Welcome to Science

The transition from Primary to Secondary school can be a daunting prospect for many.  Here in the Science Department we want to make it a fun and exciting experience.  We teach science in a real laboratory kitted out with state-of-the-art equipment. From microscopes to Bunsen burners, data loggers to a variety of testing kits and much more. Where else would you get to make slime, carry out investigations using different chemicals, plan group projects, compete in egg drop competitions and even dissect a rat!?

This is just a snapshot of some of the things we do within the department.  We are an exciting, innovating team of professionals who are always ready for new challenges.  We have excellent relationships with our pupils, many of whom go on to study a science in university.  Captivating young minds with the delivery of science is our priority.

Science explains so many things. From how the body works to how medicine is made. From how lights work to the environment and space exploration. The list goes on.

Science has always been a major area in which there are many new jobs and new developments.

We are part of a STEM group and have been collaborating with Mr Tom Lavery who works with the Royal society of Engineering.  Our fantastic pupils have a STEM team who are the undefeated champions in the Robotics competition for the past two years and we were the first school in Northern Ireland to acquire our own Robot, ‘Percy’.

 

Staff

Miss M Dowds – Head of Department

Mr A Hodge – Vice Principal

Mrs L Hodge – Biology / Year 10 Head of Year

Mrs A Thompson – Biology

Mrs S Sames – Chemistry / Year 11 Head of Year

Miss D Hanna – Biology

Dr J Williamson – Biology

Mr A Gault – Science, Science shack & STEM lead teacher

 

 

What do each of our Key stages look like?

Key Stage 3:

In Years 8 – 10 pupils study a range of topics from the three Science disciplines. The Key Stage 3 curriculum has been designed to allow pupils to experience a wide range of practical work and group activity.

 

Year 8 Year 9 Year 10
Safety and measurement Gases, elements and compounds
Blood and circulation
Electricity Food and Digestion Heat transfer
Solutions Pollution Acids and alkalis
Cells Earth and Space Micro-organisms

 

Forces and Energy Reproduction Light
Environment Materials Chemical reactions
Heart start Sound Investigating reactivity
Investigations Introduction to Horticulture Electricity 2

GCSE

In Glengormley High School we offer four courses to our Key Stage 4 students:

  • GCSE Double Award Science (CCEA)
The specification has seven units:

  • Biology Unit B1: Cells, Living Processes and Biodiversity
  • Chemistry Unit C1: Structures, Trends, Chemical Reactions, Quantitative Chemistry and Analysis
  • Physics Unit P1: Motion, Force, Moments, Energy, Density, Kinetic Theory, Radioactivity, Nuclear Fission and Fusion
  • Biology Unit B2: Body Systems, Genetics, Microorganisms and Health
  • Chemistry Unit C2: Further Chemical Reactions, Rates and Equilibrium, Calculations and Organic Chemistry
  • Physics Unit P2: Waves, Light, Electricity, Magnetism, Electromagnetism and Space Physics
  • Unit 7: Practical Skills.
  • GCSE Single Award Science (CCEA)

The specification has four units:

  • Unit 1: Biology
  • Unit 2: Chemistry
  • Unit 3: Physics
  • Unit 4: Practical Skills.

 

  • Horticulture

Unit 22: Growing Food from Seeds
Unit 23: Growing Bulbs for Gifts
Unit 24: Hanging Baskets and Containers

The CCEA website contains specifications, past examination papers and exam time tables and can be accessed by clicking http://www.rewardinglearning.org.uk/

 

  • OCN NI Science

These qualifications are for learners interested in applied science but who have not studied or achieved a GCSE in this area. They are intended to give learners the knowledge, understanding and skills that will enable them to progress to further learning or training in a science related area. They build upon the Northern Ireland Curriculum and meet the requirements of the Key Stage 4 Entitlement Framework.

These qualifications will allow learners to further develop the following skills:

  • Cross-Curricular Skills:
     communication
     using maths
     using ICT

 

  • Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities:
     self-management
     working with others
     problem solving

https://www.ocnni.org.uk/media/3458/specification-ocn-ni-l2-certificate-extended-certificate-in-applied-science.pdf

 

 

We currently offer the following A levels:

  • A-level Biology (CCEA)

The specification has six units:

  • Unit AS 1: Molecules and Cells
  • Unit AS 2: Organisms and Biodiversity
  • Unit AS 3: Practical Skills in AS Biology
  • Unit A2 1: Physiology, Co-ordination and Control, and Ecosystems
  • Unit A2 2: Biochemistry, Genetics and Evolutionary Trends
  • Unit A2 3: Practical Skills in Biology.

https://ccea.org.uk/downloads/docs/Specifications/GCE/GCE%20Biology%20%282016%29/GCE%20Biology%20%282016%29-specification-Standard.pdf

 

  • A-Level Life and Health Science (CCEA)

For a full GCE Single Award qualification students must complete six units: three at AS level and three at A2. For a full GCE Double Award qualification 12 units are required: six at AS level and six at A2.

The specification has 16 available units. For details on compulsory and optional units, please see the specification.

Link to Specification

 

Useful sites

The CCEA website contains specifications, past examination papers and exam time tables and can be accessed by clicking http://www.rewardinglearning.org.uk/

Years 11 & 12, simply click on the link below to access the science podcasts and revise whilst you are on the move! http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/audio/

The links below will help you with your revision:

For Key Stage 3 (Years 8-10) http://bbc.co.uk/schools/revision/

For Key Stage 4 (Years 11 & 12) http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/

For AS & A2 Level (Years 13 & 14) http://www.s-cool.co.uk

 

Percy in action

 

Careers in Science

Biology jobs…………………..

Aerobiologist

Agricultural scientist

Archaeologist

Bioinformatician

Biology researcher

Biomechanics engineer

Biomedical engineer

Biomedical researcher

Biomedical scientist

Biophysicist

Biostatistician

Biotechnologist

Botanist

Cell biologist

Conservationist

Cryobiologist

Cytologist

Data analyst

Data scientist

Earth scientist

Ecologist

Ecotoxicologist

Embryologist

Endocrinologist

Entomologist

Forensic psychologist

Forensic scientist

Gene analyst/geneticist

Genomics researcher

Immunologist

Marine biologist

Microbiologist

Molecular biologist

Mycologist

Oceanographer

Pathologist

Pharmacologist

Pharmacist

Toxicologist

Veterinarian

Virologist

Zoologist

 

Chemistry Jobs

Analytical chemist

Biochemist

Chemical engineer

Chemical health and safety regulator

Cheminformatics

Cosmetic chemist

Crystallographer

Food technologist

Forensic scientist

Geochemist

Hazardous waste chemist

Immunologist

Laboratory Analyst

Manufacturing chemist

Materials engineer

Organic/Inorganic chemist

Pharmacologist

Pharmacist

Process chemist

Product developer

Researcher

Toxicologist

Quantum chemist

Water chemist

Water quality scientist

Physics

Physics is known as the ‘fundamental science’. It’s like learning about every science in one.

Aerospace engineer

Acoustician

Applied mathematician

Astronomer

Atomic physicist

Architect

Astrophysicist

Biophysicist

Chemical physicist

Civil engineer

Computational physicist

Cosmologist

Cryophysicist

Data analyst

Data scientist

Electrical engineer

Electromagnetic physicist

Fluid dynamics/mechanics physicist

Geophysicist

High energy physicist

High pressure physicist

Laser physicist

Mechanical physicist

Meteorologist

Molecular physicist

Nanotechnologist

Nuclear technician

Nuclear physicist

Nuclear scientist

Optical physicist

Particle physicist

Patent analyst

Plasma physicist

Quantum physicist

Researcher

Roboticist

Telecommunications technologist

Theoretical physicist

Thermodynamics physicist

X-ray analysis technician

Health

Health and science make a great pair. To become a doctor or a nurse, you’ll need an in-depth understanding of biology – but that’s not where the connections end. You can add in almost any other type of science to create a cool scientific career in health. Like computer science? Consider bioinformatics.

Medical science jobs

Bioinformatician

Biomedical engineer

Biomedical researcher

Biomedical scientist

Biophysicist

Biostatistician

Data analyst

Data scientist

Dietician

Doctor

Kinesiologist

Neurologist

Neuroscientist

Nurse

Occupational therapist

Osteopath

Pharmacist

Pharmacy technician

Pharmacologist

Physiologist

Physiotherapist

Psychiatrist

Speech pathologist

Sport scientist

Sport psychologist

Surgeon

Veterinarian

Unconventional career ideas

Are your future ambitions outside the mould of traditional careers? Here are some alternative options that fuse together science with other areas for a unique career.

 

Unconventional science jobs

Activist

Educator

Entrepreneur

Fireworks chemist

Policy advisor

Politician

Sales representative

Science communicator

Scientific illustrator

Space psychologist

Volcanologist