Science

 

 

In this fast changing world a Science background is becoming an ever more useful resource.  At Parkwood we aim to deliver exciting and engaging lessons, bringing school Science to life whilst linking it to real world problems.

At Key Stage 3 we deliver a highly innovative and original thematic course mixing otherwise unrelated topics together, often in a quest to achieve a single goal.  This could be in The Ice Cream Factory or at the F1 racetrack or even on a Mission to Mars.  This hugely successful course was presented at the ASE National Conference where it received high praise from teachers all around the country.

We start Key Stage 4 early to give our pupils the opportunity to study Triple Science.  This gives them a great platform to study Science at A Level and eventually University.  For the remainder we provide 2 other courses, Core and Additional Science, which is another way into A Levels, and BTEC Science.  The latter has proved extremely successful in delivering Science as a more vocational subject, exploring the role and influence of Science in today’s society.

Whatever course pupils decide to take, every pupil has the opportunity to achieve 2 GCSEs or equivalent at this level, a fact we are very proud of.

We believe that the Science Department is going from strength to strength providing aspirational but realistic targets so that all our pupils leave Parkwood with the tools that they need to perform to the best of their abilities, whether this is in Higher Education or the world of work.

 

 

Upper School Science Options Y9 Y10 Y11

 GROWING MICROBES

During Year 8, students study a unit called E.R. (Emergency Room), which involves learning about the tiny things that make us ill. Students have opportunity to cultivate their own microorganisms on petri dishes containing nutrient jelly. The students are always amazed and disgusted by the results!

 

 

 

PARTICLE MODELS

As part of our themed Year 7 unit, Icecream Factory, students learn about the 3 states of matter: solids, liquids and gases. They are asked to represent the particle arrangement of the 3 states, including the processes that change one state in to another, using 3D models. The pictures show some of the work produced by this year’s Y7s, using play dough.

 

 

SOLAR SYSTEM PROJECT

As part of the Physics unit of the Btec Science course, students are asked to produce a scale poster of the Solar System. They need to include all 8 planets drawn to the correct relative size, and position them the correct relative distance from the Sun. Students also need to include other features of the Solar System, such as asteroids and moons and then have a photograph taken with their finished piece of work!

 

Posters of the Solar System