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Science
'Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning.' - Albert Einstein
Studying science will enable you to understand more about the world around you and teach you to question what you once thought was truth. You will develop skills in independent work, group work, investigation, experimentation and critical analysis. Practical work plays a big part in the learning process in science.
Students will be taught a broad range of scientific topics from how body systems work to reactivity of metals to forces and energy. The course aims to be based on practical activities that support the ideas being studied. Practical work is a key element of scientific discovery and is introduced at an early stage in Year 7. The activities encourage students to think and work independently. Additional extra-curricular activities are an integral part of the science experience at Tewkesbury School and as such we run a weekly Science Club for our younger students and organise trips throughout the year. These vary but can include practical courses and lectures at universities nearby such as Bristol and visits to Cheltenham Science Festival. We also run a GCSE Astronomy course aimed at talented and interested students outside of the normal school timetable.
The high-quality science education we strive for provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils are taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science.
Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils are encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They are taught to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.
At Tewkesbury School, our curriculum is not unusual in that it revisits knowledge and understanding from across the spectrum of scientific fields whilst continually building the necessary scientific skills. These skills are the foundation for our schemes of learning.
The KS3 programme reflects both the National Curriculum and the knowledge and skills to be successful at GCSE and move further in scientific A levels. Our remodelled Year 7 and 8 curriculum provides clear stepping stones from one year to the next, and these topics are carefully chosen to reflect the content and demand required for KS4.
Year 7 students work through 6 topics called Body Systems, Interdependence & inheritance, Matter, Reactions, Forces, and Energy which students revisit and build on in Year 8. During GCSE, from Year 9 onwards, students further develop their depth and breadth of knowledge across all three-subject areas and become more skilled with their explanations, analyses and evaluations. Ultimately, pupils are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future whether that be in a scientific career or as a member of society.
Formative and summative assessments take place at key intervals dependent on the year group and the topic. Grades (9-1) are given to students, based on a robust assessment framework, that assesses pupils on the big themes and ideas considering prior attainment to create differentiated expectations to ensure all students are stretched and challenged across KS3 and KS4.
Pupils also have access to GCSE Separate Sciences (as an option subject), and GCSE Astronomy and GCSE Geology delivered through a weekly after school session, and the . This adds further breadth and opportunity to our provision.
For our KS5 provision we offer Biology, Chemistry, Physics and BTEC Level 3 Applied Science.
Please see the Science curriculum overviews for each Key Stage below.
Staff:
Mr G Taylor: Director of Science
Ms H Fatica: Chemistry
Mr B Hogg: Science
Mr J Luff: Science
Ms N LePage: Science
Mrs F Manning: Science
Mrs C Morley: Biology
Mr N Pomeroy: Science
Mr T Sisson: Head of Chemistry
Miss R Smith: Science
Ms S Walters: Head of Physics
Mrs F Woolfrey: Physics
Technicians:
Mrs K Hughes
Mr C Smith
