“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”Albert Einstein
The aims of the physics department are to encourage pupils to become confident, independent learners who embrace new physics challenges rather than shying away from it. We aim to do this through encouragement and nurturing pupils’ emerging scientific skills and their natural curiosity about their world, as well as by equipping pupils with problem solving skills and researching skills they can utilise across all three of the science disciplines.
A level
Course Content & Assessment – Exam Board Examination Board: OCR, Code: H556
Module 1: Development of Practical Skills in Physics Module 2: Foundation of Physics
Module 3: Forces and Motion
Module 4: Electrons, Waves and Photons
Module 5: Newtonian World and Astrophysics
Module 6: Particle and Medical Physics
The written examinations for the A Level are:
- Paper 1: Modelling Physics (Written exam: 2 hours 15 mins, 37% of the qualification)
- Paper 2: Exploring Physics (Written exam: 2 hours 15 mins, 37% of the qualification)
- Paper 3: Unified Physics (Written exam: 1 hour 30 mins, 26% of the qualification)
Practical and investigative activities are an integral part of the course but are no longer assessed through controlled assessments. They will be learning skills in class that could be assessed in the written paper.
Although it is not a requirement, taking A Level Mathematics (mechanics modules) alongside Physics, will be a considerable advantage as the course contains at least 40% Mathematics.
Co-Curricular
To ensure that pupils get the most from the course we visit CERN in Geneva where they spend a day talking to Scientists working there as well as a tour of some of the facilities. Pupils will have opportunities to run Science Club for Junior School pupils as well as helping out in the Senior School. There will be various talks and workshops with Physicists from various universities and industries to promote women in Physics.
- Trip to CERN (Y12/13)
- Physics society run by A Level pupils for Y10 and upwards
- Engineering society run by A Level pupils for Y10 and upwards
- Physics Olympiad for Y12 and Y13
- Café Scientifique (for all Years)
Careers & Higher Education
Physicists find employment in every sector of the community drawing on the analytical and problem solving skills they have developed during their training. Physics A Level will prepare pupils you for Higher Education courses and for a variety of careers including Architecture, Oceanography, Optometry, Medicine, Medical Physics, Meteorology, Engineering, Environmental Science, Telecommunications, Materials Technology and Astronomy.
Being a Physicist will be an to your advantage in many career paths, not just the few mentioned above. From being a lawyer to a banker, the problem solving skills pupils you master during their your studies of A Level Physics will always be an to your advantage.
