The
Scanning Electron MicroscopeAAAS Annual Meeting Chemistry
Head of Department: Mr R.F. Hammond
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The Chemistry department is located in the new state of the art SciTec building. There are eight fully equipped laboratories with separate areas for practical and written work. Chemistry is part of the core curriculum from 1st to 5th form, and is an especially popular subject with over 70 students studying the subject in each year at A level. Throughout the school Chemistry is taught by subject specialists.
Many students go on to study Chemistry and allied courses at University including Oxbridge. Chemistry is also a subject chosen to complement other arts based A levels.
The department is staffed by:
Dr M.J. Bessent MChem PhD
Mr W.E. Buckley BSc
Mr K.H. Cobb BSc Mr B.J. Evans BSc
Mr R.F. Hammond BSc
Dr R.J. McKim BSc PhD MRS FRAS
Dr C.J. Quiddington MChem PhD
Mr A. Singh BSc
Dr M.A. Stephen BSc PhD
Course content
IGCSE
Pupils study for the IGCSE Qualification in either Dual Award Science or for a single IGCSE in Chemistry. More information about the material studied can be found here.AS and A2
We teach the OCR specification. More details can be found here.
At A level there is an increased emphasis on the carrying out of practical work and the analysis and evaluation of results. The small group sizes allow for more discussion work and the development of problem solving skills.
Students keen on pursuing Chemistry or allied courses at University are encouraged to join our Chemistry research group as part of the extension course programme. During the lower sixth year the necessary skills of the research Chemist are developed. In the upper sixth pupils are then involved in carrying out their own unique research.
Current projects include the synthesis of possible anti-aging drugs, and the Chemistry of colour in Transition Metal complexes. Able students also have the option to enter the annual Chemistry Olympiad competition and sit the Advanced Extension Award exam.
AAAS
Each year members of the Lower and Upper Sixth studying any of the sciences have the opportunity to attend the annual convention of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. This gives them the chance to hear about the latest developments in a wide range of disciplines from leaders in the field from around the world.