Girls joining the school in Year 7 are taught Science as an integrated subject. The course has been specifically designed to encourage the girls to develop practical skills and to work safely and competently in a laboratory and also to have fun.
In Year 8 and 9 the girls study Biology, Physics and Chemistry as separate subjects. Schemes of work are based around the National Curriculum at Key Stage 3 but opportunity is taken to cover GCSE work where appropriate.
The department is strongly committed to the separate sciences and at GCSE level girls can choose to study one, two or three sciences. The AQA separate science specifications are followed. A Foundation Science Course is also available at A level sciences have been a popular choice, with girls typically continuing onto University courses such as Natural and Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacy, Medicine, Veterinary, Food Science and Chemistry.
The science department occupies a modern purpose built building. There are 6 laboratories a resource/tutorial room and a large extremely well equipped preparation room. All the laboratories have interactive whiteboards and/or digital projectors. There is also a pond in the science department grounds which is used for ecological studies
The teaching staff are highly qualified and committed
The science department organizes many activities during the year and in National Science week. These include for the current academic year
Latest News
Who would want Ms Ditall dead?
That question was uppermost in the minds of all those attending a recent buffet in aid of Operation Wallacea when the pleasant evening’s food and entertainment was brought to a shuddering halt by frantic screams and pounding of feet as the Year 9s ran in to inform everyone that the amiable but ineffective, and completely fictitious housemistress had been found ‘strangled to death’ in the Rouge Corridor.
Luckily, a crack team from ‘Blackwater Laboratories’ was on hand to take command of the forensic analysis, sift through evidence, and bring the perpetrator to justice. Dr Vincent Blackwater (AKA Mr Sanders, Head of Science, enjoying the event hugely) led the scientists, chiefly consisting of parents and Sixth Form students through the arduous tasks of forensic analysis. This involved blood-type examination, identification of clothing fibres, unearthing mysterious footprints and recording fingerprints from an old lacrosse trophy.
Once all the evidence was sifted, sorted and deemed reliable, the forensic team went into conference to discuss the matter. Nervously awaiting the outcome of their deliberations were the four invented suspects: Miss Magdelaine Welshe, English teacher; Miss Millicent Redeswell, School librarian; Dr Alvar MacTaggart, ex-wrestler turned biology teacher and Gertrude Poleaxe, lacrosse coach. Dr MacTaggart paled visibly as he realised that much of the evidence pointed to him. The evidence files have since been handed over to ‘the police’ and it is now their job to decide upon means, motive and opportunity.
A very enjoyable evening was had by all; thanks must go to the members of real teaching staff who allowed their caricatures to be used to provide faces for the suspects and for the Sixth Form Operation Wallacea girls for organising the evening. Thanks also of course to the catering staff for putting on such a wonderful buffet.
Dr Blackwater and his team of forensic scientists plan to be back next year to solve a new case in the Casterton Mysteries series.
Trip to CERN
The 6th form Physicists returned from their Geneva trip inspired and ready for exams after spending three days in the Swiss Alp-bound city.
They visited the very heart of the Physics world, CERN, which is home to the Centre for Nuclear Experimental Research and includes the LHC, the largest, most complex and expensive machine mankind has ever built. Here, they toured around the world’s largest particle accelerators and ate lunch amongst Nobel Prize winners!
In a world where science and politics need to work hand in hand in order for society to move forwards and improve, the girls also went to the United Nations headquarters buildings where they saw many of its magnificent conference rooms and were able to sit in the very seats used by major world powers.
The rest of the trip included experiencing some Geneva city culture and going round interesting museums. All the students were, as always, a great credit to Casterton School.
Let’s hope we may have a Nobel Prize winner or a world leader from Casterton in the future!
