Subject Pages
Chemistry
The Chemistry team aim to develop in the students a fascination and enthusiasm for Chemistry, whilst building their knowledge and understanding. We believe it is important for students to have a positive experience in Chemistry that is both enabling and challenging. A variety of approaches to teaching and learning are used, including both practical and theoretical activities. The students study the ideas and concepts that underpin the processes in the world around us giving them a solid platform from which they can progress through the key stages and onto higher education. The department continues to build on its high standards and many of our students go on to study: Chemistry; medicine; dentistry; a wide range of other university courses; and apprenticeships.
Staffing
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Head of Science Chemistry KS5 Coordinator |
Mr A Donovan Dr J Askew |
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Teachers
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Ms J Constantinou Dr L Coupe Mr A Hope Mr G Olaode |
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Technicians
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Mr G Moore (Senior Technician) Mrs S Boulden Mr M Jenkins |
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Prefects
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Prasansha Nathan Edden Alice Eshaal Alishia Sumit Karla |
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Ambassadors
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Zestina Y10 Chloe Y10 Gopika Y10 Jenessa Y11 |
Key Stage 3
Content
Key Stage 3 Science is taught as a combined Science course in Year 7 and Year 8. Students study topics from each of the three scientific disciplines. In Year 9 the students transition to having separate science lessons with specialist teachers in preparation for starting their GCSE courses.
Our Key Stage 3 course follows the Key Stage 3 Science National Curriculum content, please click here for more information.
Year 7 Topics
- Forces
- Electricity
- Energy
- Waves
- Particles
- Compounds and Mixtures
- Earth
- Movement and Cells
- Interdependence and Plant Reproduction
- Variation and Human Reproduction
Year 8 Topics
- Forces
- Magnetism and Electromagnetism
- Energy
- Waves
- Matter
- Reactions
- Earth
- Breathing and Digestion
- Respiration and Photosynthesis
- Evolution and Inheritance
Year 9 Topics
- Atoms, elements, mixtures & compounds.
- The Periodic Table
- Reactions of metals
- Reactions of acids
- Chemistry of the atmosphere
- Using resources
Assessment, Marking and Feedback
Students are continuously assessed by their teachers during a range of classroom activities but their progress is formally monitored using end of topic tests and the end of year exam, marked using common mark schemes.
Feedback has its main focus on science learning objectives and outcomes since our aim is to improve performance in Science. We aim to be positive, developmental (showing the student how to improve further) and specific.
We assess targeted pieces of work (either class or homework but not class notes) focussed on difficult concepts, open-ended or challenging activities or data analysis. Self and peer assessment are used to review straightforward tasks.
Key Stage 4
Content
- Atomic structure and the periodic table
- Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter
- Quantitative Chemistry
- Chemical changes
- Energy changes
- The rate and extent of chemical change
- Organic Chemistry
- Chemical analysis
- Chemistry of the atmosphere
- Using resources
Assessment, Marking and Feedback
- Comment feedback for end of topic assessments.
- Regular verbal, self and peer assessment during lessons.
- Rapid automated assessment and feedback using Educake and Google Forms.
- End of Year and Pre Public Examinations.
Specification
Please click here for the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification
A Level
Content
Physical Chemistry:
Atomic structure, Amount of substance, Bonding, Energetics, Kinetics, Chemical equilibria, Le Chatelier’s principle and Kc, Oxidation, reduction and redox equations, Thermodynamics, Rate equations, Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems, Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells, Acids and bases
Inorganic Chemistry:
Periodicity, Group 2 (the Alkaline Earth metals), Group 7 (the Halogens), Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides, Transition metals, Reactions of ions in aqueous solution
Organic Chemistry:
Introduction to organic chemistry, Alkanes, Halogenoalkanes, Alkenes, Alcohols, Organic analysis, Optical isomerism, Aldehydes and ketones, Carboxylic acids and derivatives, Aromatic chemistry, Amines, Polymers, Amino acids, proteins and DNA, Organic synthesis, Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Chromatography
Assessment, Marking and Feedback
- Comment feedback for end of topic assessments.
- Regular verbal, self and peer assessment during lessons.
- Mock exams and Pre Public Examinations throughout the 2 year course.
- One-to-one feedback and support sessions when requested by the teacher or student.
Specification
Please click here for the AQA A Level Chemistry specification
Reach Stars
Exam Support
Advice
GCSE
Be prepared for lessons and ensure you have:
- your Chemistry folder and that it is organised,
- a pen, pencil and ruler, and a calculator,
- read through your work from the previous lesson the night before the lesson,
- Optional: your revision guide if you have one
Homework:
You should attempt your homework on the night set (or as early as possible) so that you can resolve any problems with your teacher before the homework is due.
Topic Test and Exam preparation strategies:
- Attempt past paper questions and use mark schemes
- Memorise key ideas using summary sheets, flash cards or other revision material
- Use Google Classroom as a resource
- Complete Educake quizzes and Seneca learning to identify strong and weaker areas
- Ask your teacher for help with topics you find difficult
- Watch video tutorials on topics you find difficult
GCSE Past Papers:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/find-past-papers-and-mark-schemes
A Level
Independent study time in Year 12 vs estimated grade (guide based on previous sixth form students):
Division of time on independent study
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Division of time on independent study |
E.g. Based on 5 hours a week (as part of 15-20 hours total independent study) |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | Reading, note taking and preparing questions for the next part of the course | 1 hour | Reading ahead, and identifying questions for class |
| 20% | Set Homework | 1 hour | Set Homework |
| 20% | Summarising key concepts from recent lessons | 1 hour | Summarising key concepts from recent lesson |
| 20% | Exam questions | 1 hour | Exam questions |
| 20% | Learning/revising content | 1 hour | Learning/revising content |
A Level Past Papers:
Careers
Potential Careers
Medicine, Analytical chemist, Analytical Technician, Bioanalytic Scientist, Chemical engineer, Clinical biochemistry, Forensic scientist, Marine Biologist, Medicinal Chemist, Museum Scientist, Pharmacologist, Process Chemist, Research scientist, Science Communicator, Toxicologist, Environmental consultant, Higher education lecturer, Nuclear engineer, Patent attorney, Science writer, Secondary school teacher
Alumni
Alannah King
Studying Natural Sciences at Trinity Hall (Cambridge) (2016-current)
Jodie Graham
Studying Biomedical Science at King’s College London (2016-current)
Michael Grela
Medicine at Queen Mary University (2016-current)
Extracurricular
Clubs
Science Club - Years 7-8
Trips and visits
Science @work - Year 10
Pfizer Community Lab - Year 12
Support Sessions
Wednesday lunchtime - A Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics support
Thursday lunchtime - GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics support
Stretch and Challenge
Cambridge Chemistry Challenge: click here to find out more