In Years 7 and 8 students follow a general science course developed by the school. This focuses on developing King’s Learning Habits alongside a broad-based science education. Practical content is high and there is a firm emphasis on student-based learning. The students also follow the Beyond Fair Testing course created by King’s College London to improve students’ thinking and analysing skills and involves practical work, problem-solving and teaching students different types of scientific enquiry. Students have either 7 lessons per fortnight with one member of staff. Classes are taught in form groups, with class sizes typically around 18 - 24.
In Year 9 the students follow courses in the individual Sciences with specialist subject teachers. After an introductory course students will start their GCSE studies in all three Sciences. Again, there is a high emphasis on practical work and developing essential learning skills. Students receive 4 lessons per fortnight in each of the Sciences.
At GCSE we offer Separate Science and Dual Award Science. Over half of students follow the Separate Science programme and students are placed in sets across the whole year group. This course leads to three Science GCSEs: Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The rest of the students follow the Dual Award Science programme (Trilogy) and receive the same teaching time allocation as the Separate Scientists. This leads to two Science GCSEs and allows students more time to gain confidence in each of the Science subjects. We follow the AQA course for both Dual and Triple Science. The three departments work closely together in developing novel and innovative teaching methods. Students are assessed and monitored regularly and each department provides weekly support clinics and revision classes to help students achieve their potential.
At A Level all three Sciences follow the AQA course. Class sizes in Years 12 and 13 are typically between 5 and 15. Practical work makes excellent use of the school’s wide variety of university level equipment and students are entered for a range of national competitions. There are systematic programmes in place to help prepare students for Veterinary/Medicine/Dentistry courses as well as for Oxbridge entry. For the Sixth Form, we recommended a minimum of grade 7 at GCSE level to embark on any of the Science courses, ideally alongside a 7 grade in Mathematics. Dual award students will need to achieve at least a 7-7 grade to move onto A level sciences.
