Aims
In the first 3 years, we hope to inspire and excite students about the chemistry of the world in which they live. We hope to achieve this by teaching the basic principles and experimental techniques that are the foundations of chemistry using interesting situations that are applicable to the modern world.
What staff and facilities are available to the department?
We have 5 well equipped laboratories. One of the laboratories incorporates 6 fume cupboards for A Level experimental work of a more hazardous nature. The department is staffed by 5 full-time and one part-time teacher and 3 highly qualified technicians.
How much time will I spend on this subject per 10 day cycle?
- Lower School – 3 lessons (3 hours) with 1 hour of homework
- GCSE – 5 lessons (5 hours) with 2 hours of homework
- A Level – 10 lessons (10 hours) with additional individual study
Chemistry in the Lower School
Chemistry is taught as a single science. The course is designed to offer as much practical work as possible during all 3 years and we aim to include as much investigative chemistry as possible to help students develop the skills of fair testing and analysis. In the Third Year we attempt to enlighten the students about the applications of chemistry to everyday life as we believe that it is important for all students to have a good grasp of the role of chemistry in the wider community, particularly if they are not intending to take the subject further. This enables us to consider topical chemistry issues and pursue project and research work about areas the students may find interesting, for example forensic chemistry, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and perfumes to name but a few.
Chemistry further up the school
GCSE
At GCSE we follow the Edexcel IGCSE syllabus. The range of topics is extended and practical skills are further developed.
A Level
The A Level course follows the OCR syllabus to AS and A2 levels. The first topics in the AS course are selected in order to refresh and expand the candidates’ knowledge and understanding of atomic structure and bonding and also to instil an appreciation of the mole concept and its many applications. Later sections of the course cover topics such as energetics, equilibria, kinetics, transition metals, periodicity, acid-base reactions and organic chemistry. The emphasis is on achieving a much greater understanding of why and how chemical reactions take place and creating links between the various branches of the subject. Practical work is integrated into the course and is internally assessed but externally moderated.
Extracurricular activities
There is a Lower School chemistry club, which meets once a week to perform exciting experiments which are outside the normal sphere of the syllabus. Chemistry clinic is run weekly by Sixth Form chemists where Lower School pupils can get support with topics they find difficult. In the Middle School creative chemistry club runs and in the Sixth Form students can either take part in the Engineering Education Scheme, or a Chemistry based research project run in conjunction with Manchester University or colour chemistry project with Leeds University.
In the Second year
Second Year pupils are invited to attend the annual Salters’ festival of chemistry based at a local university. The festival provides pupils with the opportunity to attend university for the day and perform a series of supervised experiments in university laboratories.
In the Fourth Year
Fourth Year pupils are encouraged to apply for a place at chemistry camp, another Salters’ initiative. It has proved very popular and has been well attended in recent years.
In the Sixth Form
Sixth Form pupils have the opportunity to enter the young analyst competition, attend lectures at Manchester University on Advanced Level topics and become involved in the Chemistry Olympiad where we have a good record of success.
