Overview
The Science department at De Aston strives to produce learners who love the world of science as much as we do. We aim to consolidate their knowledge and understanding with lessons designed to improve recall, application, problem solving skills and hands on practical experience.
Learners will be formatively assessed every lesson to ensure understanding of key concepts before moving on, and they have the opportunity to apply that new knowledge to unfamiliar concepts to practice application. Summative assessments take place at key points each term, using exam style questions and end of topic tests. All completed assessments are held in an individual learners' folder, allowing all learners to visibly see their individual progress over time.
The Science department uses booklets to deliver the curriculum. These are designed for the following purpose:
- Textbook / workbook combined
- Responsive teaching
- Personalised route for each class.
Classwork and incorporated assessment tasks will be regularly checked to ensure learners know what they have done well and how to improve their knowledge and understanding prior to formal assessment.
In KS3, students are taught a bespoke curriculum to build on key concepts in a particular sequence that reflects the hierarchical structure of the scientific disciplines. The curriculum is unified around the ‘Big ideas’ in Science: Cells, Organisation, Atomic Structure, Chemical reactions, Energy and Forces – these themes are revisited to develop schemata in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Disciplinary knowledge must be articulated and sequenced in the curriculum, to support progression of important disciplinary concepts and procedures. This means there is a clear rationale for when and where these inter-disciplinary concepts are first introduced in the curriculum and how they develop over time.
In KS4, students follow either AQA Separate Sciences or Combined Science (Trilogy).
Combined Science is a double award qualification, worth two GCSEs. This is obtained by sitting 6 exams having equal weighting in the 3 sciences, each 1 hour and 15 minutes long.
Separate sciences is worth three GCSE grades, one attained in each of the science disciplines. Each subject has 2 exams with each paper is 1 hour and 45 minutes long.
In KS5, our Sixth Form students can continue their science studies through A-levels or BTEC Applied Science.
We follow the AQA A-level specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics. As part of their studies, students will also complete a practical endorsement to specifically assess practical skills and prepare students for further science studies at university. There are 3 external exams per subject to assess the final A-level grading.
For Applied Science, students follow the Pearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Applied Science (Extended Certificate). This is assessed using a combination of external exams and internal assessments. Students will gain an overall award of distinction, merit or pass.
The Science department uses KayScience to set homework tasks across all year groups. These aim to consolidate and retrieve core knowledge. KayScience provides a bespoke blank canvas approach – students watch a video and complete an associated quiz to practice the substantive knowledge that needs to be retained. The majority of videos have questions embedded to ensure students are tracking core knowledge. Homework is designed to practice and consolidate the knowledge and understanding from lessons taught. It is set in line with the schools’ homework timetable.
The department encourages parents and carers to become actively involved in their child’s education by regularly talking to them about what they have learned and checking that they have completed their homework.
Please contact Head of Department Mrs Joanna Sturman for further information.
Equipment:
We expect learners to come to Science ready to learn – learners will always need to bring at least one blue or black biro, a pencil, rubber and ruler and it is strongly advised to also have a scientific calculator.
Out of Class/Extra-curricular
To further the profile of the department we run a Science Club, additionally we take part in Project X, a gifted and talented program run by RAF Waddington and the top of the bench a chemistry competition run by the University of Lincoln. We also take part in ‘Race to the Line’ – a competition run by the Learning partnership.
We also organise external visits. Year 11 and Sixth Form learners have the opportunity to visit universities and other institutions of scientific interest, such as Jodrell bank. We also take students to complete fieldwork in a variety of different environments.
Year 7 learners have the opportunity to visit the Yorkshire Wildlife Park as part of their ecology studies. Year 8 can also visit The Deep in Hull, to learn about adaptations of different animals.