Key Stage 4
The majority of students follow the OCR Dual Award GCSE
course in Coordinated Science, with a small number following a new Single
Award GCSE course, which the department is piloting for OCR. At
GCSE, pupils are set by ability and the course is delivered as
discrete biology, chemistry and physics lessons, taught by subject
specialists. In year 10, pupils have six science lessons per week,
with three per week in year 11.
Assessment:
Coursework:
For Double Award, coursework is solely made up of investigations
and forms 20% of the overall assessment. For Single Award there
is also an investigation to do, but also 'Can-do' tasks and a written
'Study of a Science Topic', the whole forming 40% of the overall
assessment.
Examinations:
Double Award - three 1 hour (Foundation) or 1½ hour (Higher)
written papers, one in each science and consisting of short-answer
structured questions.
All taken in the summer of Y11 Single Award - four 30
minute, short answer module tests spread through years 10 and 11 and
a one-hour written paper at the end of year 11.
Career Implications and
Further Studies:
Pupils recently had the opportunity to
participate in the TCI's Artist In Residence In
Science (AIRIS) project, when a local poet
came into school to work with one class from
Y7 and one from Y8 during their science
lessons.
The aims of the AIRIS project are to raise
achievement and stimulate involvement
in science by approaching topics in different
and innovative ways and to aid in students'
general levels of literacy.
Y8 students take part in the Salters' Festival
of Chemistry and there will be 'Science Days'
for groups from Y7 and Y10 at the University
of Durham Stockton campus in the summer.
Sixth form students will also have the
opportunity to take part in a variety of
events, including the RSC National Schools
Analyst Competition and the three-day
biology field trip.
Post 16
Please click here or the Sixth Form
link from the section links menu
for post 16 information
