The aim of the science curriculum is to promote a love of learning through developing inquiring minds that show curiosity about science and the natural world. We aspire for our students to acquire the powerful knowledge needed to question models and secure and challenge their conceptual understanding.
We want our students to develop scientific skills of inquiry: to explore through experimental design and evaluate scientific evidence to draw conclusions. They should be able to communicate scientific ideas, explanations, arguments and practical experiences accurately in a variety of ways.
From their experience of the science curriculum, students should excel in thinking analytically, critically and creatively to solve problems, judge arguments and make decisions in scientific and other contexts and have a keen understanding of the international nature of science and the interdependence of science, technology and society.
In Combined Science last year, 40.9% of students achieved grades 9 to 5; and 62.9% achieved grades 9 to 4.
Assessment in Year 7 and Year 8 Science takes place through a range of processes, including: bi-termly assessments, end of topic assessments, understanding checkpoints in lesson, homework assessment for learning, evidence produced in lessons in the form of carrying out practicals, drawing tables, graphs, diagrams, presentations, ’big writes’, interactive tasks and whiteboard quizzes.
Assessment in Year 9, Year 10 and Year 11 Science consists of an assessment every other term with exam questions drawn from any area of the curriculum studied so far, but weighted towards more recent topics. In addition, students will be assessed on the quality of their written and spoken work during lessons and homework, and end-of-topic tests. Year 11 take a series of preliminary exams in term 3, and year 10 a similar set in term 4.
Mr Will Skelton – Head of Department
Mrs Imogen Parnell – Deputy Head of Department
Mr Christopher Budd – Science Teacher
Mr Rhys Evans – Science Teacher
Ms Kela Lee – Assistant Headteacher
Mrs Pebbles Morley – Deputy Headteacher
Mr Andrew Robinson – Lead Practitioner
All students study Science throughout their career at The Dorcan Academy.
In Years 7 and 8, students in the Extended pathway have 8 lessons a fortnight, whilst students in the Central pathway have 9.
In years 9 to 11 all students have 8 lessons of Science a fortnight, unless they have chosen separate Science as an option, where in Year 10 and 11 students receive an additional five lessons.
Students in year 7 and year 8 attend a weekly science club. Year 9 students visit the Big Bang science festival in Cirencester. All of year 7 enjoy a Space Day as part of their space topic, with space themed activities. More able students are able to attend the Science Christmas lectures in Oxford and take part in a Physics inter-school competition. We are being visited this year by the top undergraduate of the year in Engineering.
BBC Bitesize KS3 KS3 Science – BBC Bitesize
BBC Bitesize KS4 GCSE Science – BBC Bitesize
FreeScienceLessons – excellent revision videos freesciencelessons | The very best in science education
AQA – our exam board AQA | Subjects | Science
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