Science

Overview of Faculty
 
The Science department consists of 12 teaching staff and 2 science technicians. We have 8 laboratories and a suite of 30 PCs.  At High Tunstall, we aim to create an atmosphere where children want to learn and where they are able to question and explore the Science we present them.
 
As a Science College, we enjoy planning and holding events such as ‘Science is Fun’ Days and working with artists to depict Science in a creative way. The possibilities of getting involved in cross curricular events around various Science topics will also be explored in the upcoming year. There are also plans for a Science Club to be introduced for GAT students to attend and an Environment group for year 8 students.
 
We offer a variety of courses within the department. We look forward to the upcoming changes to the KS3 programme of study. This will enable us to bring science teaching up to date and allow us to relate more easily what we do in the classroom to real life situations. We offer triple science at GCSE level to our highest attaining students and core and additional science as well as BTEC Land and Environment and entry level science. A new course to our department from September 2008 will be BTEC Health and Social Care. The curriculum we offer is targeted to each student and their individual needs.
 
Faculty Structure/Staffing
Mrs A Anderson    Faculty Leader
Mr D Langlands     Second in Faculty
Mrs L Reavley       Second in Faculty
Mrs B Bowes 
Mrs K Carroll 
Mr L Chapman 
Mrs J Clark-Gardiner 
Miss M Fletcher 
Mr G Forster 
Ms K Holden 
Miss R Jefferson 
Dr I Archer
Ms T Picken 
Curriculum
 
KS3 Science
 
We use ‘Exploring Science’ as our main text for KS3. This is supplemented with practical activities, use of the interactive whiteboard and various times for group work.
Topics covered in Year 7 are the solar system, reproduction, cells, solutions, acids and alkalis, variation and classification, forces and much more!
Topics covered in Year 8 are ecological relationships, rocks, sound, light, microbes etc
Topics covered in year 9 are fit and healthy, inheritance and selection, patterns of reactivity, gravity and space, pressure and moments etc.
From September we will be offering intervention activities to raise achievement at KS3 for year 9 students.
 
KS4 Science
 
Triple Science
For triple science, students have to cover 6 modules for each of the 3 science subjects. A piece of coursework has to be completed in the form of a report called ‘Science in the News’. This involves students researching a contemporary issue in Science and forming their own opinions. They also have to complete various practical tasks, each worth between 1 and 3 points for their GCSE.
 
Core Science
 
This is the science course offered to the majority of our year 10 students. Students have to complete work in Biology, Chemistry and Physics for 2 exams over the year. A piece of coursework has to be completed in the form of a report called ‘Science in the News’. This involves students researching a contemporary issue in Science and forming their own opinions. They also have to complete various practical tasks, each worth between 1 and 3 points for their GCSE.
 
Additional Science
 
This is the science course offered to the majority of our year 11 students. Students have to complete work in Biology, Chemistry and Physics for 2 exams over the year. Two pieces of coursework have to be completed in the form of 2 reports called ‘Data Task’ and ‘Research Study’. The Data task involves some practical work and looking at the data generated. The Research study involves some research around a set of 5 questions.
 
Health and Social Care
 
This is a new course that we will be offering from the option blocks from September 2007. We will be following the BTEC First Certificate in Health and Social Care. This is equivalent to 2 A*-C grades at GCSE.
Students have to cover 3 units:
Communication and individual rights within the health and social care sectors
Individual needs within the health and social care sectors
Vocational experience in a health and social care setting
This qualification is completely coursework assessed and includes 60 hours of work experience.
 
Land and Environment
 
We follow the BTEC Introductory Certificate in Land and Environment with year 10 and 11 students alongside GCSE Core Science. The BTEC is equivalent to 2 D-G grades at GCSE.
Students have to cover 4 units:
 
Starting work in the land based industries
Skills development in the land based industries
Personal effectiveness
Plants and soil
 
This qualification is completely coursework assessed.
 
Faculty Events
 
In the upcoming year, the Science Faculty is looking forward to lots of exciting ventures:
 
Lanehead Biology and Geography Residential
New York Science and Art Residential
After school Science Club
After school Environment Group
Science is Fun days
Visiting speakers