SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

The Science complex includes 3 large laboratories, data logging centre, tutorial room and technicians room. A further laboratory is presently being constructed for next year. 

The students of Sir James Henderson School study an integrated general science course for their first two years at the School and it is not until the third year that they meet the three traditional disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.    

  Within their third year we try to cover most areas of the subject, so as to give them a broad view of it.  This is doubly important as they will choose their options at the end of the year and should have a good idea of what each science entails if they are to choose intelligently.

The students must choose AT LEAST ONE science among their options for the GCSE examinations.

Beyond GCSE the department offers new Edexcel ‘A’ /AS level courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.  It is imperative that the student has satisfactorily completed the relevant GCSE course, although there have been special cases in the past due to the transient  nature of the student body.  

PRACTICAL WORK

The courses throughout the upper school in KS/3/4 and 5 make extensive use of practical work in order to teach pupils all the important aspects; including theoretical,analytical,presentational and observational work.

Science at the SJHS in KS3, develops all the important skills that students have been taught in the Lower  School at KS1 and KS2.These are monitored frequently throughout the course using practical assessments in each topic area. 

 In Year 10 pupils start their courses for GCSE studying the separate sciences of Physics,Chemistry and Biology. Coursework is a major part of these courses as again is the frequent use of our modern data logging facilities within most investigations.

In Years 12 and 13, Biology, Chemistry and Physics can be studied to 'A' or AS level using the new Edexcel syllabus. Practical coursework exists within Biology, and practical examinations are an integral part of both AS and A level Chemistry and Physics.

Further information is provided within all the areas of curriculum. 

SCIENCE REPORTS

Science reports are sent to parents three times a year for each year group, with reports in each of the separate sciences from Year 9 onwards. More details of the reporting system follow in the booklet.

SCIENCE RESOURCES

The department is generally well resourced, with the majority of equipment  provided by Philip Harris/Novara and Merck . The department currently has 3 laboratories, one technician’s room, a data-logging centre and a small classroom. With the ever increasing number of students choosing the Sciences the department should be expanding over the next academic year.

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