science policy
2003
SCIENCE - A STATEMENT OF INTENT
Science centres around a method of testing the acceptability of belief against the rigours of experience.
Science is an enabling subject that promotes equal opportunity in a highly technological society. It enables us to appreciate the value of alternative systems, their environmental impact and the societies that promote them. To question the validity of assumptions is the nature of Science. We aim to develop pupil’s skills so they can actively question, analyse and deduce from their experiences in life and the world in general.
Science provides opportunities to exercise the skills of judgement, logic, observation and reasoned argument and to develop critical faculties. The variety of the subject areas within Science gives it scope to reflect the student’s individual interests. The scientific method values group and co-operative learning whilst still giving scope to the individual. It also calls actively upon those skills developed in other subject areas and, hopefully, gives opportunities for those skills to develop further. By using the skills they acquire in Science in other aspects of their life, pupils will be able to lead fuller and more meaningful lives.
PHILOSOPHY
In adult life many occupations demand scientific literacy. These demands are likely to increase in a changing and increasingly technological world. A fair and reasoned society requires its citizens to make judgements on claims and counter claims and the scientific philosophy is one basis for these.
We believe that a broad and balanced Science education is the entitlement of all children. Through this entitlement pupils will be better able to cope and understand an ever increasingly technological and scientifically orientated society.
AIMS
Our aims in teaching Science include:
- Building on pupils’ natural curiosity and developing a scientific approach to problems.
- Encouraging open-mindedness, self-criticism, perseverance and responsibility.
- Preparing pupils for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world.
- Fostering concern about, and appreciation of our environment.
- Building young people’s self-confidence to enable them to work independently and develop their social skills to allow them to work co-operatively with others.
- Helping young people acquire a progressive understanding of scientific processes.
- Helping young people to experience and acquire practical scientific skills.
- Providing pupils with an enjoyable experience of Science, so that they will develop a deep and lasting interest and be motivated to study the subject further.
- Being able to recognise the usefulness and limitations of scientific methods and appreciate their application in other disciplines and in everyday life.
- To develop abilities and skills that are relevant to the study, practice and application of Science and are useful in everyday life.
- To develop an awareness of potential dangers and an ability to follow safe practice both in and out of school.
- To understand that the study and practice of Science is co-operative and accumulative and are subject to social, economic, technological, ethical and cultural influences and limitations.
- To promote an awareness that the applications of Science may be both beneficial and detrimental to the individual, the community and the environment.
OBJECTIVES
The Science Curriculum should:
- Meet the requirements of the ‘Curriculum 2000’, the National Science Strategy and External Accrediting bodies.
- Enable all pupils to achieve their potential in externally accredited examinations e.g. National Curriculum Tests, GCSE’s and Entry Level Examinations.
- Develop pupils’ skills to a level where they are able to perform experiments with minimal support.
- Enable pupils to look analytically at a range of problems and develop solutions that are based on scientific criteria.
- Teach the skills that are required to function in a scientifically based society.
- For pupils to know both what the structure of a practical involves and to follow the golden rules that relate to it i.e. control and fair test.
- For pupils to understand the world around them and to be able to explain some of the events in it using scientific knowledge, language and experience.
- Provide opportunities for pupils to develop the skills to participate effectively as a member of a group.
- Develop pupils’ ability to research and use information from a range of sources.
- Enable pupils to develop strategies to critically analyse both their work and that of others, subjectively based on sound criteria.
- To develop pupils Information and Communication Technology skills to enable them to access a wider range of research materials and ways of presenting their own work.
TEACHING AND LEARNING STYLE
As far as possible Science lessons are practically orientated. This allows pupils to develop a strong foundation through concrete experience of the topics being taught. Unfortunately though due to the subject content of some units or modules this is not always possible. Hence in these lessons and others the general structure of the lesson is as follows:
- Basically the lessons generally follow the three-part lesson format advocated by the National Science Strategy.
- Lessons start with either outlining what the task is, or on a recap of the previous lesson and the key words and phrases that were used.
- The main body of the lesson centres on the practical or taught element. Here, if the content is theoretical, we strive to make it as real to the pupils as possible and provide them with ‘handles’ on which to hang this new information.
- Finally the lesson is recapped - often with a question and answer session to ensure that the learning has occurred and that weaknesses are recognised in readiness for the next lesson.
