Lower School Science

Free-thinking scholarship > Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics > Lower School Science

Practical work is at the heart of Science: our bespoke Lower School Science curriculum deliberately places the emphasis on boys exploring the scientific world through experimentation.

We seek to help pupils understand that Science is a subject which is always evolving as new ideas and theories are developed and tested, and that facts cannot simply be learned from a book.

We hope that they will develop an enthusiasm for, and wider interest in, the sciences beyond the taught curriculum. Allied with this aim is a focus on the acquisition of scientific competence, so that QE boys become confident at a young age in the application of theory to explain observations from practical work. To achieve this, opportunities for independent research and independent practical work are woven throughout the curriculum.

Homework time is dedicated to extended tasks which are open-ended and which develop boys’ higher thinking skills, rewarding creativity as well as logical discussion.

At the conclusion of their Lower School Science courses, pupils should have both a developing curiosity in Science and increased confidence in the use of the scientific method, putting them in good stead for their GCSE studies.

We encourage extra-curricular interest in the subject through our various Science Clubs, which take place once a week for pupils in the Lower School.

Old Elizabethans: Triple distinction

After achieving the very rare feat of reaching the national finals of all three science British Olympiads in his last year at QE – in Physics, Biology and Chemistry – Robert Swan then went on to represent his country in the International Physics Olympiad in Mumbai, winning a bronze medal. He has since gone up to Corpus Christi, Cambridge, to read Natural Sciences.

His talents as a scientist were evident throughout his School career: as a younger pupil, he was, for example, part of a successful QE team in the Top of the Bench Chemistry competition. And Robert (2008-2015) also made a significant contribution to School life in other areas, too, playing the oboe in the Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra, and serving as a committed team chess player.

Lower School pupil: scientific steps to success

Saim Khan feels that alongside learning about real-life scientific principles and concepts, his analytical skills have improved thanks to Science lessons, and he has gained greater independence. “As well as being relevant to everyday life, science is constantly evolving. As new discoveries are made, the subject is constantly adapting. It’s very thought-provoking and I enjoy the practical lessons.”

Saim is involved in an impressive range of extra-curricular activities, from the Practical Science Club and Vex Robotics to Mandarin, Muslim Prayer, the Model United Nations Club and Chess – to name just a few.

He would like to study the subject to a higher level: “Not only is Science very enjoyable, relevant and applicable to real-life, but many successful careers are based on the subject.”