Science
Aims
- To help pupils appreciate the power and beauty of science and its place in modern culture
- To give all pupils the broad scientific education needed for them become informed and thoughtful citizens in a society permeated by the ideas and applications of science
- To make available to all pupils a rigorous and specialist education in the various sciences
- To encourage the skills of critical thinking and problem solving
These aims inform the structure of Science education at the RGS.
Boys in the first two years follow an integrated science course which seeks to present both the unity and the
diversity of the scientific enterprise. Classes are taught by two teachers with complementary specialisms; for some lessons they are team-taught by both which is particularly helpful in teaching young pupils effective and safe laboratory technique and can also be exploited to expose the class to scientific dialogue.
All boys from the third to the fifth year are taught Biology, Chemistry and Physics as separate sciences by specialist teachers, leading to the Edexcel IGCSE examinations. We regard these as well suited to our academically able pupils and together they provide a rounded science education.
In the sixth form we offer separate A levels in the three sciences and also in Electronics. Uptake is very high and a large number of RGS students go on to study Science, Medicine or Engineering at university.
Parents and pupils can access further information and learning resources from the RGS intranet.