examinations. KS4 Starting in January of Year 9 students begin studying for one of the following routes at GCSE:
Specifications for these courses are available on the AQA Science webpage. The aim of our teaching these GCSE Science courses is to allow students to develop essential knowledge and understanding of key concepts in science and prepare them for further study in post-16. GCSE Science is delivered with a great deal of hands-on practical experience which stimulates student’s curiosity about the world around them and enables students to develop and evaluate explanations through experimental evidence and modelling. KS5
Biology, Chemistry and Physics A Levels are all offered in the Sixth Form, with the exam board AQA. Specifications can be found on the AQA Science A-Level page. For Year during 2019-2020 we also teach AQA Applied General Science Extended Certificate. The specification for which can be found on the AQA Science page. Our objective in our Sixth Form teaching is to ensure that learning is enjoyable and enhances the enthusiasm students’ already have for Science subjects the have selected to study beyond GCSE. There is an emphasis on how each scientific discipline is relevant to contemporary issues and there are numerous opportunities to use practical experiences and link theory to reality, which will equip students with the essential practical skills they require. Year on year we have numerous students who leave to pursue a wide variety of Science related degree courses once they have gained their A Levels. ActivitiesKey stage 3 science clubs are ran by Mr Wort and take place weekly.
Year 11 booster sessions take place on a weekly basis, these are organised by Mrs Byrne and most of the Science teaching staff are involved in these sessions. Salters’ Festival of Chemistry each year we enter a team of Year 7 or Year 8 students. Chemquiz each year we enter a team of Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 students. Weizmann Institute Safecracking Competition every year a group of Year 12 students take part. Visits to Chester Zoo, MoSI, Manchester Univeristy and Ecology Field Trips to various locations take place each year. See the Extra Curricular List for times and updates. GCSE COURSEWORK ENHANCEMENT SESSIONS
A club run once a week for pupils in year 10 and 11 to get extra guidance on their science coursework. |
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