Science

From September 2005 Skinners’ has been designated a Specialist School with Science status. This has made possible improved facilities for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics; as well as the expansion of Electronics.  The school has planned a range of innovative projects in order to enhance Science learning at Skinners’ and beyond (please click here to see some of our community science work).

High Expectations                                                                                      

The Science Department’s aim is to encourage each pupil to become enthusiastic about science, this approach together with high quality teaching will foster the acquisition of skills, knowledge and understanding. We have high expectations of all of our pupils and we will deliver the curriculum wherever possible using practical, investigative approaches.

Curriculum Enrichment                                                                                      

We offer a comprehensive programme involving outings to national conferences, universities, and science centres as well as a variety of fieldwork. STEM type activities are embedded into the schemes of work but many boys also work on out of school projects. During the year there are many visits to Skinners’ from outside speakers and organisations. 

Specialist Staffing                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Within a science Department of 10 teachers and 3 technicians, we have 3 full time Biology Specialists, 3 full time Chemistry Specialists, and 3 full time Physics Specialists (1 of whom teaches Electronics too).

Modern Facilities                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7 of our 8 laboratories are now conveniently placed on the same floor of the same building, with our General Science and Community Laboratory on the floor below.

Our science curriculum

 YEAR 7:  all pupils will study a combined science course, emphasis is on learning skills via a  

               practical hands on approach.

YEAR 8: continuation of year 7 following the government’s QCA guidelines, but aiming to fit the 3 KS3 years

               of study (7,8,and 9) into just 2.

YEAR 9:   all pupils will study the new AQA iGCSE Science.

YEAR 10: all pupils will study the new AQA iGCSE Science.

YEAR 11: all pupils will study for the 3 separate science GCSEs in Year 11 (‘Triple Award’):

                 AQA Biology AQA 4411, Chemistry AQA 4421, Physics AQA 4431

                 WJEC Electronics GCSE is also available as an option for study across years 10 and 11.

Sixth Form                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Science has become increasingly popular at A-level with most Skinners’ boys opting to study at least 1 science beyond GCSE. We offer:

OCR H421, Biology AS / A2 level

OCR H434, Chemistry AS /A2 level

AQA 2450, Physics AS /A2 level

AQA 2430, Electronics AS level.

After Skinners’?                     

Every year large numbers of Skinners’ boys go on to university to study engineering, medicine, forensics, veterinary science, sports science, aeronautics, psychology, astrophysics, pharmacology, meteorology, electronics and many other applied sciences, as well as biology, chemistry, and physics

For further information please go to our website: http://www.skinnerscience.com/.