Science is a way of investigating, understanding, and explaining our natural, physical world and the wider universe. At Rutherford our team of highly qualified, enthusiastic staff instil interest and passion in the subject by encouraging inquiry and critical thinking skills through practical and hands-on activities.
From Year 9 to Year 11 students follow a General Science programme which gives them a broad base of knowledge across the different learning areas within Science. This leads to specialised courses at Year 12 and 13 in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Weekly tutorial sessions are run in the Info Commons on Wednesday after school to offer additional help and extension to any student that wishes extra one-on-one support.
YEAR 9 SCIENCE 2019
| TOPIC | STRAND |
| Intro to Science | Nature of Science |
| Plants | Living World |
| The Periodic Table | Material World |
| Light and Sound | Physical World |
| Astronomy | Planet Earth and beyond |
| Living Things | Living World |
| Matter | Material World |
| Energy and Heat | Physical World |
YEAR 10 SCIENCE 2019
| TOPIC | STRAND |
| Force and Motion | Physical World |
| Adaptations and Change | Living World |
| Chemical Reactions | Material World |
| Blood and Guts | Living World |
| Earth Systems | Planet Earth and beyond |
| Acids | Material World |
| Electricity | Physical World |
| Genetics | Living World |
Year 11 Science
There are three Science courses offered at Level 1 in Year 11.
Physical Science 11PHS
This course specialises in the Physics and Chemistry strands of Science. It is designed to give a solid grounding in these areas for students that plan to continue on with these Science specialties at Level 2 and Level 3. There is a greater focus on external assessment than internal assessment and the course is academically demanding. Students need to be achieving well in Year 10, averaging merit grades or above in their assessments to gain access to the course. Although the course does not cover any Biology standards it does not preclude entry into Level 2 Biology the following year. Students achieving outstanding grades in Year 10 can opt to do Level 2 Biology in conjunction with Physical Science
Science 11SCI
This course covers the Biology, Chemistry and Physics strands of Science and gives a broad general understanding of Science. It has an equal weighting of internal assessment and external assessment and is academically challenging, with one standard of each type covered in each of the three different strands. Success in the external components allows entry into any of the specialist Sciences at Level 2. To gain entry into this course, students need to be achieving in the majority of their assessments at Year 10.
Applied Science 11SCA
This course covers the Biology, Chemistry and Physics strands of Science and gives a broad general understanding of Science. There is a greater focus on internal assessments and it is particularly suited to students that achieve greater success with on-going work throughout the year. There is one external assessment in Biology, which allows entry into Level 2 Biology. Students in this course that wish to continue with Level 2 Chemistry or Physics can do so by entering additional external assessments in these areas. There are no prerequisite entry requirements from Year 10 to gain access into this course.
Faculty Staff
| Miss R Butler Shaw | HOF LEAP, Biology – ON Refreshment Leave for 2020 |
ShawR@rutherford.school.nz |
| Mr H Thomas | HOF Science, Physics | ThomasH@rutherford.school.nz |
| Mr D Wade | Ass. HOF Science, TIC Chemistry | WadeD@rutherford.school.nz |
| Mr C Cartwright | Science, Chemistry, TIC General Science | CartwrightC@rutherford.school.nz |
| Mrs A Goulding | Science, Biology, Acting TIC Biology | GouldingA@rutherford.school.nz |
| Mrs N Adams | Biology | AdamsN@rutherford.school.nz |
| Miss S Prasad | Chemistry | PrasadS@rutherford.school.nz |
| Miss E Cornforth | Assistant Principal, Biology, Science | cornforthe@rutherford.school.nz/a> |
| Mr W Allison-Maxwell | Science, Biology | MaxwellW@rutherford.school.nz |
| Dr A Singh | Biology, SCT | SinghA@rutherford.school.nz |
| Mr M Graham | Physics | grahamm@rutherford.school.nz |
| Mr N Rossin | Year 9 Dean, Biology, Science | rossinn@rutherford.school.nz |
| Miss F Bridges | Year 11 Dean, Science | bridges@rutherford.school.nz |
| Miss H Liu | Physics | liuh@rutherford.school.nz |
| Miss T Bettridge | Science Technician | bettridget@rutherford.school.nz |
