The Science department an Aberdare Community School has modern state of the art laboratory facilities, which we strongly believe helps the department deliver an exciting pupil centred curriculum. The experienced teaching staff are helpful, supportive and strive to make sure that all pupils
The Science department an Aberdare Community School has modern state of the art laboratory facilities, which we strongly believe helps the department deliver an exciting pupil centred curriculum. The experienced teaching staff are helpful, supportive and strive to make sure that all pupils achieve their full potential.
What is Science?
- Science is both a body of knowledge and a process. Science is also a process of discovery that allows us to link isolated facts into coherent and comprehensive understandings of the natural world.
- Science is exciting. Science is a way of discovering what's in the universe and how those things work today, how they worked in the past, and how they are likely to work in the future. Scientists are motivated by the thrill of seeing or figuring out something that no one has before.
- Science is useful. The knowledge generated by science is powerful and reliable. It can be used to develop new technologies, treat diseases, and deal with many other sorts of problems.
- Science is ongoing. Science is continually refining and expanding our knowledge, and as it does, it leads to new questions for future investigation. Science will never be "finished."
Aims and Objectives
Science teaches an understanding of natural phenomena. It aims to stimulate a child’s curiosity in finding out why things happen in the way they do. It teaches methods of enquiry and investigation to stimulate creative thought. Children learn to ask scientific questions, find out answers and start to think carefully about the way in which science will affect the future on a personal, national and global level. They will consider both the benefits and the negative aspects of science.
Our aims of science teaching is to:-
- Stimulate and excite pupils’ curiosity about changes and events in the world.
- Satisfy this curiosity with knowledge.
- Engage learners on many levels through linking ideas with practical and problem solving activities.
- Help pupils to achieve their full potential.
- Help pupils to learn to discuss and question current scientific ideas and issues that may affect their own lives.
- Help pupils develop, model and evaluate scientific ideas and thoughts, through investigations and enquiries.
- Help pupils become critical and creative thinkers.
- Show how major scientific ideas contribution to advances in technology, how it can affect everyday life and also its negative impacts on society and the environment.
- Become effective communicators of scientific facts, ideas and data and to promote the effective use and development of literacy and numeracy skills in lessons.
- To build up a body of scientific knowledge and understanding which will serve as a building block for the future study of science.
Key Stage 3
At KS3 we build on, develop and extend the enquiry based investigative work and knowledge gained from the primary schools. We use an “Eureka” based Scheme of Work which is developed into modules for each year group.
- Science Skills
- Changing States
- Plant Power
- Acids and Bases
- Vital Organs
- Energy Resources
- Energy Flow through Ecosystems
- Elements and Compounds
- Health and Science
- Life Story
- Drugs and Medicines
GCSE Astronomy is offered to some pupils in Year 9.
Assessments are carried out on the regular basis, and involve:-
- Skills based enquiries - Planning, Developing ideas and Reflecting.
- Knowledge based assessments
Key Stage 4 (GCSE) - years 10 & 11
We start to deliver the GCSE and BTEC topics during the last term of Year 9. This gives pupils a head start