Wolverhampton Girls’ High School
Science Department Information
Staffing
Leadership of the department consists of a
Curriculum Leader for Science who line manages
three Subject Leaders for Biology, Chemistry and
Physics. Staffing within each subject area is as
follows:
Biology:
 Subject Leader (TLR 2a)
 Biology specialist with responsibility for
Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship
Education (PSHCE) and Enterprise Education
(TLR 2c)
 Biology Specialist who is a member of SLT
 Biology specialist.
 Part time (0.2) Biology specialist
Chemistry:
 Subject Leader (TLR 2a)
 Chemistry specialist with overall responsibility
as Curriculum Leader for Science (TLR 1a)
 Chemistry specialist who is also Head of Y7
(TLR 2a)
 Chemistry specialist also teaching Biology
Results
The 2013 GCSE results were outstanding against a
national picture of decreasing numbers of top
grades. We obtained 55%, 55% and 48% of grades
at A* respectively in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
This was 87%, 91% and 81% at A*/A with all
students entered for the separate sciences. In 2012,
105 students were entered for separate sciences,
with 80% A*/A grades for Biology, 82% for
Chemistry and 72% for Physics. 2 students obtained
Science and Additional Science.
At A2 in 2013, Biology, Chemistry and Physics
obtained 77.1%, 86.7% and 71.4% respectively of
grades at A* to B. The numbers for 2012 were 77%,
80% and 73%. These are also based on large
numbers of students.
Schemes of Work
Physics:
 Subject Leader (TLR 2a)
 Physics specialist
At KS3 our schemes of work follow the pattern of the
original QCA scheme, updated to include recent
initiatives. We use the Longman Biology, Chemistry
and Physics KS3 textbooks and we also have the
Heinemann Science Scheme textbooks and
resources. The sciences are taught separately with
either 1 or 2 lessons per week. The KS3 curriculum is
completed in 2 years. Y9 pupils study selected topics
from the KS4 curriculum.
Departmental support:
 Senior Laboratory Technician
 Laboratory Technician
 Departmental Assistant support for 17 hours
per week
At Key Stage 4, pupils are prepared for the AQA
GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. This is
done in the standard curriculum time for 2 subjects.
The Longman AQA textbooks are issued but follow
the modular approach, so we now recommend
students to purchase the Nelson Thornes AQA books
TY/JT/348/7
January 2013
1
or use our school subscription to Kerboodle.
Following government changes all exams will be
taken in June of Y11.
The sciences are taught independently at A-level,
with classes following AQA specification B in Biology,
AQA Chemistry and AQA specification A in Physics. In
2013/14 there are five Biology groups, four
Chemistry groups and one Physics group at AS and
respectively 3, 3 and 1 at A2. All groups are issued
with the Nelson Thornes AQA textbooks and also
have access to Kerboodle.
Resources
The department is well stocked with apparatus. As
well as issued textbooks, there are books that pupils
can borrow in the department, but also the school
library is well stocked with science texts. All of the
science laboratories are connected to the school’s
computer network and have interactive whiteboards.
This allows use of interactive software and the
internet in classrooms. Girls can work individually at
school or from home on a range of software
packages, using the VLE. Data logging probes or
webcams can be connected and displayed directly.
Tests
Regular testing of pupils throughout the school takes
place during the year, with end of year exams for
Years 7, 8, 9 and 10, and mock exams for Years 11
12 and 13 as appropriate.
Science and Maths workroom within the physics
accommodation.
There is of necessity some flexibility in the room
allocations to subjects and a number of Sixth Form
Science lessons are not delivered in a laboratory,
although it has been possible to guarantee that at
least one double lesson per subject per week for
Sixth Form students will take place in a laboratory.
Communication
Departmental meetings are held at least every half
term and often in departmental time on training
days. They are held in rooms around the department
and there is a focus on teaching and learning. Some
of the meeting time is allocated to separate subjects.
There is a regular Science Bulletin.
Extra-curricular
There is a Science club, currently for Year 7. Girls
can attend lectures and conferences. Several girls
take part in the Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Olympiads. The school takes part in the West
Midland Chemistry Quiz, which we won in 2010. We
enter a team in the Engineering Education Scheme.
Events are organised for National Science Week. In
the last two years there has been a forensic science
event for Year 11, a trip to GCSE Science Live for
Y10 and a trip to ThinkTank for Y8. Pupils are
offered subscriptions to Catalyst magazine, the New
Scientist and the subject Review magazines.
Tests are set to the whole year group at the end of
each unit in KS3 and after each unit in Year 10 and
11. Uniformity of marking standards is ensured
through internal moderation. Report grades are
based on these assessments and standardised across
the year group.
Rooming
The school has recently been extended and
refurbished. Physics is situated in the new part of the
building with 2 full labs and a science studio. A
lecture theatre and other classrooms are nearby.
There are two designated chemistry laboratories and
two designated biology laboratories which are
attached to the main building via Physics. There is a
general prep room in the new part of the building
and a designated chemistry prep room by the
chemistry laboratories. The Head of Science shares
an office with the Head of Maths and there is a joint
TY/JT/348/7
January 2013
2