Science

Dowdales Science department is staffed by 10 teaching staff, a higher level teaching assistant and 3 technicians. Teaching takes place in 7 purpose built laboratories, 3 of which were newly built in 2004 and 2 of which were fully refurbished in 2006.

The Science Department at Dowdales is highly successful:
• We have (April 2005) received an excellent OFSTED report (as has the school as a whole). During the inspection week the Science inspector observed good, very good and excellent lessons, was very impressed with the attitude of our pupils to learning and the quality of teaching they were offered.  The department was graded very good overall and the continued improvements in departmental results was also clearly highlighted.
• Since the introduction of National Testing at KS3 we have had results well above the average for both the authority and the country.  In 2006 88% of our pupils gained level 5 or higher.  Across Cumbria 75% of pupils gained this level and nationally 73% did.
• Results in GCSE Science have seen a great improvement over recent years.  In 2007 68% of our Year 11 pupils gained grades CC or better and we mirrored this in the new GCSE course where 68% of Year 10 pupils also gained a C grade in their first Science GCSE. 

We always aim to give a high quality and worthwhile experience of Science to all pupils regardless of their abilities. This is achieved through a variety of teaching methods combined with a range of support and enrichment. In years 7, 8 and 9 pupils receive 4 lessons per week of our subject and this increases to 6 lessons per week in years 10 and 11. We offer a departmental homework club, after school enrichment lessons for pupils considering science studies beyond GCSE and have an active science club. We also ran a very successful enrichment program gifted and talented scientists from our local feeder schools in 2007.