PHYSICS

CURRICULUM:

PHYSICS

DEPARTMENT STAFF

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT:

MR G BROWN

Teaching Staff: Mr M Cousins, Mr M Edworthy, Mrs A Stokoe, Mr E Cockshaw

KEY STAGE 3

Physics is taught as part of the overall KS3 Science Curriculum. Please see the Science page for further details.

KEY STAGE 4

Physics at KS4 is taught either as part of the AQA GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy) or the AQA GCSE Physics (taken as the 'Triple Science' option). In both courses, the students will study the topics listed below, however those opting for the Triple Science route will study some of these topics in more depth. Both routes include content based around “How Science Works” and there are 7/10 required practical tasks (depending on the route taken) that all students must carry out in class time. They will be assessed on these in their exams at the end of year 11 in the form of two exam papers. All exams are terminal and will be sat at the end of year 11, there are no exams in year 10 and there is no coursework.

Year 10 Topics: (PAPER 1 content)

·Energy

·Electricity

·Particle Model of Matter

·Atomic Structure

Year 11 Topics: (PAPER 2 content)

·Forces

·Waves

·Magnetism and Electromagnetism

·Space Physics (Triple Science students only)

KEY STAGE 5

At KS5 our students are entered for the course awarded through the OCR A exam board and specification. We do not offer an AS. This course enables students to build on their knowledge of the laws of physics, applying their understanding to solve problems on topics ranging from subatomic particles to the entire universe. They also have the opportunity to develop all the relevant practical skills.

This course is excellent preparation for any science, engineering or maths based university course. It also equips our students with the necessary study skills to go on to read any other challenging academic course at university e.g. law, accountancy, medicine etc.

The course is split into 6 modules which is taught over the two years.

In year 1 students will study topic areas such as:

Foundations in Physics
Forces and motion
Waves
Mechanics
Materials
Electricity

In year 2 students will study topic areas such as:

Fields
Further Mechanics
Thermal Physics
Nuclear Physics
Astrophysics
Medical Physics