Chetwynde School

Science

Vision & Values:

“You cannot teach a man everything in his life, but you can help him to discover it in himself" 

Galileo Galilei.

We inspire to teach our students to: -

Think like scientists. By modelling scientific methodology, we enable our students to test theories using scientific processes.

Apply ideas to familiar and unfamiliar contexts across many worldwide situations.

Challenge current and historical ideas.

Know a vast body of scientific knowledge, to prepare them for later life, and enable them to make responsible choices for the future.

Learn about new technologies and the impact they have on the world we live in.

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of many aspects of science from stem cell technology to recycling materials.

 In this ever-changing world, we strive to prepare our students to become the scientific thinkers for our future.

Meet the Science Department

Science at Chetwynde school is taught by subject specialists. Some of our teachers have worked in the industry, bringing a wealth of knowledge and inspiration into our classrooms.

Mrs J Holmes: (2016) Biology Teacher and examiner for GCSE biology.  BSc Hons degree in Sport and exercise science. Science teacher for seven years. Previously children's sports coach, football coach and gym instructor. Played for Blackburn Rovers premier league team.

Dr H Polley: (2022) Previous teacher of A level science.  Teacher of Physics and Key Stage 3.

Mrs S Berry: (2015) Chemistry teacher and head of science and DT Faculty. Teacher of Chemistry and Key Stage 3. Previously worked as a chemical engineer. Examiner for IGCSE and A level chemistry; author of many published science textbooks, including A level. (BSc Hons Chemical Engineering)

Miss J Laisby: (2022) Key Stage 3 Trainee Teacher and Lab Technician (Bsc Hons Biomedical Science)

The Science Curriculum

Key Stage 3

At Key Stage 3 (years 7, 8 and 9) we follow the National Curriculum.

We have designed our own lessons and curriculum, using a wide range of resources to support learning, which:-

• build on prior knowledge,
• embed key concepts and principles 
• enable students to apply their ideas to other scientific areas.
• teach working scientifically skills explicitly and provide opportunities to apply and embed these skills.

For example, we teach the particle model in Year 7, revisit the ideas in year 8 where students learn to apply the particle model to explain diffusion in the digestive system, and again in year 9, where students apply the particle model to explain and calculate pressure.

We regularly revisit ideas which link from one topic to another, year on year. For example when energy is taught in year 7, the ideas will be revisited in year 8 during the heating and cooling topic and again in energy costs in year 9. 

We have a strong focus on key words and etymology.

Students are introduced to relevant key words and their understanding of these are reviewed and regularly assessed, each lesson.

Scientific enquiry skills are embedded throughout the topics. Most topics are taught within 6 to 10 lessons.

Year 7 and 8 have 6 lessons a fortnight, year 9 has 7 lessons a fortnight, which include one specific skills lesson. 

 Here are the topics we teach each year, in order of teaching:-

Year 7:- scientific enquiry skills, particle model, energy transfers, cells, separating mixtures, movement, speed, plant reproduction, earth structure, metals and non metals, universe and sound.

Year 8:- breathing, contact forces and moments, periodic table and elements, heating and cooling, interdependence, electrostatics and circuits, chemical energy, digestion, magnetism and electromagnets, acids and alkalis, gravity   

Year 9:- Inheritance and variation, wave properties and light, energy costs and work, photosynthesis and respiration, chemical reaction, evolution, pressure, current and voltage, healthy lifestyles, Earth's resources and climate.

Assessment: There is a end of topic test to inform progress and planning. The test is in two parts: knowledge  where key terminology is the focus of assessment and application, where we assess skills and application to new contexts. 

Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4 (years 10 and 11) we prepare as many students as possible to take separate science GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics. 

Other students take Dual Award (Trilogy) Science providing them with two GCSEs in science. 

A few students are prepared for Entry Level science.

Students are taught the AQA specification, building on a strong foundation from Key Stage 3.

There are 4 science lessons a fortnight. 

We use our own lessons and resources, with support from the Collin's Scheme, to deliver the curriculum.

Students are assessed at the end of each topic, and the data is used to inform our planning.

The specifications can be found on the following links:-

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-trilogy-8464

Chetwynde School Science results

Science is one of the most successful subjects at Chetwynde school.

Our team is dedicated to ensuring that every child makes the progress they are capable of. 

 Separate Science Results 2022

Extracurricular Opportunities:

The science department has organised a number of trips and enriching opportunities to look forward to as part of the study of Science. These are ever-expanding but include:

Year 7/8 –  science club, run at lunchtimes, which will prepare students for Crest Awards, where they can develop their skills to gain Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. This will restart from 2024

Year 7 and 8 students  will take part in the National Salter's chemistry, biology and physics festivals from 2024

In Years 10/11 selected students will take part in a prestigious school competition known as “Top of the Form” which is hosted by BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, competing again STEM teams across the south Furness area. Chetwynde School has won this competition more times than any other school. We won again in 2023.

Our Science department has offered opportunities pre-COVID for students to go expeditions to exotic locations during the summer holidays with a company known as Operation Wallacea. Students spend time in a rain forest environment for the first week, learning how to capture and examine a whole range of organisms, from invertebrates to mammals. They attend lectures to learn more about the organisms in tropical and other types of forest. During the second week, students spend time on the coral reefs, learning how to dive, collect organisms and investigate the health of the coral reef. In 2017, a small group of students went to Honduras in the Caribbean, in 2018 a group went to Mexico. We hope to resume these opportunities in 2025.