Our Vision
The Science department at Strangford Integrated College aims to provide a broad and balanced curriculum suited to the interests and needs of all our students. We endeavour to develop skills and capabilities to help our students grow into successful adults capable of making informed choices and having the potential to make a valuable contribution to the world of work and society in general.
Staff: Mr McLean (Acting Head of Department); Mr McGonnell; Ms Van der Schyff; Miss Morrison, Ms Brine, Mr Thompson, Mr Lamont and Mrs Andrews.
Key Stage 3
During Key Stage 3 students build on their scientific knowledge and understanding and make connections between different areas of Science. They use scientific ideas and models to explain phenomena and events, and to understand a range of familiar applications of Science. Key stage 3 Science aims to stimulate students’ curiosity and enthusiasm and to develop a sense of wonder in Science. Students are given the opportunity to develop skills in scientific methods as well as learning how to problem solve and work as part of a team.
In Year 8, students study a number of topics throughout the year including Being a Good Scientist, Living Things, Separating Mixtures, Human Reproduction and Forces.
In Year 9, students further develop their scientific skills and subject knowledge. They study topics related to Biology, Chemistry and Physics which include Food and Digestion, Electricity, Heart and Lungs and Energy.
In Year 10, students are prepared for GCSE with particular attention given to how to carry out and write up investigations, analyse the results, and evaluate their work. They continue to study Biology, Chemistry and Physics as separate courses through related topics such as Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum, Waves and Sound, Inheritance and Selection, Body Systems, Sustainable Development and Patterns of Reactivity. The aim is to give a better grounding in each strand of Science to prepare for the transition to GCSE
Key stage 4
At GCSE students are given the option to choose a Science course which best suits their needs and interests. The options available include CCEA Single Award Science, CCEA Separate Sciences (Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics) or OCN Level two Applied Science. The CCEA courses each comprise of external exams available at both higher and foundation level and coursework, while the OCN course is 100% assignment based.
Within all of these courses students develop their scientific skills and are helped to become scientifically literate individuals prepared for the world of work within the scientific community or post 16 Science study.
Key stage 5
A-level students can study Biology, Physics, or Chemistry. It is important to have studied the appropriate GCSE Separate Science in order to enrol on these courses. We also have the choice of LIfe and Health Sciences as a KS5 course, giving a wider experience of science at this level. At this stage, students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and become independent life-long learners.
Extra-Curricular Visits and trips
We are excited this year to reintroduce a Science club to take place after school, primarily aimed at junior school students, we will carry out experiments and investigations, working to expand the curriculum and investigate some of the phenomena the pupils are interested in.
The Science department have also taken part in a number of enrichment activities. Over the past few years we have taken Year 8 students on an annual beach clean as part of the shared education programme. On this trip, students are given the opportunity to learn more about their local community and appreciate the importance of recycling and habitat conservation. Both Year 9 and Year 10 students, in collaboration with other local schools, have taken part in workshops aimed at raising their awareness of Science in the real-world. The Science department have embarked on a three-year joint project with Ulster Wildlife to find out more about endangered aquatic animals and explore methods of conservation. Recently we have bought in caterpillars and watched them develop into butterflies, in order for our students to learn more about their life cycle. We have taken our GCSE and A level student’s to local Universities so that they could experience first-hand, University life and explore the courses and facilities on offer.
