Chemistry in the Curriculum

Some of our experiments have been running for fifty years.....The school follows National Curriculum guidelines and all pupils study separate science lessons for Biology, Chemistry and Physics from year 7.

Most students take the Separate Science GCSE Higher Tier papers whilst a small number ofweaker candidates may take the Dual Award Science papers.

In the Sixth Form Chemistry is one of the options of the AS/A2 Level curriculum.

Setting

Setting does not take place in any year group below the sixth form. In the Sixth Form setting, where possible, is based on whether or not the student studies Biology, as currently this affects the Chemistry option topic covered at the end of AS. No ability based setting is carried out in any year. 

Year 7 - 2 periods per week

Pupils are taught an RGS Department designed course based on the requirements of the National Curriculum. Pupils are taught Chemistry, in form groups of 32, by a member of the Chemistry or Biology Department. They cover a course which gives access to a wide variety of Chemical topics and scientific methods. The aim is to stimulate an interest and enthusiasm in the subject whilst teaching them key topics and skills appropriate to the intellect of our boys.

Year 8 – 2 periods per week

As per Year 7

Year 9 - 2 periods per week

Students complete their study for KS3 SATs then start their GCSE syllabus in this year. They have one teacher for one double lesson per week.
For the academic year 2007 there are nine sets of 23 or 24 students, mixing students from different forms.

Year 10 - 3 periods per week

Students continue their GCSE course. They have one teacher for one double lesson and one single lesson per week. Sets are different from those in Year 9, typically mixing boys from three forms.
For the academic year 2007 there are 8 sets in the Year 10, with 24 boys per class.

Year 11 – GCSE Chemistry, 3 periods per week

Students complete their GCSE course. Most will take the separate science GCSE Higher Tier papers whilst a small number of weaker candidates may take Foundation Tier or Dual Award Science papers. Such candidates are identified after the mock examinations in January.
Students have one teacher for one double lesson and one single lesson per week. Sets are the same as in Year 10 and, ideally, also have the same teacher.
For the academic year 2007 there are 8 sets in Year 11, with 24 boys per class.

Outline of GCSE Syllabus:

• See GCSE Outline document

Sixth Form

Year 12 – AS Level Chemistry, 7 periods per week

Students start their AS level course. They have four lessons (three double and one single) per week with one teacher. The course has a very strong practical basis and feedback from students and past pupils is very positive and considered an excellent preparation for university. Students complete three units, two examined in June, the third representing the internal assessment.
For the academic year 2007 there are 4 sets in the Year 12 of approximately 16.

Year 13 – A Level Chemistry, 8 periods per week

Students complete their A level course by taking the 3 A2 modules. They have four lessons, all doubles per week with one teacher. The sets are generally very similar to Year 12 sets, any changes are usually to compensate for unequal numbers in sets after some boys drop the subject after the Year 12. For the academic year 2007 there are 4 sets in the Year 12. The sets are typically 12-14 at this stage.

Outline of Edexcel (Nuffield) AS/A2 Level Chemistry Specification :

AS Level

Examination covers the first ten topics of the AS/A2 course, examined as 2 units, UT1 and UT2, each covers 5 topics, UT1 contributes 90 marks to total of 300 for AS and UT2 contributes 120, the reminder is made up of the internally marked practical work.

UT1 Topics

(1) metal compounds, an introduction to Inorganic Chemistry
(2) alcohols, an introduction to Organic Chemistry
(3) the Periodic Table and atomic structure
(4) acid-base reactions and the Alkaline Earth elements
(5) energy changes and reactions

UT2 Topics

(6) redox reactions and halogens
(7) covalency and bond breaking
(8) hydrocarbons
(9) intermolecular forces
(10) halogenoalkanes

A2 Topics

(11) rates of reaction
(12) arenas, benzene and phenol
(13) entropy
(14) reversible reactions
(15) oxidation products of alcohols
(16) the Born-Haber cycle, structure and bonding
(17) redox equilibria
(18) natural and synthetic polymers
(19) Transition elements
(20) organic synthesis
(21) instrumental methods