Science Department
Teaching Staff:
Head of Science and Chemistry: Mr M McDowell BSc (Hons), PGCE
Head of Biology: Mrs R Patton BSc (Hons), PGCE
Head of Physics: Mrs M Smythe BSc (Hons), PGCE
| Mr S Gough BSc (Hons) PGCE MSc MEd | Biology |
| Mrs L Kirkpatrick BSc (Hons) PGCE | Chemistry & Biology |
| Mr A Mauger BSc Dip Ed | Physics |
| Mrs H Pyper BSc (Hons) PGCE | Biology |
| Mr J Smyth BSc (Hons) PGCE | Chemistry & Biology |
| Mr A Webb BSc (Hons) | Physics & Chemistry |
| Mrs P Weir BSc (Hons) PGCE | Biology |
| Miss K Bamber BSc (Hons) PGCE | Chemistry & Physics |
The Science Department is an enthusiastic group of teachers with a wealth of experience and a range of teaching styles and it aims to provide a challenging and stimulating environment for students to question and discover what is happening around them.
During their studies students will:
-
learn about, enjoy and respect living things (Biology)
-
study the structure, properties and reactions of different materials (Chemistry)
-
investigate forces, energy and how things work (Physics).
Key
Stage 3
At
Key Stage 3 all pupils study the Revised Northern Ireland Curriculum.
The teaching styles employed use a wide range of techniques and pupils
are encouraged to be active in the classroom and take responsibility for
their learning. The curriculum is skills orientated and the pupils will
develop the skills of making observations, forming hypotheses, carrying
out practical work (using a range of apparatus), recording results
(choosing and using an appropriate method), analysing the results (e.g.
using graphs, looking for trends, etc.) and making predictions.
The content of the curriculum is taught through topics and these include genetics, the circulatory system, biodiversity, immunity from disease, introduction to materials, reactivity of metals, acids and alkalis, chemicals in space, light, heat, electricity and forces.
Key
Stage 4
All
the pupils study CCEA Double Award Science (Non-Modular). This
has proved to be very successful for the students with over 98% A* - C
for the past three years.
It is taught using a coordinated approach with the Biology Department responsible for the Living Organisms and Life Processes component, Chemistry responsible for the Using Materials and Understanding Reactions component and Physics responsible for Forces, Energy, Waves, Light, Sound, Electricity and Earth in Space component. Practical investigations are used in all departments and the departments co-operate to produce a mark for the GCSE assessment.
