Contacts: |
|
| Head of Faculty | Ms Tamsin Morrell |
| Deputy Head of Faculty & Key Stage 5 Coordinator | Ms A Arcari |
| Key Stage 4 Coordinator | Mr J Campbell |
Our Curriculum Vision
The Science Faculty at Hampstead School aims to improve confidence, independent thinking and the desire to enquire whilst developing responsible citizens, who care about the world around them. We aim to raise student achievement and passion for science by promoting independent learning, creativity and outstanding practice to ensure every student is able to achieve their full potential. We incorporate an extensive range of practical tasks to build skills and resilience, as well as reinforce learning. An extensive extra-curricular programme enriches students’ experience in science by providing an outlet for naturally enquiring minds. Students are challenged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes. This enables students to realise the connections that science has to every other subject taught across the school.
Please CLICK below to discover more about our curriculum
Key Stage 4 Curriculum and Assessment:
Key stage 4 students are taught in ability groups. Students begin their study of the Key Stage 4 curriculum at the start of Year 9 to give students the maximum amount of time possible to cover the course. Students study Edexcel GCSE Science. This course is designed to allow for multiple learning pathways, which suit the learning approaches of every student and the progression route that they wish to follow.
They will either study:
- Combined science (Two GCSEs)
- Separate sciences (Three GCSEs
Students studying both combined and separate sciences will sit 6 external exams at the end of year 11. There is no coursework element to the GCSE it is 100% externally assessed. There are two tiers: Higher Tier or Foundation Tier. Students follow the course best suited to their ability and their tier of entry for the exams is made after considering what would be best for each individual student.
For many students at Hampstead, studying the sciences in Key Stage 4 provides the platform for more advanced studies, establishing the basis for a wide range of careers. For others, it will be their last formal study of subjects that provide the foundations for understanding the natural world and will enhance their lives in an increasingly technological society. Students planning to continue studying sciences at A-level will be able to do so with GCSEs in either combined or separate sciences.
Key Stage 5 Curriculum and Assessment:
A number of courses are on offer at Key Stage 5 in the Science Faculty:
- Physics (OCR A)
- Biology (AQA)
- Chemistry (OCR A)
- BTEC L2 Health and Social Care
Enrichment Opportunities:
A variety of enrichment opportunities are offered in science including regular sessions such as:
- Science Club – Key Stage 3 students working on a number of different projects throughout the year
- Science competitions – Once a month students are invited to take part in hands on, practical science competitions, from science bake offs, to building a raft that will get their team across the swimming pool in the shortest amount of time!
- Next steps programme – Once a month talks for 6th formers. These are given by science professionals about their career to prepare students for making more informed choices for higher education
There are also a number of special events put on throughout the year that involve all Key Stages.
Additional Information:
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/
www.edexcel.com/quals/gcse/GCSE-science-2011/Pages/default.aspx
www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce-physics-a-h158-h558/
www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce-chemistry-a-h034-h434/