Science

NE School is proud to offer students enhanced facilities and resources including a staff of 12 multi-talented teachers and 3 lab assistants/technicians.

We aim to stimulate students interest in science with a mix of practical experiences, theoretical teaching, experimentation and discussion in lessons. Students are given the opportunity to discuss and evaluate science based issues, learn how scientific ideas contribute to technological change and develop scientific ideas.

Key Stage 3

In years 7 - 9 students receive 6 lessons in Science per fortnight. The subject encompasses a variety of Biology, Chemistry and Physics topics including:

• the solar system
• force and motion
• acids, alkalis and salts
• light
• respiration
• micro-organisms and disease
• energy and fuel
• inheritance and selection
• fit & healthy
• gravity and space
• energy and electricity
• chemistry and the environment

GCSE

As a core subject all students take Science at GCSE. Students can choose to take either the combined science (double award) GCSE or Biology, Chemistry and Physics (triple award) GCSE.

Double Award
Most students will follow the OCR Gateway course leading to two GCSE's in Science. The first GCSE (Core Science) is taught and assessed in Year 10 and the second, (Additional Science) is taught and assessed in Year 11. Each course is made up of modules taught over 10 periods per fortnight. Students are assessed through 2 examination each June.

Triple Award
Students will study science over fifteen periods a fortnight with five lessons in each of the subject areas, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The course is taught and assessed through modules in each discrete subject and leads to 3 GCSE's in Science.

We also offer the BTEC Extended certificate in Applied Science. This is a portfolio award leading to a pass, merit or distinction grading at the end of it. The course covers four single modules and one double module. In each students complete a number of assignment tasks.