GOSFORTH ACADEMY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
Matt Ainsley Science / KS5 Physics Joanne Brunton Technician Carl Burton Technician Allan Carson Senior Technician Nicola Dennison Science / KS5 Biology, Achievement co-ordinator Science. Mark Dickinson Science / KS5 Physics Alice Duffin Science / KS5 Physics Ruth Duffy Science / Leader of Teaching and Learning for KS5 Physics Jacqui Farquar Science / KS5 Biology / Leader of Teaching and Learning for PHSE Su Fletcher Science / Deputy Leader of Teaching and Learning for Science. Sarah James Science / KS5 Biology Margaret McEwan Science / KS5 Biology Alex McCrae Technician Geoff Nicholson Science / KS5 Biology Rebecca Price Science / Leader of Teaching and Learning for KS5 Biology Emma Pringle Science / KS5 Chemistry, Course leader for Year 12 Applied Science Elizabeth Simm Science / KS5 Chemistry Joanne Souter Science / Leader of Teaching and Learning, KS5 Chemistry David Stephenson Technician Jim Vennart Science / Leader of Teaching and Learning, Science / KS5 Physics Laura Vitty Science / KS5 Biology Mark Watson Senior Science Technician Charlotte Wharton Technician
KS3 In Year 9, students follow a skills course and start their KS4 studies in Twenty First Century Science.
Groups are taught as mixed ability until May when they are put into their provisional GCSE groups Each group has 8 lessons per fortnight.
We use the OUP schemes of work written specifically for the course.
KS4 At Key Stage 4 we follow OCR’s Twenty First Century Science. Most students follow the Dual Award Course with a single teacher delivering all 12 lessons each fortnight. One group follows a Single Award Science course in 6 lessons per fortnight, taught using the Entry Level Science framework. A further five groups follow the Separate Sciences route in 12 lessons per fortnight. A Level
All Sixth form groups receive 11, 50minute periods over a 2 week timetable, normally taught by 2 members of staff
Biology Chemistry Physics Science Exam Board OCR OCR OCR OCR Applied (Modular) (Modular) (Advanced Science Physics) Rough AS 90-100 40-60 30-40 40 Numbers A2 40-50 20-30 20-30 10 Student support Textbook / Textbook / Textbook and Textbook / materials Workbooks Workbooks CD Rom Workbooks
Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of outside activities including:
Laboratory work at the Centre for Life Fieldwork at the Dove Marine Laboratory Work at the Universities of Newcastle upon Tyne and Northumbria Master classes at Durham University
At AS Level, we have a large and diverse cohort of students ranging from prospective medical students to those wishing to maintain a broad based curriculum. Practical skills are assessed throughout each course. A minimum of grade AB in Dual Award Science is required for entry into AS courses. (except for AS Science where a CC grade is acceptable)
Science Department Accommodation The Science Department has 15 laboratories, roughly split between each of the subjects. All laboratories have built-in data projectors and interactive whiteboards.
Within the Science Department there is a computer suite that can, along with other rooms in the school, be booked on an individual lesson basis. We also have easy access to the computers in the Learning Resource Centre.
The department has a large prep room for each subject and is well supported by excellent Technical Support Staff. There is also a large departmental workroom.
ICT The school has excellent ICT facilities and Science is a leading department within the school for innovative and extensive ICT use. Each department member has a laptop and all labs have access to the school intranet and beyond to the World Wide Web.
Jim Vennart Leader of Teaching and Learning, Science January 2014