The aims of the teaching and study of Sciences at Hurstmere is to encourage and enable students to develop inquiring minds and curiosity about Science and the natural world, acquire knowledge, conceptual understanding and skills to solve problems and make informed decisions in scientific and other contexts. It is also our aim to encourage a broader understanding of Science through extended and enhanced enrichment opportunities. Through this our aim is to raise achievement in both Science and have a positive impact on both achievement and aspirations throughout the school. Excellent, innovative and inspiring education in Science can lead to a better knowledge of how Science works and builds responsible citizens our society requires.
Programme of study
The programme of study describes a sequence of knowledge and concepts. While it is important that pupils make progress, it is also essential that they develop secure understanding of each key topic in order to progress to the next stage and be able to apply their knowledge and understanding at GCSE.
Pupils will be able to describe processes and key characteristics they are familiar with using technical terminology accurately and precisely. They will also apply their mathematical knowledge to the understanding of Science, including collecting, presenting and analysing data. Teachers will use different contexts to maximise pupil’s engagement and motivation to study Science at A level and university.
There is a rigorous programme lesson by lesson, formal end of term assessment and two pieces of level assessed task per term in place for KS3 Science. Students undertake several lessons for each topic at the end of which they will take an end of chapter assessment and level assessed task. This end of topic assessment and level assessed task is assessed by their teacher providing each student with a grade for their achievement in that topic. Students are provided feedback on concepts they need to work on to further themselves on that topic. Students go through their assessment ensuring they go through all concepts they didn’t perform well in. Students are provided DIRT opportunities to respond to their teacher’s feedback and improve their key pieces. At the end of every term, the students undertake a cumulative formal end of term assessment, which will include the topics they have covered that term in addition to topics covered previously in the year. How students perform in this formal assessments throughout their KS3 course will ultimately determine which set they are placed into for their Science GCSE.
Curriculum Aim
- To increase the number of pupils going on to further education to study Science based subjects
- To offer Triple Science as an option for those with the appropriate achievement and motivation
- To introduce Science Ambassadors in KS3 and KS4 to provide support for pupils to work with at KS3
- Introduction of the gold ‘Science tie’ for especially nominated upper school Science students
- To promote STEM within the department
- A wide range of enrichment trips and activities within and outside of school
- Sixth form students working with underachieving year 11 students to help them with their GCSE exams
- Special events, assemblies, competitions and activities for Science week
- Participation in live web chats with real life scientists
Resources for Learning
- Students are provided with revision guides and workbooks for KS3 and KS4 programme of study to aid independent revision at home and at school
- Students access Educake, an online homework tool to complete HW enabling them to repeat the same homework several times to increase their understanding of concepts
- Assignments are set on GCSE POD, a website with video clips on all topics covered in KS4 for Triple and Combined Science course of study
Staffing
The Science department at Hurstmere, is led by the Curriculum Leader for Science (Mrs Anand) and is assisted by the Lead Practitioner of Science and KS4 coordinator. The Assistant Vice Principal (SLT) oversees the running of the department. The department is also assisted by four lab technicians who contribute to the running of practical activities within the department.