Science

The Science Department comprises a team of dedicated teachers who love their subjects and communicate them effectively. The students learn about and develop skills in science as they move up the school and the mixed programme and extracurricular activities available are designed to inspire as broad a cross section of the community as possible. We aim for scientific literacy for all with all abilities enjoying and feeling that they 'can do' science. We also aim to create future scientists who can take up careers in pure science or science based professions or bring highly sought after skills into other fields.

Subject specialists teach Biology, Chemistry and Physics separately, from Years 7 to 13. Over half of the Sixth Form choose to study one or more science subjects at AS and A Level as a precursor to university study in such areas as Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry, Pharmacy, Engineering and Pure Sciences.

At GCSE, most girls study three Separate Sciences, and some girls study Combined Science: Double Award . The school currently uses the AQA specification but is phasing in Edexcel IGCSE.The development of thinking skills is a high priority in every Science lesson.Notebook computers, software and sensors enable the use of data logging in carrying out investigations. Girls in Years 7–13 may attend a group working towards Crest Awards and Nuffield bursaries.Girls in Years 7-9 may attend Lower School Science Club. There are lectures either in school or outside that can broaden the experience of the senior girls and there is a Health Issues course in the 6th form.

BIOLOGY

There are three modern and fully equipped Biology laboratories. Biology is taught as a separate science throughout the Senior School by a team of specialist teachers.The emphasis in Lower School is to provide the girls with opportunities to acquire the practical skills and scientific techniques needed to underpin the work that they will encounter at GCSE. Pupils are encouraged to develop their thinking skills, through use of the school's Thinking Skills programme.

The use of ICT is encouraged, at all levels, to support learning. During Year 8, an ecological investigation is undertaken at Amersham Field Study Centre. For GCSE, pupils can choose to study Biology as either a Separate Science, or as part of Double Award Combined Science currently using the AQA syllabus, but changing to IGCSE in September 2011. At Advanced Level, the girls study the WJEC syllabus, which provides an excellent foundation to support the further study of biological courses at university.

There is a practical internal assessment, which involves one assessment in each year of the Sixth Form. Fieldwork is undertaken during Year 12 at Amersham Field Centre. Biology is a very popular A level and most girls continue to study it for A2, with a view to going on to study a medical course, of some kind, at university.

Biology Department extra curricular activities:

• Students can take part in Biology activities in either the Lower School Science Club or Crest Award sessions which may include applications for Nuffield Bursaries.
• Pupils in Year 9 and 10 have the opportunity of participating in the Biology Challenge competition.Sixth Form pupils have the opportunity of participating in the Biology Olympiad.

In Chemistry we look for patterns in chemical behaviour, we work out the composition and structure of materials, we learn to control chemical changes and through all this we develop new skills and are able to link theories to experiments. We learn to enjoy and take an interest in Chemistry, recognising its value to society. Some facts about the department include the following;

• There are three fully equipped Chemistry laboratories and two dedicated technicians.
• Subject specialists teach Chemistry as a separate science from Year 7.The courses in Years 7 to 9 have a large emphasis on learning through practical work, the content is based upon, but goes beyond, the National Curriculum.
• Students are given many opportunities to develop their ICT skills and, when appropriate, lessons can take place in an ICT suite.
• Chemistry is an extremely popular A level subject and there are large numbers of students taking this subject in Years 12 and 13. We follow the OCR specification and through it students develop their interest in, and enthusiasm for chemistry, including developing an interest in further study and careers in chemistry and related subjects;
• For GCSE, pupils can choose to study Chemistry as either a Separate Science, or as part of Double Award Combined Science currently using the AQA syllabus, but changing to IGCSE in September 2011.

Chemistry Department extra curricular activities:

Students can take part in Chemistry activities in either the Lower School Science Club or Crest Award sessions. At regular intervals there are visits or lectures as appropriate opportunities present themselves. The Sixth Form can take part in Chemistry Online Challenges or the Chemistry Olympiad. They may also have the opportunity to apply for Nuffield Bursaries.

PHYSICS

The Physics department is staffed by three Physics teachers and one technician. There are two modern laboratories and one dedicated teaching room.We consider the development of pupil practical skills crucial to the enjoyment of learning Physics and the department is very well resourced with equipment for investigations into topics such as heat, light, sound, electricity, forces, motion, radioactivity including the use of data-logging probes and motion sensors.

All the classic Sixth Form  standard experiments are also available.Focusing on everyday applications of the principles of Physics stimulates interest. Experienced teachers ensure that Physics is accessible to everyone by placing it in context. We are proud of the fact that a very healthy number of girls opt for Physics (AQA) at AS and A2 each year in relation to the size of Northwood College. In year 13, pupils take either the Medical Physics topic or the Astrophysics topic, as well as the practical examination.

Physics specialists teach all pupils in years 7 to 11. The current Year 11 use the AQA GCSE course but Physics IGCSE is being phased in. In both cases the option of either Physics as a separate GCSE or combined with Biology and Chemistry as a double award GCSE can be followed.In Years 7 to 9 the courses are based upon, but go beyond, the National Curriculum.

Physics Department extra curricular activities:

• The Physics Department organises several trips, including to the Royal Institution and the National Space Centre.
• Students can take part in Physics activities in either the Lower School Science Club or Crest Award sessions.
• The Department has helped pupils organise summer school activities between Years 12 and 13. Examples include the "Headstart" engineering courses at university and Nuffield bursary work experience placements. The Year 12 students take part in the Physics Olympiad competition.

Useful Physics websites

Girls in Years 7, 8 and 9 have the opportunity to attend Junior Science Club in the Autumn and Spring terms. As well as having an enjoyable time the girls develop their practical skills and learn some of the theory behind each experiment. Activities can be incredibly varied and we are always looking for new ideas. Possibilities include; how to make invisible ink, making mini lava lamps, making and flying paper "rotocopters" and chemical magic.

Extra Curricular – Crest Awards

CREST (CREativity in Science And Technology) awards have run at Northwood College over a period of years. The Awards are at three levels, Bronze (Y7 to 9), Silver (Y9 to 11) and Gold (12 to undergraduate). Gifted and talented pupils can enter these awards earlier if appropriate.

In school, we offer girls the opportunity to participate at Bronze and Silver level (roughly equivalent to doing a scientific topic to about GCSE and A level respectively). The Gold level awards (roughly undergraduate degree level) have traditionally been competed for under the Nuffield Bursaries scheme. Some of our very best young scientists have been awarded these for the past 5 years.

NUFFIELD BURSARIES are granted by the Nuffield Foundation and are awarded to Y12 students who wish to undertake an extended period of work experience in a scientific industry or research establishment. Students have to compete for these Bursaries as only a limited number are available (In 2007 only 800 were awarded nationwide). The Bursaries cover students' expenses to their placement and are awarded as much for academic ability as for scientific enthusiasm. The placement lasts between 4 and 6 weeks and usually takes place during the summer (July and August). Students have the opportunity to combine their Bursary with a Gold CREST Award.

Students achieving their Gold Awards through Northwood College include:

Esha Abrol ( Mount Vernon Hospital; Breast Cancer research )

Guari Vithlani (Harefield Hospital/Imperial College, London; cell culture media)

Puja Shah (University of Hertfordshire, flight simulator development)

Dipali Amin (University of Hertfordshire, modelling with differential equations)

Helena Wong (GlaxoSmithCline; phospholipid accumulation in cells)

Extra Curricular – Health Issues

This two-term course is part of the Sixth Form complementary studies programme. Each week in the Autumn Term speakers are invited into school to speak about different careers in the Health Service. Examples of the talks given have included a general medical practitioner, a dental surgeon, an optometrist, a pharmacist, a haematologist, a psychiatrist and a physiotherapist. During the Spring term those pupils wanting to study medicine and dentistry are involved in a specially designed programme involving interview practice and consideration of ethical issues associated with health care.