The Westgate School Weekly Newsletter

Traffic lights, Drop-off & a meeting with the Councillor

I have a meeting this week with the Local Councillor to see how the Council can help alleviate the traffic issues that we have outside the school at the beginning and end of the day.

In the interim, please can I remind parents to be vigilant when dropping off/picking up children. I am aware that some cars turn into residential streets off the main road. Please be mindful of the residents there.

Marquees for Dining and Line-ups

All the equipment and materials have now arrived and the company have started to erect Marquees for line-ups and dining spaces. We are hoping the work will be complete this week.

This means that line-ups will be under a covered outdoor space and movement in numbers will be managed even better. More importantly, we want to cut down the time taken before whole classes leave for lessons. Students who are deliberately late to lines cause this delay, so our colourful barriers and gate closures will now mean those who are there on time are not delayed by others.

Our intention for dining spaces is to break numbers down into smaller groups to speed queuing up time even more. The following age groups will be allocated their own dining spaces.

• Years 8 & 10 - Will be allocated one marquee
• Years 7 & 9 - Will continue to use the Multi-Purpose Hall (MPH)
• Years 11, 12 & 13 - Will be allocated one marquee

Biology at Westgate

Here is what our students have been up to...

Year 7

Our Year 7 students have been exploring the fascinating world of cells and living organisms! They've explored the basics of cell biology, learning about the different parts of plant and animal cells and how each part functions. Through hands-on activities with microscopes, they’ve had the chance to see cells up close, sparking curiosity about the microscopic building blocks of life. It’s been an exciting start, and they’re gaining a strong foundation in understanding the living world!

Year 8

Our Year 8 students have been learning about the nutrients essential for a balanced diet, the functions of vitamins and minerals, and the effects of different foods on our bodies. Students have also investigated how the digestive system works to process food and studied how lifestyle choices impact overall health. With engaging activities and discussions, they’re gaining valuable knowledge on how to make healthy choices to support lifelong well-being.

Year 9

Year 9 students have been immersed in the study of cells, they've explored the structure and function of both plant and animal cells, as well as bacterial cells, noting key differences between them. Students have also investigated specialised cells and how each is uniquely adapted to its role in the body. With hands-on practice using microscopes, they’re developing skills to observe cells in detail, bringing classroom theory to life and building a strong basis for future biology studies.

Year 10

Year 10 students have been exploring the fascinating journey of food through the digestive system. They’ve learned about each organ involved, from the mouth to the intestines, and how they work together to break down food and absorb nutrients. Through engaging activities and models, students have gained a deeper understanding of the roles of enzymes and digestive processes.

Year 11

Year 11 students have been studying the endocrine system and its vital role in regulating the body’s functions. They have explored the roles of various glands and hormones, understanding how these chemical messengers regulate processes throughout the body. Through discussions and practical examples, they’re gaining valuable insights into how hormonal balance is crucial to health and well-being, laying a strong foundation for further studies in biology and health sciences.

Year 12

Year 12 students have been diving into advanced topics in cell biology and biochemistry, building a strong foundation for understanding the diversity of life at the cellular level. Alongside this, they’ve studied key biological molecules—including proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids—and the vital role of water in supporting cellular functions and life processes. This comprehensive start to the year is setting the stage for deeper insights into the complex systems that sustain life.

Year 13

Our Year 13 students have been studying the processes that contribute to genetic diversity, including mutations, independent assortment, and crossing over during meiosis. By examining these mechanisms, students have gained a deeper understanding of how variation drives evolution and the survival of species in changing environments. This topic not only strengthens their grasp of genetics but also builds a solid foundation for further studies in evolution, inheritance, and biodiversity.

Chemistry at Westgate

Here is what our students have been up to...

Year 7

Year 7 have had a fantastic start at Westgate and have been introduced to lab safety, hazards in a lab before exploring different separation techniques such as chromatography, distillation and filtration. Students have enjoyed designing a device to make water safe to drink using their knowledge learnt so far this half term.

Year 8

Year 8 have just finished learning about combustion of fuels and the problems this causes with the environment. Students have explored the safety around fires and have looked at how to put different fires out with the correct fire extinguisher.

Year 9

Year 9 have embarked on their GCSE journey on building upon separation techniques explored at KS3 in more detail. They have also looked at the structure of atoms of different elements and looked at drawing these as diagrams.

Year 10

Year 10 have been studying structure and bonding. They have explored four different types of bonding and examples of these in everyday life such as table salt. Students have made models of ionic lattices, grown silver crystals and made models of simple covalent molecules to support their learning.

Year 11

Chemistry in year 11 has been looking at what polymers are, and students had a go at making their own polymer of nylon! Students made excellent links between chemistry and the natural polymers such as DNA, proteins and starch which they have studied previously in year 10 Biology.

Year 12

Year 12 have been exploring their new topics of energetics and kinetics this week. They have been looking practically at how to investigate the rate of reaction and to determine whether a reaction is exothermic or endothermic.

Year 13

In Year 13 students have explored carbonyl chemistry and have made an ester. Students have looked at uses of esters and their applications in chemistry. They have also been learning about electrochemical and fuel cells and how we use these in everyday situations.

Physics at Westgate

Here is what our students have been up to...

Year 7

During the last half term, Year 7 students studied various concepts in energy as part of their physics curriculum. They explored the different forms of energy, such as kinetic and potential energy, and learned how energy can be transferred and transformed from one form to another. The students investigated the concept of energy conservation and were introduced to the idea that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or changed in form. Through practical experiments and activities, they examined how energy is used in everyday life and discussed renewable and non-renewable energy sources. Additionally, the students developed skills in analysing energy transfers and efficiencies, linking these to real-world applications and environmental considerations.

Year 8

During the last half term, Year 8 students focused on the topic of light as part of their physics studies. They examined the nature of light, understanding it as a form of energy that travels in straight lines. The students explored the concepts of reflection and refraction, conducting experiments to observe how light behaves when it encounters different surfaces and mediums.

They learned about the visible spectrum and how white light can be dispersed into its component colours, gaining insights into phenomena such as rainbows. Additionally, the students investigated the principles of lenses and how they can be used to focus light, enhancing their understanding of how cameras and the human eye work.

The topic also covered the differences between luminous and non-luminous objects, and students discussed real-world applications of light, such as its role in technology and everyday life. By the end of the term, students had developed a solid understanding of the properties and behaviours of light, along with improved skills in scientific experimentation and observation.

Year 9

During the last half term, Year 9 students delved deeper into the topic of energy in their physics classes. They reinforced their understanding of different energy forms, such as kinetic, potential, thermal, and chemical energy, while expanding their knowledge of energy transfer processes.

Students explored the law of conservation of energy in greater depth, discussing how energy is conserved within closed systems and examining real-world scenarios where this principle is applicable. They analysed energy efficiency and learned to calculate how much energy is wasted versus how much is usefully transferred.

Additionally, the curriculum included discussions on renewable and non-renewable energy resources, focusing on the environmental impacts and sustainability challenges associated with each type. Students participated in projects or case studies that required them to evaluate energy solutions for reducing carbon footprints and promoting sustainable practices.

Year 10

They began by examining the concept of specific heat capacity, learning how different substances require varying amounts of energy to change their temperature. Through experiments, students calculated the specific heat capacity of different materials, reinforcing their understanding of this property and its practical implications.

The topic of thermal conduction was explored next, with students investigating how heat energy is transferred through materials. They examined the role of conductors and insulators, understanding how and why different materials transfer heat at different rates. This included practical experiments to observe conduction in metals and non-metals, and discussions about applications such as building insulation and thermal management.

In discussing energy, the students revisited energy transfer methods and conservation principles, integrating these concepts with their new knowledge of thermal physics. They learned to apply these principles to real-world problems, such as designing energy-efficient systems.

Year 11

During the last half term, Year 11 students focused on gas laws, change of state, and elastic energy in their physics studies. They explored the behaviour of gases through the gas laws, including Boyle's Law, Charles's Law, and the Ideal Gas Law. These foundational laws helped them understand the relationships between pressure, volume, and temperature in gases, and they conducted experiments to observe these relationships in practice.

In studying the change of state, students examined how substances transition between solid, liquid, and gaseous states. They learned about latent heat and the energy involved in phase changes, such as melting and boiling. Practical activities underscored the importance of energy transfer during these processes without a change in temperature.

The study of elastic energy involved understanding how energy is stored in elastic materials when they are stretched or compressed. Students explored Hooke's Law and conducted experiments to measure the elastic potential energy stored in springs and other elastic objects.