St Mary’s Catholic School
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
The department occupies a suite of 8 state-of-the-art laboratories, each equipped with gas, water and
electricity. Each lab has access to one of three portable fume hoods which can also be equipped with
gas, water and electricity. All labs are equipped with state of the art Smartboards linked to desktop
computers. The desktop is linked to a classroom speaker system. There are also 2 standard
whiteboard’s in each lab. The department has a set of portable netbooks available to staff on a
booking basis.
There are currently 11 members of staff in the department. 10 are full time and 1 works two days per
week. There is a Head of Department and 2 Heads of Subject/Second in Department. 2 members of
staff are Heads of Year. 1 member of staff is the Head of Teaching and Learning Coaching. The
department has a technician 3 days per week
N
Science
Department
Science is a thriving and successful department:
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Achievement is outstanding at all key stages.
At GCSE level 62% of students achieved A* and A grades in Physics, 55% in Biology and 52%
in Chemistry.
83% of students achieved A* - C grades in the Dual Award and a 100% pass rate at Level 2
At A Level over 71% of students achieved A* - C grades in Biology, 67% in Chemistry and
67% in Physics.
100% of students achieved merit and above at Level 3
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Key Stage 3 is exceptionally strong too, with three very able cohorts coming through.
Leadership, teaching and the climate for learning in Science are all strong.
An excellent curriculum is in place.
In Year 7 students are set using a mixture of Key Stage 2 data from primary schools as well as CAT
scores taken in the first term. For the Key Stage 3 course the students are grouped by ability. For the
GCSE programmes in Key Stage 4, the students are also grouped by ability. Sets are reviewed every
term and updated using students’ assessment performance. Class size in KS3 are typically 30 pupils in
sets 1and 2, 25 in sets 3 and 4 and 15 in set 5. GCSE classes follow the same pattern. We currently
have one AS level Chemistry group of 25 students, one AS Biology group of 25 students, one AS level
Physics group of 12 students and one BTech (Vocational) Science group of 25 students. There is one
A2 level Chemistry group of 12 students, one A2 Biology group of 13 students, one A2 level Physics
group of 13 students and one BTech (Vocational) Science group of 10 students
KS3
Key Stage 3 provision is currently 6 x 1 hour lessons per 2-week cycle. There are comprehensive
schemes of work and resources for all topics covered. Each SoW provides for structured learning and
regular assessment. Students are encouraged to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of
Physics, Chemistry and Biology using varied approaches to learning.
In Y7 students study 8 topics, namely Forensic Science, Animal Adaptation, Particles and Separation,
Rock Types and Weathering, Forms of Energy, Light and Sound, Acid, Alkalis and Chemical Reactions,
Cells and Digestion, Forces, Magnetism and simple Circuits. In Y8 students study 3 Biology topics
namely Keeping Healthy, Nerves and Hormones and the use and abuse of drugs.
In Year 8 students study 3 Chemistry topics namely the fundamental ideas in chemistry, Limestone
and building materials and Metals and their uses. In Y8 students study 4 Physics topics namely the
transfer of energy by heating processes and the factors that affect the rate at which that energy is
transferred, Energy and efficiency, the usefulness of electrical appliances and methods we use to
generate electricity. At the end of each topic students complete an end of unit test and are given a
level. Three times a year there is a formal assessment level marked with levels reported home.
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KS4 Chemistry
Key Stage 4 provision is currently 5 x 1 hour lessons per 2-week cycle. We follow the AQA board
Chemistry Syllabus. The topics studied are acids, bases and salts, the periodic table, water, calculating
and explaining energy changes, further analysis and quantitative chemistry, the production of
ammonia and alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters. Students sit 3 exams: Unit 1 paper is a 1 hour
written paper worth 25% covering the fundamental ideas in chemistry, limestone and building
materials, metals and their uses, crude oil and fuels, other useful substances from crude oil, plant oils
and their uses and changes in the Earth and its atmosphere. Unit 2 paper is also 1 hour worth 25%
and includes structure and bonding, how structure influences the properties and uses of substances,
atomic structure, analysis and quantitative chemistry, rates of reaction, exothermic and endothermic
reactions, acids, bases and salts and electrolysis. Unit 3 paper is also 1 hour worth 25% and includes
the periodic table, water, calculating and explaining energy changes, further analysis and quantitative
chemistry, the production of ammonia and alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters. Unit 4 paper is the
controlled assessment worth 25% which is a practical investigation based on topics in the
specification. Assessment is on-going with students sitting a mock exam in Y10 and 11 with grades
reported home.
KS4 Double Award
Key Stage 4 provision for Double Award Science is currently 9x1 hour lessons per 2 week cycle.
We follow the AQA board Additional Science Syllabus. The Chemistry topics covered are structure and
bonding, how structure influences the properties and uses of substances, atomic structure, analysis
and quantitative chemistry, rates of reaction, exothermic and endothermic reactions, acids, bases and
salts and electrolysis. Students also complete a controlled assessment worth 25% which is a practical
investigation based on topics in the specification. Assessment is on-going with students sitting a mock
exam in Y10 and 11 with grades reported home.
KS4 Vocational Science
Key Stage 4 provision for Vocational Science is currently 9 x 1hour lessons per 2 week cycle. In
Vocational Science we follow the OCR Science level 2 syllabus covering modules in best practice in
science, material science, forensic science, food science, science in sport and the science of the
universe and humanity. Assessment is on-going with students completing a portfolio of work for each
unit to evidence the pass, merit and distinction criteria.
KS5 Chemistry
Key Stage 5 Chemistry provision is currently 10 x 1 hour lessons per 2-week cycle per subject. The
department offers both AS and A2 level Chemistry. In AS Chemistry we follow the OCR syllabus
covering modules in Atoms, Bonds and Groups, Chains, Energy and Resources and Practical Skills in
Chemistry 1. Students sit 3 exams: Paper 1 is a 1 hour Foundation paper worth 30%, Paper 2 a 1.75
hour Organic and Energy paper worth 50% and Paper 3 is a Practical Skills in Chemistry worth 20%. In
A2 Chemistry we follow the OCR syllabus covering modules in Rings, Polymers and Analysis, Equilibria,
Energetics and Elements and Practical Skills in Chemistry 2. Students sit 3 exams: Paper 1 is a 1.25
hour Organic paper worth 15%, Paper 2 is a 2 hour Organic and Energy paper worth 25% and Paper 3
is a Practical Skills in Chemistry worth 10% of the overall A2 GCE. Assessment is on-going with
students sitting a mock exam in Y12 and 13 with grades reported home.
KS5 Vocational Applied Science
Key Stage 5 Vocational Applied Science provision is currently 10 x 1 hour lessons per 2-week cycle per
subject. In Vocational Applied Science we follow the EdExcel Btec Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in
Applied Science covering 6 units; Fundamentals in Science, Working in the Scientific Industry,
Chemical and Analytical Techniques, Microbiological Techniques, Organic Chemistry and
Environmental Science. Each of these units requires 60 guided learning hours and are completed over
the 2 year course. Assessment is on-going with students completing a portfolio of work for each unit
to evidence the pass, merit and distinction criteria.