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Bishop Douglass has been a Specialist Science College since September 2007 (redesignated July 2010). We consistently expand and extend the provisions of the science curriculum and continue the trend of improving results at all Key Stages. All pupils experience some science work outside the classroom, on day trips or through invited speakers. Use of Fronter, our 'Virtual Learning Environment' as well as many other online activities permits much more independent work. Our teachers will develop their skills which will be shared with staff of all departments, with the aim of raising standards overall.
Work with the community will involves collaboration with 4 feeder Primary schools - St Theresa's, Our Lady of Lourdes, Holy Trinity and Martin Junior - to extend their pupils' experience of science by visits to the school for a series of practical lessons and informal staff training. Our senior partner is Oak Lodge Special school.
Training for the wider community has included a Microbiology course for technicians and "Immediate remedial measures training" for teachers and technicians
All 5 schools have attended activity days at the school, and participated in events such as the Feet of Green polar expedition team, engineering challenges and Science Week fun
Location and Resources
The Science Department is located in The Michael Caulfield Science Centre. It is a purpose-built facility with 8 fully equipped laboratories, and a dedicated ICT suite of 30 computers, as well as extensive space for equipment stores, a Technicians' workshop and a Science staff office.
Curriculum
Key Stage 3
We follow the KS3 National Curriculum for Science (see link below), using a range of resources produced in collaboration with the LEA. Extensive ICT resources are used to consolidate learning, and to assist those with different learning styles to succeed. An emphasis is placed on helping students to understand how science in done. We do a great deal of practical science.
STEM lessons are also a feature of years 7 and 8 development. These lessons run once a week for all students and are taught together with our colleagues in Technology and Maths to nurture a problem-solving approach
Key Stage 4
We are now starting the first ;year of the upgraded OCR 21st Century Science. Most students start with core Science, and the majority doing dual science will complete this GCSE by the end of Year 10.
For Year 11, there is a choice of Additional Science and BTEC Applied Science. Since September 2008, we have offered the opportunity to do separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics to those students who have achieved Level 6 and above at KS3.
Subjects are taught by specialist teachers.
Key Stage 5
Full AS and A2 courses are offered in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology
We also offer Level 2 (Diploma) and Level 3 (Subsidiary Diploma) BTEC Applied Science in one year
Group sizes vary, but each student receives the support and attention to build on KS4 success and complete the course. Many of our students go on to pursue interests discovered in KS5 studies at University or work.
Extra-curricular
To support our learners Science holds Year 7, 8 and 9 Intervention sessions, a Year 9 Saturday school (from Feb to May each year), and many revision sessions when required. We participate in 'AimHigher' sessions for Year 9, 10 and 11, ranging from days out to week-long residential courses held in Universities during the Summer Holidays.
Year 11 Gifted and Talented are currently offered tutorials two times a week after school.
A lunchtime latin club has run since September 2008 which is open to both staff and students and is taught by a latin specialist, Mrs J Brudney
Other clubs include:
- STEM Club - an exciting time for KS3 students to build on their work in STEM, try out new experiments to solve problems
- Ecowarriors - an environmental group which aims to make our school 'greener' through more recycling and energy saving
- Astronomy
Science Staff
Teaching Staff
- Mr R Walker, Head of Faculty
- Dr S Williams, Second in Faculty
- Mr E Asante, BTEC Coordinator
- Mrs S Chaganti, KS3 Coordinator
- Mrs C Boohan, Head of Year 9
- Ms H Coates, Chemistry Subject Leader, STEM Coordinator
- Miss C Wilcockson, Teacher of Science
- Ms P Sadowski, KS5 Psychology (Part-time)
- Mrs M Azevedo, Specialist Science HL Teaching Assistant
- Ms Sarika Sharma, Specialist Science HL Teaching Assistant
Technical Staff
- Mr G Carter, Senior Technician
- Mrs K Humphreys
- Mrs M Hewavasam
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