It's not just about coloured liquids...FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. Which Examining Boards do you use?

A. Edexcel for GCSE and A Level. They can be found on the web at www.edexcel.org.uk.  

Q. What are your typical teaching group sizes?

A.

YEAR                  NUMBER OF PUPILS
 
7 and 8                          32
 
9, 10 and 11                  24
 
12                                10-16
 
13                                10-16
 

Q. How are the teaching groups chosen?

A. Years 7 and 8 are taught in their form groups. Years 9, 10, 11 are generally a mixture of pupils from three forms chosen alphabetically. We have no ability based setting in Chemistry.

At A level, sets are determined by subject combinations and the positions of the timetable blocks e.g. the Biologists are taught together.

Q. Is Chemistry taught as a separate subject or as part of a Combined Science course?

A. Chemistry is taught as a separate subject in all years and by subject specialists. All pupils are entered for GCSE Chemistry as a separate subject.

Q. What grade does a pupil have to achieve at GCSE to be allowed to continue at A level?

A. We would normally expect a minimum of grade B to make studying the subject at A level a realistic choice and would ideally be looking for grade A or above.

Q. What support do you offer to students who may be struggling in your subject?

A. Up to GCSE and beyond the Chemistry staff are willing to be asked for additional help at break, lunchtimes etc.. However in addition at AS and A2 level we run support lessons as part of TAA activities where students can work at their own pace on a topic of their choice, practice past papers or ask for a revision lesson by the member of staff involved.

These sessions are voluntary but we do expect that students who choose to attend will have a positive and willing attitude.

Q. How many modules are there at AS and A2 and how many times is it possible to resit a module?

A. See here

Q How many papers do students sit at GCSE?

A. See here

Q Does my son have a choice of which science subjects he sits at GCSE?

A Science is presently a core subject in the National Curriculum so he will continue with all three sciences to GCSE.