Science
Welcome to Science at Brighton College
In this section, you will find a guide to our aims and philosophy, together with summaries of the work covered from the 3rd Form to GCSE. Because science is taught in it's respective subject areas of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, more detailed information about the staff, structure of the course etc can be found in those respective department areas.
If you would like to contact Science, this should be done via the Head of Department Damian King, at dking@brightoncollege.net
Aims and Philosophy
Science is a vital part of our culture. Like any lasting piece of art, music or literature, it compels us to reassess our place in the universe-to question where we come from, and where we are going. As such, we try to convey to the pupils a sense of scientific methodology along with the philosophies of Popper and allow them to engage in the shared motivation and drive that have propelled us from Galileo's first sight of Jupiter's moons, to the Hubble Space Telescope's intimate vision of deep space, to our exploration of the unknown possibilities of existence.
How it is taught
Throughout the school, Science is taught as Physics, Chemistry or Biology, by subject specialists. Science is a ‘core' subject and therefore all pupils study Biology, Chemistry and Physics until the end of their GCSEs. Many pupils then choose to continue to study those individual subjects into A level. At present we have over 300 pupils studying sciences in the 6th form.
Science encompasses the largest Department in the College, with the largest number of rooms and the largest budget and as such is the foremost department in the school.
3rd Form
In the 3rd form, pupils will be taught Science in one double lesson per subject. These lessons are aimed to enthuse and instil a scientific way of thinking. To this end we have included the teaching of CASE throughout all Science subject areas.
GCSE
From 4th form to U5th, pupils work towards AQA GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics and are taught all three sciences in the same teaching sets. Setting arrangements and any issues of co-ordination between the three sciences are managed by the Head of Science.
All pupils will be taught together in the 4th form and then the Science Department, in close consultation with parents, will decide who is best served by taking a double award, and who is best served by taking individual sciences. The pupils will then be re-set into groups appropriate to the course they will follow.
Whichever course is decided upon, each pupil will be taught Science in 3 lessons per subject per week (totalling 9 science lessons per week.) This means that taking individual sciences will not reduce the number of other options they have available to them.
One of those options will be "Further Science" which is aimed at those who either; prefer Science to any other option or those who know that they will study Science at AS/A2 level and want to broaden their scientific understanding. It is a course which will include the interesting theories and practicals which has been removed from the GCSE course over the last few years and should prove invaluable for the potential "Oxbridge Scientist." It will be an examined course potentially leading to an IGCSE qualification.
All science AS's will be available to pupils whichever GCSE course they end up studying.
If at the end of 4th Form it is decided that some pupils are struggling to cope with the rigours of the Science GCSE, then the Science Department, in close consultation with parents, can suggest studying for just 1 GCSE in "Science" (module 1) and those pupils will have an additional option elsewhere.
GCSE Module Exam Structure
A Level
In L6th, pupils have a free choice of Science subjects. Each is taught for 8 lessons per week. See the respective department areas for more detail.