10. Green Bay High School
Science Department
Annual report 2008
11. Level 1 NCEA Science Results Analysis 2008
Comparative results for level 1 Science
50
40 not achieved
30 achieved
20 merit
10
excellence
0
2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008
GB Nat GB Nat GB Nat
2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008
GB Nat GB Nat GB Nat
not 33.7 36.3 39.9 39.1 42.3 35.4
achieved
achieved 49.3 44.8 44 42.1 44 40.7
merit 15.3 14.9 11.1 14.6 11.3 17.8
excellence 1.7 4 5 4.2 2.4 6
Comments
Our Achievement figures are satisfactory however there is still room for improvement in the
Merit and Excellence grades.
The high number of Not Achieved grades is a reflection of a policy that prevents students
from being withdrawn from standards. A large number of these students were doing an
inappropriate course due to the small number of classes available for the 01SCC course.
The school wide target for credits is unreasonable in Science as the number of standards
available relative to the time limit and size of classes means that only 18 credits maximum
can be offered.
12. Level 2 NCEA Chemistry results Analysis 2008
Comparative Results for Level 2 Chemistry
60
50
40 not achieved
30 achieved
20
merit
10
excellence
0
2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008
GB Nat GB Nat GB Nat
2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008
GB Nat GB Nat GB Nat
not 38.1 36.5 48.5 32.2 32.1 31.3
achieved
achieved 57.1 37.9 31.4 37.8 46.8 39.4
merit 4.8 18 16 22.6 18.3 20.8
excellence 0 7.7 4.1 7.4 2.8 8.6
Comments
In general these results are reflective of the national profile. Further work to be done on
shifting students from achieved to merit and excellence.
13. Level 3 NCEA Chemistry Results Analysis 2008
Comparative Results for Level 3 Chemistry
50
40
30 not achieved
20 achieved
merit
10
excellence
0
2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008
GB Nat GB Nat GB Nat
2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008
GB Nat GB Nat GB Nat
not 40.6 35.5 40.7 33.3 41.1 29.8
achieved
achieved 46.9 40.3 42.4 43.8 30.1 40.5
merit 9.4 18.4 16.9 17 23.3 21.3
excellence 3.1 5.8 0 5.9 5.5 8.4
Comments
Merit and excellence results reflect national averages however the number of achieved
results was skewed by the non-removal of students who were struggling to cope with this
course.
14. Level 2 NCEA Biology Results Analysis 2008
Comparative Results Level 2 Biology
50
40
not achieved
30
achieved
20 merit
10 excellence
0
2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008
GB Nat GB Nat GB Nat
2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008
GB Nat GB Nat GB Nat
not 46.9 31.4 46.9 31.4 38 35.3
achieved
achieved 34.6 44.4 34.6 44.4 44.5 43.8
merit 14 19.4 14 19.4 16.1 15.6
excellence 4.5 4.7 4.5 4.7 1.5 5.4
Comments
These results reflect the national profile although there is still room to improve on the
excellence results.
15. Level 3 NCEA Biology Results Analysis 2008
Level 3 Biology Comparative Results
50
40
30 not achieved
20 achieved
merit
10
excellence
0
2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008
GB Nat GB Nat GB Nat
2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008
GB Nat GB Nat GB Nat
not 37.5 33.6 32.9 34.7 44.7 34.7
achieved
achieved 50 48.5 48.7 45.5 41.2 45
merit 8.3 13.7 15.8 16.1 10.6 17.3
excellence 4.2 4.2 2.6 3.7 3.5 3.1
Comments
This cohort had a number of students who were struggling with the level three science and
we were not able to follow through on recommendations to remove them from these
standards.
16. Level 2 NCEA Physics Results Analysis 2008
level 2 Physics Comparative Results
50
40
30 not achieved
20 achieved
merit
10
excellence
0
2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008
GB Nat GB Nat GB Nat
2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008
GB Nat GB Nat GB Nat
not 45.1 37.4 45.1 37.4 32.5 32.9
achieved
achieved 37.5 38.5 37.5 38.5 46.5 39.3
merit 16 18.4 16 18.4 20.9 20.2
excellence 1.4 5.7 1.4 5.7 0 7.6
Comments
Entry requirements restricted entry into this course which reduced the number of not
achieved grades to national average. Work is still required to move students from achieved
to merit and excellence.
18. Discussion and Developments 2008
Discussion 2008
As a department we feel that the reduction of student contact time with the move from five
to six subjects is still having a negative affect on our results. There is a lot of course content
that needs to be covered in science before the application of this knowledge can be
practiced and examination techniques acquired.
Winter and summer sports weeks, other sport trips, production and some internal
assessment activities do have a negative impact on our top end academic results.
For instance I can track student results to the impact a week out of school for sport had on a
particular achievement standard. This trend continues into 2009. A high performing year 12
student has already asked to limit the number of achievement standards taken in a senior
science course because she is struggling to perform to her maximum in all areas of her life.
Developments 2008
The success of the year 9 forensics course as a vehicle for exposing students to a wider range
of science activities has been expanded in 2009 to a half year course which will include a
health component and field trip to Liggins Institute to expose student to the latest research.
There are also opportunities to include career education with health professionals possible
being invited to give talks to students.
Planning in 2008 and 2009 has resulted in the opportunity to offer two NCEA standards to
the two top year 10 classes. This will lead to an extended year 11 program for these students
to give them a broader knowledge of basic science with the aim to improve merit and
excellence grades in years 12 and 13. Timetabling issues will need to be resolved in 2009 /
2010.
Meetings have been held with a local intermediate school towards the end of 2008 with the
intention of offering science activities with a string curriculum focus to the local primary and
intermediate schools (Titrangi Primary, Kaurilands Primary, Glen Eden Intemediate) and to
offer professional develop to intermediate and primary teachers in the Science area.
A number of outside speakers have been invited into the science department to talk to
students to broaden their knowledge of possible careers opportunities within the science
area. The science blog continues to be developed to offer links not only to academic help
sites but also to careers opportunities.
Rob Duff was successful in gaining a Royal Society Fellowship with Genesis Energy. He will
bring additional expertise and enthusiasm back into the department.
The year nine schemes of work have been rewritten to align with the new curriculum, to be
introduced in 2009. Units of work to include inquiry learning and differentiation have been
19. written and trialled with some year 10 classes. Further development of these units will
continue in 2009.