Science forms part of the core curriculum taught to all pupils throughout the School. It is the policy of the School that every pupil should study all three of Biology, Chemistry and Physics during Key Stage 3 following courses based on the National Curriculum.   The science in Key Stage 3 is topic based.  All students take science SATS at the end of Year 9.  Field work such as the Year 8 Rock trip to the Isle of Purbeck is included where possible.

We aim to make science as practical as possible with a strong emphasis on exploration, discovery and enjoyment.  We use a range of teaching styles and learning techniques to meet the needs of all individuals.

At Key Stage 4 all pupils must choose two subjects from Biology, Chemistry and Physics as a minimum requirement. Pupils with a particular aptitude or interest are encouraged to opt for the third science in the option blocks.  Dual Award Science, a combination of all three disciplines leading to two GCSEs, is also offered.

Modular GCSE courses are followed in all sciences in which module tests make up 30% of the final mark.  Another 20% of the mark is gained from investigations carried out during the course.  Each GCSE consists of 6 modules, 3 of which are tested during the two year course.  This has proved very successful. 

Details of the work covered in the three subject areas are given below:

Biology

In Year 7, an introduction to Life Science is given, focusing on Cells and Organisation, Classification and Variation and Ecology.  Often the school grounds are used as a resource.

In Year 8, Reproduction, both plant and human is studied, followed by Diet and Digestion and finally Photosynthesis.

Year 9's main theme is the human body and its functional complexities. Health, Heart and Circulation are covered in the first term, moving on to Breathing and Respiration and finally Muscles and Movement in the summer term.

In the upper school, Biology is taught as a separate science. The syllabus follows the course laid down by the Examinations Boards for Key Stage 4 of the National Curriculum.

The topics covered at GCSE are:

Chemistry

In Year 7, pupils are introduced to the fundamentals of Chemistry including apparatus, measuring, safety and the Periodic Table. From the start they are given an appreciation of practical assessments that forms an important part of the GCSE syllabus.

In Year 8 the course includes work on Rocks along with a field trip along the Dorset Coast looking at various rock formations. Topic two deals with Compounds and Mixtures and topic three focuses on Chemical Reactions.

During Year 9 the major topics covered are Acids and Bases, more about the language of Chemistry, and the Reactivity Series of Metals in preparation for the GCSE course to follow.

In the Upper School, Chemistry is generally taught as a separate science. The syllabus follows the course laid down by the Examinations Boards for Key Stage 4 of the National Curriculum. 

The topics covered in the GCSE course are:

Physics

In Year 7, pupils are given an overview of the basics of physics including an overview of circuits and an introduction to forces, before moving on to studying Sound and Hearing, and Magnets and Electromagnets.

During Year 8 Light, Astronomy and Energy, usually involving project work, are covered.

The Year 9 course contains work on Forces and Motion, Current and Static Electricity with time taken for review of work carried out in Years 7 and 8 in preparation for SATS.

In Years 10 and 11, problem solving and processing of information become an increasingly important element of the course and specific investigative work is carried out by pupils on an individual basis. The syllabus follows the course laid down by the Examinations Boards for Key Stage 4 of the National Curriculum.

The topics covered in the GCSE course are: