Physics Department

1. To maintain a learning environment that provides a preparation for adult life in terms of self-confidence, self-discipline and self-motivation and to provide a rewarding and fulfilling experience of education during the secondary school years.

2. To develop an enthusiasm for and an interest in Physics throughout the school. To encourage pupils to have enquiring minds that seek answers to the physical world around them both in relation to the exam driven curriculum and the wider world of Physics.

3. To teach imaginatively and with due regard to different methodologies and to foster learning of Physics within the department in a structured and relaxed atmosphere. To promote high expectations and to endeavour to achieve SQA attainment levels that allow pupils to pursue their chosen career path.

The Physics department seeks to provide a welcoming and pleasant environment with a display of materials, which will generate an interest in Physics. In addition staff will try to present a relaxed atmosphere for pupils to learn in. However staff are not willing to accept ill discipline or the failure of pupils to respect themselves, each other, their teachers or their environment

Staff in Physics will always try to infuse in pupils the idea that high standards are essential in order to do well in life. C Classroom teachers will not accept sub standard work and will make an issue of any lack of commitment and effort in pupils, while at the same time complimenting those who are working to the best of their ability.

Music in the classroomIf teachers have access to audio equipment in their classroom and a class is busy on an appropriate task, they may choose to play music at a subdued level. The music is there to encourage a pleasant working environment, but it is not a pupil right and this privilege will be removed immediately if pupils become disruptive or disobedient, or the ambient noise level is seen to increase beyond an acceptable level. Naturally when the teacher is talking to the class, the class is being asked questions, or the class are discussing issues any music will be stopped.

The department offers a Homework/Classwork Club on a Monday lunchtime passes are avaliable from Mr Stanfield and Mr Laud.

Homework tasks are issued once a week. When homework is issued, it is recorded by pupils in their personal organisers. Staff will also put a note of the exercise given to the class on the Physics Department Homework Board. If a pupil is absent on the day that homework is given, it is their responsibility to come and check the board to see what the task is and when it is due. If they do not do this Physics staff will follow the same procedures for them as they do already for those pupils who have not attempted to do their homework

Staff will check that all pupils have satisfactorily completed their homework. If a pupil does not do their homework or they put very little effort into it, staff will note this in the pupil's personal organiser and send a note of the pupil/pupils to the office on the appropriate 'homework not done' slip. Staff will not issue punishment exercises to pupils who have not done their homework, instead they will inform parents, using the personal organiser and by getting the office to telephone home.

Homework will either be peer-marked as a class exercise, marked by the teacher during the lesson (if the pupils are involved in some type of exercise), or be marked by the teacher after the lesson and returned to them next day. Whatever the system of marking homework, the class teacher will monitor each individual pupil's performance and highlight any area where remediation may be needed.

Each pupil is encouraged to obtain the best mark they are able to. For some, half marks may be an outstanding achievement, while for others nothing less than full marks is expected. Teachers will encourage pupils on this basis and good comments or stamps will be given to pupils in their personal organiser for perfect or outstanding homework.