Science
Head of Department
Mr P Loader (plr@priorycofe.com)
Teaching Staff
Mr P Ironmonger(Second in Department, pir@priorycofe.com)
Mr J Lambert (jlt@priorycofe.com)
Mr C Joy (cjy@priorycofe.com)
Mrs M Meickle (mme@priorycofe.com)
Science Technician
Mr M Gould (mgd@priorycofe.com)
Department Information
The Science department consists of 5 teachers each based in their own lab and they are all subject specialists.
KS3 Overview
We teach Science in the 3 Strands of Biology, Chemistry and Physics and based on the big ideas of Science. In order to aid our students achieve mastery we focus on key concepts in Biology, Chemistry and Physics that we will return to, and build on, in subsequent years
We build connections between the topics by identifying each of them as part of our Big ideas of Science. This enables us to reflect back to previous topics and look forward to the next in a more accessible way for the students.
| Biology | Chemistry | Physics |
|---|---|---|
| Cells and cellular process | Materials and their processes | Energy |
| Biological Systems of life | Chemical Changes | Forces and fields |
| Organisms and their interactions with the environment | Our Earth and its atmosphere | Matter and materials |
Throughout our curriculum we will use these strands to aid us to take the opportunities there are to reflect on previous link topics and build on previous concepts.
In years 7 – 9 the students have 6 lessons a fortnight in Science, please find the detailed information about the content in the curriculum journeys below.
KS4 Overview
Most students study towards Combined Science GCSE and one group who have opted for the separate sciences study towards GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
All students are taught the separate strands by a dedicated teacher.
Combined Science
Biology
The Biology course covers the key concepts in Biology, cells and control, genetics, natural selection and genetic modification, health, disease and the development of Medicines, plant structures, animal coordination, control and homeostasis, exchange and transport in animals and ecosystems and material cycles.
Chemistry
The Chemistry course covers the key concepts of Chemistry which include atomic structure, the Periodic Table, bonding and calculations as well as topics such as,states of matter, separating mixtures, acids, reactivity of metals, groups of the Periodic Table, energy changes, reactivity, fuels and the atmosphere.
Physics
The Physics course covers motion, forces, conservation of energy, electromagnetic spectrum, radioactivity, electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic induction, the particle model and forces and matter.
Separate Sciences
The separate sciences include all this but then build in them with extra content including:
Biology
In Biology going further and deeper into each topic including protein synthesis, sex-linked inheritance, the kidneys and monoclonal antibodies.
Chemistry
In Chemistry solution and gas calculations, fuel cells and more organic chemistry
Physics
In Physics, nuclear fission and fusion, astronomy, electromagnetic induction, electrostatics and rotational forces.