Science
Our Team
Mrs E. Bulow
Head of Department
Mrs K. Rooney
Assistant Head of Department
Mrs S. Nelson
Teacher
Mrs. J. Costelloe
Teacher
Mr. P. Annett
Teacher
Miss N. Burns
Science Technician
Mr J. McCullins
Science Technician
Our Department
The Science Department encourages pupils to develop critical thinking skills and build knowledge in understanding the world around us.
Key Stage 3
At KS3 the science department provides pupils with the opportunity to develop practical skills in a safe learning environment. We endeavour to broaden Scientific knowledge, foster creativity and boost problem solving skills. Our KS3 curriculum allows pupils to understand the role that science plays in society and become lifelong learners in an ever changing world.
Extra-Curricular
After School Science club & Science at Lunch
Our science department is renowned for offering a wide variety of exciting opportunities for pupils to enjoy, learn and play with science. Here are just some of the experiments on offer at our very popular science at lunch and after school science club:
- Squid dissection
- Dance party with sound waves and the Reuben’s Tube
- Making ice cream with science
- Slime vs Oobleck
- Launching rockets
- Egg Drop: parachute building competition
- Rainbow flames
- Rainbow fizz
- Hot chocolate science (do marshmallows keep the hot chocolate warmer?)
- Making lava lamps
- Easter egg science
- Extracting DNA
- Making soap & bath bombs
Follow our head of science on Tik Tok @WOWSCIENCE to see some of these experiments in action.
GCSE
We currently offer 3 courses at KS4 which include:
- Double Award Science (CCEA)
Pupils study all 3 sciences over 2 years to gain 2 GCSEs. Pupils will sit the following exams
Year | Exam | Weighting |
11 | Biology unit 1 | 11% |
11 | Chemistry unit 1 | 11% |
11 | Physics unit 1 | 11% |
12 | Biology unit 2 | 14% |
12 | Chemistry unit 2 | 14% |
12 | Physics unit 2 | 14% |
12 | Practical -paper A (practical done in class) -paper B (theory paper in exam conditions) | 25% |
- Single Award Science (CCEA)
Pupils study all 3 sciences over 2 years to gain 1 GCSE. Pupils will sit the following exams
Exam | Weighting |
Biology | 25% |
Chemistry | 25% |
Physics | 25% |
Practical -paper A -paper B | 25% |
- Applied Science Level 2 (OCN)
Applied science is 100% coursework based. Pupils can gain the equivalent of 2 GCSEs over 2 years.
A-Level
GCE Biology (CCEA)
The CCEA GCE Biology specification gives students a deeper knowledge of the organisms that share our planet. They learn about how organisms are built, how they function and how they interact with each other and their surroundings.
Students carry out and report on practical activities that are designed to help them understand concepts and processes and demonstrate biological phenomena.
They also appreciate how society makes decisions about scientific issues and how the sciences contribute to the success of the economy and society.
The specification has six units:
- Unit AS 1: Molecules and Cells
- Unit AS 2: Organisms and Biodiversity
- Unit AS 3: Practical Skills in AS Biology
- Unit A2 1: Physiology, Co-ordination and Control, and Ecosystems
- Unit A2 2: Biochemistry, Genetics and Evolutionary Trends
- Unit A2 3: Practical Skills in Biology.
GCE Chemistry (CCEA)
The CCEA GCE Chemistry specification encourages students to appreciate how society makes decisions about scientific issues and how chemistry contributes to the success of the economy and society.
The specification has six units:
- Unit AS 1: Basic Concepts in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry
- Unit AS 2: Further Physical and Inorganic Chemistry and an Introduction to Organic Chemistry
- Unit AS 3: Basic Practical Chemistry
- Unit A2 1: Further Physical and Organic Chemistry
- Unit A2 2: Analytical, Transition Metals, Electrochemistry and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry
- Unit A2 3: Further Practical Chemistry.
GCE Physics (CCEA)
The CCEA GCE Physics specification encourages students to develop their enthusiasm for the subject and an interest in further studies and careers in physics.
Students develop essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of physics and how they relate to each other.
The specification has six units:
- Unit AS 1: Forces, Energy and Electricity
- Unit AS 2: Waves, Photons and Astronomy
- Unit AS 3: Practical Techniques and Data Analysis
- Unit A2 1: Deformation of Solids, Thermal Physics, Circular Motion, Oscillations and Atomic and Nuclear Physics
- Unit A2 2: Fields, Capacitors and Particle Physics
- Unit A2 3: Practical Techniques and Data Analysis.
GCE Life and Health Sciences (CCEA)
The CCEA GCE Life and Health Sciences specification was developed with industry in response to the needs of the growing life and health sciences sector in Northern Ireland.
Life and health science related industries make up over 25% of Northern Ireland’s total economic output and include a diverse range of public and private businesses and employment opportunities, including pharmaceutical, chemical, agricultural, dental, nursing, environmental and allied health professions.
Life and Health Science is a combination of coursework and exams which span over the topics of biology, chemistry and physics to make up the final grade.
Year | Unit | Weighting |
13 | AS 1 – Experimental techniques | 33.34% of AS 13.34% of A level |
13 | AS 2 – Human Body Systems (exam) | 33.33% of AS 13.33% of A level |
13 | AS 3 – Physical Chemistry (exam) | 33.33% of AS 13.33% of A level |
14 | A2 1 – Scientific Method, Investigation, Analysis and Evaluation Coursework section that consists of pupils learning first about how science works followed by designing their own area of research. Pupils then create and conduct their own experiments independently. | 20% of A level |
14 | A2 2 – Organic Chemistry (exam) | 20% of A level |
14 | A2 3 – Medical Physics (exam) | 20% of A level |
Examination Board information
For more information from the Examination board, click here:
Biology
A-Level Specification
Life & Health Science
A-Level Specification