Science
Mrs. C. Leeder (Head of Science)
Mrs. A. Riley
Ms. D. Muir
Ms. A. Haygarth
Mr. S. Coleman (Technician)
Mrs S. Sitch (Curriculum Support Assistant)
ASHS was awarded the status Specialist Science College in September 2007. As a result of this we had two of our Science Laboratories refurbished and were able to invest in modern up to date science equipment including a bank of new computers and new data logging equipment.
Our Science curriculum includes a programme of community events, visits and competitions for all students. To make science interesting and engaging our students have the opportunity to visit the Science Museum in London, the UEA for exhibitions, Banham Zoo, the Sainsbury Centre in Norwich and we look at special trips to the UEA for our Gifted and Talented Science students.
Students recently have had the opportunity to see Dr Ken and his amazing science shows; take part in Mad Science shows and also take part in a Forensic Science investigation day. Some of these events take place in the National Science and Engineering week in March each year.
Selected students will take part in competitions such as the Salter’s Science Festival, a Science Olympiad with the UEA and the Institute of Physics quiz.
We are fortunate to see many speakers in school each year and these include scientists from The John Innes Centre in Norwich, the UEA and the Institute of Physics.
AT ASHS WE MAKE SCIENCE FUN AND EXCITING IN ORDER TO DEVELOP SCIENTIFIC SKILLS AND LEARNING
Students at ASHS are placed in ability sets from Year 7 and this continues through to year 11.
KS3 (Years 7 – 9)
In September 2009 we began using the WIKID science scheme which has been devised by the Association for Science Education to try and make science more exciting and relevant. It uses contemporary settings to study science.
Year 7 WIKID science looks at topics such as Forensics, Electromance, A&E, Alien, Cook and extinction.
Year 8 WIKID science looks at topics such as Alive and Kicking, nViz, Catastrophe, Studion Magic, Species at War and Pyrotechnics.
Each of the units is assessed by a formative assessment or a topic test and there is an end of year test. This is designed to develop thinking skills in science as well as being exciting and engaging.
Year 9 Science
Since the demise of the SAT tests, ASHS like most other secondary schools has devised a new course for year 9. For our students it means we finish the KS3 course and then begin the GCSE courses in Year 9. This means that as we start the GCSE course earlier we can offer most students Triple science at KS4 without losing a GCSE option.
KS4 (Years 10-11)
ASHS follows the AQA Sciences suite, which includes Core Science, Additional Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics at GCSE level. All of our students follow at least two GCSE Science subjects, with the option of doing Triple Science and gaining an individual GCSE in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. There is also a coursework element that counts towards their GCSE. This is worth 25% of their final qualification and is done in class during normal science lessons but under exam conditions. From September 2012 Science exams will be linear, which means that the exams are taken at the end of each award.
Topics covered in KS4 Science
Biology
Keeping healthy, nerves and hormones, the use and abuse of drugs, interdependence, and adaptation, energy and biomass in food chains, waste material from plants and animals, genetic variation and its control, evolution, cells and cell transport, tissues and organs systems, photosynthesis, organisms and their environment, proteins, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, cell division and inheritance and speciation.
Chemistry
The fundamental ideas in Chemistry, limestone and building materials, metals and their uses, crude oils and fuels, other useful substances from crude oils, plant oils and their uses, changes in the earth and its atmosphere, structure and bonding, structure and properties of substances, metals, atomic structure, analysis and quantative chemistry, rates of reactions, exothermic and endothermic reactions, acids bases and salts and electrolysis.
Physics
Transfer of energy by heating processes, energy and efficiency, the usefulness of electrical appliances, methods we use to generate electricity, the use of waves for communication, forces and their effects, kinetic energy of objects speeding up or slowing down, currents in electrical circuits, mains electricity, radioactivity, nuclear fission and fusion.
To make science more interesting and engaging we do the following:
- Science days where a year group studies a science topic for a whole day involving lots of staff in a cross curricular way.
- Science visits, trips to other schools, UEA for exhibitions
- Science shows, Dr Ken and his amazing science shows, Mad Science shows
- Competitions, Salters Chemistry competition, Science Olympiad, High Energy Quiz, Institute of Physics Quiz.
- Outside speakers Scientists from UEA and beyond giving an insight into their work
- Researcher in Residence, a PHD student assigned to the school to develop links and encourage students to study science beyond Sancroft.
