Science and I.T.

What do we do?

Calder House teaches children with specific learning difficulties the skills they need to achieve their academic potential and successfully return to mainstream education.

Individual needs

Every pupil at Calder House has a personalised timetable designed to meet his or her individual needs. Click here to see what this involves and how it works.

“I do not believe there is another school in this country which could have helped Nathaniel to flourish as well as Calder House.”

Former pupil’s parent

Science and I.T.

Science: At Calder House this core subject focuses on investigating and evaluating - cause and effect. The pupils love it and do very well in their end of Keystage two SATs. We make many cross-curricula links from science to other subjects including, for instance, Geography via pollution issues and the need to conserve the planet’s resources. We also ensure the Maths department works closely with the Science teachers to assist those pupils who have difficulty recording or interpreting data using charts and graphs.

All pupils create a Science Glossary in their time with us and take it with them when they leave: a personal reference book of words and concepts on which to build.

Information Technology: Calder House follows the full National Curriculum and teaches Information Technology as a subject in its own right. The school has its own dedicated I.T. suite divided into individual work-stations. Pupils have supervised access to the internet and email and taught how to use online tools safely and responsibly.

Our pupils learn to make power point presentations and use this skill each week in assembly. They learn to create files and store their work, to use email and send messages home, and to use internet search engines and websites.

Each child works at their own computer station in a class group of not more than eight under the direct supervision or the teacher. Teacher controls are installed on each computer, and on the network as a whole, to bar access to undesirable sites. When emailing, pupils' personal identities are concealed.

Cross-curricula links mean that in Geography, History and RE pupils are encouraged to establish contacts with other schools around the world and broaden their understanding of other cultures and environments.

The skills we teach in I.T. are drawn upon in lessons thoughout the day and a booking system ensures that all teachers have ready access to the suite when they require it. The interactive whiteboard is linked to the suite and is a popular teaching tool used by all staff and pupils.