Science
The faculty
Staff
Currently the Science team has a complement of eleven highly committed, well-qualified teachers plus one full time technician. Though tending to specialise, the team members contribute to the delivery of all aspects of the Science curriculum. The current members of the team are:
| James Charlesworth (Head of Science) | Rachel Taylor (Second in Science) | Sarah Valovin (Second in Science) |
| Rebecca Walton (Vice Principal) | Karen Coggins (Senior Science Technician) | |
| William Butcher | Oliver Barrett | Joanne Moore |
| Connor Straker | Flora Thorp-Greenwood | Beverley Pawson (part-time) |
Accommodation and Resources
The department is housed in seven spacious, purpose-built laboratories all having gas, electricity, and water points. There is also a designated teaching room next to the laboratories. The department also has access to the school’s six large ICT suites and the Independent Learning Centre. All labs have interactive whiteboards and are well resourced with equipment and apparatus for use by all staff as well as access to the relevant student textbooks. The department has two well-resourced prep rooms and there is work area that includes a number of computers exclusively for Science staff use.
Time Allocation
The school operates a 25-period two weekly timetable, with five 60-minute lessons per day.
Currently, in Years 7-9, students have seven lessons per fortnight, in Year 10 and 11 Combined science students have ten lessons per fortnight and Triple Separate science students have fifteen lessons per fortnight
Schemes of Work Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3 students follow the “Exploring Science” scheme based around the QCA scheme of work. All Key Stage 3 students have access to published textbooks and resources.
At Key Stage 4, students at GCSE follow Combined Science AQA. They also have the option to take Triple GCSEs in Chemistry, Physics and Biology and approximately two thirds of the students in Year 10 and Year 11 have chosen this option.
Achievements
Exam grades at GCSE have been consistently excellent over the last few years achieving some of the best grades across the school.
Extra-Curricular Activities
The Science team runs a variety of trips, clubs and Science extension classes. The Science team also regular enter and win both reginal and national competitions to enhance pupils experience of STEM subjects. We have excellent links with our feeder primary schools, teaching in the schools and running an annual Science Day for Y4 students. The Department has close links with Huddersfield University, the University of Bradford, Greenhead College, New College and Kirklees College.
The Curriculum
Curriculum Intent
The Science specific Curriculum Intent can be found here:
Assessment Guidance
The Science approach to Assessment can be found here:
Learning Journey
The Science Curriculum Sequences can be found here:
Golden Knowledge Organisers
The school defines 'Golden Knowledge' as being the most important content to Remember and Understand, as it represents the main building blocks of the curriculum.
The Science 'Golden Knowledge' for each year group can be found here:
Year on a page
The summary of each Year Group's curriculum can be found here:
