Report from Sherburn High School, Leeds
Rosemary Dunnill writes
This year we've been doing GCSE Science, Separate Sciences, and Entry Level in year 10. Next year, year 10 will do the same.
Those doing Separate Sciences will continue with this in year 11. Those who did GCSE Science will do either Additional Science (high ability) or Applied Science (middle ability). Those who did Entry Level in year 10 will do Applied Science in year 11.
GCSE Science is interesting, relevant, and really stretches high ability students as well as giving them as much or more knowledge and understanding of the topics covered. It's different and more like the sort of thing students have been studying in other subject areas (such as uses of sources of information). Students really enjoyed the case study.
We've always done Entry Level with students who need this, and find that this version is better resourced.
Challenges? Lower ability students struggle with the ideas about science, possibly lacking maturity to discuss ethics. It would be better if there were more practical work in GCSE Science (yes if we taught Additional Science in parallel it would solve this, but we haven't yet had time for the careful planning needed).
What next? We offer A-levels in all three sciences, and hope the increased interest in top groups will lead to increased uptake.
