Scientific understanding is changing our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity.  All our pupils learn essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science.  They gain appreciation of how the complex and diverse phenomena of the natural world can be described in terms of a small number of key ideas that relate to the sciences and that the individual branches are both inter-linked and of universal application.

The Faculty of Science is proud of its pupils and believes strongly in catering to the highest standards for their education and their enjoyment of the sciences.  Staff are enthusiastic and passionate and lessons, which are viewed as a partnership with pupils, are dynamic, interactive, academically challenging, engaging, nurturing, creative and fun.  Pupils are stimulated in ways that develop their interest in, and enthusiasm for, the sciences.  A wide variety of teaching and learning styles and strategies are employed and use of digital, electronic, web platform, simulation and animation resources to suit the individual needs and learning styles of pupils, features highly.  Practical and investigative work also features strongly and pupils undertake advanced and creative practical work, using sophisticated pieces of apparatus and equipment from an early age.  Pupils are taught to take and interpret accurate and reliable measurements and observations.

Our aims and objectives are to:

  • challenge, stimulate and develop interest in, and enthusiasm for, Science
  • develop breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding in each branch of science and in cross-over scientific fields that goes beyond  examination board specifications, relating this where possible across other disciplines, to events and systems in the outside world, and to new achievements and discoveries
  • offer additional curriculum enrichment opportunities to advance involvement, knowledge and understanding in science.
  • stretch, challenge and nurture pupils
  • encourage scientific thinking that is clear, logical and synoptic with  communication using appropriate terminology and development of powers of analysis
  • train pupils in advanced practical techniques, use of sophisticated pieces of apparatus and equipment and to develop a critical approach to scientific evidence and methods.
  • develop pupil use of ICT within each science subject
  • promote pupil achievement and establish links with external organisations and events

Science is popular throughout the school and the Faculty of Science has an enviable record of value added achievement at GCSE, A-level and IBDP.

Pupils undertake rigorous and thorough KS3 courses in Years 7 and 8 in each of the three sciences that are based on the National Curriculum and Common Entrance and contain standardised assessment and testing. In Year 9, pupils begin GCSE studies in each of the three sciences and later arrivals are catered for through additional purposefully designed Programmes of Study and catch-up instruction time. At the end of Year 9, pupils choose, with appropriate advice and guidance, which two sciences to continue with to GCSE. Pupils have the option to study the third science towards GCSE, which many do. Pupils are academically streamed and are taught in relatively small groups by subject specialists. In the sixth form, pupils follow either an A-level or IB programme, choosing one or more sciences to study.

Facilities Available

Pupils and staff enjoy working in a beautifully designed, state-of-the-art, fully networked and excellently resourced teaching and learning facility that was opened by the Earl of Wessex in 2007. It provides an excellent and comfortable environment in which our pupils can investigate, discover, learn and be taught, instructed, mentored and enthused about the wonders and application of the sciences. Accommodation is on two floors and includes eight spacious laboratories, one of which can host large-scale demonstrations and lectures by internal and external speakers, and a smaller laboratory equipped with dedicated networked computers for more advanced data logging and investigative project work. Laboratories are individually designed, are adaptable in furniture layouts, and are light, airy and well-resourced in apparatus, equipment, digital and WiFi technology. Separate storerooms and three, subject-dedicated Preparation Rooms support our work. The Preparation Rooms store and prepare biological, chemical and physical material, they accommodate a wealth of apparatus and equipment and contain freezer, cold storage, glass washing and distilled and de-ionised water equipment. The Science Centre is adjacent to the school library, which also has a networked suite of computers and additional resources to support our teaching and learning programmes.

Examination Boards

  • Edexcel
  • AQA
  • International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) and the Career-Related Programme (CP)

Co-curricular Activities

Each science subject department offers a range of activities and these are listed in the separate subject pages.