Physics

To quote Albert Einstein, "The most beautiful and deepest experience a person can have is the sense of the mysterious. It is the underlying principle of religion as well as of all serious endeavour in art and in science ."

The main aims of the department are to foster an interest and enthusiasm for the subject, to promote an understanding of fundamental principles and consolidate ideas, but also to encourage pupils to develop an enquiring mind, question the world around them and indeed tackle the mysterious!

Physics is studied as a separate subject on entering the School in Year 7 and, from this first year onwards, considerable emphasis is placed on practical work and investigations, with the pupils being steered towards their own conclusions. Traditional experiments are complemented by the use of data logging and computer modelling.

We begin our GCSE courses in Year 9 and this is a very important year when many key skills are taught to prepare the pupils for their GCSE assessments in Years 10 and 11. We follow AQA courses with pupils either opting to take the Physics course or alternatively studying the subject ,(along with Biology and Chemistry) as part of GCSE qualifications in Science B and Additional Science.

We base our AS and A2 courses on OCR's Specification B (Advancing Physics). Students take the first three units during the Lower Sixth year, leading to an AS level qualification. They will then take the remaining three units in the Upper Sixth, completing their progress towards the full A-level. This couorse, designed by the Institute of Physics is modern in its' outlook, highlighting the role of the subject in contemporary society. The course is supported by CD-ROMs and a dedicated website as well as by traditional textbooks.

Students who study Physics learn a range of skills that are transferable across a whole spectrum of career paths. We encourage our Physicists to be practical and analytical, to be researchers and presenters, to be logical and creative. We are proud of the results that they obtain at GCSE and A Level and indeed of the high number of them that go on to read Physics, Natural Sciences and Engineering at many of the UK's top universities.