THE SCIENCE CURRICULUM AREA- BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
GENERAL.
The science department is equipped with nine laboratories, one of which was recently
refurbished. Each laboratory is used for one separate science at post-16 and for
general science in the lower school. They are serviced by three dedicated science
technicians. The laboratories are well equipped as a result of a generous budget and
one of the laboratories contains a suite of computers, which are used frequently for
ICT activities such as datalogging experiments. There are thirteen very enthusiastic
and well-qualified members of the Science team, all participating in the lower school
Co-ordinated Science programme and for one or more subject specialisms at GCSE
and A-level/ IB.
KS3.
The Key Stage 3 Science programme is compressed into a two-year course, enabling
acceleration of all students. The students follow an in-house science scheme and have
access to Collins KS3 Science text books. The course a series of units delivered under
the general themes of “organisms, behaviour and health”, “chemical and material
behaviour”, energy, electricity and faces” and “the environment, earth and universe”.
The Year 7 students are taught in six mixed-ability groups and follow a skills-based
approach. At the start of Year 8 the students are placed into sets of different abilities
and each set is taught by 2 teachers. Year 7 students receive 3 x 1 hour periods per
week and Year 8 students receive 4 x 1 hour periods per week.
KS4.
In Year 9 students start their KS4 Science courses. These depend upon both their
ability and whether they have opted in to Separate award Science (new from Sept
2010).
All students follow the OCR Gateway course and are issued the relevant Heinemann
texts. Students that do not opt for Science, complete GCSE Science and Additional
Science in 6 periods a fortnight over 3 years.
Those who do opt have an extra 5 lessons a fortnight in which to cover the extra
material to allow them to achieve GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
The top set of those that have opted for Science will finish the separate award in 2
years, allowing them to study OCR AS Science in Year 11.
POST-16 BIOLOGY COURSES.
Students may follow either the OCR Biology course for AS/A2 study or Biology
(foundation or higher) as part of the International Baccalaureate diploma programme.
The IB diploma programme was introduced in September 2007. IB Environmental
Systems and Societies is to be introduced in September 2010. The Biology courses
are delivered by subject specialists and students can opt for either higher or standard
level.
Biology is a very popular subject at post-16 level, with, on average, 80 students
studying the subject in Year 12 (2 sets of IB Biology and 3 sets of AS Biology). In
Year 13 on average, around 50 - 60 students study the subject. The majority of the
students regularly achieve a grade A or B at A-level. All students are issued with text
books for both IB and AS/A2.
At post-16 level, the Science Curriculum Area also runs Physics, Chemistry and
Health and Social Care AS/A-level courses, and Chemistry, Physics and
Environmental Science at IB. These are very popular courses and students attain very
high grades.
POST-16 CHEMISTRY COURSES.
Students may follow either the OCR (Salters) Chemistry course for AS/A2 study or
chemistry (foundation or higher) as part of the International Baccalaureate diploma
programme. The IB diploma programme was introduced in September 2007. The
Chemistry courses are delivered by subject specialists and students can opt for either
higher or standard level.
Chemistry is a very popular subject at post-16 level, with, on average, 60 - 70 students
studying the subject in Year 12 (one set of IB chemistry and two sets of AS
chemistry). In Year 13 on average, around 30 – 40 students study the subject. The
introduction of the Salters scheme has made Chemistry more relevant to the students
and the majority of the students regularly achieve a grade A or B at A-level. All
students are issued with text books for both IB and AS/A2.
At post-16 level, the Science Curriculum Area also runs Physics, Biology and Human
Health and Social Care AS/A-level courses. These are very popular courses and
students attain very high grades.
POST-16 PHYSICS COURSES
Physics has been a popular choice at AS and A level. From September 2008 the new
Edexcel course was introduced for both context and content led teaching.
International Baccalaureate Physics at both standard and higher level is also offered.
Sciences at Advanced level are very popular at The Rochester Grammar School with
many students going on to study Sciences and Science-related courses at university.
The successful applicant must be a dynamic teacher who is able to utilise a variety of
teaching skills. He/she needs to deliver the curriculum content in an interesting way
and promote enthusiasm for the subject.