Science College

Hessle High School Science College & Sixth Form

Becoming a Science College in 2003 has allowed us to use our specialist status to create a challenging learning environment. As a result standards of achievement for all our students have improved significantly and this has led to whole school improvement in performance over the last 5 years. The Science Specialism has allowed us to purchase resources to enable us to offer a greater variety of approaches in lessons such as improved ICT facilities. For example the ICT support desk now features a new MAC. This facility will provide greater flexibility for staff and students to upload their entries onto the Federations interactive ‘blog.’

The Science Specialism has enabled us to offer our students more choices across the curriculum. For example at Key Stage 4 we are able to offer GCSE Statistics, Geology, Environmental Science and short courses in PE, ICT and RE. As of September 2010 we will be the lead school in The Consortium for the Social, Health and Development Diploma. At Key Stage 5 we have introduced AS Human Biology and the BTEC National Awards in Forensic Science, Health Studies and PE.

Over the years we have established a strong partnership with the Adult Education Service. In June 2010 this culminated in a STEM Showcase. This was a community event with representatives from the Adult Education Service tutors, Hessle High School teaching staff and Ambassadors from organizations such as BP, HETA, Hull College and the RAF all ‘show casing’ STEM careers.

We continue to financially support GCSE courses in Maths, Meterology, Astronomy and ICT and provide support for Family Activities in the Easter and Summer holidays, all related to STEM subjects. During the course of this academic year the school’s AST has provided coaching opportunities for Adult Education tutors. The impact of this partnership has seen an increase in the number of family activities, the range of events and the number of participants. Plans for September 2010 include the Adult Education Service delivering an A’Level skills transition course for new Year 12 science students.

The Science Specialism has allowed for sustainable cross-curricular links to be established. For example the subjects of Science and Art & Technology naturally overlap. Both are a means of investigation. Both involve ideas, theories, and hypotheses and collaboration between art, science & technology and facilitate the creation of innovative, creative, multidisciplinary initiatives to further enhance the learning opportunities available to students at Hessle High School Science College and 6^th Form, and members of the wider community. Evidence of our art/science cross-curricular projects are visible throughout the school.

As a Science College we provide a centre of excellence in scientific, technological, enterprising and vocational education. We are an active contributor to local and national developments within science and mathematics. For example our Subject Leader for Science and Technology is the IOP Co-Ordinator for Yorkshire & Humberside and regularly presents training seminars. The Director of Specialism is an SSAT Lead Community Practitioner. This role involves providing in-house support and guidance on community cohesion to schools across the East Riding, North East Lincs, Hull City and North Yorkshire.

At Hessle High School Science College and 6^th Form we encourage our students to pursue STEM subjects beyond 16. We do this by providing our students with appropriate learning pathways so that they can develop the skills needed to be active citizens within an increasingly scientific world and progress into employment, further training and higher education according to their individual abilities, aptitudes and ambitions. Furthermore we have six STEM Ambassadors who are working with 10 students as Information and Guidance mentors. These Ambassodors are from a variety of businesses and the impact they have had on students aspirations and achievements has been outstanding.

In addition ‘alternative’ study solutions are provided for our students to raise their aspirations and attainment. For example our annual STEM residential visit to Boggle Hole in North Yorkshire for 25 Year 11 students. This intensive study visit has proved to be hugely successful with students subsequently going onto achieve ‘Gold Standard’ in their GCSE examinations. This model is now being ‘rolled out’ into Year 10 where we intend to emulate the success of this study visit with a 3 day residential to Howarth YHA.>

We are an active partner in the East Riding Consortium of Schools, Hull Schools and the associated local ‘families’ of schools and communities. We frequently share teaching resources and disseminate good practice. For example we have provided teaching resources and training for Hornsea Languages College, Headlands High School, Market Weighton School, Driffield High School and The Snaith School. Similarly we have recently shared teaching resources with King Alfred V in Wantage on the BTEC National Certificate in Health Studies and PE. Further proposals have been made to share teaching staff and learning resources in the future. We are the ‘Lead School’ for the new national pilot Social Enterprise Qualification.

The Science Specialism has allowed us to encourage our students to broaden their scientific knowledge beyond their examined courses, as well as enhancing their educational experience through a variety of activities and trips across all year groups. To enable these extra-curricular activities to go ahead we are fortunate at Hessle High School Science College & 6^th Form to have a committed team of both teaching and support staff who dedicate their own time to running our extra curricular program. Examples of extra-curricular opportunities include -

After School Science and Engineering Clubs

We have an active STEM club for students in Years 7 & 8. This club is for all science students. During their time in the club the students undertake a wide range of activities, some being cross-curricular ones, they are able to go on several trips and have the opportunity to earn the BA Bronze Crest Award.

GCSE Human Biology and Physiology

This is a GCSE course tailored specifically for Gifted and Talented Science students in Year 9. It takes place on a Wednesday after school and provides students with an excellent curriculum enrichment opportunity. The natural progression for students is the AS in Human Biology.

Engineering Education Scheme 2009 – 2010

Since designation every year we have had a team of four students in Year 12 entered for this scheme. The students work with a mentor from industry or academia to solve a real life problem using their Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills. It gives them experience of working in a team to do what real engineers do and they earn the BA Silver or Gold Crest Award for this.

YASS and Open University

As of May 2009 we have been able to offer students the opportunity to undertake STEM modules and short courses through the Open University. These courses can be taken by students to enhance their understanding of their current studies or to allow them to pursue a particular interest outside of their post-16 choices.

Science Community Projects

As a specialist Science College, Hessle High School Science College and 6^th Form strives to create a visible scientific ethos that is understood clearly by students, parents and the community. .

We offer a variety of extra curricular activities in order to share resources and disseminate good practice with our partner schools and local businesses. A great deal has been achieved and we are excited about all of our future projects.

Examples of community projects include:

KS1 After- School STEM Club

In the summer term of 2009 Miss Bodell provided a KS1 after school STEM club at one of our feeder primaries. Students engaged in numerous, hands-on STEM activities and thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

Science Summer School for Key Stage 2 students

The Science Summer School takes place every year during the first week of the summer holidays. It is offered to our feeder Year 6 students, outside our direct catchment area. It is five days packed full of fun, hands-on practical activities and problem solving. They are designed to encompass the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) curriculum areas and appeals to students with an interest and enthusiasm for these subjects. Over the last 5 years more than 300 students have taken part in our Science Summer School.

Primary Science Continuing Professional Development

Year 6 Primary Science teachers met and discuss new curriculum developments in Science teaching and learning with out Science AST.

Year 6 Transition Sessions

Year 6 students from four of our feeder primaries attend a series of sessions at the school in Modern Foreign Languages, Science and Art. The theme of the sessions was Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Resources. To launch the sessions in Year 6 students visited The National Coal Mine in Wakefield for a day and experienced life as a miner first hand!

Year 5 Taster Workshops

Year 5 students from two of our feeder primaries come into Hessle High School Science College & 6^th Form during the summer term to carry out hands-on practical work and get a ‘feel’ for Science at the school. This is offered as part of the school’s community commitment to local feeder primary schools and easing student transition from KS2 to KS3.

The students learn new practical skills, including the use of Bunsen burners, in a real laboratory setting.

The Consortium Year 12 PE and Biology/Human Biology study visit to London

Students from across The Consortium in Year 12 attend a two day residential study visit to London. The visit includes an opportunity to look around The Natural History Museum and a tour of the Body Worlds Exhibition at the O2 Arena. One key aim of the visit is to increase students understanding of human physiology whilst developing their opinions on the ethical considerations involved in human dissection.

The future

The determination of all the staff and students at Hessle High School Science College & 6^th Form to be at the forefront of innovation in teaching and learning has placed us in the top 25% of improving schools nationally. However we know there is always capacity for improvement and will continue to build on our Schools successes.