Curriculum - Science

'Facts are not science - as the dictionary is not literature'.  Martin H. Fischer

The Hall School Science department offers three modern and well-equipped laboratories and in addition a full time technician enabling the department to focus as much as possible on learning through investigation and experimentation. All members of the department are specialist Science teachers who are passionate about Science education. Pupils are encouraged to develop a body of knowledge and skills to facilitate them gaining entry to their senior schools, but above all at The Hall our aim is for the pupils to enjoy their science and through this hopefully develop a life long interest in science.

A quality Science education is an essential component of the modern citizen. The pupils at The Hall School will need to be able to navigate an increasingly scientific world and a solid scientific education it is a vital part of making informed judgments about every aspect of their lives, be it issues to do with the environment or matters of personal health. To be able to apply the scientific method and think logically and rationally is of paramount importance.

At The Hall we believe that the boys learn best by doing and as it is often said ‘Theory guides; Experiment decides.’ With this in mind, the structure of the curriculum at The Hall enables, as much practical work as possible. In the Junior School, pupils are encouraged to learn through investigation work. Topics covered include health and growth, grouping & classifying materials, forces and motion, using electricity, and plants and animals in the local environment. All pupils in year 4 to year 8 use dedicated laboratory facilities preparing for CE and Scholarship examinations and are encouraged through this time to strive to use accurate scientific language and knowledge, and be comfortable in its use in discussion, written reports and presentations. Throughout the teaching of these topics pupils are encouraged to investigate and gather evidence about the scientific world which surrounds them looking for the connection between the theories they are learning and what the experience in their every day lives.

As the pupils progress through the school the fundamental skills of how to safely and effectively conduct fair practical investigations, complete scientific write-ups, draw tables and charts and draw conclusion based on scientific ideas encountered during their studies and evidence obtained from experimentation are starting to be developed. Over their time in the middle and senior schools, these ideas are reinforced and built on using content drawn from the ISEB syllabus covering the sciences of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Some of the units covered over this period include classifying materials, changing materials, patterns of behaviour and energy resources and energy transfer.

The science curriculum is also enriched with various visits throughout the year to different scientifically interesting institutions and centers, we also run a successful science club offering the pupils the opportunity to investigate phenomena and continue to develop their love for the subject outside of the formal classroom setting. The pupils are also encourage to read scientific publications and our library is stocked with books from the world’s greatest science writers. Pupils are also encourage to use the latest technology during experiments and reporting of their work.

'Imagination is more important than knowledge'.
Albert Einstein