About the Department
At Royal Liberty we have six experienced science teachers who teach in six fully equipped science labs. These are being refreshed and refurbished as part of our building works.
Science plays such a large part in the world around us, so from the very first lessons in year seven we aim to provide students with a hands on and immersive experience in science, where they can relate scientific theory to everyday life, through practical experiments and a vast range of activities.
What will your son learn in year seven?
We begin the year with an introduction to science, we appreciate that all students will have a different level of scientific ability coming from their respective primary schools, so throughout this we strive to give all students the scientific skills that they need to be successful. This ranges from dispelling the preconception of what a scientist is to the use of scientific apparatus such as bunsen burners and microscopes.
We move onto topics which give the boys a foundation of understanding in science, and build upon what they have . These begin with cells and particles and later move onto bigger concepts such as forces and space.
How can learning progress beyond the classroom?
We have a strong belief in the power of extracurricular opportunities to help your son progress both inside and outside of the classroom.
We offer a weekly science club, in which students can apply what they have learned within the classroom to even more practical applications. Activities undertook here have included rocket making, dissections, the science (and eating of) ice cream and investigations of acid properties.
We also offer frequent opportunities for students to experience the application of science in a range of scenarios. These have included visits to Cambridge University, a trip to the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida (rearranged due to the pandemic), a visit to the Body Worlds exhibition, visits to the Science Live event in London to listen to talks from a range of prominent scientists and visits to the Royal Society science exhibition in London.
We also have great success in competing in a number of scientific competitions both locally and nationally. These have included but are not limited to:
What ambassador opportunities are available to your son?
We are extremely proud of our science ambassador programme. The science ambassadors are a team of twenty key stage three students who have a passion for science. All of these students have taken part in a rigorous selection process where they have demonstrated an aptitude for both learning about science and passing on this knowledge to others.
Throughout the school year, the science ambassadors partake in multiple community local group science roadshows, educating both primary school students and members of the general public. Science ambassadors also lead lessons for primary school students using the Royal Liberty school laboratory facilities. Through the use of hands-on science experiments and demonstrations, the ambassadors aim to enthuse the next generation of scientists, as well as raise the profile of science and the school within the local community. The jewel in the crown of the science ambassadors yearly schedule is Science Week, an annual event consisting of over 500 primary school students visiting The Royal Liberty School and experiencing what it is to carry out scientific investigations. Harry Potter’s potion science was this year’s theme.
