Head of Faculty: Robert Mc Gough
Head of Department: Tim Ayres ( Biology)
Head of Department : Catherine Bickley (Physics)
Head of Department : Claudiu Dacin (KS3 Science)
Head of Department : Sarah Revell (Environmental Science)
E: enquiries@bohunt.hants.sch.uk; T: 01428 724324
Intent
In today’s technology driven society, industries are looking more towards the sciences when recruiting. Our passionate and highly skilled members of staff deliver a curriculum that will enable students to leave school fully equipped with the necessary skills to be successful in an ever-changing and dynamic world. Our curriculum applies concepts to real-world situations whilst developing the practical and analytical skills that companies are now looking for. We aim to produce resilient, inquisitive and confident learners who believe they can succeed.
The national curriculum for Science aims to ensure that all pupils are working scientifically through:
Development of scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through specific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics – Teach and Check
Develop an understanding of the nature processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiry that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them – Check and Apply
Students are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science today and for the future – Apply and Challenge
All students are given the opportunity to pursue the more ambitious pathway of separate science (3 GCSE qualifications) until the end of year 10 when decisions are made about which individuals complete either the combined 2 GCSE or continue with separate science.
Implementation
Enabling learners to maximise their progress and learning experience requires making links between science knowledge and students everyday experiences, hands on opportunities to “see” science and good teachers who can engage them in their learning.
Lessons follow a core process of Teach, Check, Apply – with the overall aim to promote good learning for all students developing key concepts and knowledge that can be applied to a variety of context, both in and out of the classroom
Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) have identified 7 key principles to support teaching in secondary science:
Improving-Secondary-ScienceDownload
Memorisation is supported by ‘do now’ tasks that actively link to previous learning from both recent concepts to those from previous topics and/or pathway sectors.
A program of ‘tracked retrieval’ is being rolled out across all key stages to encourage students to develop their own awareness of learning and to help individuals identify key areas for learning.
Re-teach weeks are embedded within the subject timelines in order to promote an independent learning style which is balanced by a structured DIRT marking policy where key tasks knowledge and or skill based are marked with the aim to allow students individual reflection.
Impact
Development of our enrichment offering is key to continued growth of our Science Capital, all learners have the opportunity to continue their learning beyond the curriculum and participate in a range of co-curricular activities to further develop their knowledge, resilience, confidence and thirst for knowledge. Activities include:
STEM clubs for both Year 7/8 and Year 9/10/11
Palaeontology club
Explosions club
Trips to the marine engineer and Cutting Edge yacht racing at INOS
Expansion of A level links with the biology fieldtrip at Slapton
Links with local schools both primary, secondary (state and independent sector)
Reading University events and competitions
Links to industry are ever growing with networking and careers events planned across each academic year as well as Global companies such as BOC providing explosive demonstration to entire year groups.