Many people think of chemists as being white-coated scientists mixing strange liquids in a laboratory, but the truth is we are all chemists and an understanding of basic chemistry concepts is important for almost every profession. Chemistry in today’s society has far-reaching applications; chemists are responsible for the development and manufacture of medicines, vaccines, plastics and textiles to name but a few. The battle against pollution is being fought by chemists and they are developing nanotechnology that could change our lives forever. Chemists can think logically and have strong problem-solving skills. You will need well-developed practical skills and must pay meticulous attention to detail. Furthermore, you will need good communication skills as well as a high level of numeracy. Most of all, you need the ability to see beyond a set of facts and figures and apply what you have learned to a multitude of novel situations, showing how you have worked things out through logic and step-by-step reasoning. Chemistry at A level is divided into 3 broad areas of study; physical, inorganic and organic chemistry and builds on the foundations laid at GCSE. Physical chemistry is the most mathematical of the disciplines and covers topics such as atomic structure, bonding, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, kinetics and equilibria. Inorganic chemistry is the study of the elements of the periodic table, their trends and the explanations for them. At A level we study the reactions of Group 2, Group 7 and the Transition metals in detail as well as the trends and reactions of the elements in Period 3. Organic chemistry is the study of carbon chemistry. It includes the hydrocarbons, alcohols and carboxylic acids you are already familiar with along with a wide range of new functional groups including aromatic compounds, amines, and naturally occurring organic compounds such as proteins and DNA. We look at routes of organic synthesis and structural determination.
We expect pupils entering Sixth Form to have secured 45 points from their best 8 GCSE grades (grades of 3 or below may not be included). Students new to Dame Allan’s will also be invited to interview. The study of chemistry at A Level builds on work already studied so students should have a minimum of a grade 7 at GCSE. The mathematical demands of the course require competence in mathematics equivalent to at least grade 7 at GCSE.
The course is linear with all written papers completed at the end of Year 13. There are 3 papers, each lasting two hours with the content split as follows; Paper 1: Inorganic chemistry, relevant physical chemistry and relevant practical skills. Paper 2: Organic chemistry, relevant physical chemistry and relevant practical skills. Paper 3: A synoptic paper with a strong focus on practical skills and related content. Practical work is carried out throughout the course and assessed both in the written examination papers and via a separate certificated endorsement of practical skills. This is teacher-assessed and will be based on direct observation of your practical work in class.
About Education Provider
| Region | North East |
| Local Authority | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Ofsted Rating | |
| Gender Type | Co-Educational |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | Unknown |
| Sixth Form Fee | £15,999 |
| Address | Fowberry Crescent, Fenham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE4 9YJ |
Many people think of chemists as being white-coated scientists mixing strange liquids in a laboratory, but the truth is we are all chemists and an understanding of basic chemistry concepts is important for almost every profession. Chemistry in today’s society has far-reaching applications; chemists are responsible for the development and manufacture of medicines, vaccines, plastics and textiles to name but a few. The battle against pollution is being fought by chemists and they are developing nanotechnology that could change our lives forever. Chemists can think logically and have strong problem-solving skills. You will need well-developed practical skills and must pay meticulous attention to detail. Furthermore, you will need good communication skills as well as a high level of numeracy. Most of all, you need the ability to see beyond a set of facts and figures and apply what you have learned to a multitude of novel situations, showing how you have worked things out through logic and step-by-step reasoning. Chemistry at A level is divided into 3 broad areas of study; physical, inorganic and organic chemistry and builds on the foundations laid at GCSE. Physical chemistry is the most mathematical of the disciplines and covers topics such as atomic structure, bonding, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, kinetics and equilibria. Inorganic chemistry is the study of the elements of the periodic table, their trends and the explanations for them. At A level we study the reactions of Group 2, Group 7 and the Transition metals in detail as well as the trends and reactions of the elements in Period 3. Organic chemistry is the study of carbon chemistry. It includes the hydrocarbons, alcohols and carboxylic acids you are already familiar with along with a wide range of new functional groups including aromatic compounds, amines, and naturally occurring organic compounds such as proteins and DNA. We look at routes of organic synthesis and structural determination.
We expect pupils entering Sixth Form to have secured 45 points from their best 8 GCSE grades (grades of 3 or below may not be included). Students new to Dame Allan’s will also be invited to interview. The study of chemistry at A Level builds on work already studied so students should have a minimum of a grade 7 at GCSE. The mathematical demands of the course require competence in mathematics equivalent to at least grade 7 at GCSE.
The course is linear with all written papers completed at the end of Year 13. There are 3 papers, each lasting two hours with the content split as follows; Paper 1: Inorganic chemistry, relevant physical chemistry and relevant practical skills. Paper 2: Organic chemistry, relevant physical chemistry and relevant practical skills. Paper 3: A synoptic paper with a strong focus on practical skills and related content. Practical work is carried out throughout the course and assessed both in the written examination papers and via a separate certificated endorsement of practical skills. This is teacher-assessed and will be based on direct observation of your practical work in class.