The curriculum we provide in the Science Department gives our pupils the knowledge and skills to succeed in their part of the global community and enables them to participate in lifelong learning.
Here at The Hayesbrook School we believe that Science should be practical and relevant to maximise pupil engagement in lessons. To support this, our laboratories are well equipped and fully resourced for the varied curriculum we offer.
Key Stage 3
Our year seven pupils start the year working through the 'Science Passport' to give them a good base on the practical skills they will need to start their scientific work. These skills are then applied as they start their learning to complete KS3 in two years. This gives pupils a good background for their KS4 work. The two year key stage 3 curriculum covers:
Biology:
- Cells
- Reproduction
- Environment
- Food and Digestion
- Microbes and Disease
- Inheritance and Selection
- Plants and Photosynthesis
Physics:
- Acids and Alkalis
- Chemical Reactions
- Particles
- Solutions
- Atoms and Elements
- Compounds and Mixtures
- Rocks
Chemistry:
- Energy
- Electricity
- Forces
- Space
- Magnets
- Light
- Sound
Key Stage 4
We provide a broad range of choices at KS4 to suit the range of interests of our students.
Students will complete the Core Science GCSE which includes aspects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
After this, students may choose to continue to study along the more traditional route with the Additional Science GCSE or they may choose the more vocational Applied Science GCSE where they study forensic science, sport science and food science.
Some students will follow the Triple Science GCSE which will enable them to study more academic aspects of science and will give them separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The triple science course is particularly suitable for students who wish to pursue science at a higher level.
Key Stage 5
For Sixth Form students we run a BTEC National Award in Applied Science. This course covers the following six units over two years:
- Looking at the fundamentals of science
- Working in the science industry
- Scientific practical techniques
- Physiology of human body
- Genetics
- Chemical periodicity
Extra-curricular / Trips / Rewards
As part of Enrichment we offer a very popular Science club where the students get to experience science in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.
As part of the school enterprise day programme we work closely with other departments to provide students with different opportunities. In the last few years we have run the following enterprise days:
- Brainiac - We worked with the ICT department to run a day of fun experiments and practical demonstrations where the students filmed their work and made it into a movie.
- Survival - We worked with the technology department to run a day of activities about being shipwrecked on a desert island. Sessions included making and using a solar cooker, making camps, harnessing the different types of renewable energy on an island and purifying water.
- Chocolate - We worked with the ICT department to run sessions on launching a new chocolate company. Students made chocolate fudge, investigated melting chocolate, learnt about the food groups in chocolate, costed their products and advertised their company.
- Rock Band - We worked with the creative subjects to run a day about putting on a concert. Students learnt about sound, colour, lighting and learnt and performed a dance routine!
- What's in my pants?! - We worked with the Business Studies Department to run a sexual health day for Year 11. We had the school nurse in to do chlamydia testing and we ran sessions on parent-craft with talks from teenage parents. We also covered STIs and safe sex. Students produced a sexual health information pack for younger students.
We have run several family learning events in the evenings or school holidays including solving a murder mystery with forensic science, learning about the science behind ice-cream and most recently, 'Explosive Science'.
We have good links with local businesses and work closely with Hadlow College, the Fire Service, Police Service and ballistics experts to enhance our curriculum at KS4.
Students in each year group will have the opportunity to attend a science curriculum trip during the year. Previous trips have been run to the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Imax cinema in London, the Royal Greenwich Observatory in Herstmonceux, Horrible Science Live and Brainiac Live.
To extend our Gifted and Talented students we publicise many courses for students to attend at local universities and other schools. We have also attended 'Science in Action' lectures in London, visited the University of Greenwich and sent students to the prestigious Salters' Chemistry Camps.
Students are rewarded for excellence in effort and achievement in science through our PRIDE point system, teacher commendations, letters home and reward trips.
