With some of NGHS's longest-serving teachers, the Science Faculty has a wealth of experience in teaching their specialist disciplines to A-level. All colleagues teach across the full Year 7-13 range with some interdisciplinary teaching in lower school to enable all students the opportunity to study separate sciences from Year 7. The Faculty also provides extensive opportunities for students to visit lunchtime drop-in sessions to review and improve on test scores or to ask about homework or classwork struggles.
The faculty has some of the most recently-refurbished teaching spaces at NGHS and almost all lessons are taught in a laboratory, a luxury few schools experience.
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Faculty Staff
Each of our science faculty staff is a specialist in their discipline and we teach separate sciences from Year 7. Colleagues also occasionally contribute to teaching of Computing, PSHE and Mathematics. The Head of Science is a physicist and has overall oversight of this discipline and science as a whole with two deputies who oversee Biology and Chemistry.Dr S Catalan Head of Science Mrs S Dainty Second in Science (Biology Lead) Mr R Wright Second in Science (Chemistry Lead) Mrs S Fletcher Teacher of Biology Mrs R Narasimhan Teacher of Biology Mrs C Reeves Teacher of Physics Mr C Tolley Teacher of Chemistry Mr J Wade Teacher of Chemistry Mrs L Stan Senior Science Technician Mrs A Mazur Science Technician The nominated link governor to Science is Mrs Victoria Allison.
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Faculty Vision / Intent
The Science Faculty teaches Biology, Chemistry and Physics as separate sciences from year 7. We aim to create and develop enthusiastic, informed, inquisitive and ultimately successful scientists. Students who study sciences at NGHS should be curious about the universe about them and enjoy learning how scientific models can be used to explain observations from the very large to the very small. We are committed to establishing a learning environment that encourages students to develop their observational, experimental, problem solving, critical thinking and evaluation skills so that they become confident at analysing and interpreting information and data. Students will be offered many opportunities to apply and expand on their mathematical and communication skills in the context of the different sciences. Students will become aware of the ethical implications of scientific advances and gain opportunities to independently extend their skills beyond the classroom.
Fundamentally, our team want to inspire, foster and nurture a love of science and use scientific knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about the communication, application, and implications of science as these relate to their own lives and cultures and to the sustainability of the environment.
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Faculty Development Plan 2023-2024
During the academic year 2023-2024, the Faculty will focus on:- Determining a universally agreed KS3 assessment scoring system whilst also providing targeted intervention to support students needing additional support
- Improving the extra-curricular offer in science including trips and visits (both in the UK and abroad), Olympiad challenges and a Lego Robotics Club
- Enabling regular participation in A-level Chemistry Lectures at the University of Birmingham
- Supporting KS2 science education in local primaries and also work with the OAKS SCITT to develop chemistry teaching and pedagogy using NGHS staff expertise.
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Curriculum Sequencing
Please use the links below to access the curriculum sequencing documents:
Curriculum Sequencing KS3-5 Biology Curriculum Sequencing KS3-5 Chemistry Curriculum Sequencing KS3-5 Physics As well as the curriculum sequencing documents above, at NGHS, we produce a short curriculum summary for each year group. We call these 'Learning Overviews' and the primary audience is for students/parents to know how the curriculum is mapped in a particular year group.
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Learning Overviews KS3-KS5
Please use the links below to access the Learning Overviews for each key stage:
Biology
Learning Overview - Year 7 Learning Overview - Year 8
Learning Overview - Year 9 Learning Overview - Year 10 Learning Overview - Year 11 Learning Overview - A-level Chemistry
Learning Overview - Year 7 Learning Overview - Year 8
Learning Overview - Year 9 Learning Overview - Year 10 Learning Overview - Year 11 Learning Overview - A-level Physics
Learning Overview - Year 7 Learning Overview - Year 8
Learning Overview - Year 9 Learning Overview - Year 10 Learning Overview - Year 11 Learning Overview - A-level -
Examination Board Links
Please use the links below to access the correct external exam board websites for each qualification offered by this faculty:
GCSE
GCSE Biology(AQA) GCSE Chemistry(AQA) GCSE Physics (AQA) A-level
A-level Biology (AQA) A-level Chemistry (AQA) A-level Physics (AQA) -
Faculty Accommodation
The Faculty has six laboratories, three of which have been refurbished in the last four years and the others have all been fitted out in the past 10 years. These modern learning spaces have been designed by the staff themselves to ensure they are fit for purpose and combine sufficient space for practical science experiments with sight-lines and best practice for theory lessons, too. -
Wider Opportunities
The Faculty offers the opportunity to undertake Gold Crest Awards in Biology at Harper Adams University. Sixth formers work with postgraduate/lecturers to research areas of pre-prescribed interest and conduct safe laboratory work. In chemistry, students attend regular lectures at the University of Birmingham and our sixth form physicists visit Jodrell Bank.
In the lower school, there is a popular Science Club and we also offer drop-in clinics in all science disciplines. A particular highlight is our KS3 Physics Club which is student-run and many students enjoy Gardening Club which is run by staff in this faculty. Lastly, a Science day (often related to Ecology) is organised during our annual Curriculum Enrichment Week.
In 2023, all Year 7s visited the Leicester Space Centre.
Year 12 Chemists entered the Lower Sixth Chemistry Challenge and Y13 chemists were invited to enter the Chemistry Olympiad. Year 10 and 11 chemists can enter the West Midlands Chemistry Quiz.
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Relevant website links
The Faculty recommends students use the following websites to aid their learning: