For specification for Double Award Science, please click here

For the specification of the separate sciences please see below.

Science has come a long way since the first faltering steps taken by Thales in the hills above Miletus in the sixth century BC. However its basic aims and methods remain unchanged. At the root of it is curiosity, a desire to understand the world around us; to answer the question, “why does this happen?” To answer this question we carry out experiments, making observations with care and precision. Then we look at these results and search for patterns within them and so reach an underlying explanation. This tradition, this scientific method, continues in the work we do at Aldenham today. The evidence may come from a variety of sources, from what we have seen, experienced directly and measured using up to date equipment. It may also come from books, videos, CD-ROM's and the Internet. From this data we aim to arrive at a common understanding of the way the world works. Sometimes this upsets our own innate perception of how things are. This is the adventure and excitement of studying Science. If we accept this challenge we too may stand “on the shoulders of giants”. It is a journey of discovery for all of us.

Science is a core subject. In the lower school (years 7 and 8), each science is taught separately by a subject specialist for two periods a week. Whilst we do not prepare for Common Entrance or the KS3 tests we aim to cover their content in these two years. We use the Longman Science 11-13 textbooks. This enables us to start the IGCSE course on entering the middle school. Here a specialist teaches each subject for 2 periods a week. Pupils are placed into one of three sets at the beginning of year 8 and the composition of these sets is under regular review.

In the year 9 pupils from the Martineau's House and from other schools are put into sets on the basis of common exam results. Pupils are set by their overall ability in Science; however differentiation within sets is reinforced through task and outcome.

As part of the GCSE course, pupils study either double award or triple award science during the three years. Pupils sit frequent end of unit tests and the results are used to monitor and review the progress of each pupil. This is discussed in the regular departmental meetings. At the end of the year 11 they sit the EDEXCEL IGCSE exams. The triple sets will sit separate exams in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, giving 3 separate grades (available grades A* to G). The other sets sit the Double Science at Higher tier (available grades are A* to C in each exam). A small minority will sit the Foundation tier (available grades C to G). The examinations account for 100% of their final mark. There is no coursework element.

Safety in experimental work is emphasised and taught from the earliest stage.

The principal texts for these GCSE years are the ‘Pearson's EDEXCEL IGCSE' series.Dedicated revision guides are supplied to the pupils in year 9.

Following GCSE pupils may opt to progress to the AS and A2 levels where the OCR specifications are followed. In the first year three units are studied and examined in January and the summer term. Oneunit will be based on coursework and accounts for 20% of the final mark.

In the second year three A2 units are studied in total and are assessed in both the January and June exam sessions. The courseworkunit again accounts for 20% of the final mark.

Our departmental aim is to create scientifically literate individuals with a sense of curiosity and a sound grounding in the fundamentals so that they can cope safely and knowledgeably with whatever future they may face. Our enviably high success rate at GCSE, which was recognised by the Good Schools' Guide, reflects significant value added achievement, and the sizeable proportion of the school that go on to study Sciences at AS, A2 and Degree level are, for us, the icing on the cake!