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A LEVEL SCIENCE - CHEMISTRY

Our curriculum intent is to have an ambitious and inclusive curriculum, that empowers our students to become life-long learners and successful global citizens.

Chemistry is a challenging yet fascinating and rewarding subject at A Level. Students will build on GCSE level ideas about structure, bonding and material properties and enhance their understanding of physical, organic and inorganic Chemistry. Chemistry is about all matter and the chemical reactions that take place between atoms; whether it is about the 34 elements that make up a human body, synthesising a new medicine or discovering nanoparticles. Through a well-sequenced curriculum, we intend to embed knowledge and skills that challenge all learners.

Students develop their practical skills, such as following written procedures, applying investigative approaches, safely using equipment, recording observations, researching and referencing though the prescribed Required Practicals and extensive practical opportunities, ensuring that students achieve their Practical Endorsement qualification, as part of their Chemistry A Level.

Our curriculum is designed to cultivate a rich scientific vocabulary, enabling our students to think and write like a scientist and students are taught disciplinary literacy in an explicit and direct manner. 

As part of our Enriched and Society-centred curriculum, our students learn about an array of diverse historical and modern scientists, to develop their cultural and scientific capital and further prepare them to become aware and positive members of our community. Chemistry is taught through problem-solving activities that develop evaluative and analytical skills.

To raise aspirations and allow our students to make informed decisions about their future, we provide subject specific careers education. Students learn about educational and skill requirements for Chemistry based professions such as Pharmacologists, Material Scientists, Toxicologists and Analytical Chemists. 

Many of our students go on to study degrees in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Biochemistry, Forensic Science and Chemistry at prestigious institutions. 

Our Curriculum Maps outline our curriculum design and the development of knowledge and skills in Years 12 and 13. The curriculum is adapted to support and challenge students with different starting points, whilst remaining ambitious for all. Students are examined on the OCR Specification in A Level Chemistry.

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