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The Bromley High School Science Department, staffed by six full time and three part-time teachers and four technicians, is accommodated on two floors of a building just over twenty years old. Surrounding the department are extensive grounds with meadowland and woodland, greenhouses and a large, mature pond. Beyond this is Jubilee Park , recently designated an urban protected site. Our facilities consist of three biology, three chemistry, and three physics laboratories, with additional sixth form study/tutorial rooms and two administration areas. A specialist technician working within a dedicated preparation area supports each science discipline. The department is situated close to the school's computer suite and uses in addition a class-set of laptops with access to the school network and Internet. Most laboratories are equipped with electronic whiteboard facilities and data-logging equipment is available for all key stages. The science curriculum is based upon the National Curriculum but is not limited by it. The sciences are taught as separate disciplines from Year 7 onwards to provide a firm foundation for A level study. Assessment takes a variety of forms and from Year 7 the examinations include a practical component. The majority of students prepare for Double Award Science at GCSE with the most able girls being entered for Triple Award Science. Those students requiring support to achieve the high grades expected follow a modular course; others take a linear course. From September 2006 the OCR 21 st Century Science syllabus will be followed, with two or three GCSEs being taken as appropriate. Science is a popular subject within the sixth form at AS level, with most students following on to the A2 course. The department achieves excellent examination results and is proud of the value added to pupils' expectations. Science is a frequent choice for Higher Education courses, including Oxbridge entry. The department is able to offer our students extensive hands-on experience: practical work forms a significant part of the courses in each subject area. In order to foster a spirit of enquiry and to encourage study beyond the syllabus, a range of extra-curricular activities exists for all students. These include speakers, science competitions and challenges, exhibitions and lectures and environmental initiatives. Biology KS3 work in Year 7 builds on the KS2 National Curriculum. Practical work forms a substantial part of the course and an investigative, problem-solving approach is encouraged. By studying cells and systems, diet and digestion and enzymes, human reproduction, classification and ecology the girls start to appreciate the breadth of the subject; and then begin to understand the central concepts of cell theory and respiration, energy flow, biodiversity, anatomy and physiology. In Year 8 these concepts are extended via the study of respiration, circulation and gas exchange, microbiology and photosynthesis. By Year 9 girls are ready to consolidate previous work and practise applying it in novel situations. They learn about nervous co-ordination, simple genetics, selective breeding and cloning, including a consideration of the social and ethical implications of these techniques. The process of photosynthesis is considered in the broader context of food production and the balance of gases in the atmosphere. By the end of this year girls are beginning to carry out whole investigations using GCSE criteria. The KS4 GCSE work in Years 10 and 11 covers more detailed physiology through the studying the roles of blood circulation, excretion, osmo-regulation and hormonal co-ordination in achieving homeostasis. The involvement of hormones in the control of human fertility as well as in the manipulation of plant growth and development is covered at this time. There is an increasing focus on the applications of biology to everyday life, personal health and sustainability through the study of genetic engineering and the impact of humans on the local and global environment. During KS3 and KS4 experimental work enables the development of manipulative skills and encourages a problem-solving approach. Girls are trained to record accurately, to handle data appropriately and to communicate clearly using a range of media and IT applications. Currently the Edexcel A level syllabus is delivered. From September 2006 we shall offer the Salters-Nuffield A level course. Throughout all key stages the biology course emphasises links with other areas of the curriculum, including citizenship. Historical perspectives are considered, especially the development of scientific ideas; career opportunities are signalled; and the responsibility of biologists to apply knowledge wisely is emphasised. Above all we want the students to enjoy the subject and offer a range of extra-curricular activities: outings, national and in-house competitions, visits, lectures, individual projects. Chemistry Chemistry is taught as a separate subject from Year 7 . Girls are introduced to practical work and taught to use apparatus safely and accurately. Patterns in the behaviour of matter are investigated by experimentation and particle theory is used to explain the changes. Girls are encouraged to use their understanding to separate different materials. Finally an opportunity is provided for girls to investigate indigestion tablets, using their newly acquired practical skills and knowledge of acids. In Year 8 girls investigate the differences between elements, mixtures and compounds. Practical work is incorporated where possible to develop girls' laboratory skills and spreadsheets are used to process experimental data in a cross curricular project on 'Handwarmers' with ICT. Girls use different types of chemical change to produce and collect gases, extract metals and understand the impact on the environment of the combustion of fuels. The study of Chemistry becomes more abstract In Year 9 as girls are introduced to the use of formulae and equations to represent chemical changes. Opportunities are provided for girls to gain further practice in experimental design, analysis and evaluation, as well as learn new practical techniques when they study ways to control chemical changes. Girls make frequent use of computer simulations to develop a deeper understanding of the nature of particle collisions and rearrangement during chemical reactions. In Years 10 and 11 girls make use of atomic structure to study different types of chemical bond, describe the properties of compounds and explain trends in the periodic table. Girls are introduced to the concept of equilibrium as well as the quantitative nature of chemistry at this stage. The natural resources, crude oil and minerals, that provide us with fuels, plastics and metals are studied in greater detail at Key Stage 4 and girls use their practical skills to complete GCSE practical coursework. Physics Science is about asking questions and physicists ask questions about the physical world around us. We also look at some of applications and uses of our knowledge and discuss the implications for our environment and our society. Physics is the study of the interactions between matter and energy. These can produce the colours of a rainbow, as well as the production of light and heat by our Sun. Every event in the Universe, from your next breath to a star exploding, is an interaction between matter and energy, so physics is really a part of all scientific subjects rather than a separate one. Physics at Bromley High School is taught within a successful and well-resourced science department. There are two physicists within the department, who share virtually all the physics teaching within the school. Teaching is well supported by experienced technicians, one of whom has sole responsibility for all physics lessons and equipment. Physics is taught as a separate subject from year 7, although there is close liaison with the other sciences. Science is taught in sets from year 7, with 20 pupils or below in nearly every one. There are 4 or 5 sets in each year, depending on the size of the year group. At Key Stage Three, the department uses its own schemes of work, which have been recently revised, and broadly follow the National Curriculum. There are opportunities for project work and investigations in each year. Year 7 have enjoyed their bridge building and in February all of Year 8 went to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich for the day, which included a planetarium presentation. In Year 9 every girl has spent time on the Women into Science and Engineering bus to give them the opportunity to find out more about careers in these areas. At key stage four, pupils have a choice of Edexcel Double Award Science or Separate Sciences. A small, but growing number, choose this option each year. Some Year 10 girls enjoyed the annual Faraday Lecture at Sadlers' Wells - Smart Living @ Home with Technology. We offer Salters Horners Advanced Physics as our A level course.
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: National Science Week Celebrated at Bromley High School