Welcome to the Chemistry Department

Chemistry General Aims

In the Chemistry department we aim to provide a creative, stimulating and challenging curriculum that inspires and equips all to become independent life-long learners in a local, national and global community.
Chemistry is relevant to our everyday lives; it broadens our appreciation of important issues such as climate change.
It is a popular choice for year 12 and 13. Year 12 now follow the AQA board, while this year’s Year 13 are the last to follow Salter’s Advanced Level Chemistry.
To support students we offer an after-school Chemistry club that runs from 3pm to 4.30pm two evenings per week. Students can work with their peers and get help from teachers with homework or classwork. It is a very important part of the Chemistry Department as it encourages students to learn from each other and sort out any difficulties as they arise. This is mainly for Yr 12 and 13 but students from other years may attend.
We offer visits to various Universities, Societies and Museums that provide stimulating lectures and excite interest in Chemistry and the Chemical Industry.

The Salters Advanced Level course occupies 5 x 50 minute periods per week, with some of these as double lessons. This allows an extended session for practical work.
The course is student-centred based on two textbooks that define the course. Each unit of work occupies about 4-5 weeks. The Units are based on chemistry as it happens in the world around us and develops from the knowledge and understanding established in science GCSE courses. There are strong links with biology, physics and geography amongst other subjects. Some reading and learning will be via web-based activities.
The economic benefits for Britain of a strong Chemical Industry evolve throughout the course.
Trips will be organised to lectures at nearby universities.

The units studied in the first year can lead to AS level qualification. Examination will be modular.

For AS there are 3 assessments units:

Unit 1 - Taken in June or January - 30% AS Level or 15% A Level.
Unit 2 - Taken in June - 50% AS Level or 25% A Level.
Unit 3 - Experimental Skills for Chemistry (Assessing practical skills) - 20% AS Level or 10% A Level (taken throughout the course).

A2 assessment comprises of two more written examinations (70% of A2 marks) and a practical investigation (30% of A2 marks).

The Advanced Level award is based 50% AS and 50% A2 marks.

Throughout the course an after school ‘Chemistry Club’ is run to help and assist the students once a week.

Training in analysis, understanding, evaluation, application of knowledge and data handling provide foundations for many AS/A Level subjects as well as sciences.
GCSE Science at grade B or above is required to study a science subject at AS/A level.