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SCIENCE
Biology | Chemistry
| Physics
Department
members:
Mrs Jennifer Collins (Co-ordinator of Lower School Science/Primary Enrichment Support Teacher)
Mrs Rhian Edwards
Mrs Elaine Newbold
Mr Keith Richardson (Head of Science /Director of Schience College /Head of Physics)
Mrs Ann Rowe (Head of Biology)
Mr Gordon Wright (Head of Chemistry)
Mrs Cherylin Preston
Dr Helen Wilks
Laboratory Technicians:
Mrs Lyn Dance
Mrs Diana Humphries
Mrs Deena Willmott (Head Technician / Science College primary links co-ordinator)
Mrs Ruth Bartlett
Curriculum
Aims
Levels taught in the department:
In Years 7 and 8, students study science as a single subject, following
a programme of study designed by the respective Heads of Biology,
Chemistry, Physics and Co-ordinator or Lower School Science that closely matches the National Curriculum
but has been tailored to meet the specific and changing needs of
all our students.
From Years 9 to 11, Biology, Chemistry and Physics are studied as
separate subjects with specialist teachers.
New GCSE Science Specifications have been introduced nationally
for examination from 2007 (Core Science) and 2008 (Additional Science)
and at Shottery all Science GCSE qualifications are currently taken
through AQA (http://www.aqa.org.uk/qual/gcse/scienceB.html.) One
of the most important changes is that, A body of content has
been identified which underpins the knowledge and understanding
of "How Science Works" at all levels. This ‘procedural
content’ relates to the processes of scientific activity.
The ‘substantive content’ comprises the Biology, Chemistry,
Physics or other science content.
From Year 10, girls have a choice as to whether they wish to take
the core and additional science qualifications or to study the three
sciences in more depth, leading to the award of three separate GCSE
qualifications.
Biology, Chemistry and Physics are all available at AS and A2 Levels,
where they remain very popular choices. Click on the following hyperlinks
to take you to information about the A-level courses in Biology,
Chemistry
and Physics.
In addition to science lessons, there
are various other opportunities to become involved in science throughout
the school, including:
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BIOLOGY
Introduction
Biology is everything to do with living organisms: their variety,
how they live in their habitats, their processes and the effect
they have on each other and on humans. It is a huge subject because
of the sheer number of different types of organism, ranging from
microbes (viruses, bacteria etc) to the vast array of animals and
plants which exist. Also, our knowledge of biological processes
is expanding and so there are many different branches of biology
which are being pursued: Immunology, Biochemistry and Genetic Engineering,
to name but a few.
The beauty of the subject is that, often, we can
see it all around us. We also have a natural desire to learn about
ourselves. Little wonder then, that over time, people have tried
to explain biological phenomena. Why do offspring both resemble
and differ from their parents? How does disease spread and how might
we control it? Why do we have blood and how does it keep circulating
around the body? What are the best conditions for plant growth so
that crops may be produced efficiently?
Why Study Biology?
A knowledge of basic biology is essential, not just for exam success,
but as a requisite for life. We need to understand how our bodies
function and to be able to recognise signs when something is amiss.
We should understand the importance of a good diet and know how
to keep healthy. We need to appreciate aspects of hygiene and how
disease may be spread and avoided. We must acknowledge the fact
that we share our planet with other plants and animals and that
there is a delicate balance between us all. Plants underpin the
rest of life by providing the correct balance of gases in our atmosphere
and by providing food directly or indirectly for other animals.
Modern biology is far-removed from the old days of "nature-study",
worthy though that was. Today's students are grappling with demanding
aspects of biochemistry, molecular genetics and physiology. An understanding
of the subject provides the basis for medical and veterinary sciences,
agriculture and the pharmaceutical, food and brewing industries.
There are countless examples of how biological
research has benefited society, whether it be IVF techniques allowing
a childless couple to become parents, or the development of disease
resistant crops. Biological innovations, such as getting bacteria
to produce human insulin for diabetics, would have astounded past
generations; the future is bright for biological developments in
years to come!
For information about Biology at A-level, please
click here.
Biology | Chemistry
| Physics | top of page
CHEMISTRY
Introduction
Chemistry is about changing substances into different ones. Changes
like this happen all the time and have done since the dawn of time.
Chemical changes have played their essential part in the development
of mankind and our modern world.
Plants grow and kick off food chains, rocks can be made to give
up the metals locked inside them, crude oil can be changed into
a whole host of substances including fuels, paints, medicines and
plastics. All of these changes and countless others occur through
chemical reactions.
Throughout history, there have always been some people driven to
control chemical changes. In the earliest times, such knowledge
was often jealously guarded and those practising Chemistry acquired
either reverence as mystics in touch with the very essence of nature
itself, or fear as evil beings in league with the devil.
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The image of the alchemist desperately
trying to make gold from cheap materials is well-known. They would
have benefited from a GCSE in Chemistry which would have given them
a stack of rules which we now use to guide us when working with
chemicals. These rules allow us to predict with ever-increasing
confidence how chemicals will behave and give us a framework in
which to try and make completely new materials without wasting hundreds
of years on a fruitless quest like some of our forebears.
Chemists at the cutting edge of knowledge are highly skilled individuals
who bring their special abilities to bear on the challenge of making
new materials which have particular properties. Such materials may
be required in a wide range of different contexts from medicine
to plastics, from paint to man-made fibre, from new fuels to materials
for space exploration. The skilled chemist is a vital part of so
many industries and technical organisations that qualifications
in chemistry and the many related disciplines such as Chemical Engineering
or Biochemistry make Chemistry an important and sometimes essential
qualification for virtually any scientific or technological career.
For information about Chemistry at A-level, please click here.
Biology | Chemistry
| Physics | top of page
PHYSICS
Introduction
"The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility"
Albert Einstein 1936
Physics is firmly at the foundation of science, dealing directly with the rules that govern the Universe, and the particles from which everything is made. Physics really does try to explain how and sometimes why everything happens!
Physics is all around us. It is in the electric light you turn on
in the morning, your reflection in the mirror, the bus you take
to school, your wristwatch, mobile phone and CD player. It makes
the sun shine every day, the stars shine every night and the moon
continue in its orbit. It describes a rainbow and makes a ball follow
the correct path to score a goal.
Physics is the science of matter, energy, space, and time. It describes
the many forms of energy such as kinetic energy, electrical energy,
and even mass (ever heard of E = mc2?) It describes the way energy
can change from one form to another, how things move or why they
don’t move and it is used to make all technology possible,
from the simplest levers to the most complex modern electronics.
The Course
There are many fields of physics such as mechanics, electricity,
heat, waves and nuclear physics which are all studied as part of
the GCSE course. Girls are encouraged to pursue their own investigations
to discover the inter-relationships in the world around them and
to appreciate the ever increasing impact of scientific developments
in their everyday world so that they are better able to make decisions
about their futures.
Physics is the foundation of all the physical sciences, such as
chemistry, material science, and geology and is important for so
many other fields of human endeavour: biology, medicine, computing,
engineering… the list goes on and on.
For information about Physics at A-level, please
click here.
Biology | Chemistry
| Physics | top of page
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