Science

In the Kindergarten (Foundation Stage), science is incorporated into the Early Learning Goal called ‘Knowledge and Understanding of the World’, where appropriate topics are used to help the build a strong foundation for their subsequent scientific studies.

The learning continues in Key Stage 1 (age 5 – 7), and Science becomes a separate subject from Key Stage 2 (ages 7 – 11). The aim of the Science curriculum in Key Stages 1 and 2 in the Primary School is to stimulate and excite students’ curiosity about phenomena and events in the world around them. Emphasis is placed on developing and evaluating explanations through experimental evidence and modelling. The School has a wide range of resources to enable Science to be delivered through practical activities and the use of the outdoor environment. The range of science topics covers the many aspects of natural and physical science.

In Key Stage 3 in the Secondary School, the UK National Curriculum (http://www.qcda.gov.uk/) for Science continues to be followed, covering Biology, Chemistry and Physics, which become separate subjects from Key Stage 4 (Year 10) onwards. To inform the choosing of their IGCSE subject options and best science specialism, the School enters all Year 9 students for the Cambridge Checkpoint tests (http://www.cie.org.uk) in English, Mathematics and Science. These are an important means of standardised external assessment at the end of Year 9 and are considered to be accurate predictors of future Cambridge International Examinations IGCSE grades.