- Science Department
- Science Ks3
- Science Ks4
- 21st Century Science
- Applied Science
Teaching Team:
Dr C. Whorwood - Faculty Leader of Science| E-Mail
Ms S. Leith - Senior Science Technician| E-Mail
Mrs C. Churcher- Scienece Technician | E-Mail
Mr D. Nagle - KS3 Science Learning & Intervention Coordinator | E-Mail
Mrs S. Rowe | E-Mail
Miss M. Tearle | E-Mail
Miss C. Tolchard | E-Mail
Mrs Z. Ayoub | E-Mail
Mr L. Gorman| E-Mail
Mr B. Inglis - Smith | E-Mail
Mrs T. Sheikh | E-Mail
Mr D. Warrington | E-Mail
Links:
Succeeding with Science education programme The site is full of science related resources and information, games, videos and activities
Designed to stimulate the imagination about science and technology. Provides science resources for primary and secondary school students and their teachers
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Science is happening all around us and inside us. It is important to understand the world we live in to ensure that we can develop technology to make life more enjoyable whilst maintaining the environment and all living species that inhabit our world. Science informs everything that we do from cooking our food, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, developing technology to produce labour saving devices, through to protecting our environment.
Albert Einstein once said that ‘imagination is more important than knowledge’. Creative thinking, insight, intuition, hunches and imagination are at the heart of ideas that have led to great leaps forward in science and technology. These skills are positively encouraged in Science learning at Cantell because they spark novel ideas and promote an enquiring approach with students asking questions such as ‘Why does that happen?’, ‘How does this work?’ and ‘What if?’.
The Science department aim to develop young people that are enthusiastic about science and motivated to progress the human race
The Science department vision is that students:
- increase their common knowledge
- can make sense of the world around them
- develop an enquiring mind
- challenge information
- improve their investigation skills
- are inspired to continue their learning about scienceIf you have any queries about science please contact the school via the contact us page or by E-Mail to science@cantell.org.uk
The science team are dedicated to providing an engaging and interesting experience for students in science lessons.
“Inspired by science and driven by curiosity”
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Assessment:
In all years it will consist of a variety of methods including verbal feedback in the lesson, student assessment in the lesson, homework, written feedback in the exercise book, end of term tests, key assessments and in Year 9 Mock SAT tests and the SAT tests.
Course Outline:
Students will study the world around them; explore how it works and our influences on it. This will be carried out by using practical work, research skills, taught lessons and the students' own experiences. They will be encouraged to ask questions and find the answers in a safe manner, using what they find to solve further problems.
Year 7 Units:
The students will learn to select appropriate information and / or apparatus to investigate a task fairly and to use the information to make conclusions and to suggest improvements whilst studying the following topics: Safety, Cells and reproduction; matter; Energy and electricity; Forces and space; Acids and Alkalis; Interdependence; rocks, light and sound.
Year 8 Units:
The students will learn to identify an appropriate approach to an investigation, use the equipment with greater accuracy and precision and understand the importance of repeat readings in validating an experiment whilst studying the following topics: Fit and healthy, elements and compounds, energy and electricity, plants and inheritance, gravity and space, environmental chemistry.
Year 9 Units:
The students will learn to identify measurements that do not fit the main pattern, to select and use appropriate methods for communicating data using scientific language and conventions whilst studying the following topics: Inheritance and Selection; Reactions of Metals and their Compounds; Patterns of Reactions; Energy and forces plus revision topics in preparation for SATS.
Student Groupings:
In Year 7 students are set based on their Key Stage 2 SAT exam scores and teacher assessments. These sets are reviewed based on CAT scores and student performance throughout the course. Changes take place at the end of each term.
Time Allocation:
6 lessons per two week cycle.
Three GCSE A*-G grades in Biology, Chemistry & Physics
What do students study and how do they study?This course runs over two years to provide students with excellent opportunities to achieve three good grades in the three separate sciences, Biology, Chemistry & Physics up to A*. Students will undertake an intensive programme of study at higher tier level that enables them to enjoy an even more in-depth understanding of key scientific concepts, theories and ideas that can serve as the basis for subsequent
advanced academic sciences and related subject areas. There are also important research and practical investigation components with which to apply and test science theories.
Importantly, the topic areas are presented to students in a manner that is highly relevant to the everyday impact of science in society and as such provide students with both the thinking and investigative skills required to learn at higher academic levels in order to manage the solution of complex problems and to adopt innovative and imaginative ideas.
Triple Science students study the identical 21st Century Science suite of modules as the Double Science students following the GCSE Core and Additional Science courses, but do so at a more in depth level and a faster pace.
The GCSE Biology modules studied in Year 10 include:You & Your Genes, Keeping Healthy and Life on Earth, which comprise Unit 1, and also a module called Homeostasis that is part of Unit 2. This unit continues in Year 11 with study of two further modules called Growth & Development and The Brain & Mind. The Biology Practical Investigation is carried out during Year 10 while the Further Biology module and the Ideas in Context module, that together comprise Unit 3, are studied during Year 11.
The GCSE Chemistry modules studied in Year 10 include Air Quality, Material Choices and Food Matters, which comprise Unit 1, and also a module called Chemical Patterns that is part of Unit 2. This unit continues in Year 11 with study of two further modules called Chemicals of the Natural Environment and Chemical Synthesis. The Chemistry Practical Investigation is carried out during Year 10. The Further Chemistry module and the Ideas in Context module, that together comprise Unit 3, are studied during Year 11.
The GCSE Physics modules studied in Year 10 include The Earth & The Universe, Radiation & Life and Radioactive Materials, which comprise Unit 1, and also a module called Explaining Motion that is part of Unit 2. This unit continues in Year 11 with study of two further modules called Electric Circuits and The Wave Model of Radiation. The Physics Practical Investigation is carried out during Year 10. The Further Physics
Observing the Universe module and the Ideas in Context module, that together comprise Unit 3, are studied during Year 11.
For each GCSE Science the Unit 1 & 2 modules comprise one third of the marks for the course, while Unit 3 comprises a further one third of the marks. The Practical Investigation makes up the remaining one third of the marks.
What coursework is required?Students will undertake an in depth Practical Investigation comprising 33.3% of the total marks for each of the three GCSE Sciences, Biology, Chemistry & Physics.
Alternatively there is the option of completing a Case Study on a key issue of scientific importance such as the suggested links between the MMR vaccine & autism or pre-implantation genetic diagnoses. These focus on both scientific evidence and the social, moral, ethical, legal, economic and cultural issues. They will also
carry out a Practical Data Analysis where scientific evidence is provided from different sources such as UK Government air quality measurements or data from the Environment Agency on pollution levels. Students are expected to critically evaluate these data and how they are presented. Together the Case Study and the Practical Data Analysis comprise 33.3% of the total marks for each GCSE.
It is possible for students to undertake the Practical Investigation for one or more of the sciences and carry out both the Case Study and the Practical Data Analysis for the other.
What examinations are there?Students sit unit exams, each assessing a trio of Biology modules or Chemistry modules or Physics modules, i.e., separate exam papers for each science. The first set of exams are sat in June when students are in Year 10. These are the Unit 1 exams for each of the three sciences.
During Year 11 students sit Unit 2 exams in January and Unit 3 exams in the following June.
Unit 1 and Unit 2 exams each comprise 16.7% of the total marks for each of the three GCSE sciences, i.e., 33.3% in total. Unit 3 exams comprise a further 33.3% of the marks. The remaining 33.3% of marks are provided by the Practical Investigation or combined Case Study and Practical Data Analysis.
The modular exam system means that it is possible to arrange a re-sit of the exam during the following exam session under exceptional circumstances or when the possibility of gaining a few additional marks may enable the student to gain a higher grade.
The Higher Tier exams allow students to achieve a maximum of an A* grade for each of three GCSE sciences.
What additional study is expected?Students are required to complete some of the science ideas work, research and write up of their assignments at home. Students can also attend after school coursework completion sessions and this will become a requirement should their work not be completed to a sufficiently high standard prior to formal assessment. They will be set revision and exam preparation tasks (e.g., practice exam questions) during the
days and weeks prior to each examination and they will be expected to take opportunities to attend after school revision sessions. Students will be provided with opportunities to obtain published revision materials and all students will be
expected to avail themselves of such opportunities.
What can students do next?The 21st Century GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics courses together provide for a wide range of routes of progression in post-16 learning & achievement in colleges of further education & on to university. Students can go onto to study pure and applied sciences such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Forensic
Science, Applied Science, Psychology, Environmental Sciences etc at college at A Level and also International Baccalaureate.
Alternatively, students can use their GCSE separate science qualifications to demonstrate a high level of scientific knowledge and understanding and also expertise in critical analysis and evaluation of evidence that should equip them for a variety of other career progressions including Law, Publishing, careers in the armed forces, health service etc, whether through intermediary tertiary education or directly into
employment.
What information is on the VLE?The VLE has links to websites that support revision and exam preparation and also assist coursework completion. It will also provide other resources such as Power Points and worksheets.
Double Award 21st Century Science (2 Year Course)
Two GCSE A*-G grades
What do students study and how do they study?This course runs over two years to provide students with excellent opportunities to achieve two good grades in Science up to A* through undertaking the GCSE Core Science in Year 10 and the GCSE Additional Science in Year 11. The focus of both the Core Science and Additional Science courses is upon learning more of the in-depth understanding of key scientific concepts, theories and ideas that can serve as a
foundation for subsequent advanced academic sciences. There are also important research and practical investigation components with which to apply and test science theories.
Importantly, the topic areas are presented to students in a manner that is highly relevant to the everyday impact of science in society and as such provide students with both the thinking and investigative skills required to learn at higher academic levels in order to manage the solution of complex problems and to adopt innovative and imaginative ideas.
The GCSE Core and Additional Science courses each comprise a variety of different modules covering key Biology, Chemistry and Physics topics.
The Core Science modules studied in Year 10 include You & Your Genes, Air Quality, Earth & The Universe, Keeping Healthy, Material Choices, Radiation, Life on Earth, Food Matters & Radioactive Materials. A trio of modules make up a unit and each of these is assessed by examination. Students also study Ideas in Context specified by material released by the exam board prior to the Unit 4 Ideas in Context examination. The total marks for these unit exams sat during the year comprises two thirds of the marks needed for a GCSE grade. In addition, students undertake a Case Study and also a Data Analysis component that together comprise one third of the total marks for the course.
The Additional Science modules studied in Year 11 include Homeostasis, Chemical Patterns, Explaining Motion, Growth & Development, Environmental Chemicals, Electric Circuits, The Brain & Mind, Chemical Syntheses & The Wave Model of Radiation. As with Core Science, A trio of modules make up a unit (1, 2 and 3) and each of these is assessed by examination. In addition, students study Ideas in Context specified by material released by the exam board prior to the Unit 4 Ideas in Context examination. The total marks for these unit exams sat during the year comprises two thirds of the marks needed for a GCSE grade. Students also complete a Practical Investigation component that together comprise one third of the total marks for the course.
What coursework is required?Students will undertake Core Science coursework comprising a Case Study on a key issue of scientific importance such as the suggested links between the MMR vaccine & autism or pre-implantation genetic diagnoses. These focus on both scientific evidence and the social, moral, ethical, legal, economic and cultural issues. As part of the Core Science course, they will also carry out a Data Analysis where scientific evidence is provided from different sources such as UK Government air quality measurements or data from the Environment Agency on pollution levels. Students are expected to critically evaluate these data and how they are presented. Together these comprise 33.3% of the total marks for the course.
While in Year 11 students will also undertake Additional Science coursework comprising a major Practical Investigation in either a biological, chemical or physical science topic, such as osmosis, chemical composition or electrical resistance in a wire. The assessment of this coursework also comprises 33.3% of the total marks for the course.
What examinations are there?Students sit unit exams, each assessing a trio of modules, in January and June of both Year 10 (Core Science) and Year 11 (Additional Science). Each exam is only 40 minutes in length and together comprises 50% of the marks for each course. In addition, students in Year 10 and also in Year 11 sit a further 'Ideas in Context' exam in June that is based on scientific material released to students several weeks prior to the exam.
The modular exam system means that it is possible to arrange a re-sit of the exam during the following exam session under exceptional circumstances or when the possibility of gaining a few additional marks may enable the student to gain a higher grade.
The Foundation Tier exams allow students to achieve a maximum of a C grade.
The Higher Tier exams allow students to achieve a maximum of an A* grade.
What additional study is expected?Students are required to complete some of the science ideas work, research and write up of their assignments at home. Students can also attend after school coursework completion sessions and this will become a requirement should their work not be completed to a sufficiently high standard prior to formal assessment. They will be set revision and exam preparation tasks (e.g. practice exam questions) during the days and weeks prior to each examination and they will be expected to take opportunities to attend after school revision sessions.
Students will be provided with opportunities to obtain published revision materials and all students will be expected to avail themselves of such opportunities.
What can students do next?The 21st Century GCSE Core and Additional Science courses together provide for a wide range of routes of progression in post-16 learning & achievement in colleges of further education & on to university. Students can go onto to study pure and applied sciences such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Forensic Science, Applied Science, Psychology, Environmental Sciences etc at college at A Level and also International
Baccalaureate. Alternatively, students can use their GCSE qualifications in science to undertake apprenticeships & other vocational training courses, the armed forces, health service etc.
What information is on the VLE?The VLE has links to websites that support revision and exam preparation and also assist coursework
completion. It will also provide other resources such as Power Points and worksheets.
Applied Science (2 Year Course)
Two GCSE A*-G grades
What do students study and how do they study?This course runs over two years to provide students with excellent opportunities to achieve two good grades in Science up to A*. The focus of the course is upon learning predominantly through practical and research based investigation of a variety of different topics. There is also an important theoretical component but this is closely linked to the investigative work and underpins the understanding needed for its successful completion Importantly, these topic areas are highly relevant to the everyday impact of science in society and as such provide students with both the thinking and practical skills required to apply a scientific and technological approach to solving different problems.
The course comprises three components that equally contribute to the final marks and grades. Two of these are coursework units that comprise a final portfolio of assignments. These provide evidence of 'Developing Scientific Skills' (Unit 1) as well as the knowledge & understanding about how science is used in an increasingly technological working environment, i.e., 'Science at Work' (Unit 3). The other unit, 'Science for the Needs of Society' (Unit 2) focuses on the key scientific ideas that are important to understanding the ever increasing role science & technology plays in meeting the needs of society, whether they be health, economic, environmental etc.
Students study and undertake assignments on areas such as Microorganisms, Fermentation, Qualitative and Quantitative chemical analyses of unknown samples, Microscopy, Physical & Electrical Properties of Materials, Electronics, Mechanical Devices, Production of Pure Dry Samples of value to industry & agriculture, Health & Safety and Science in the Workplace. This is underpinned by learning of key biological, chemical and physical concepts necessary for research and development of new ideas and products.
What coursework is required?Students will undertake a series of fourteen coursework assignments that are mostly practical investigations, each taking between two and five weeks to complete. There is no fixed minimum or maximum word limit and they can be handwritten or word-processed. A variety of different levels of structured support and guidance are available so that every student can make progress and achieve their best. However, the more support given then limits the level of marks that can be awarded. Most of the coursework assignments will be completed while in Year 10 and these comprise two thirds of all the marks needed for two GCSE grades.
What examinations are there?Students sit a one hour examination in the January that they are in Year 11. This provides one third of the total marks needed for two GCSE grades. It is possible to arrange a re-sit of the exam in the following June under exceptional circumstances but students usually achieve their highest marks in January.
The Foundation Tier exam allows students to achieve a maximum of 69 marks towards their total. The Higher Tier exam allows students to achieve a maximum of 100 marks towards their total.
What additional study is expected?Homework, extra-curricular participation, attendance to after school activities, wider reading, work experience, bringing ingredients, materials etc. Students are required to complete some of the science ideas work, research and write up of their assignments at home. Students can also attend after school coursework improvement sessions and this will become a requirement should their portfolio lack sufficient completed
assignments. They will be set revision and exam preparation tasks (e.g. practice exam questions) during the Autumn term of year 11 and will be expected to attend after school revision sessions.
Students will assemble their own multicolored revision packs that can also be specifically designed to meet individual student requirements.
What can students do next?The Applied Science course provides for a wide range of routes of progression in post-16 learning & achievement in colleges of further education & on to university. Students can go onto to study pure and applied sciences such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Forensic Science, Applied Science, Psychology, Environmental Sciences etc at college at A Level and even International Baccalaureate. Alternatively, students can use their qualification in Applied Science to undertake apprenticeships & other vocational training courses, the armed forces, health service etc.
What information is on the VLE?The VLE has links to websites that support revision and exam preparation and also assist coursework completion. It will also provide other resources such as Power Points and worksheets.
