The Science staff make learning stimulating, meaningful and relevant to our world. We encourage children to be curious, developing their questioning skills, perseverance, co-operation and open-mindedness, and plan thoughtful, challenging lessons. We use quality resources to enhance their learning experience and practical activities are an integral part of teaching.
The Science department is housed in three large, modern, fully equipped science laboratories, all with interactive LCD screens. Specialist science teachers teach children in these facilities from Year 4. The department follows the National Curriculum and Common Entrance syllabus to guide our planning, ensuring the progression of knowledge, understanding and practical skills. We aim to make lessons inspiring so that our own excitement and passion for science is communicated to the pupils. This stays with them so that they leave Beaudesert with a lasting interest in science.
Ecological Studies with our resident Ecologist further enriches the curriculum, taking advantage of our extensive school grounds and Minchinhampton Common – a Site of Special Scientific Interest on our doorstep. We also organize a range of trips and visitors, take part in interschool competitions and celebrate the annual British Science week with special activities.
We encourage reading about science, discussions at home (especially when a science event receives media coverage), and the use of the internet with supervision. There are so many good websites available but it is important children know how to ‘search’ effectively. By entering the topic into a search engine followed by “KS2’ for Years 3 to 5, and ‘KS3’ for Years 6 to 8, relevant websites should be found more easily.
The following web addresses are just a small example of the useful, educational and fun material available.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/terrificscientific
The BBC website includes lots of resources where topics are covered with games and quizzes.
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/
The website for the Science Museum in London. This site includes information on the museum’s research and educational resources, its different collections and galleries, the current exhibitions and events, as well as links to other museums and related places to visit on the web.
www.planet-science.com/
Designed to stimulate the imagination about science and technology. This site has an under 11 years section and an over 11 years section.
www.nasa.gov/
The NASA homepage for space science enthusiasts.
www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/
The county’s leading conservation charity dedicated to wildlife.
