Rowhill School

Science

A high-quality science education will be provided for students at Rowhill. This will include the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. 

Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils will be encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They will be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, analyse causes, encourage creativity and problem solve. This year we are working as part of the school development plan to increase student’s knowledge and interest in careers in Science.

KS3 (Years 7, 8 and 9)

Pupils at Rowhill will be taught to:

  • Students will develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
  • Students will develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
  • Students will be equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future

At KS3 pupils will be studying a broad range of Science topics focussing on the key ideas in Science that relate to the GCSE specification.

  • Cells
  • Reproduction
  • Reactions
  • Acids and Alkaline
  • Forces
  • Sound
  • Ecosystem processes
  • Adaptation and Inheritance
  • The periodic table
  • Separation techniques
  • Electricity
  • Energy

Students will receive two 60 minute lessons per week, so 2 topics are covered per half term. Assessment is ongoing, with a formal assessment at the end of each half term which are accumulative so that knowledge recall can be built over time with plenty of opportunities to demonstrate skills to prove learning.

Pupils this year are going to be offered more opportunities to work on practical based projects.

Pupils will be building their cultural capital and looking at how Science is used in the real world.

Already this year pupils have visited RHS Wisley and Winchester Science museum as part of their program of study and are looking forward to the next trip to Marwell Zoo.

KS4 (Years 10 & 11)

All pupils work towards the AQA Combined Trilogy GCSE which provides them with 2 GCSEs. More able pupils, or pupils with an aptitude for Maths are encouraged to sit the Higher Tier papers.

Lessons are interactive and relatively fast paced to cover the necessary areas of the curriculum. Practical skills are explored at every opportunity. Homework is set to consolidate knowledge and regular formal assessments are timetabled to practice retrieval skills. At KS4 students will have four 60 minute lessons per week.

Biology, Chemistry, Physics and independent exam preparation is covered with an emphasis on reading and comprehension of Science key words. Topics include:

  • Cells
  • Organs
  • Infections and response
  • Photosynthesis
  • Respiration
  • Nervous system
  • Reproduction
  • Genetics
  • Classification
  • Biodiversity
  • Atomic Structure and Periodic table
  • Bonding
  • States on matter
  • Quantitative Chemistry
  • Chemical change
  • Energy changes
  • Formulae and equations
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Atmosphere
  • Earth’s resources
  • Energy
  • Electricity
  • Particle model of matter
  • Forces
  • Motion
  • Waves
  • Magnetism  

Assessment is ongoing, with a formal assessments at the end of each half term which are accumulative so that knowledge recall can be built over time with plenty of opportunities to demonstrate skills to prove learning.

This year pupils will be offered a new and exciting opportunity, taking part in extracurricular science outside of school. Science club will he held every Thursday by one of our Science specialists and all year groups are welcome.