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• School Science Video

Science specialism                      

 

 

Science Specialism Co-ordinator: Mr T Davis

 

A Specialist School of Science

 

• Science embraces virtually all aspects of our everyday lives.  Understanding it can help us to better understand the world in which we live.  It can also enhance our health and enjoyment of life itself.

• Studying science allows students to learn a vast range of highly transferable skills including: teamwork, practical skills, calculation, analysing data, critical thinking, imagination, explaining abstract concepts and many more.

• Science graduates are in short supply and high demand in virtually all job sectors.  Science is being made relevant at Robert Clack and being taught with rigour.

• Science specialism means all pupils have access to a very high standard of science education which they can use now, in all subjects, and into their future lives.

 

Success through Specialist Status

 

Having Science Specialist investment has lead to some significant improvements in aspiration and achievement among pupils.  It also allows us to provide invaluable enrichment experiences for our learners.  Examples include:

 

• OUTSTANDING FACILITIES

Providing each classroom with overhead projectors, interactive learning technology and some of the latest practical equipment e.g. visualisers, micro-cameras, digital cameras and DNA fingerprint kits.

 

• SUPPORTING OUTSIDE VISITS, including:

• Annual 5-day residential biology trip to Wales

• 18-day expedition to Indonesia (2007)

• 15-day expedition to Honduras (2009)

• Year group trips to Science Museum, London Zoo, Tower of London, local ecology parks

• Science week activities off-timetable to enrich classroom learning, including guest speakers, workshops and cross-curricula work.

• Easter outward-bound trip to Wales

• Subsidised tickets to local science events e.g. BodyWorlds exhibition for pupils, family and staff

• Supporting individuals for specialised projects e.g. summer placements or University workshops

 

• EXCITING & RELEVANT OUTSIDE SPEAKERS IN SCIENCE LESSONS, including:

 

- Business manager from Pfizer (Global drug giant), on drug discovery process

- PhD students in genetic research from Queen Mary’s University & Imperial

- Cystic Fibrosis sufferer who spoke with passion about his disease and fight for life

- Senior lecturer from Cambridge University on University life and entry

- Crime Scene Investigator to support unit on scientific detection

 

A new science building

The £1.6million investment in the new 6 lab science block at upper school has revolutionised the teaching of science in the school.

Opened in October 2007, it has 6 fully equipped labs, two large preparation areas, three extremely talented and helpful technicians.  Equipment in each lab includes projector, automatic screen and sound, a visualiser, air conditioning, 4 PC’s and all essential lab equipment and ample storage.  The department has a class set of laptops which can be transported and fully networked in any of the rooms.  There is also a big display plasma screen in the entrance lobby allowing the display of pupil work, notices, news stories and photos.

Science Specialism supports and raises academic achievement throughout the school

 

Achievement and aspiration in science can be translated across the school into overall pupil performance.  The science department plays a lead in many whole school activities e.g. trialling the school’s new virtual learning environment (VLE).

 

Science Week

 

Science Week is honoured annually with an off-timetable week of learning around science themes.  In recent years, we have seen a raft of workshops to enrich learning, including:  engineering balloon-powered buggies and wind turbines; building shelters; the BP roadshow; talks from the RSPB etc.  It is also traditional for year groups to go on trips to places of scientific interest e.g. the Science Museum, London Zoo.

 

This year’s theme is ‘Planet & People’, where all departments will unite to deliver a cross-curricula week of Higher Level Thinking learning.  The week will allow learners to explore the real issues faced by humans living on Earth by analysing data, evaluating different ways we can do something about it and creating ways to explain what they know to others.  The week will commence with a keynote speaker, Mukti Mitchell, who single handed sailed an “eco boat” around the shores of Britain to promote a low carbon lifestyle.

 

 

Science awards

 

We award a weekly SCIENTIST OF THE WEEK AWARD for pupils demonstrating outstanding performance or effort in the subject.

 

There is an annual SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR award made at presentation evening to a single student in each year group who has demonstrated relentless enthusiasm, skill and exceptional achievement in the subject.

 

 

 

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