Chemistry

All girls study Chemistry as a separate subject, taught by specialist teachers, upto and including GCSE. All our lessons take place in well equipped laboratories. We aim to foster an awareness not only of the great range of everyday applications but also the economic, environmental, social and ethical implications of these. Many go on to study this subject in the Sixth Form. These students go on to study mostly science related subjects at university such as Medicine, Veterinary Science and Chemical Engineering. Great emphasis is placed on practical work at all levels. We aim to encourage an inquisitive and investigative approach to problem solving along with cooperative team work. Chemistry is an exciting, intriguing intellectual challenge providing an understanding of our world and how it works. It involves the study of materials and their properties and ways of changing one substance into another. The skills acquired while studying it can be applied to many aspects and situations outside Chemistry itself.

In UIII (Year 7), particular emphasis is placed on practical skills through the study of basic chemical ideas such as solubility, boiling point, pH, acids and alkalis and particle theory. Pupils are also encouraged to formulate ideas about what is happening in an experiment, how to present results, as well as to evaluate and draw conclusions from them. These skills continue to be developed in LIV (Year 8) while studying topics such as, for example elements, mixtures and compounds, the atom and gases in the air. These first two years form an excellent foundation for the GCSE course which pupils begin in UIV (Year 9)where amongst other topics, they extend their study of the atom and the periodic table and are introduced to ideas underpinning bonding in elements and compounds.

In UIII (Year 7) and LIV (Year 8), pupils have the opportunity to join a weekly chemistry Club leading to participation in the Salters Festival of Chemistry held at Reading University. In UIV (Year 9) pupils can involve themselves in the CREST Bronze Award Scheme.

The GCSE courses provide an excellent basis for the study of chemistry in the VIth form where students may pursue either the A level or the IB course. Again, the emphasis is on practical work. Pupils are given the opportunity to attend a Salters Chemistry Camp.

Chemistry specification: http://www.edexcel.com/quals/igcse/igcse09/chemistry/Pages/default.aspx

Double Award specification: http://www.edexcel.com/quals/igcse/igcse09/science/Pages/default.aspx