Science

Introduction

Science education is vital to help children and young people learn about the world and how it works. Since science plays a crucial role in many aspects of daily life, including food, medicines, our environment and the technology we rely upon, a rounded education must have significant science content. Science education also teaches about the scientific method, which encourages critical thinking, asking questions, and seeking answers based on evidence. These approaches help children to develop the skills they need to solve problems and make informed decisions, as well as instilling values of openness, curiosity, imagination, integrity, fairness, and diligence.

Science knowledge and skills are highly valued and lead to successful, rewarding careers. They spark the innovation which grows the economy and creates opportunities for society beyond direct involvement in scientific research and its applications in industry; as the recent COVID-19 pandemic showed and as the threat of damaging climate change re-emphasises, science learning is also central to tackling our most vital social challenges. It is no exaggeration to say that lives, and the future of our planet, depend upon it. Since success in science relies comparatively less on status and personal connections than some other pursuits and professions, it also has the capacity to be a great social leveller.

(Credit. IoP Response to National Discussion on Education survey, December 2022)

Broad General Education

Pupils in the Junior phase in our School follow a General Science course for S1 and S2 and then have a subject specialist for S3 for Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Our curriculum is structured around the guidance from Education Scotland and we aim to work closely with groups such as the Association for Science Education. Although students sit no external qualifications from S1-S3, it is also a very important time for developing the skills for Senior Science courses.

Senior Phase

Mallaig High School offers pupils the opportunity to develop their learning from the Junior phase to access a range of qualifications in Science including N4, N5, Higher and Advanced Higher in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology.

Skills

The key skills developed in Science lessons range from working safely in a lab to critical thinking skills. As mentioned in the introduction to our page there are various important challenges our students will face over their lifetimes and to quote Carl Sagan:

"And our small planet at this moment, here we face a critical branch point in history, what we do with our world, right now, will propagate down through the centuries and powerfully affect the destiny of our descendants, it is well within our power to destroy our civilization and perhaps our species as well. If we capitulate to superstition or greed or stupidity we could plunge our world into a time of darkness deeper than the time between the collapse of classical civilization and the Italian Renaissance. But we are also capable of using our compassion and our intelligence, our technology and our wealth to make an abundant and meaningful life for every inhabitant of this planet."