AREAS
As a specialist science school the science department is proud of its good track record in offering a broad and varied curriculum that is supported by a range of clubs and other extracurricular activities. Our pupils are amongst the highest achieving in the borough in this subject area.
Key Stage 3
Pupils entering Key Stage 3 are actually entering into the foundation years before they begin their work on the nationally recognised qualifications. As such, the course is heavily structured towards the development of the skills required to access science at higher levels as well as those that are transferable to everyday life. The curriculum content of year 7 & 8 covers a wide spectrum of areas that are designed to provide all students with the opportunity to study the basics of biology (e.g. cells and life systems), chemistry (e.g. elements and reactions) and physics (electricity and forces).
Key Stage 4
At KS4 there are a variety of routes that are available;
Triple Science (also known as separate sciences) is designed to stretch the most able and enthusiastic of emerging scientists.
Core & Additional Science; The Core is designed to provide students with the skills that are required to succeed with science and life including investigative work, use of evidence, literacy and data analysis. The Additional Science contains the more traditional areas of science study and is essential for those looking to study any science A-Level.
Core & Applied (now running through its final 2 years, current year 10 & 11 only); The Core is designed to provide students with the skills that are required to succeed with science and life including investigative work, use of evidence, literacy and data analysis. The Applied Science looks at science from a more vocational perspective, including the role of the scientist at work and industries that demonstrate these aspects.
BTEC Level 2 (Now running for the current year 9s and 10s); The BTEC is a qualification that is highly vocational in nature and will be replacing the Core & Applied route. The course has the scope to be equivalent to 1 GCSE, 2 GCSEs or 4GCSEs depending on the number of units completed. Most pupils will be completing the 2 GCSE route but some may have the opportunity to increase this by completing additional units. The course has no examinations and instead has a continual assessment nature whereby pupils are graded on the quality of assignments that are completed throughout the entire course. The BTEC route has an excellent progression route into BTEC level 3 at post-16, a qualification which is increasingly well represented at universities.
Key Stage 5
Robert Clack offers Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry and Physics at both AS and A2 level for those pupils with an academic thirst for science. As well as this we also offer the BTEC Level 3 in Applied Forensic Sciences. This is equivalent to 2 A-Levels and counts as two options at sixth form. Again this is a more vocational route which is continually assessed. All of these routes have been useful and key to students obtaining excellent university and work placements.
gifted and talented pupils in science
How do we identify gifted students?
We look for students who are:
- able to understand more abstract concepts in science
- able to use more complex scientific language
- able to independently link topics in science
- good experimental, investigatory and observational skills
- good at linking classroom science teaching to the real experiences in the world
- able to discuss a though/idea and argue for and against the counter arguments using good, well reasoned evidence and science concepts.
How are gifted students supported in science?
In Science we are looking to extend the opportunities of G & T pupils within lessons through the development of the new curriculum. This is to allow far more personalised learning and as a result we will be looking for those pupils who are able to stretch themselves with the assistance of the teacher across a range of content but also, more importantly, transferable skills.
This coupled with the additional use of KS4 material for those most able pupils in the latter stages of KS3 allow the pupils to progress at a faster rate which in turn allows them to progress at a rapid rate throughout KS4.
Those most able pupils are encouraged to take triple science at KS4 which allows them a much broader and developed starting point at ‘A’ level which in turn will allow them to compete at a greater level for University places at the ‘OxBridge’ level universities.
Outside of the classroom we run G & T problem solving days over the course of the year were the most able pupils are encouraged to attend and participate in activities designed to stimulate their thinking. We also run extra-curricular trips to show the pupils science outside of the classroom, in the form of exhibitions, museums and careers.
EXAM REVISION MATERIAL
Year 11 Revision Timetable: Please click here
Please click on the links below to access exam revision material for 2009 exams
KEY STAGE 3 EXAM MATERIAL
Subject Downloads Key Stage 4
The curriculum is outstanding and meets the needs of students extremely well. A wide range of vocational courses and work-related opportunities at Key Stage 4 offer helpful pathways into training and employment. Provision for personal, health, social and citizenship education is excellent and supports students' personal development successfully as well as providing exciting opportunities for developing enterprise and work-related skills.
