Science

"The scientist is not a person who gives the right answers, but the one who asks the right questions." ― Claude Levi-Strauss

The Science of the everyday world is pivotal to our way of life. At Trafalgar School, we believe that this science of the ordinary, can be made extraordinary. A high quality, student led curriculum is designed to engage and inspire students, promoting curiosity, deeper thinking and therefore, deeper questioning.  

Science is a body of knowledge built up through experimental testing of ideas. Science is also methodology, a practical way of finding reliable answers to questions we may ask about the world around us. Science at Trafalgar is about developing children’s ideas and ways of working that enable them to make sense of the world in which they live through investigation, as well as using and applying processing skills.

We believe that a broad and balanced science education is the entitlement of all students, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, class, aptitude or disability. Our aims in teaching science include the following:

  • Preparing our children for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world
  • Fostering concern about, and active care for, our environment
  • Helping our children acquire a growing understanding of scientific ideas
  • Helping develop and extend our children’s scientific concept of their world
  • Developing our children’s understanding of the international and collaborative nature of science
  • To extend children’s natural curiosity and wonder about the world in which they are growing
  • To promote independent thinking and encourage deeper level questioning

Key Stage 3: 

 

Assessment Window

Assessment Type / Topic

Year 7

18th September 2023 – 22nd September 2023
8th January 2024 – 19th January 2024
7th May 2024 – 17th May 2024
17th June 2024 – 21st June 2024

 

Year 7 Baseline 
Year 7 End of Chemistry 
Year 7 End of Physics
Year 7 End of Biology

Year 8

25th September 2023 – 6th October 2023
8th January 2024 – 19th January 2024 
7th May 2024 – 17th May 2024 
17th June 2024 – 21st June 2024

 

Year 8 Baseline
End of Year 8 Chemistry 
End of Year 8 Physics 
End of Year 8 Biology

Year 9

16th October 2023 – 3rd November 2023
5th February 2024 – 23rd February 2024
3rd June 2024 – 14th June 2024

 

Year 9 Baseline 
Year 9 Key Ideas 1 
Year 9 Key Ideas 2

 

Key Stage 4:

All students will take Science at GCSE level which will be worth at least 2 GCSE based on their route through Science. The Combined Science route offers a broad curriculum which awards 2 GCSE qualifications, whereas the Separate Science route offers an extensive curriculum which awards 3 GCSE qualifications (one for each science).

GCSE Combined Science – Edexcel

GCSE Separate Biology – Edexcel

GCSE Separate Chemistry – Edexcel

GCSE Separate Physics – Edexcel

 

 

Assessment Window

Assessment Type / Topic

Year 10

16th October 2023 – 3rd November 2023 
5th February 2024 – 23rd February 2024 
22nd April 2024 – 3rd May 2024

 

Edexcel Core Practical’s 
Edexcel GCSE Paper 1 
Edexcel Fundamentals 2

Year 11

6th November 2023 – 17th November 2023 
4th March 2024 – 15th March 2024

 

Edexcel GCSE Paper 1
Edexcel GCSE Paper 2

 

 

In Science we make use of digital platform Seneca Learning for setting our home learning. This platform makes use of targeted questions designed specifically for our course of study and live feedback for students to progress and improve straight away. 

Seneca

Welcome to our Science team at Trafalgar School! 

I am proud to be the Head of Science at Trafalgar School. I have the pleasure of working with a fantastic team of Science specialists who are passionate about delivering the Science curriculum that is engaging and inspirational; but one which also promotes curiosity. In Science, we explore different natural phenomena which exist in our world, and help you gauge an understanding of the importance of Science in our everyday lives. You will have opportunities to demonstrate your  practical, analytical and critical thinking skills throughout your learning experience in Science. With your curiosity and our dedicated team, we will delve into the questions you may have, to help you find the answers that you were looking for. 

 

Rhiannon Martin (Head of Science) rmartin@trafalgarschool.org.uk 

Lexie Cunningham (Second in Department) lcunningham@trafalgarschool.org.uk

Trevor Pullan (Lead Practitioner) tpullan@trafalgarschool.org.uk

Floss Green fgreen@trafalgarschool.org.uk

Tim Au tau@trafalgarschool.org.uk

Richard Hill rhill@trafalgarschool.org.uk

Paul Flexman pflexman@trafalgarschool.org.uk

Mickey Rossouw mrossouw@trafalgarschool.org.uk

Daniel Jones djones@trafalgarschool.org.uk