Welcome to Beaumont School Science Department!

Science is a combination of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and some Earth Science. It is a Core Curriculum subject, and all students study it until the end of Year 11.

AIMS

We aim to make Science an enjoyable, safe and successful experience for our students. We want them all to succeed in Science. A significant number will go on to A level and University studies in science, engineering and medicine. For those who finish their Science studies at the end of Year 11, we want them to accumulate a breadth of scientific knowledge that will be relevant to their adult lives. We also strongly believe that the analytical and communication skills developed in Science lessons are extremely valuable to everyone in their life beyond school. By encouraging an enthusiasm for Science, we aim to ensure that learning is fun and that examination success follows.

The aims of the Science Department are to:

• promote interest in science.
• enable students to understand and be able to use a large body of knowledge related to the content.
• enable students to investigate scientific phenomena in a practical way.
• enable students to develop the  skills of understanding, practical work, synthesis and evaluation for scientific use.
• enable students to be able to use scientific principles in wider life.

Students are encouraged to

• think scientifically in each lesson.
• be able to communicate scientific ideas in both words and writing.
• carry out scientific investigation in a safe and controlled way.

Curriculum

In Key Stage 3 all science subjects are taught integrated as a whole subject. At Key Stage 4 the different areas (Biology, Chemistry, & Physics) are taught separately.

Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9)

The Department has adapted a course for years 7, 8 and 9 that fully delivers the National Curriculum. A central tent of this course is "How Science Works"; ie how Science is used in the world around us. As students progress through the first three years, they are introduced to fundamental scientific theories in order to provide a solid base for GCSE-level studies.

We follow the 'Science Works' Scheme from the Oxfor University Press. In Year 7 students will cover the following topics:

Cells, Reproduction, Differences,Classification, Particles, Acids and Alkalis, Chemical Reactions, Elements and Compounds, Energy, Forces, Space, and Electricity and Magnetism.

For a summary of the curriculum in a particular KS3 school year you can download the relevant Year Course Booklet by clicking on these links:
Year 7 course booklet
Year 8 course booklet
Year 9 course booklet

Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)

At GCSE we have chosen the AQA's Science courses because of their scientific rigour and breadth. The core (double) science course at KS4 leads to most students achieving a GCSE in Science in Year 10, followed by a GCSE in Additional Science in Year 11. Whilst the qualifications are in ‘Science’, the three subjects – Biology, Physics and Chemistry - are taught separately in two lessons each per week and the subjects are examined separately. Students are also assessed for their practical abilities through an Investigate Skills Assessment (ISA) in each area, with the highest scoring ISA achieved in each year counting towards the final GCSE grade for that year. The main topics covered include:

For those students who particularly enjoy and perform well in science, there is the option to take a Triple Science GCSE. In addition to following the Science and Additional Science courses, these students also cover extra units, sit an extension paper and complete a further ISA in each of the three subjects. They will then be awarded a total of three separate GCSEs, one in each of the three science subjects.

For details of the GCSE syllabus for students who began their GCSE course in 2010 click on this link:
GCSE 2010-2012 syllabus (CORE and TRIPLE SCIENCE OPTION)

For details of the GCSE syllabus for students who began their GCSE course in 2011 click on this link:
GCSE 2011-2013 syllabus (CORE and TRIPLE SCIENCE OPTION)

You can obtain details of the course and coursework deadlines etc from the relevant Year Course Booklet by clicking on these links:

Year 10 course booklet
Year 11 course booklet

Years 12 and 13 (Sixth Form)

Students can take their interest in Science further by studying Biology, Physics and/or Chemistry in the Sixth Form at AS, A level and IB level. For details of all courses on offer at Key Stage 5 go to the BeauSandVer consortium website.

Assessment

We ensure that we effectively monitor pupil progress through regular marking of their work, including homework, allowing us to see the individual's strengths and weaknesses and to provide appropriate guidance.

Pupils take tests at the end of each topic.  Examinations are taken at the end of each KS3 year, and ‘mock’ examinations in Years 10 and 11 help prepare students for their GCSEs.   

The Department also assesses students' performance in practical work.  These results count towards the pupils' National Curriculum level at the end of Key Stage 3 and also comprise 20% of their final GCSE marks.

Resources

The Science Department is housed in seven purpose built laboratories with an additional three preparation rooms.

Visits and Extra Curricular Activities

We feel that trips play an important part in broadening the scientific education of our pupils.  Year 10 students carry out field work on the school site; the A level Biologists go to Wales for a week to carry out their fieldwork.  We also take the other A level Scientists to lectures, university departments and research laboratories.

Homework

P2 Electricity Homework

The Science Team