Physics

In Year 9 we introduce students to the joy of Physics as a subject in its own right. We begin to teach some of the AQA GCSE Physics course, looking at conduction, convection and radiation. The course is very practical, with elements of How Science Works featuring strongly.

During Year 10 and Year 11, the bulk of the GCSE course is covered. Topics covered include: Radioactivity, Earth and Space, Forces and Motion, Energy Resources, Electromagnetic Waves and Nuclear Fission and Fusion.

At A-Level, we follow the Advancing Physics Course developed by the Institute of Physics. It is an inspiring and relevant course, which brings modern technological developments into the field of study. Pixels, bits and bytes, how many digital photographs can be stored on a CD, ultrasound imaging, radio telescopes, analysing pictures from Mars - quantum mechanics, wave/particle duality, ideas on relativity - these are just some of the topics covered for AS. A2 in the Upper 6th continues with particle accelerators, analysis of decay, field theory and entropy. Both the AS and the A2 course come with a dedicated textbook. Practical work is also a large feature of the A level with two pieces of coursework in Lower 6th and another two in Upper 6th. Both AS and A2 coursework include a practical investigation which stretches the students’ practical and problem-solving skills.