Ms M Kelly (Head of Science)
Mrs LM Duggan
Mrs A Hughes
Mr S O'Kane
Ms R Dynes (Technician)
Key Stage 3 Science
Hello! Welcome to St.Brigid's Science Department.
St.Brigid's High School Science department is committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to enjoy learning about the world around them.
Pupils undertake a number of units of work which involve a range of activities including experiments and investigations, group work and team challenges, presentations, visits, role-plays and debates.
The units of work covered each year are as follows:
Year 8
• Introduction to Science
• My Amazing Body
• Energy-The invisible force
• The world we live in
• What is everything made of?
Year 9
• Electricity
• Cells and genes
• Earth, Space and the Universe!
• Loud and Bright
• Chemical Change
• Forces
Year 10
• Staying healthy
• Importance of plants
• Elements, Compounds and mixtures
• Energy Resources
• Using Chemistry
Pupils will:
• Develop skills in scientific methods of enquiry to further scientific knowledge and understanding
• Develop a range of practical skills
• Research scientific information
• Become problem solvers
• Develop creative and critical thinking
• Be able to self manage
• Learn to be part of a team
• Be competent communicators
Visits
Pupils enjoy visits to W5, the Science Centre, Odyssey, Belfast. Students have also enjoyed trips to Bombardier, Belfast as well as various STEM events including Sentinus activities.
Science Week
St. Brigid`s has been celebrating National Science and Engineering Week (NSEW) for many years. Previous themes have included - Stay Healthy - Be Happy and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The week long event is crammed full of cross curricular competitions, challenges, visitors, trips and quizzes. The aim of the week is to celebrate science and make it exciting and relevant to every student.
Learning together
St. Brigid's Science department is very proud of its links with other schools and the community.
Our year 8 pupils welcomed year 8's from Armagh City High School to 'learn together'. This innovative and exciting day saw pupils from both schools learning about Science and one another.
Key Stage 4 Science
The Science Department of St. Brigid's High School offers:
• GCSE Core Science A - AQA
• GCSE Additional Science - AQA
Pupils can undertake each course at Foundation or Higher level. Students enjoy learning about contemporary issues such as cloning, climate change, nanotechnology, energy efficiency and radioactivity.
A range of teaching strategies are used to ensure pupils all have the opportunity to reach their potential.
The Assessment of GCSE Science A for current year 12 students only:
6 x 30 minute objective tests (6 x 12.5%)
CAU - Centre assessed units (25%)
Objective Tests are taken in November, March and June of year 11 and 12.
The Assessment of GCSE Additional Science:
3 x 45 minute structured papers (3 x 25%)
CAU - Centre assessed units (1 x 25%)
Structured papers are taken in January and June of year 12.
Pupils will:
• Build on the skills and knowledge acquired in years 8-10.
• Learn about contemporary issues such as cloning.
• Consider ethical and moral issues around scientific developments.
• Develop opinions based on scientific investigations/findings.
• Develop investigative skills.
• Acquire a sound scientific foundation for further scientific study.
AQA have recently changed their specification and therefore students beginning GCSE Science A and Additional Science will cover a similar content but will be assessed differently.
3 x structured papers in January/June (3 x 25%)
CAU - Centre assessed units (1 x 25%)
Careers in Science
The Science Department at St Brigid’s is committed to ensuring students are aware of the possible careers available to them in Science. Many students choose to complete A Level Physics, Biology and/or Chemistry at post 16 and several students have completed science degrees in, for example, Environmental Science. In addition student might choose to undertake BTEC courses in Applied Science which make them ready for such careers as nursing, forensics and microbiology.
Pupils are made aware of the scope of possible jobs as soon as they begin their science education in year 8 when they focus on the role of the scientist right up to GCSE when they develop laboratory skills such as aseptic microbiology techniques.
