The Physics course is designed to stimulate an enquiring mind. Girls are encouraged to appreciate the fundamental nature of Physics and its importance in today's society.
Practical investigation and problem solving underpin the teaching. The lessons are interactive and girls are encouraged to ask questions and discuss their ideas. Appropriate ICT skills and media are used to support learning.
Year II
Throughout the second year the girls are taught to use diagrams to explain physical behaviour and are introduced to the use of formulae to solve problems.
Topics include
Energy types
Energy sources and how they are used to generate electricity
Force, density and motion (including a visit to Alton Towers to study energy transfer and motion)
Colour
Expansion
Year III
In Year III the key principles introduced in Year II are further developed. Girls are also taught to apply their knowledge to practical situations and are expected to describe physical processes using accurate technical language.
Topics include
Electric circuits
Electromagnets
Moments and balance
Heat transfer
Pressure
Cosmology (including a visit to the National Space Centre)
Edexcel IGCSE syllabus is followed at GCSE both for Physics as part of the double award science and as a separate science. The girls are encouraged to use scientific ideas and evidence and to write fluently using technical terminology. Throughout the course the aim is to build confidence in the use of formulae to solve problems.
All assessment in by terminal examination
Year IV
Topics include
Current electricity
Forces and Newton's laws of motion
Calculations and graphs of motion
Wave behaviour and its applications
Work, energy and power
Electromagnets in the generation of electricity and the power station
Nuclear Fission
Girls who study Physics as a separate science will extend the range of applications in each topic.
Year V
Topics include
Electricity in the home
Boyle’s Law
Heat transfer
Refraction
The behaviour of electromagnets in motors and loudspeakers
Radioactivity
Solids, liquids and gases
Additional topics for those girls studying Physics as a separate science are
The transformer
Particle accelerators
Magnetic fields
Static electricity
Girls will have the opportunity to take part in the Physics Challenge competition organised by the Institute of Physics and Oxford University.
AQA syllabus A is followed for A Level Physics.
In Sixth Form physics we seek to gain an understanding of the great advances of the past century as well as a deeper, and more applicable understanding, of world around us. Physics is viewed as high quality qualification and the skills learned are transferable to many different career paths.
There will be an opportunity to enter the relevant Physics Olympiad, in which we have had recent success, during the course of each year.
Lower Sixth
There are 3 modules of study
Particles, quantum phenomena and electricity
Mechanics, material and waves
Investigative and practical skills
The first two modules are each examined by a 75-minute examination. Investigative and practical skills are assessed by means of a 1-hour practical activity followed by a 1-hour paper.
Lessons involve
Discussion of ideas
Experimental work individually or in groups
Applying new knowledge and working through problems
Individual tutorial help
Upper Sixth
There are 3 modules of study
Fields and further mechanics
Nuclear and thermal physics + optional topic (see below)
Investigative and practical skills 2
Assessment is by the same means as in the Lower Sixth.
The class will choose 1 option from the following topics
Astrophysics
Medical physics
Applied physics
In addition to Science Society lectures the department endeavours to seek out the best speakers on relevant topics, and to participate in events such a particle physics masterclass at a local university.
We aim to also experience physics in the real world. This can vary from using multimedia tools to record and analyse data at a theme park to seeing how physics is used in modern diagnostics at local hospitals.