What is Science at Brentside?
Smells, bangs and noises ... but also a course that is split up into bite-size chunks.

In Year 7: each chunk helps students to answer exciting questions. For example, in "Cells," students learn that the body is made up of cells, and look at cells under a microscope. In "Acids and Alkalis" students get the chance to test everyday foods and materials to see if they are acids or alkalis.

In Year 8: there are more exciting topics. In "Heating and Cooling", for example, students learn about why objects get hotter or colder, and how energy is transferred.

in Year 9: time is taken to revise important ideas from the last two years to help students to do well in the SAT examinations. There are also some new and fascinating topics. In "Gravity and Space," for example, students learn about the universe around us.

Students are tested regularly and these assessments help us to decide on the best class for students to be in. Students who demonstrate very high ability in Science are taught in Set 1. They are given encouragement and stimulus to enable them to achieve the highest grades.

In Year 10: students start to work towards their GCSE in Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics). This is assessed through coursework and in exams which students sit during and at the end of the course. There are regular exam-style tests to help students get used to these questions. However, it's not all exam questions. Students learn about some of the "Big Ideas" of Science, such as Evolution and The Big Bang. These theories are debated and discussed and students are asked to make up their own mind. The work in Years 10 and 11 builds on the work done in previous years and there will be lots of new ideas presented and explained in topics which were studied in Years 7, 8 and 9. Most students take Double Certificate Science which gives them two GCSE passes.

In our Sixth Form: many of our students stay on to study Science after GCSE. We offer several courses.

There is a one year GNVQ Intermediate Science course which teaches Science through its everyday uses.

The one year AS and two year A2 ('A' level) courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics are taught by specialists in these areas and are taken by large numbers of students, many of whom then take Science and Science-related degrees at University.

This year Brentside students have embarked on degree courses in Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College, London, and Biochemical Sciences at Kings College, London.