The team comprises of nine enthusiastic and highly skilled teachers of Science with a wide range of scientific backgrounds. As a Faculty we encourage our pupils to become independent learners with the skills and knowledge to investigate scientific ideas both in school and out. Science offers an engaging, stimulating and practical curriculum, designed to broaden knowledge and develop curiosity, interest and enjoyment of the subject. The Science team believe that everyone will achieve, and having high expectations within the faculty area for both pupils and staff, working together to secure excellent outcomes. We are proud of our pupils’ results across the Key Stages, often outperforming expectations and other Science Departments within RCT.  These excellent foundations have allowed our learners to achieve goals and further their scientific studies.

OUR FACULTY AIMS

  • To provide pupils with a broad and balanced Science Curriculum
  • To allow pupils to develop thinking skills
  • To develop investigative, enquiry and practical skills
  • To stimulate curiosity, interest and enjoyment in the study of Science
  • To help pupils develop numeracy, literacy and ICT skills

We offer a broad curriculum where all pupils will succeed and reach their potential and our learners tell us that they are made to think hard in class. Extra curricula activities include Crest Awards, TrioCymru activities, Salter’s Chemistry competitions and others.

SCIENCE AT KEY STAGE 3

At Key Stage 3, pupils receive six hours per fortnight of Science in Year 7 and 8, following National Curriculum guidelines where opportunities are provided to develop investigative, practical, literacy and numeracy skills. Pupils explore the Interdependence of Organisms in Biology units, How Things Work in Physics units, and the Sustainable Earth in Chemistry units. Moving in to Year 9, pupils can opt to follow the Double Award Science GCSE course (receive two GCSE grades by studying all sciences) or the Separate Science course as three grades awarded from the Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSE courses.

SCIENCE AT KEY STAGE 4

Pupils are given the opportunity to study Double Award Science GCSE course or the Separate Science course; Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSE courses. The Double Award Science allows students to gain 2 GCSE grades, while the Separate Science allows students to achieve 3 GCSE grades. Both qualifications are awarded after the students sit 6 examinations (3 in Year 10 and 3 in Year 11) and there is a controlled assessment element. 

The Science specifications provide a broad, coherent, satisfying and worthwhile course of study.  They encourage learners to develop confidence in, and a positive attitude towards, Science and to recognise its importance in their own lives and to society.  Scientific understanding is changing our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all learners are taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of the subject.

SCIENCE AT KEY STAGE 5

At Key Stage 5 we offer GCE (AS/A Level) Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Criminology all following the WJEC specifications. A brief overview of topics is listed below:

Biology

  • Basic Biochemistry and Cell Organisation
  • Biodiversity and Physiology of Body Systems
  • Homeostasis and the Environment
  • Variation and Inheritance

Chemistry

  • Language of Chemistry
  • The Structure of Matter and Simple Reactions
  • Energy and Rate
  • The Chemistry of Carbon Compounds

Physics

  • Motion, Energy and Matter
  • Electricity and Light
  • Oscillations and Nuclei
  • Fields

Criminology

  • Changing Awareness of Crime
  • Criminological Theories