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Specialist Science College Status
The Government’s Specialist Schools programme helps schools, in
partnership with private sector sponsors and supported by
additional Government funding, to establish distinctive
identities through their chosen specialisms and achieve their
targets to raise standards. A number of schools in the region
have already achieved their particular specialist status in
Performing Arts, Technology, Sports etc.
Latest Science News
· Schools and businesses join forces and bring science to life
· Problem Solving Activities In A CASE Lesson
Who Benefits From Walmer Science College Achieving Science
College Specialist Status?
· The students at Walmer Science College
· The local community
· And Local business
The Vision
Walmer Science College focuses on science and mathematics.
Science Colleges use their specialist status to create a
challenging environment which raises standards of achievement
and the quality of teaching and learning in science and
mathematics for all their students, leading to further whole
school improvement in performance. Walmer Science College will
provide a centre of excellence in science and mathematical
education. It will be an active contributor to local and
national developments within science and mathematics and will
encourage young people to pursue science and mathematics beyond
16, providing them with appropriate learning pathways so that
they develop the skills needed to be active citizens within an
increasingly scientific world and to progress into employment,
further training and higher education according to their
individual abilities, aptitudes and ambitions. As a Science
College Walmer has established active partners in a learning
society with our local cluster schools and their communities,
sharing resources and disseminating good practice.
The Curriculum
As a specialist school Walmer Science College delivers a broad
and balanced curriculum, meeting the requirements of the
National Curriculum. A special emphasis is placed on science and
mathematics but the whole school improvement aim of the scheme
should benefit all subject areas.
Funding
As a specialist school we are expected to target around one
third of the specialist school recurrent funding on sharing
resources and expertise in the specialist area with partner
schools and the wider community.
Ethos and key characteristics
Walmer Science College seeks to:
· Create a visible scientific ethos that is understood clearly
by students, parents and the community, and which inspires and
motivates.
· Develop a scientifically rich curriculum, that pervades all
aspects of school life and work with the wider community.
· Address the needs of future citizens in a scientific world as
well as those of future scientists, embracing ethical, social,
cultural and moral issues related to science and mathematics.
· Play an active part in local and national developments,
initiatives and competitions relevant to the science and
mathematics, to enrich provision for their own students and
those in their partner schools.
· Develop a rich repertoire of teaching and learning strategies,
including through the imaginative use of ICT, and involvement in
subject associations, industry, local and national developments
and initiatives and competitions relevant to science and
mathematics.
· Work with scientific and related industries to establish high
status vocational courses and work-related opportunities, to
ensure that all students have access to appropriate pathways.
· Active development and encouragement of thinking skills –
research, investigation, methodology, independent thinking,
analysis, reasoning etc.
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Latest Science News
Schools and businesses join forces and bring science to life
Budding year 11, year 12 and year 13 scientists from Walmer
Science College and other local schools got the chance to
experience the Science at Work Workshop at the Lees Cliff Hall,
Folkestone, organised by the EKEBP.
The EKEBP is an enterprise in Kent that aims to bridge the gap
between studies and professions by helping students experience
the world of science first hand.
The workshop at the Lees Cliff Hall took place for the whole day
and was the first one EKEBP have done. Givaudan, Kent & Medway,
the NHS, Magnox South, Setpoint and Pfizer all of whom work
within the field of science held vivid and imaginative
interactive workshops.
Students got the opportunity to learn from the professionals in
the industry and ask them what it is really like. The workshop
was very interactive and allowed the students to do things such
as conduct hearing tests and build a model version of Dungeness
Nuclear Power Station.
The EKEBP are planning to hold even bigger and better events in
the future after the success of the one at the Lees Cliff Hall.
A student from Walmer Science College, who attended the workshop
said:
‘I really enjoyed the day and got to talk to people in the
industry.’
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Problem Solving Activities In A CASE Lesson
Walmer Science College is running a special series of lessons
during science to develop students thinking skills. The project
is called Cognitive Acceleration in Science Education (CASE).
The task is mostly practical, involves group work and discussion
and contains plenty of challenge to develop thinking processes.
Students in Years 7 and 8 have one CASE lesson every two weeks.
Staff are given training in how to deliver the CASE lessons by
one of the course organizers Professor Adey who then observes
lessons and gives advice. Student thinking skills are tested at
the start of the course and at the finish. National research
shows that CASE does lead to better performance by students
including in examinations. We patiently wait to see if this is
true for Walmer Science College.
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