Physics

Aims

  • to help pupils acquire a systematic body of knowledge and understanding of Physics
  • to help pupils appreciate that the concepts of Physics are constantly developing
  • to stimulate pupils' interest in Physics, so encouraging them to undertake further studies
  • to provide an appreciation and understanding of Physics theories and principles
  • in Sixth Form students to develop a scientific approach to the solving of problems within the context of planning and conduct of investigations
  • to encourage an understanding of technological applications of Physics and its importance as a subject of social, economic and industrial relevance.

Physics provides us with the fundamental basis for a lot of everyday technology. The list of technologies that are based on Physics is almost endless: electricity, automobiles, aeroplanes, ships, microchips, medical treatments and diagnosis, TV, radio, mobile phones, and so on. Besides being a fundamentally interesting subject, Physics can lead to a career in Engineering which can offer both a healthy income and an interesting and rewarding alternative to medicine, dentistry, law or finance.

Physics at both GCSE and A level is valued by employers and universities alike as a subject requiring both serious application and rigour.

Teaching Approach

In First and Second Years (Years 7 and 8), a practically based approach is adopted with much scope for pupil centred learning through structured worksheets, with homework sheets that reinforce the concepts met in class.

In Third, Fourth and Fifth Years (Years 9, 10 and 11) the AQA GCSE course is taught. Work is more teacher-led, with worked examples and note making. Whilst practical work continues, the emphasis shifts towards the style of investigative work required for the GCSE course with more focus on analysis of data. A greater use of ICT is made at this level both in the transfer of knowledge using simulation software and the recording of practical data by the use of data logging techniques.

Extra rigour can be provided where appropriate and possible by providing extra Physics teaching using the IGCSE course provided by the Edexcel examining board.

GCSE examinations are held annually at the end of each of years 9, 10 and 11 with opportunities to retake if underperformance occurs at the first sitting.

Regular parental communication keeps the parent/guardian informed of progress made by each pupil and the retake requirements if relevant.

Sixth Form lessons are a blend of teacher demonstration, illustrative practical work, using ICT to log, analyse and model data, class discussion, note taking, worked examples and preparation and practice for the practical tests taken at both AS and A2 level.

Here the specification used is the AQA Physics A, with the practical assessment being examined in school and marked externally.

Examinations of each module are sat in January and June of both the AS and A2 years.

Facilities and Resources

    • four laboratories and two preparation areas,
    • one fully equipped ICT laboratory used by both GCSE and A level classes,
    • DVD and ICT equipment with interactive white boards are available for use in each laboratory,
    • Class sets of data loggers are available for use in each laboratory along with the relevant software and specifically for A- level the means to analyse in detail the data obtained.
    • A virtual learning environment is currently being introduced for A-level students to enable them to utilise the resources available in the online resource and to increase student centred learning.
    • The two specifications taught in the department are both fully resourced with modern equipment which is renewed on a regular basis.
    • We offer the ‘Engineering in Education Scheme’ as an extra curricular activity at AS level and run an annual trip to CERN for A2 students.

Courses Offered

 The First Year course starts with electrical circuits, developing the concepts of current and of energy transfer. The second topic deals with the solar system and space beyond, covering day and night, the seasons, eclipses, the planets and the stars. Also, the possibility of life elsewhere in our solar system is considered. The next topic looks at how energy resources are used, starting with fuels and the release of heat and then taking a look at renewable energy resources. Finally, in the fourth topic we take a look at forces and their effects, considering the difference between mass and weight, learning about floating and upthrust, density, balanced and unbalanced forces, friction and spring forces.

The Second Year course starts off by looking at thermal energy, looking in more depth at temperature and taking a look at heat transfer and thermal expansion. This relatively long topic is followed by a short visit into magnetism and electromagnets. In the third topic the rectilinear propagation, reflection and refraction of light are explored and human beings’ perception of light and colour studied. The year is rounded off learning about how sounds are produced, how they travel, how they are heard and the associated danger of loud sounds.

In the Third Year the GCSE course is started with the teaching of Module 1, Core Science. This is taught with a practical approach including ICT where appropriate. The topics covered include Heat Transfer, Using and Generating Energy, Radioactivity and the Electromagnetic Spectrum.  This work is examined at the end of the year when they sit their first external GCSE examination.

In the Fourth and Fifth Years the GCSE course is continued and completed. The majority of pupils take a second module exam at the end of the Fourth Year, the Additional Science, and their final examination at the end of the Fifth Year, Further Physics. There is also a practical component to the course which is examined in the Fifth Year.

The topics covered in the Additional Science Module include: Motion and Forces, Current Electricity, Mains Electricity and Radioactivity.

The topics covered in the Further Physics Module include: Moments, Stability, Light and Sound, Fission and Fusion, Electromagnetic Induction and Stars and Space.

There is the option to complete a Double Award course where the Core and Additional Science modules only are completed in all three science subjects on a reduced teaching timetable over three years.

For the very able and if the timetable permits, there has been the option of the IGCSE course where all the topics listed above are taught as well as extra topics to include Gas Laws, Pressure and Density, Electromagnetism and extra work on Working Forces.

In the Sixth Form we offer an AS and an A2 course, following the AQA GCE Physics Specification A. At AS level subjects covered include Basic Electricity, Particle Physics, Mechanics and Waves. At A2 level they include Fields and Further Mechanics, Nuclear and Thermal Physics and finally an option course. There is a practically examined component to each course which is examined in school.