Sciences
Science
Staff within the Department
Mrs Patel - Head of Science
B.Sc. (Hons) Biochemistry, P.G.C.E. (Secondary) Science/Chemistry
Mrs Knight - Second in Science/Head of Biology
B.Sc. Biology, Dip.T.
Mrs Ferchichi - Head of Chemistry
B.Sc. (Hons) Chemistry, P.G.C.E. (Secondary) Science/Chemistry
Mrs Heidari - Head of Physics
B.Sc. Cellular and Molecular Biology, P.G.C.E. (Secondary) Science/ Physics
Ms Yeong - Teacher of Science and Biology
B.Sc. (Hons) Biological Sciences. P.G.C.E. (Secondary) Science/Biology
Ms Sagajllo - KS4 Coordinator
B.Sc. (Hons) Science with Secondary Education
Ms Chandan - Teacher of Science/Chemistry
B.Sc. (Hons) Biomedical Sciences, QTS (Secondary) Science/Chemistry
Mr Jones - Teacher of Science/Biology/Head of Year
B.Sc. (Hons) Biology with Applied & Analytical Chemistry, P.G.C.E. (Secondary) Science/Chemistry
Ms S Matei - Teacher of Science/Physics
B.Sc (Hons) MNatSci Natural Sciences, P.G.C.E Science
Mr Wood - Teacher of Science/Chemistry
B.Ed, BSc Sport and Health Science
Dr D O’Flynn – Teacher of Chemistry,
B.Sc. (Hons) Medicinal Chemistry, PhD. Organic Chemistry, P.G.C.E. (Secondary) Science/Chemistry
Ms S. Kumar - Teacher of Biology
Technical Team
Ms Warsame - Biology Specialist
Mr Coltman - Physics Specialist
Mr Woodland - Chemistry Specialist
Ms Refai - Chemistry Specialist
Science is a subject of great importance; the EWS Science Department will continue to build on the government's ongoing strategies for developing a strong supply of scientists, engineers, technologists and mathematicians. It's a subject that can fascinate and delight, develop skills and knowledge, provide excitement and open doors to thousands of different careers. At EWS, science is about creative thinking, identifying patterns and considering a range of evidence to provide solutions and answers. In our lessons we aim to develop the inquiry, discussion and questioning skills necessary for the girls to become scientifically literate and responsible citizens as well as our next generation of inspirational professional scientists.
The Science Department is comprised of twelve purpose-built science laboratories, which are fully equipped with modern facilities such as interactive whiteboards. We have access to lap tops, as well as ICT suites allowing technology to impact in a positive way on the learning experiences of pupils. There are thirteen Specialist Science teaching staff all of who teach their specialism at Key Stage 4 and 5. We also have a dedicated team of four technicians who provide us with the practical support that is crucial to helping children develop an understanding of the processes and theories in the subject.
Curriculum
KS3
At Ellen Wilkinson School, we currently have a two-year Key Stage 3 course, with students starting the GCSE course in Year 9. We do this in order to ensure students have ample time to prepare for their GCSE exams. Key Stage 3 Science is taught as one subject, and all three main disciplines (Biology, Chemistry & Physics) are given equal time. Students receive six hours of Science lessons over two weeks in Year 7 and 8. These lessons are a combination of practical and theory lessons, with regular activities to support student learning and attainment. Progress tasks and tests provide quantitative data to support the tracking of students, to ensure that all students make good or better progress. Context drives our syllabus, helping to relate science to real-life concepts and experiences. We aim to teach students the skills they need to solve any problem with scientific enquiry skills. The Key Stage 3 Science course helps to create a strong foundation of knowledge, preparing students for the related topics at GCSE level.
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | |
| Year 7 | Cells Particles Forces | Reproduction Acids & Alkalis Structure & Function of Body Systems
| Elements & Compounds Space Chemical Reactions |
| Year 8 | Health & Lifestyle Separation Techniques Energy | Adaptation & Inheritance The Periodic Table
| Electricity & Magnetism Sound |
EWS students are encouraged to become independent learners and within the Science Department we try to equip students with a multitude of resources that will support their learning both in and out of lessons. We issue all Year 7 students with a revision guide that they can take home and use to revise for tests and help with homework.
Students also have access to our virtual learning environment. This is a personalised learning tool that has pages with hundreds of revision resources which include exam questions, revision power points and exercises. Students can access these resources from anywhere with an internet connection. .
The new National Curriculum programme of study can be found using the link below:
Useful websites
Here are a few websites recommended for science revision in KS3
BBC Bitesize KS3: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zng4d2p
Doc Brown’s quizzes: http://www.docbrown.info/ks3science.htm
Fuse School Videos: https://www.fuseschool.org/users/sign_in?PHPSESSID=7fa046a0b435fc83905abe142010a6c0
The Children’s University: http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/science/
Activities to do at home
Get involved in:
British science week: https://www.britishscienceweek.org/app/uploads/2016/01/British-Science-Week-activity-pack2_secondary.pdf
Citizen Science: https://www.britishscienceweek.org/plan-your-activities/citizen-science/
Science quizzes: https://www.britishscienceweek.org/plan-your-activities/quizzes/
Fun experiments: http://www.kidspot.com.au/things-to-do/collection/science-experiments
Steve Spangler Science: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/
KS4
All GCSE Science exams are linear and all external exams will take place in the summer of Year 11. The students choose between studying Separate Science (Biology, Chemistry & Physics) or Combined Science GCSE. Both Separate Science and Combined Science are delivered over three years, enabling extensive opportunities to explore these subjects in depth. Separate Science is very strong at Ellen Wilkinson School with experienced subject specialists teaching all lessons and many opportunities for extra-curricular learning. Both courses qualifies students to take A Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Combined Science curriculum
|
|
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term |
|
Year 9
|
Biology | Ecosystem processes Cell Structure | Transport in cells Plant structure and function | Homeostasis and Response Part 1 |
|
Chemistry | Materials Atomic structure & Periodic table |
Bonding and the structure of matter | ||
|
Physics | Maths & Graph Skills Forces & Motion | Energy | Waves | |
|
Year 10
|
Biology
| Cell Structure Respiration Transport in cells Evolution & Extinction | Plant Structure & Function Homeostasis
| Variation & Human intervention Adaptation, interdependence and competition |
|
Chemistry
| Chemistry of the Atmosphere Atomic structure & Periodic table Chemical Changes- Reactions of acids | Bonding, structure and properties Using Resources | Chemical Changes- Electrolysis Rate and extent of chemical change Quantitative | |
|
Physics
| Forces & Motion- Basic ideas Application of forces Linear Motion | Waves Electricity
| Energy Forces & Motion- car safety | |
|
Year 11
|
Biology
| Animal Structure & function, Cell Division, , | Biodiversity & Human Impact, DNA & Inheritance, | Review & Revision, |
|
Chemistry
| Chemistry of the Atmosphere, Quantitative chemistry | Chemical Analysis, Moles, | Review & Revision, | |
|
Physics
| Radioactivity, Magnetism, | Electricity,
| Review & Revision, | |
We follow the AQA specification for all science GCSE courses we offer.
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-trilogy-8464
Separate sciences (Biology, Chemistry & Physics)
|
|
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | |
|
Year 9
|
Biology
| Ecosystem processes Cell Structure Transport in cells | Plant structure and function Homeostasis and Response Part 1 | Food production Homeostasis and Response Part 2 | |
|
Chemistry | Materials Atomic structure & Periodic table Bonding and the structure of matter | Chemical Changes- Reactivity of Metals
Chemical Changes- Reactions of acids
| Chemical Changes- Electrolysis
Review | ||
| Physics
| Maths & Graph Skills Energy |
Waves
| |||
|
Year 10
| Biology
| Cell Structure Respiration Transport in cell Homeostasis
| Variation & Human intervention Plant Structure & Function
| Infection & response Evolution & Extinction Cell division | |
|
Chemistry
| Chemistry of the Atmosphere Atomic structure & Periodic table Chemical Changes- Reactions of acids Using Resources | Energy Changes
Rate and extent of chemical change
| Chemical Changes- Electrolysis
Quantitative | ||
|
Physics
| Forces & Motion- Basic ideas Application of forces Linear Motion, Forces & Motion- car safety | Waves
Energy | Electricity
| ||
|
Year 11
| Biology
| Animal Structure & function, Cell Division, Evolution & Extinction, | Biodiversity & Human Impact, DNA & Inheritance, | Review & Revision, | |
|
Chemistry
| Chemistry of the Atmosphere, Quantitative chemistry | Chemical Analysis, Using resources. | Review & Revision, | ||
|
Physics
| Radioactivity, Magnetism, | Electricity,
| Review & Revision, | ||
We follow the AQA specification for all science GCSE courses we offer.
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463
Enrichment:
There are lots of extra-curricular activities available, which students have a chance to take part in. These include:
- Science club,
- NHS Schools Science Conference,
- The Big Bang Fair,
- Salters Festival of Chemistry,
- Top of the Bench competition,
- Biology Challenge’ for a nationally recognised award
- CREST award – gold level
Trips offered include a visit to The Large Hadron Collider at CERN, Royal Society summer exhibition, Head start Royal Academy of Engineering, as well as opportunities to visit universities such as Imperial and UCL. We have developed strong links with Nuffield Foundation as well as local employers such as GSK.
Activities to do at home
In London, we are fortunate to have lots of inspiring and exciting places to visit:
Science Museum
Natural History Museum
Kew Gardens
London Museum of Water and Steam
The London Zoo
The Royal Observatory
The London Aquarium
The Wetlands Centre
Get inspired by reading one of the following:
Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stone
Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat by Gail Jarrow
Stuff That Scares Your Pants Off!: The Science Museum Book of Scary Things by Glenn Murphy
This is Not a Science Book: A Smart Art Activity Book by Clive Gifford
A Journey Through the Digestive System with Max Axiom, Super Scientist by Emily Sohn
Useful websites
Very useful for revision:
BBC Bitesize: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zrkw2hv
CGP online revision guide: https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/interactive_gcse_science
My GCSE .com- video tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/user/myGCSEscience
Science quizzes: http://www.gcsescience.com/gcse-chemistry-revision-quiz.htm
KS5
Our Sixth Form students in KS5 have the opportunity to study A Level Biology, Chemistry, and Physics . All Subjects provide continuity from GCSE, with field trips and University links to extend learning and guidance on future career prospects.
Further details can be found in sixth form area, using the link below: