Science College

Millthorpe applied for and was successful in being awarded Second Subject Specialism status for Science with Mathematics during 2004. This award brings very considerable additional funding into school, to be used for the development and improvement of teaching and learning in Science and Mathematics.

In addition to the enhanced provision in terms of equipment, books, ICT hardware and so on, the extra money has enabled us to create more teaching groups, thereby reducing class sizes considerably and providing greater opportunities to give targeted help to individual pupils.

Working with our main feeder Primary schools, we are establishing systems to provide equipment for loan, organising visits for Y6 classes to work in our Science labs prior to their transfer to Millthorpe and offering specialist help and support with Science projects both in the Primary schools and here on site, such as the use of our recently extended pond and wildlife area for project work.

Secondary schools too are benefiting from our additional funding for Science. In Year 1, we were able to provide and install data projectors and PCs in three neighbouring schools' Science departments. These were enthusiastically received, and in Year 2 we aim to provide similar resources for three more Science departments in the City.

Activities and visits for our own pupils have been improved and extended, and so far this academic year have included:

National Science Week at the National Railway Museum – workshops for all Y8 pupils

National Science Week Science Trail at York University – visit for about 60 Y10 pupils

NYBEP Careers in Science at York University – workshops for about 30 Y10 pupils.

In addition, for individual pupils we have organised City of York Pathfinder Project Science Masterclass – workshop for 4 Y10 pupils, and a Salter’s Chemistry Summer School Week for one Y10 pupil.