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The Spratton Hall Science Department strongly believes that Science is one of the most important subjects children encounter at school, as it answers so many of the questions that children have about everyday life. We strive to answer these questions through a practical, hands-on approach to Science wherever possible. We have excellent and experienced members of staff teaching the children, and three modern designated laboratories. All the children in the Prep school, from Year 3 to Year 8 have their Science lessons in the laboratories. This enables the children to get a real ‘feel’ for Science from an early age, get used to the surroundings, and be confident in their working space, so they can work independently as they meet more challenging science in the senior years.
We have a wireless networked mini ICT suite of eight computers, attached to one laboratory, which enables us to integrate ICT in our teaching, through graph work on Excel, datalogging, internet research, experiment write-ups, online assessment and revision, and for modelling experiments. We also have laptops and data projectors for the staff, which we use to provide alternative teaching resources, broadcast onto the board, with Powerpoint presentations, useful internet websites, video and photo clips of experiments, and datalogging results, just some of the opportunities we are starting to use. This is an area we will be further developing over the next few years.
YEAR 3 TO YEAR 6
General Science is taught to all children from Year 3 to Year 6 by specialist teachers in the laboratories. This allows the children excellent access to quality teaching, facilities and equipment which means we have very high standards of scientific achievement in the school. There is a strong emphasis on practical investigation and discovery, which helps enthuse and engage children with science at an early stage. We try and relate their studies to the real world wherever possible to make it relevant to the children and give the study of science some purpose.
YEAR 7 AND YEAR 8
Science is split for the older children into the 3 distinct Sciences – Biology, Physics and Chemistry. We teach the Common Entrance Syllabus in preparation for the examinations at the end of Year 8. The 2 year course in each area is very intensive, pushing the children on in terms of their practical skills and their knowledge and understanding of each subject. Our results for each subject are consistently good each year, and children usually leave Spratton feeling they are confident and competent scientists.
USEFUL WEBLINKS
Below are some links to some of the best websites available to support your child’s learning. They are useful for revision, research, ideas for experiments you can do at home, or just a bit of fun!
Isaac Asimov
