Science
Department Ethos
Our curriculum provides powerful wisdom which in turn provides limitless opportunities.
At Bishop Perowne, the Science department functions to provide students with deep knowledge of our world within the disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
These disciplines are each underpinned by five big ideas which can be seen in the table below.
| Biology | Chemistry | Physics |
|---|---|---|
| The cellular basis of life | Substances and properties | Matter |
| Heredity and lifecycles | Particles and structure | Forces and motion |
| Organisms and their environment | Chemical reactions | Sound, light and waves |
| Variation, adaptation and evolution | Earth chemistry | Electricity and magnetism |
| Health and disease | Dynamic Earth | Earth in space |
Year 7
Students start with an introduction to science unit, which helps students to understand the importance of health and safety in the laboratory. They learn about common lab equipment, safety symbols and how to operate equipment such as a Bunsen Burner.
After this unit, students enter a cycle of biology, chemistry and physics units, providing an opportunity to observe, experiment and develop the foundations of knowledge which can be built upon in year 8.
The topics covered and the links to the big ideas can be found in the table below.
| Code | Topic | Big Idea |
|---|---|---|
| – | Introduction to Science | None (Skills relevant to all ideas) |
| 1A | Cells and Sexual Reproduction | Cellular basis of life, heredity and lifecycles |
| 1D | Solids/Liquids/Gases, Atoms and Elements | Substances and properties, particles and structure |
| 1F | Energy and Electricity | Matter, electricity and magnetism |
| 1B | Food and Digestion, Microbes and Disease | Organisms & their environment, health & disease |
| 1E | Acids and Alkalis, Simple Chemical Reactions | Substances and properties, chemical reactions |
| 1G | Light and Sound | Sound, light and waves |
| 1C | Habitats | Organisms and their environments, variation adaptation and evolution |
| 1H | The Rock Cycle | Dynamic Earth, Earth chemistry |
Year 8
The year 8 Science course aims to build a deeper understanding of scientific concepts from year 7 and providing students to apply their understanding to new content. For example, in unit 2C, students build on their understanding of habitats and organisms that live there to further exploration of the links between species and how classification works.
The topics covered and the links to the big ideas can be found in the table below.
| Code | Topic | Big Idea |
|---|---|---|
| 2A | Health and Respiration | Health and disease |
| 2D | Elements, Compounds and Mixtures | Substance and properties, particles and structure |
| 2F | Forces, Magnets and Electromagnets | Forces and motion, electricity and magnetism |
| 2B | Plants and Photosynthesis | Organisms and their environment |
| 2E | Metals and Patterns of Reactivity | Substance and properties, chemical reactions |
| 2G | Speed, Pressure and Moments | Forces and motion |
| 2C | Inheritance, Variation and Classification | Heredity and lifecycles, variation adaptation & evolution |
| 2H | Earth and Space | Earth in space, Dynamic Earth |
Years 9 to 11
When starting the GCSE programme of study, students will follow either the combined science pathway or the triple science pathway.
The units studied for each pathway are the same, but with triple science having an additional unit. In addition, within each unit there are additional lessons for triple science students.
Details of the units are given at the end of this section.
Combined Science Pathway
The combined science pathway offers two GCSE grades in combined science and students have one teacher delivering the specification.
At the end of the course, students will sit 6 science exams, each of which will be 1hr15mins long.
Students will sit either foundation tier (which can award up to two grade 5’s) or higher tier (which can award up to two grade 9’s).
Triple Science Pathway
The triple science pathway offers three GCSE grades – one for each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Students have three science teachers, each delivering one of the science disciplines.
At the end of the course students will sit 6 science exams, each of which will be 1hr45mins long. Students will sit either foundation tier (which can award up to three grade 5’s) or higher tier (which can award up to three grade 9’s).
GCSE Science Units
| Biology | Chemistry | Physics |
|---|---|---|
| B1 – Cell Biology | C1 – Atomic structure and the Periodic Table | P1 – Energy |
| B2 – Organisation | C2 – Bonding, Structure and Properties of Matter | P2 – Electricity |
| B3 – Infection and response | C3 – Quantitative chemistry | P3 – Particle model of matter |
| B4 – Bioenergetics | C4 – Chemical changes | P4 – Atomic structure |
| B5 – Homeostasis and Response | C5 – Energy changes | P5 – Forces |
| B6 – Inheritance, Variation and Evolution | C6 – The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change | P6 – Waves |
| B7 – Ecology | C7 – Organic Chemistry | P7 – Magnetism and Electromagnetism |
| C8 – Chemical Analysis | P8 – Space Physics (Triple Pathway only) | |
| C9 – Chemistry of the Atmosphere | ||
| C10 – Using Resources |
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)
Our aim is to encourage and develop the scientifically literate students of the future, who are both curious and fascinated by the world that surrounds them, and wish to pursue science to higher and further education and/or take up careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects.
Our thriving STEM department provides the opportunities for our students to do just that with a variety of activities on offer to enhance, enrich, and support the enthusiasm of our students that attend.
Each week there are activities taking place in the science department from 3-4pm. Students conduct experiments outside of the curriculum, embedding scientific practice and stretching their enquiry skills.
There is also be a robotics arm of STEM taking place in the DT block, where students undertake the challenge of building and coding a robot to compete with other schools, both regionally and nationally.
Students who attend STEM will also have the opportunity to pursue CREST awards, a nationally recognised accreditation which enables students to investigate an area of interest and present their findings.
With a wide variety of skills and expertise offered by staff who run STEM, students have the flexibility to choose which area they wish to explore/develop further across the academic year.
Year 11 Subject Resources
| Description | Type |
|---|---|
| Biology: Exam Board (AQA) Resources | External Link |
| Chemistry: Exam Board (AQA) Resources | External Link |
| Physics: Exam Board (AQA) Resources | External Link |
| Science (Combined): Exam Board (AQA) Resources | External Link |
| Science: School Revision Guide | School PDF Document |
Our Staff
Mr C Aitken
TeacherMr C Aitken (CAI)
Positions Held
- Assistant Headteacher
- Teacher of Science
Key Responsibilities
- Alternative Provision
- Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC)
- Pupil Premium
- Vulnerable Learners
Subjects
- Science (Teacher)
Mr J Baggott
TeacherMr J Baggott (JBA)
Positions Held
- Teacher of Science
Subjects
- Science (Teacher)
Miss S Cook
TechnicianMiss S Cook (SCO)
Positions Held
- Senior Science Technician
Subjects
- Science (Technician)
Mr O Elmougy
Head of DepartmentMr O Elmougy (OEL)
Positions Held
- Head of Science
Subjects
- Science (Head of Department)
Miss K Kirkham
TeacherMiss K Kirkham (KKI)
Positions Held
- Teacher of Science
Subjects
- Science (Teacher)
Miss G Olseen
TeacherMiss G Olseen (GOL)
Positions Held
- Lead Practitioner for Science
- Teacher of Psychology
Key Responsibilities
- Teaching coach
Subjects
- Psychology (Head of Department)
- Science (Teacher)
Mrs D Peters
TeacherMrs D Peters (DPE)
Positions Held
- Director of Music
- Teacher of Science
Subjects
- Music (Head of Department)
- Science (Teacher)
Mrs K Pinchin
TeacherMrs K Pinchin (KPI)
Positions Held
- Teacher of Science
Subjects
- Science (Teacher)
Mrs J Price
TeacherMrs J Price (JPR)
Positions Held
- Headteacher
- Teacher of Science
Subjects
- Science (Teacher)
Mrs S Price
TechnicianMrs S Price (SPR)
Positions Held
- Science Technician
Subjects
- Science (Technician)
Miss E Smallwood
TeacherMiss E Smallwood (ESM)
Positions Held
- Teacher of Science
- Teacher of PE
Subjects
- Physical Education (Teacher)
- Science (Teacher)
Ms L Spurgin
TeacherMs L Spurgin (LSP)
Positions Held
- SENCO
- Teacher of Science
- Teacher of Psychology
Subjects
- Psychology (Teacher)
- Science (Teacher)
Mrs A Williams
TeacherMrs A Williams (AWL)
Positions Held
- Teacher of Science
- Teacher of Design & Technology
- Teacher of Hospitality & Catering
Key Responsibilities
- Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator
Subjects
- Art, Design & Technology (Teacher)
- Science (Teacher)
| Code | Description | Version | Published | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OFSTED-2018 | Ofsted Report | 1 | November 2018 | |
| SIAMS-2018 | SIAMS Report | 1 | July 2018 |
| Code | Description | Version | Published | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWC-02 | E-Safety and Acceptable Use | 1.0 | August 2021 | August 2023 |
| SWC-03 | Dealing with Extremism and Radicalisation (Prevent Duty) | 1.1 | February 2021 | February 2023 |
| SWC-04 | Safeguarding Children including Child Protection | 3.0 | September 2021 | September 2022 |
| SWC-06 | Student Behaviour, Discipline and Rewards | 1.4 | September 2021 | September 2023 |
| SWC-07 | Anti-Bullying | 1.4 | February 2022 | February 2023 |
| SWC-08 | Peer on Peer Abuse | 1.0 | September 2021 | September 2022 |
| Code | Description | Version | Published | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEN-02 | Freedom of Information Publication Scheme | 1.1 | September 2020 | September 2023 |
| GEN-03-2021 | Admissions 2021-2022 | 1.0 | January 2020 | September 2021 |
| GEN-03-2022 | Admissions 2022-2023 | 1.1 | February 2021 | September 2022 |
| GEN-03-A | Admissions Form A | 1.0 | September 2021 | |
| GEN-03-B | Admissions Form B (Religious Leader Form) | 1.0 | September 2021 | |
| GEN-04 | Data Protection | 1.0 | September 2020 | September 2022 |
| GEN-05 | Spirituality and Worship | 1.2 | January 2021 | January 2022 |
| GEN-06 | Equality | 1.1 | September 2021 | September 2022 |
| REC-04 | Equality Action Plan 2021-2022 | 1.0 | August 2021 | |
| TRI-01 | Trips, Visits, and Learning Outside the Classroom | 2.0 | November 2021 |
| Code | Description | Version | Published | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAR-01 | Home – School Agreement | 1.0 | May 2017 | |
| PAR-02 | Complaints | 5.1 | October 2021 | October 2022 |
| PAR-03 | Separated Parents Policy | 1.0 | October 2021 | October 2024 |
| PAR-101 | Managing Serial and Unreasonable Complaints | 0.1 | January 2021 | January 2022 |
| STU-02 | Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs | 1.1 | September 2020 | September 2022 |
| STU-03 | Attendance and Truancy | 1.5 | October 2021 | October 2022 |
| STU-04 | Mobile Telephone and Electronic Devices | 1.4 | July 2021 | October 2022 |
| STU-05 | Uniform and Appearance | 1.4 | September 2020 | September 2022 |
| STU-06 | College IT Systems – Acceptable Use | 1.3 | June 2021 | June 2022 |
| Code | Description | Version | Published | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUR-01 | Promoting British Values | 1.1 | February 2021 | February 2023 |
| CUR-02 | Sex and Relationships | 1.3 | October 2021 | October 2022 |
| CUR-03 | Provider Access | 1.2 | July 2021 | July 2022 |
| CUR-04 | Careers Information, Advice and Guidance | 1.0 | July 2021 | July 2022 |
| CUR-2021-2022-Y07 | Year 07 Curriculum Information | 1.0 | September 2021 |
| Code | Description | Version | Published | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REC-01 | Accessibility Plan | 1.1 | September 2020 | September 2023 |
| SEN-02 | Accessibility | 1.1 | September 2020 | September 2023 |
| SENREP-01 | SEN Information Report | 2021 | September 2021 | |
| STU-02 | Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs | 1.1 | September 2020 | September 2022 |
| Code | Description | Version | Published | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | Finance Policy and Procedures | 0.1 | January 2021 | January 2022 |
| FIN-02 | Charges, Voluntary Contributions and Remissions | 1.1 | January 2021 | January 2022 |
| HAS-01 | Health and Safety | 1.2 | January 2022 | January 2023 |
| Code | Description | Version | Published | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAG-01 | Centre Policy for determining TAGs | 1 | March 2021 | |
| TAG-02 | JCQ Guidance for Students, Parents and Carers | 1 | March 2021 | |
| TAG-03 | Ofqual Guidance for Students | 1 | March 2021 | |
| TAG-04 | Letter sent to parents/carers and students on 31st March 2021 | 1 | March 2021 | |
| TAG-05 | FAQ sent to parents/carers and students on 31st March 2021 | 1 | March 2021 | |
| TAG-06 | Year 11 Examination Schedule for Internal Assessments | 1 | March 2021 |
| Code | Description | Version | Published | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COV-01 | Covid-19 Risk Assessment | 1.1 | January 2021 | |
| COV-02 | Remote Learning Provision – Parent Information | 1 | January 2021 | |
| COV-03 | Remote Learning Provision – Student Information | 1 | January 2021 | |
| COV-04 | Information regarding March Reopening | 1 | March 2021 | |
| COV-05 | Teams Helpsheet for Students | 1.0 | April 2020 | |
| COVREP-01 | Covid-19 Catch Up Premium Report | 2020 | September 2020 | |
| SUM-01 | Covid-19 Summer School Risk Assessment | 1.0 | August 2021 | |
| SUM-02 | Covid-19 Summer School Report | 1.0 | September 2021 |
