Biology at Rydal Penrhos School is a popular subject which allows our students to explore the natural world, with particular emphasis on the development of skills to carry out rigorous scientific enquiry. Students are introduced to Biology through exciting ever-developing topics which range from Genetic Engineering to Biodiversity and Climate Change.

All pupils take either Dual Award Science (equivalent to two GCSEs) or the three individual science GCSEs in Biology, Physics and Chemistry; they are taught all three sciences by specialist teachers within the respective subject areas.

A-level Biology is an important subjectwhich is required for many higher level courses and careers, and we have many pupils who successfully enter Higher Education to read Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Sciences, Marine Biology, Sports Science and Forensics. It also complements many other subjects, whether they be sciences or arts; it is rapidly becoming the science for this century, as our ability to manipulate DNA fundamentally changes many of the ways in which we live and work.

Biology is a very ‘hands-on’ subject, with practical work taking place both inside and outside the laboratory. Students are also taught key skills in ICT, including Excel data analysis and the use of referencing software, and this helps to prepare them for the demands of their Higher Education courses; visits are also made to Manchester in order to use the latest gene technology equipment and attend lectures from leading Biologists in their field.

Chemistry at Rydal Penrhos School is not just a “flash in the pan” subject with a particular penchant for practical skills. We aim to discover the hidden secrets that the ancients could not see.

The journey starts with a nucleus of an idea, orbiting around the concept until we gain sufficient impetus to become highly charged about a particular subject. We then deviate along rainbow streets with chromatic colours and separate off into individual aspects of the course.

For GCSE Science at Rydal Penrhos, pupils have the opportunity to study Chemistry as a separate subject or as part of the Dual Award Science course.  Pupils then have the opportunity to study Chemistry at A-level. We have been successful in regional and national competitions across the key stages.

We have many pupils who successfully enter further education to study Medical, Dentistry and Veterinary Sciences.

The study of Physics is an attempt to understand everything that we can observe and measure in the universe, from the infinitesimally small to the infinitely large: from the beginning of the universe in the Big Bang, to its ultimate fate.

For GCSE science at Rydal Penrhos, pupils have the opportunity to study Physics as a separate subject or as part of the Dual Award Science course. In the Sixth Form, pupils can opt to study A Level Physics. In recent years, pupils have gone on to study Physics and Engineering at Cambridge University, Astrophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Particle Physics at Royal Holloway.

A pupil who has studied Physics is always in high demand for the many careers that value an ability to think logically and analytically and to solve complex problems including the sciences, engineering, computing, finance and management.

Physics is necessarily a practical subject where students undertake many experiments at all levels of the school. Full use is made of modern teaching techniques and resources including computer animations, simulations, independent learning and trips out of school such as lecture trips to Manchester and Liverpool Universities and visits to facilities such as Dinorwic Power Station.

We have recently introduced Computer Science to our curriculum, giving each pupil the chance to hone their skills and develop a wider understanding of the ever-changing world of digital technology.

This exciting addition to an already thriving curriculum has already proved highly beneficial, particularly with younger members of the school community.

The Design and Technology (DT) Department at Rydal Penrhos School is a lively, stimulating environment where pupils learn and develop an array of design techniques.

Throughout their time in the school pupils create projects using various materials, which they are able to take home.

Past projects have included designing and making robots, musical instruments, furniture, radios, clocks, lamps, and many others. Pupils are also set technical challenges to solve as a team.

Studying DT can lead on to a wide range of rewarding degree courses such as architecture, engineering, computer design, education/teaching/college or university lecturing, industrial design and product design.

All of these professions are ideally suited to the person who wants a creative, imaginative and technically challenging career with excellent prospects.

Each pupil has DT lessons in Years 7, 8 and 9. They then have the option to take DT as a GCSE and an A-level subject.

In recent years the DT Department has been particularly successful and has gained national recognition and won numerous awards for innovation.