Science
Science Department
The Department at St. Michael's aims to provide pupils with an enjoyable and meaningful curriculum set within an environment that encourages and gives multiple opportunities for pupils to demonstrate and enhance their skills, knowledge and understanding.
Teachers provide pupils with practical demonstrations which are central to the teaching ethos of the department. This provides an effective means of introducing new skills and techniques whilst generating confidence in the students.
The Science Department Team:
|
Mr Daniel Sullivan |
Head of Department |
|
Miss Isabella Mistry |
Science Teacher |
|
Ms Nyarai Mpofu-Tavugara |
Science Teacher |
|
Mr Dean Heasman |
Science Teacher |
|
Mrs O Arobaga |
Science Teacher |
|
Mr Ed Westropp |
Science Teacher |
| Ms Grace Osei | GTP Science |
|
Ms J L |
Lab Technician |
|
Mr A Brady |
Senior Lab Technician |
Pupils
Keystage 4
B1a
2. Past papers
- B1a Nov 2008
- B1a Nov 2008 Mark scheme(For more exam papers contact the teachers)
4. Powerpoint Presentation
B1b
2. Past papers
3 Key fact Sheets
4. Powerpoint Presentation
(2)Additional
C2
1. Learning Objectives
2. Past papers
- MCQ
- STRUCTURED
- TOPIC SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
3 Key fact Sheets
4. Powerpoint Presentation
(3)Extension
Science Syllabus information
Year 10 module tests will take place 12 March and 25 June 2007.
Year 11 module tests will take place 7 March and May and final exams in June 2007
Overview:
Year 10 students study GCSE Science in Year 10 and GCSE Additional Science in Year 11.
Year 10 students study GCSE Additional Applied Science during the both year 10 and 11.
Year 10 Students study Entry Level Science during both year 10 and 11.
The courses are fitted to each student’s needs.
GCSE Science Year 10 (2006-7)
This is part of the new suites of GCSE Science introduced nationally in September 2007. GCSE Science provides knowledge and understanding of science that is relevant to students’ everyday life. The aim is to engage students – to stimulate excitement and intrigue about how science works.
The course helps students develop their questioning, analytical and evaluative skills alongside core practical skills. The course has a flexible structure that can be adapted to suit individual teaching approaches and students’ needs. The assessment models have been designed to recognize teachers’ professional judgment and support effective teaching and learning.
Course structure
GCSE Science is based on the Key Stage 4 Programme of Study for Science. The specification contains twelve topics that cover Biology, Chemistry and Physics:
B1
Topic1:Environment
Topic2:Genes
Topic3:Electrical and Chemical Signals
Topic 4: Use, Misuse and Abuse
C1
Topic5:Patterns in Properties
Topic6:Making Changes
Topic7:There’s One Earth
Topic 8: Designer Products
P1
Topic9:Producing and Measuring Electricity
Topic10:You’re in Charge
Topic11:Now You See It, Now You Don’t
Topic12: Space and its Mysteries
Assessment
External assessment (60%)
Six multiple choice tiered tests (available 8th November, 12th March and 25th June).
Internal assessment (40%)
• Assessment activities (30%)
One assessment activity from each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The assessment activities and mark schemes are prepared by Edexcel to assess the ‘How Science Works’ criteria in context of the specification topics. These are marked by the teacher and externally moderated by Edexcel.
• Practical skills assessment (10%)
Assessed by the teacher and non-moderated.
Coursework
The new Year 10 students will not do coursework but take three assessment activities which count towards 25% of the GCSE 360 Science Course. In year 10 the students will take GCSE 360 (http://360science.edexcel.org.uk/home) and in year 11 they will take GCSE 360 Additional Science.
Syllabus information
GCSE Additional Science Year 11 (2007-8)
GCSE Additional Science builds on the knowledge and understanding that students have gained from GCSE Science. Together, they allow students to progress onto the individual GCE Biology, GCE Chemistry and GCE Physics qualifications and onto higher education.
The course helps students develop their questioning, analytical and evaluative skills alongside core practical skills.
The course has a flexible structure that can be adapted to suit individual teaching approaches and students’ needs. The assessment models have been designed to recognize teachers’ professional judgment and support effective teaching and learning.
Course Structure
The course is based on twelve topics:
P2
Topic9:As Fast as You Can!
Topic10:Roller-Coasters and Relativity
Topic11:Putting Radiation to Use
Topic 12: Power of the Atom
C2
Topic5:Synthesis
Topic6:In your Element
Topic7:Chemical Structures
Topic 8: How Fast? How Furious?
B2
Topic1:Inside Living Cells
Topic2:Divide and Develop
Topic3:Energy Flow
Topic4: Interdependence
Assessment
Internal assessment (40%)
• Assessment activities (30%)
One assessment activity from each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The assessment activities and mark schemes are prepared by Edexcel to assess the ‘How Science Works’ criteria in context of the specification topics. These are marked by the teacher and externally moderated by Edexcel.
• Practical skills assessment (10%)
Assessed by the teacher and non-moderated.
Further assessment routes (60%)
Choice of two assessments for each of B2 or C2 or P2 from:
• Multiple choice tiered test (available January and June)
• Structured tiered examination paper (available January and June)
• Centre-devised internal assessment.
NB Students can choose different assessment methods for B2, P2 and C2.The assessment model is flexible to allow students to follow any route between these maximum and minimum ranges:
• Maximum external assessment – 60% externally assessed: 40% internally assessed
• Maximum internal assessment – 30% externally assessed: 70% internally assessed.
Year 11 Course 2006-7
Module Topics
Double Science
7. Food production and the environment Action in leaves, action in roots, control of plant activity, energy and ecosystems, action of micro organisms in ecosystems, maximising food production, natural ecosystems
8. Health and exercise Lungs, circulation, respiration, energy and exercise,misuse of drugs, inherited diseases
9. Chemicals and the Earth Metals, extracting metals from their ore, transitionmetals, alkali metals, rocks and their uses, atmosphere, useful products from air, noble gases
10. Understanding chemical reactionsAtoms and isotopes, chemical bonds, energy transfers, using chemical equations
11. Movement and change Forces and motion, forces and energy, Earth waves,using half-life
12. Energy, force and communication. Charge and energy, waves and communication, forces
Method of assessment Weighting Duration
Coursework (internal) 20%
Terminal papers (external) 50% 2 x 3 x 30 mins
Module tests (external) 30% 12 multiple choice tests(each 20 mins)
Key Stage 3 Course overview 
The KS3 course is written at The Standards Site
Key Stage three consists of year 7, 8 and 9 and terminates in the SAT exams at the end of year 9. We studying this course using the Hodder Books and Resources (supplemented by other books and resources) See Resource lists.
|
Teaching science at key stage 3 |
|
| Aims and purposes of science At key stage 3 science offers opportunities for pupils to:
In the programme of study for science, the content is set out in a sequence of statements covering:
Science at key stage 3 |
Students use the Hodder Books for KS3 and these are split into three year books. Each book has ten chapters and these relate to the above units.
Resources
The Science Department comprises five fully equipped laboratories with facilities that allow a wide range of experimental activities to be conducted. Three of the laboratories have interactive whiteboards to enhance a range of opportunities for learning. A computer suite supports research work and is also used for the analysis and write up of experiments. A full time lab technician prepares and assists with experiments and demonstrations.
Activities and Trips
- Salter’s Festival of Chemistry – Students attend a chemistry masterclass and conduct experiments with a forensic theme.
- Acess to Medicine – Students from Kings College London speak to pupils and encourage them to consider medicine as a career.
- Reptile Club – A weekly gathering of students in which the department’s corn snakes and boa constrictors are handled and fed.
Science Exam Results
GCSE
| St Michaels - %A-C | National average - %A-C | |
| 2006 | 72 | 58 |
| 2005 | 74 | 54 |
SATs
|
|
% level 5+ | ||
| St Michaels | Southwark average | National average | |
| 2005 | 64 | 55 | 70 |
| 2004 | 66 | 49 | 66 |
| 2003 | 61 | 49 | 68 |
