Physics
Physics is taught as a separate science subject from Year 7 to Year 13. In Years 7 and 8 students gain a solid grounding in basic Physics ready for starting their GCSE course.
All of our students start Year 9 working on the AQA separate scheme (4403), with all students working towards a GCSE qualification in Physics. Some students, following discussions between the school and parents, transfer to the Core and Additional Science course in Year 11.
In the sixth form the A level taught is the AQA ‘Specification A’ course. At sixth form level the department has one of the largest intakes in the local area, with around 100 students studying Physics at any one time.
The Physics department is a large, well-resourced department staffed by five specialist teachers and a full-time technician. Physics facilities consist of four laboratories which were all fully refurbished to a very high standard during 2008 and 2009. All the laboratories are on the same floor and in the same building as Biology and Chemistry, with which there are very close links, particularly at Key Stage 3 and GCSE level.
KEY STAGE 3
Year 7
- Magnets
- Light
- Sound
- Forces and Motion
- Energy
Year 8
- Circuits
- Electromagnets
- Force and Pressure
- Force and Rotation
- Datalogging
- Earth and Beyond
- Conservation of Energy
- Light and Sound (key stage 4 introduction)
- Graph drawing
Useful links and websites
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/
Assessment Information
KEY STAGE 4
Year 9
UNIT ONE:
- Topic 1 Thermal Energy Transfer
- Topic 2 Energy Efficiency
- Topic 3 Using Electricity
- Topic 4 Generating Electricity
- Topic 5 Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Topic 6 Origins of the Universe
Year 10
UNIT TWO:
- Topic 1 Forces and Motion
- Topic 2 Energy and Momentum
- Topic 3 Currents in Electrical Circuits
- Topic 4 Mains Electricity
- Topic 5 Radioactive Substances
- Topic 6 Nuclear Fission and Fusion
Year 11
UNIT THREE:
- Topic 1 X-Rays and Ultrasound
- Topic 2 Lenses and Vision
- Topic 3 Turning Forces
- Topic 4 Hydraulics and Circular Motion
- Topic 5 The Motor Effect
- Topic 6 Transformers
Useful links and websites
Assessment information
AQA GCSE Physics 4403
AQA GCSE Science (4405), Additional Science (4408)
KEY STAGE 5
Year 12
- Unit 1 PHYA1 Particles, Quantum Phenomena and Electricity
- Unit 2 PHYA2 Mechanics, Materials and Waves
- Unit 3 Investigative and Practical Skills in AS Physics
Year 13
- Unit 4 PHYA4 Fields and Further Mechanics
- Unit 5 PHA5A-5D Nuclear Physics, Thermal Physics and an Option Topic
- Unit 6 Investigative and Practical Skills in A2 Physics
Useful links and websites
Assessment information
AQA GCE AS and A level Specification Physics A