SCIENCE

Head of Department:  Mrs A Bushill

1st - 3rd years

Last year, first year scientists did space as a physics topic. Here you can look at some of the PowerPoint presentations they have done about the planets in the solar system.  They are by Annabel Gilmour , Aimee Roberts and Hannah Wall.

The junior school follows the National Curriculum Key Stage 3. At an appropriate stage during their first year the juniors are set according to ability for science. Their progress is monitored throughout Key Stage 3 so movement between sets does occur. All girls have three periods of Science each week, taught in tutor groups. In the first three years the following topics are covered:

1st Year: Materials, electricity, variation and classification, forces and motion, burning and fuels, living things, nutrition and reproduction.
2nd Year: Acids and alkalis, light, sound, reactivity series, blood and bones, rocks and pollution.
3rd Year: Green plants, particle theory in more detail, more on forces, more on reactions, microbes and health, energy

GCSE Science (AQA)

The Science Department follows the AQA Science GCSE Specification B in the 4th and 5th Year.

The main aims of this course are to:

  • Help produce scientists of the future by giving an excellent grounding both in the scientific principles that underpin the knowledge and understanding necessary for further study at Advanced Level.
  • Increase the scientific understanding of all students in an increasingly technological society.
  • To provide a firm grounding for both the current A level Science specifications  and also for those which will be taught from 2008.

All girls are  taught Biology, Chemistry and Physics by teachers who are specialists in those areas. The minimum qualification available  will be two GCSEs in Science. However the majority of girls will achieve separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Some examples of the topics taught during the two years are shown in the table below:

Biology Units Chemistry Units Physics Units
Nervous Sytem and Endocrine Systems Separation of crude oil and use of the fractions The electromagnetic spectrum and radioactivity
Genetics Rates of reaction Electricity
Homeostasis

The analysis of substances

Mirrors, lenses and light

The importance of microorganisms

The energy involved in  chemical reactions

The life-cycle of stars

The course has a  practical component which will be examined during lessons. The practical activity and an examination paper based on the investigation  is set by the examination board and is marked by the staff at school. These new arrangements are designed to allow practical and investigative work to be more stimulating, absorbing and creative.   

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St George's School, Wells Lane, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7DZ  Telephone: 01344 629900
E-mail: office@stgeorges-ascot.org.uk