We were awarded High Performing Specialist School status in April 2009. That has allowed us to nominate a second specialism - which we have been awarded in Science.
We applied for HPSS in science with an emphasis on Gifted & Talented provision because we believe in science. Incredibly science has seemed more under attack than ever in the last few years but we are clear that science is one of the pillars of our civilization. Everybody depends on science for every aspect of their life in an advanced civilization and he only way we and future generations will meet the challenge of sustaining life is through science. It is essential that the education system produces young people who understand science and can make important contributions through it.
We will use our specialism to develop subject expertise and thereby to significantly improve our maths and science KS4 results. We are delighted that this summer’s science results are the best in the school’s history. For the first time we offered the triple award. The results were amazing. 100% got A* or A grades in both Physics and Biology, with 94% getting A* or A grade in Chemistry. We will develop the success of science at KS3.
Science plays an important part in innovative teaching and learning. We say in school ‘ we must light fires’ in children’s imaginations and in science we do that – literally! Science is also at the heart of curriculum innovation because it straddles the divide – the false divide – between the academic and the vocational, intellectual and the practical. Science is a compelling intellectual discipline – but it also does things – it effects change in what we do practically. Good science changes the way people understand the world but also what people do in the world.
Science has always been the pursuit of individual enquiry and our gifted & talented provision aims to foster and develop that sense of enquiry.
Ours Specialist Status allows us to build more partnerships across the communities we serve and relate to. Educational partnerships with local schools of both phases and all types, so we can use our expertise to support and share developments. Business, industry and health partnerships because we know successful scientists will make their contribution inside these organisations in the future. Partnerships with parents too, so that they are better informed about how science is central to their children’s lives and their families futures.
We welcomed Prof Phil Whitfield - Vice Principal and Dr Ann Bartlett, Senior Research Fellow, King's College London to launch our HPSS status. Their lecture could not have been more timely or relevant to what we are trying to do. Darwin 200 recognised the achievement of a single man whose work changed the way we all understand the world. This lecture celebrates that his work has been taken up by many scientist, but has also influenced social sciences, the arts and humanities. Great science changes everyone’s understanding, but also everyone’s lives.
Our Atrium display which was our CRE8 Week project at the end of last term was a further example of how science touches every sector of the curriculum. David Sheppard, MA, Head teacher
More Science news coming soon......
Click to the left for more about our fabulous climate change project conducted in July 2009.
