Science
The Science Faculty comprises Biology, Chemistry and Physics Departments, each working under their own Head, but co-operating freely and frequently through the Head of Science. The teaching staff are supported by a team of Laboratory Assistants. There are twelve laboratories and one lecture / demonstration room. All three subjects are well-equipped for practical work and stimulating teaching at all levels. A new Science building is scheduled to be completed by September 2007. It will contain state-of-the-art accommodation that will include 14 teaching laboratories, a 120-seat lecture theatre, a research laboratory and a purposebuilt ICT facilities.
In the Lower 4th year, Science is taught as a combined subject; thereafter all pupils are taught Biology, Chemistry and Physics separately until their GCSE examinations. The programmes of study follow that of the National Curriculum. Thus pupils are prepared for exams in Double Award Science qualification leading to qualification in two GCSE’s. The Science Faculty also selects a small number of pupils to take exams in Separate Sciences leading to three GCSEs.
At Sixth Form level, all three sciences are a very popular choice. A large proportion of the students in the school study each of the three sciences for both AS and A2 qualifications modular specifications and a healthy number of individuals follow their interest in Science at universities and beyond.
In addition to many extra-curricular activities run jointly with King’s High School such as trips and British Association of Young Scientists lectures, Warwick School is part of a national collaborative programme entitled Science for the 21st Century Initiative (SCI) which engages sixth formers in cutting-edge experimental research at a level undertaken by postgraduates at universities. This scheme allows students to experience the joy of first-hand discoveries in scientific disciplines. The school’s commitment to this programme will be reflected in the new Science Faculty that will include a unique facility for this purpose – a dedicated research laboratory equipped to the high standards that will enable this innovative activity to continue to flourish. Within the SCI, post-16 students also engage in publishing a national science review journal entitled N-Lighten as well as organizing a national biennial conference, Showcase Science, for students, academia, and industry. The most recent of these events was hosted by Warwick School at which there were over 900 student and teacher delegates.
