Science at Spa Bermondsey
Science at Spa Bermondsey focuses on encouraging pupils to explore their environment, to ask questions and to think critically. It is used to help students synthesise their learning, and to consolidate their learning from other subjects in a different context.
Science is used to develop students understanding of cause and effect, descriptions of events, categorising, classifying and explanation. Through Science, pupils will practice their communication and interaction skills, both as individuals and within a group. Additionally, Science is used in a practical way to explore ideas necessary for independence, such as care for the environment, personal health and hygiene, food safety and electrical safety. Science topics are drawn from all three strands of the secondary national curriculum – Biology, Physics and Chemistry.
All students studying science have access to a specialist science laboratory with appropriate facilities.
In Key Stage 3, students will learn how to transition safely to a specialist subject room, and how to keep themselves safe in this environment through correct use of PPE, care of equipment and good personal hygiene. Students will follow verbal and visuals instructions to carry out investigations and practice using a variety of communication methods to describe what they have found out. They will practice turn taking, sharing and group work with scientific equipment. Students will begin to use what they already know and understand to make predictions about new ideas or situations, and comment on whether or not outcomes were expected. Science in Key Stage 3 also focuses on joint and shared attention skills, using “Bucket Time” activities to build towards watching demonstrations and carrying out investigations with increasing independence.
In Key Stage 4, pupils will consolidate their understanding of scientific thinking and independence skills developed in Key Stage 3. They will follow increasingly complex schedules, use tick-lists to collect necessary equipment and comment on their observations in more detail. They will carry out investigations with consideration of, and reference to, scientific ideas such as hypothesis, variables and reliability of results. They will compare before and after, or larger and smaller and other such concepts, recognising that actions can affect outcomes. They will draw conclusions about what they have found out in order to develop their ability to generalise. Students will practice and apply scientific knowledge in the context of life skills, leisure and independent living, making use of the community, the school environment and the school house flat.
Students in Key Stage 4 who can access the learning have the opportunity to complete units towards Entry-level accreditation through WJEC Science Today.
In Key Stage 5, pupils are able to select science as an Option. Here they will complete accreditation towards ASDAN short course qualifications in science.
In each lesson, pupils will have a learning objective that focuses on the scientific knowledge or skill being taught through that unit. Objectives build on one another as the unit progresses, with lots of opportunities for overlearning, application and revisitation of prior understanding. In addition, pupils have the opportunity to make progress against EHC outcomes, particularly those around communication, independence and emotional health.
All pupils have the opportunity to experience life cycles through the Living Eggs scheme, and enjoy visits from animal expert Ranger Stu and trips to local sites such as Surrey Docks Farm.
