Science
The main aim of the Science Department is to develop the boys’ questioning and understanding of the
physical world around us; to increase the opportunity for boys to learn how scientific observation can
explain how the world around us functions. A secondary, and obviously important, aim is to ensure that
the boys are prepared well for their entrance exams to senior school.
Staffing and Timetable
In Year 7 Mr. Lawrence teaches 7C and Mr Jenkins teaches 7L and 7W. In Year 8 Mr. Lawrence teaches
8H and 8K and Mr Jenkins 8T. All classes have 4 periods of Science per week and receive 2 homeworks
of thirty – forty minutes duration.
The Year 7 Curriculum
Autumn Term
Sound: Pitch and Volume; Measuring the speed of sound; Uses of sound.
Electricity and Magnetism: Electrostatics; Series and parallel circuits; Resistance; Components and their
uses; Magnetism; Electromagnets; Relays; Simple electronic logic; Generation of electricity.
Spring Term
Chemical Reactions: Periodic Table; Elements, mixtures and Compounds; Acids and alkalis; Thermal
decomposition; Oxidation and reduction; Reactivity Series; Energy changes in reactions.
Environmental Biology: Variation and its causes; Keys; Classification; Adaptation to environment;
Habitat study; Food chains and webs; Carbon cycle.
Summer Term
Forces and Motion: Speed; Weight; Hook’s Law; Moments; Friction; Terminal Velocity; Pressure;
Archimedes’ Law.
The Solar System: Summer project.
Year 8 Curriculum
Autumn Term
Human Body: Cells, Tissues and Organs; Nutrition; Digestion; Breathing; Circulation; Skeletal System;
Nervous System; Sexual Reproduction; Healthy Living.
REVISION FOR ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS
Spring Term (post-Entrance examinations)
Energy: Energy types; Principle of conservation of energy; Energy sources; Fuels; Alternative energy;
Energy efficiency; Simple energy calculations.
Plant Biology: Plant structure; Photosynthesis; Osmosis; Transpiration; Germination and growth;
Reproduction in plants.
Summer Term
Theobald Study: Environmental studies project.
Chemical Patterns: Structure of the atom; ions; ionic bonding; electrolysis; covalent bonding; symbol
equations.
It should be noted that ALL senior schools expect that the boys will have covered the entire Common
Entrance syllabus by the time that transfer occurs at the end of Year 8. The four post Entrance topics
should not, therefore, be treated as ‘fillers’ to keep the boys occupied until the end of the school year!
Assessment
The progression of the boys is assessed through marking of classwork and homework and through testing
at the end of each topic and in twice yearly exams. Tests and examinations allow areas of weakness to be
identified by subject teachers and re-covered as necessary.
End of topic tests consist of several short answer style questions and last between 40 and 50 minutes,
depending on the topic.
Year 7 Examinations
The January exam consists of short answer style questions and focuses in particular on recall of
knowledge. There are some questions that examine the ability to apply knowledge. The exam is 90
minutes long.
The June exam mimics the style of the MTS Entrance exam. There are two sections: Section A is a
multiple choice section with 30 questions; Section B is a short answer paper in three sections (Biology,
Chemistry and Physics). The paper is out of 105 marks in all and is 80 minutes long. The questions are
drawn from past MTS and Common Entrance papers and are of a standard that the boys will meet in
January of Year 8.
Boys achieving a B grade in the Year 7 June exam, with continued effort, will stand a high chance of
passing the MTS entrance exam. This is not to say that a C grade will not pass, but that considerable
work is necessary in the coming months.
Year 8 Examinations
In November of Year 8 boys will sit a mock Science examination. The paper sat will depend on the first
choice school your son is sitting for.
Candidates not sitting for MTS will take a paper based on the Aldenham and John Lyon entrance exams.
If your son is sitting for a school that does not require a Science exam then he will also sit this paper.
This paper will be 80 minutes long.
The January exams for entrance to senior school do vary greatly. However, the MTS exams will follow
the format of the mock exams. Boys taking exams for other schools will be given past papers and
familiarised with the style of the exams at these schools.
In the June of Year 8 there will be a final assessment. This will take the form of an Environmental Studies
project and a final exam. The project counts as 30% of the final mark and the exam as 70%. The best
project will also be awarded the Theobald Prize for Environmental Study which is presented at the
Summer Prize-Giving. It is expected that the boys continue to work enthusiastically till the end of the
Summer Term so that they are fully prepared for the transfer to their new school in September.
Equipment
Each boy is supplied with a green A4 exercise book. This should be covered with paper or sticky-backed
plastic. In Year 8, A4 files are supplied.
A calculator should be brought to each lesson. The models recommended by the Maths department are
more than adequate.
Practical Work
The best way to learn about Science is to carry out practical work. To this end the boys will carry out a
great deal of investigative work. Once an investigation has been carried out or a demonstration
observed, your son will often be asked to ‘write-up’ the investigation for homework.
By Year 7 most boys can describe a method and can draw graphs and tables of results. Most assistance
is needed in describing important results and then coming to sensible conclusions and making an
evaluation of the investigation and data obtained from it.
Sources of information
The textbook for Year 7 and Year 8 is Science Prep Book 2. This is an excellent resource especially
written for preparatory schools studying the Common Entrance 13+ Syllabus. It is detailed and provides
plenty of material to aid your son in learning the large science syllabus.
For each topic boys are given topic notes. These are intended to supplement the course textbook. The
notes contain exercises and additional information that has been of use in previous entrance
examinations.
The Internet is an excellent resource, especially for project work. I must ask though that if your son is
using the ‘net that he tries to write in his own words. If work is merely ‘cut and pasted’ then it is
unlikely to have been read and mentally digested. It will also, more often than not, contain references to
strange areas of the world that aren’t relevant to the task set.
The real world is a great place to explore! If you can, try to get to some of the following during the
holidays or at the weekend:
Science Museum, South Kensington
Natural History Museum, South Kensington (or Tring!)
Greenwich Observatory
Kew Gardens
Nature Trails (Rickmansworth Aqua drone), Oxhey Woods, Withey Beds.
Mr. C. Lawrence
Head of Science