Courses
We offer a broad and balanced curriculum, for key stage 3 (Years 7-9), key stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) and key stage 5 (Years 12 and 13 - Sixth Form). Click the appropriate button below to find the details for each subject offered in each key stage.
Further details of our curriculum are available on the curriculum page.
Overview
Chemistry
Introduction
Chemistry touches every aspect of our lives from the bodily functions within us to the atmosphere around us. If you want to understand this and the physical universe better, then this course is for you.
Qualification
A-level
Awarding body
AQA
Course leader
Mrs A Engley
Assessment
- Examination: 100%
- 35%: paper 1, 2 hours.
- 35%: paper 2, 2 hours.
- 30%: paper 3, 2 hours
- Non-examined assessment: 0%
- Students need to complete all the required practicals in order to pass the practical endorsement certificate which is required to progress on to some science degrees. No marks are awarded for these practical skills but students are asked questions on the required practicals in their written exams.
Curriculum
Course content
Physical chemistry is the study of the physical structure of chemical compounds. Students will explore how chemicals react with one another and the bonds that hold them together. Physical chemistry is used in everyday life whether that’s baking or in medicinal fields.
Inorganic chemistry is concerned with the properties and behaviour of inorganic compounds, which include metals, minerals, and organometallic compounds. Typically, an inorganic compound is a chemical compound that lacks carbon-hydrogen bonds. Inorganic chemistry is used to study and develop catalysts, coatings, fuels, surfactants, materials, superconductors, and medicines.
Organic chemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies the structure, properties and reactions of organic compounds, which contain carbon in covalent bonding. These structurally diverse compounds vary from naturally occurring petroleum fuels to DNA and the molecules in living systems. Many of these compounds are used as drugs, medicines and plastics.
There is a broad range of sectors for employment within organic chemistry including industry, healthcare and research.
Topics
- Atomic structure.
- TOF mass spectroscopy.
- Amount of substance.
- Bonding.
- Energetics.
- Rates.
- Equilibria.
- Redox.
- Group 7.
- Group 2.
- Alkanes.
- Alkenes.
- Halogenoalkanes.
- Alcohols.
- Aldehydes.
- Ketones.
- Carboxylic acids.
- Isomerism.
- Aromatics.
- Amines.
- Polymers.
- Amino acids.
- Organic synthesis.
- NMRs.
- Chromatography.
- Thermodynamics.
- Electrode potentials.
- Acids and bases.
- Transition metals.
- Period 3 and their compounds.
Skills and requirements
Entry requirements
- Grade 6 in GCSE maths.
- Grade 6 in GCSE chemistry or 6-6 in combined science.
Beyond the classroom
Past activities have included:
- Science Week–wide range of speakers, competitions and events.
- Royal Society science writing book judging panel.
- Royal Society of Chemistry ‘Top of the Bench’ annual competition.
- Sixth Form Journal Club.
- STEM Challenge events.
- Visit to the 'Big Bang' Fair.
- ‘Student of the half-term’ rewards system to recognise and celebrate the achievements and progress of all students.
- High quality textbooks loaned to students to help with independent work.
Future pathways
After A-level students could go on to study chemistry at university which could then lead to a career as: an analytical, formulation, medicinal or process chemist, biotechnologist, chemical engineer, environmental, food technologist, geochemical engineer, nanotechnologist, pharmacologist, science writer, scientific laboratory technician, teacher, or a toxicologist.
These job roles stretch across multiple industries and can have you working on some ground-breaking areas of science and technology.
