Physics

Course summary

The Physics department aims to encourage and stimulate pupil curiosity, interest and enjoyment of Physics at all levels of the School. It is taught by specialist staff, as a separate science subject, providing pupils with the opportunity to have their interesting questions answered from an early age. Through a mixture of experimental and theoretical work we endeavour to not only expand pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Physics principles, but develop their practical, investigative and problem-solving skills. Learning to appreciate the physical world around us, develop these key transferable skills and be confident scientists is as much our aim as it is to give pupils the grounding they need to do well in public examinations. The department encourages pupils to be involved in Physics outside the classroom. We have run trips to the Rutherford Laboratories and hosted virtual events. Pupils also take part in the annual national Physics Olympiad competitions and members of the department are involved in running various clubs, including Lego Robotics. This wider interest in the physical world is reflected in the additional course of Electronics offered in the Sixth Form and of the numbers of pupils pursuing Physics and related subjects at university. We see Physics as a key STEM subject and support pupils every year in pursuing careers in engineering. Physics and Electronics are taught in four specialist, newly refurbished laboratories, resourced and supported by our experienced technician. IGCSE The majority of pupils in Year 10 and 11 study Physics as a separate IGCSE, following the Edexcel IGCSE course.  This has eight major topics covering areas such as Forces and Motion, Electricity, Waves, Energy Resources and Energy Transfer, Radioactivity and Astrophysics. There is no formal assessment of practical skills, although plenty of practical work is still carried out. Two exams are taken at the end of the course. A small number of pupils follow the Edexcel Combined Science qualification. For these, Physics is still taught as a separate science and leads to two GCSEs when combined with examinations in the other two sciences. A LEVEL The OCR Physics A specification is followed.  This consists of six taught modules including, Foundations of Physics, Forces and Motion, Quantum Physics, Newtonian world and Astrophysics, and Particles and Medical Physics. In addition, pupils undertake a wide range of practical experiments for which they need to demonstrate competency in practical skills as part of the practical endorsement, although their performance on the practical work does not affect their A Level grade.  The course is an ideal preparation for further study at university, whether students are seeking to pursue courses and careers in physics, science, engineering, medicine or computer science or just interested in developing transferable problem-solving skills and a keen interest in popular science. The department also offers an AS Level in Electronics. This is very much a practically based course and follows the EDUQAS specification. The three main topic areas studied are: digital electronics, analogue electronics and microprocessors, including programming. This is a popular choice with pupils studying Computing and/or Physics.