Science Department
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INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCE FACULTY
The Science Faculty at Doha College comprises three distinct departments: Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Each Department has a Subject Leader with direct responsibility for all aspects of their subject area.
Pupils in years 7, 8 and 9 follow Key Stage 3 National Curriculum in Science taught by predominantly by specialist teachers in each of the 3 disciplines: Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Each subject has one lesson per week.
Pupils opt in years 10 and 11 to study either Separate Science IGCSE courses (Biology + Chemistry + Physics - 30 % of curriculum time) or Double Award Combined Science IGCSE (20% of curriculum time). We follow Edexcel International specifications.
The Science Faculty offers Biology, Chemistry and Physics Advanced Level Modular courses. Pupils with a background in both Separate Sciences and Double Award Science are able and are encouraged to study Advanced Level Sciences at Doha College. We follow Edexcel International specifications.
The courses we offer are designed to enable pupils to study Science in higher education; to take up a scientific career or to provide a basis for other careers and life in today’s highly scientific and technological world. Whichever path our pupils choose it is our philosophy to provide a scientific education to the highest standards to prepare and equip them appropriately.
The Aims of the Science Department
The Science Department shares the responsibility for the overall holistic education of the student. These can be thought of as broad aims and would include:
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Assisting students to develop a better understanding of the world in which they live.
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Helping students recognise and solve their own problems.
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Giving students the opportunity to improve their personal relationships.
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Encouraging students to develop their communication skills.
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Providing opportunities for students to develop ICT skills
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Preparing students to take a full part in society.
These broad aims are exemplified further by reference to the more specific departmental aims. The Science Department maintains a commitment to pursue the following aims:
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All students are entitled to a broad, balanced education in science up to the age of 16.
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The content of the science curriculum should be part of a co-ordinated whole school curriculum.
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All appropriate books, materials and equipment will be provided and student assessment (formative, summative and self-assessment) will be closely monitored.
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Should they so wish, students will, on successful completion of their courses, be in a position to pursue continuing and higher education.
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To develop a life-long interest in and enjoyment of science.
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To provide a wide range of practical experiences and to develop practical skills.
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To develop thinking along the lines of scientific methodology and encourage problem solving.
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To give an understanding of the science relevant to pupils’ interests, environment and future career and leisure needs.
Philosophy of Science teaching at Doha College
All branches of Science have contributed greatly to our way of life and are therefore worthy of study.
All pupils in school should have the opportunity to study Science as part of a broad and balanced curriculum.
Pupils should be encouraged to see Science in both a disciplined and a creative activity. Scientific discipline and the "scientific method" are seen as vital in ensuring that the work they carry out results in a valid and educationally sound experience.
Pupils should be made to feel that they matter as individuals and that the staff are working towards helping them to fulfil their potential. As part of this ethos, pupils should be aware that they can approach staff to discuss their progress and ways of improving it. The self-assessment of progress should be seen as a valuable exercise for pupils to carry out.
The use of a wide variety of teaching and learning styles can be found in the department and this encourages the pupils to want to learn. The department supports staff wishing to try new ideas or approaches. Methods which require the pupils to adopt a passive role in the classroom are considered inappropriate and not in keeping with the context of the National Curriculum.
We aim as a faculty to contribute to the college as a whole and seek to encourage co-operation between departments.
Constant review and evaluation of the work of the faculty is seen as an important part in further improving the standards of Science and Science teaching in the school.
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Qualifications |
Years in teaching |
Previous schools |
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Mr. M. Hunter Head of Science, Head of Biology |
BSc (Hons) Zoology, Royal Holloway & Bedford College (Lond) PGCE, Reading Dip. Physics, Westminster (Lond) |
17 |
Monks Park School, Bristol, UK Garden Intl. School, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Heathland School, London, UK
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Ms. U. Afzal Head of Chemistry |
BSc (Hons) Chemistry, Nottingham PGCE, Nottingham
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6 |
Greenwood Dale School, Nottingham, UK |
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Ms. C. Taig Head of Physics |
BSc (Eng Hons) Mech. Engineering, Imperial College (Lond) PGCE, Kings College (Lond)
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16 |
Westhatch High School, Essex, UK New Cairo British Intl. School, Egypt |
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Mr S. Sheikh
Dep. Key Stage Achievment Leader, Year 7 |
BA(Hons) Biology & Health, Warwick
MA Innovation in Education, Warwick PGCE, Manchester
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7 |
Cheadle Hulme College, Manchester |
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Ms. I. Gordon Dep. Key Stage Achievement Leader, Year 9
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BSc (Hons) Biology, Liverpool PGCE, Sussex |
15 |
Kolej Matrikulasi Yayasan Saad, Malaysia Littlehampton Community School |
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Mr D. Briggs
Dep. Key Stage Achievement Leader, Year 12 |
BSc (Hons) Chemistry, Reading
PGCE, Leeds |
14 |
Woodhouse Grove School, Leeds, UK
School of Research Science, Dubai
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Mr. P. Harrison -Jones |
BSc (Hons) Underwater Science & Hydrography, Plymouth PGCE, College of St Mark and St John
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11 |
Lipson Community College Devonport High School for Boys |
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Mr R Green |
BSc(Hons) Physics, Cardiff PGCE, Sussex |
7 |
Steyning Grammar School, West Sussex, UK Thomas Bennett Community College, West Sussex, UK
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Mr D Lloyd |
BSc(Hons) Environmental Science, Coventry PGCE, Bath Spa |
9 |
Fort Hill Community School, Basingstoke Bottisham Village College, Cambridge Al Jazeera Academy, Doha
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Ms. H.Braben |
BSc(Hons) Biological Sciences, Nottingham PGCE, Nottingham |
18 |
ACG Senior College, Aukland, New Zealand Wesgreen School, UAE
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Ms. L. Demetriou
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BSc (Hons) Applied Biology, Sunderland PGCE, Sussex |
17 |
Intl. School of Nice, France Cardinal Newman School, Brighton, UK
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