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Our Lady Of Sion

Senior Science

Senior

Science

The main goals in the teaching of Science, at all levels, are to stimulate a desire to learn and to develop an interest in the world in which we live, not only as a means to achieving examination results but, more importantly, in appreciating the value of knowledge in its own right.

Wherever possible, scientific concepts are introduced through practical work and experimental investigations, carried out by students, individually or in small groups.

In Science, students have the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills, including:

  • Practical skills
  • Numeracy
  • Literacy
  • IT skills
  • Communication
  • Independent learning
  • Team work

Key Stage 3 – Years 7 to 9

An integrated Science course is taught in Years 7&8. Lessons include theory and experimental work, which allows the students to develop their practical skills and build a better understanding of the fundamental concepts.

Year 7 students study a variety of topics, including Forces, Cells, Reproduction, Sound, Light and Chemical Reactions.

Year 8 topics include Food and Nutrition, the Periodic Table, Electricity and Magnetism, Ecosystems and Separation Techniques.

In Year 9, Biology, Chemistry and Physics are taught separately by specialist subject teachers.

KS3 courses are based around National Curriculum material and enable students to develop knowledge and experimental skills. The Year 9 courses are designed to provide a good introduction to study at GCSE level.

Assessment takes place by regularly reviewing students’ work, topic tests and an end of year assessment.

Key Stage 4 – Years 10 & 11

All students are required to take Science at GCSE level and we offer two options at Sion:

  • AQA Combined Science (Trilogy), where the individual sciences are taught separately, by subject specialists, and which leads to an award worth two GCSEs;
  • AQA Triple Science, in which Biology, Chemistry & Physics are taught as separate subjects, leading to the award of three GCSEs.

Assessment is carried out by reviewing work throughout the course, end of topic tests, more formal extended assessments and mock examinations.

Final assessment, for both the Combined and Triple Science courses includes 2 written examination papers for each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Enrichment

Science trips include a Yr8 trip to the Gilbert White Centre, where students complete a variety of ecology activities.

In addition, there is also a very popular weekly STEM Club, with recent activities, including pendulum art, growing crystals and designing, and racing, virtual F1 racing cars.

Back to Curriculum

A co-educational, independent school with a strong ethos, successfully providing education to children and young people from ages 3 – 18