Introduction to Department

The science department at Hollingworth Business & Enterprise College is made up of 8 specialist science teachers.

The department has six well equipped laboratories and an outdoor classroom in the newly developed Eco-garden. All staff have a laptop and rooms are fully equipped with data projectors, with some having interactive whiteboards.

The department is generously resourced with text books and specialist equipment and is supported by two full-time technicians. There are comprehensive schemes of work in place in KS3 and KS4. The KS3 science strategy is fully implemented in years 7, 8 and 9, The new KS4 curriculum, AQA Science A Syllabus, is firmly in place with GCSE Core Science provided for all students in year 10 and GCSE Additional Science for sets 1 to 3 in year 11.

Members of Staff List

Mrs. Robbins - Programme Director of Science
Miss. Beckham
Miss. Bold
Mr. Morrell
Miss. Mortimer
Mr. Russell
Miss. Skelton
Miss. Wainwright

The Science Curriculum

With the exception of year 7, where mixed ability groups are taught, each year of eight tutor groups is split in half and then the four tutor groups are divided into five sets. These are constructed according to ability.

Key Stage 3

At KS3 the Heinemann scheme is followed which complements the QCA standards. All pupils are taught by the same teacher for all of the topics which encompass all three science disciplines: biology, chemistry, physics. Scientific enquiry skills are taught and developed within the curriculum in the form of SC1 Investigations: an independent scientific study planned and conducted by the pupil and assessed in relation to the National Curriculum level descriptors.

For more information and guidance about National Curriculum levels visit the National Curriculum science page

KS3 Topics

KS3 Links

BBC Bitesize science
Explore Science
Skoool
SATs revision, hints & tips
Practice SATs papers & answers

Assessment at KS3

All pupils undergo regular internal assessment through end of term examinations, Sc1 investigations and Level Assessed Task.

KS3 SATs

During the Summer term all Year 9 pupils will sit their external SATs exams. Pupils are thoroughly prepared for these examinations with extra curricular support, resources and revision days within school.

Pupils sit 2 papers, one in the morining session and one in the afternoon session of the extension date. There are two tiers of paper that pupils can sit:

• Higher tier: level 5 - 7
• Foundation tier: level 3 - 6

Exam success 2006/2007!

We have had our most successful year ever with out SATs results:

76% level 5 - 7

A huge well done to all pupils, staff and parents involved!

Key Stage 4

All people are being taught the new AQA Core Science Course. Pupils in sets 1 to 3 will then follow a second course in Year 11; GCSE Additional Science. By the end of Year 11 sets 1 to 3 will be awarded 2 Science GCSEs and sets 4 and 5 will be awarded 1 science GCSE.

GCSE Core Science - topics covered

GCSE Additional Science - topics covered

Throughout both GCSE courses there is a strand of "How Science Works"

How science works... The thinking behind the doing!

Pupils will...

• OBSERVE what leads us to investigate things
• DESIGN an investigation
• Make MEASUREMENTS
• PRESENT data
• USE data to draw CONCLUSIONS
• Use EVIDENCE to look at aspects of science
• Identify LIMITATIONS of scientific evidence

Assessment at KS4

To gain the GCSE Core Science award pupils must complete:

Biology 1a & 1b (25%) + Chemistry 1a & 1b (25%) + Physics 1a & 1b (25%) + Centre Assessed Unit (25%)

To gain the GCSE Additional Science award pupils must complete the GCSE Core Science award and:

Biology 2 (25%) + Chemistry 2 (25%) + Physics 2 (25%) + Centre Assessed Unit (25%)

There are two tiers of papers pupils can sit:

• Higher level: grades A* - D
• Foundation level: grades C - G

The Centre Assessed Unit: Investigative Skills Assignment (ISAs)

This replaces the old "courseworkd". The Centre Assessed Unit assesses the student's ability to carry out a practical experiment, gather results and interpret them, all within the context of "How Science Works".

It is essential all pupils complete this section if they are to be entered for the GCSE award. It can only be completed in class.

It will be assessed in four steps, all under exam conditions.

1. The student's ability to construct a suitable table to collect data (2 marks, in class)
2. The student's ability to carry out the practical investigation (6 marks, in class)
3. The student's ability to display results using an appropriate graph (4 marks, in class)
4. The student's ability to analyse and evaluate data and experimental method (24 marks, written paper in class)

GCSE External Exam dates 2007/2008

GCSE Core Science

Thursday 22nd November
Wednesday 5th March
Monday 23rd June

Sets 1 - 3 will sit 2 exams on each date.
Sets 4 and 5 will sit 1 exam on each date.

It is essential that your child attends school on these dates and approaches the examinations in the correct frame of mind and is correctly equipped as each examination counts towards the final GCSE Science grade that your child receives

The equipment needed is as follows: a black ball-point pen, pencil, rubber, ruler and a calculator.

GCSE Additional Science

Pupils will sit 3 papers covering each aspect of the course during the summer external exam period in 2008.

Dates will be published when they become available.

KS4 Links

BBC Bitesize science revision
SAM Learning
GCSE revision notes
BBC Science & Nature
Doc Brown's Chemistry Clinic
GCSE Biology revision
GCSE Physics revision
S-Cool
School Science

Exam success 2006/2007!

We had fantastic results in this year's Science examinations:

58% A* - C

A huge well done to all pupils, staff and parents involved!

Extra-curricular Science

There are many opportunities here at Hollingworth for pupils to exercise and develop their interest in science:

Science Club

This is open to all KS3 pupils and runs after school (during period 6) on a Tuesday. This one hour session allows pupils to explore science in a way that is not always possible in a classroom setting. They take charge of the areas of science they want to investigate, often in many fun and exciting ways!

There are currently a number of trips organised by the Science department, some of these are offered to the Gifted and Talented pupils and, due to funding for Gifted and Talented, these trips are free of charge to the pupils.

Year 7 - Manchester Museum of Science and Industry

Year 8 - Chester Zoo

Year 9

SATs booster lessons are provided after school for pupils in Year 9.

GCSE Science

Pupils in Year 11 have been on a visit to a Manchester university to attend a 1 day student conference as a really successful and enjoyable revision tool for their GCSE examinations.

Eco-Clubs

At Hollingworth we are very conscious of the way we treat the environment and this is reflected in the pupils' keen and eager participation in the two 'eco' related activities we run:

Eco-Garden

Thanks to a grant we recieved we were able to create an extensive ecology garden to aid the teaching of our Biology curriculum, this includes an outdoor classroom!

The garden, and vegetable patch with compost, is well maintained by our after school eco-garden club.

Eco Schools

We have reached Silver Award status as an Eco School, thanks to a lot of hard work by dedicated staff and pupils. A big part of this award was secured by the hard work put in by our paper recycling team.

Virtual Learning Environment: Moodle

The science department's VLE is currently under construction, but pupils can fully utilize what is already on the site and it is being updated regularly. The science department aims for this to be a highly effective revision and support tool to all pupils studying science at Hollingworth Business & Enterprise College.

Moodle VLE