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Physics
Physics is taught as a separate subject from Year 7. Girls receive 70 minutes of tuition from specialist Physics teachers in Form groups in Year 7 and Year 8 and 9. This provides an excellent basis for both GCSE and A Level and contributes to our success in both of these examinations.
At GCSE all girls follow the AQA Specification Core and Additional Science modules in Physics and more than half obtain a GCSE in Physics. Class sizes are not usually more than 20. We offer girls from Year 10 upwards the chance to gain an extra GCSE in Astronomy as an after school activity.
At AS level between 12 and 20 girls in 2 groups choose to follow AQA Physics Specification A, having approximately 4 hours of tuition per week. Unit 1 to be taken in January and Unit 2 in June.
At A2 level similar numbers of girls have approximately 4 hours of tuition per week and take Unit 4 in January of Year 13, followed by Unit 5 (Turning Points in Physics option). In both years they complete investigative skills assignments, which contribute towards the final examination result.
Girls leaving school with A Level Physics have gone on to study Physics, Astrophysics, Medical Physics or another Science, various branches of Engineering, Medicine, Veterinary Science, Architecture, Law, Pharmacy, Mathematics and Computer Science. Physicists are now particularly sought after by the financial institutions, in order to utilise their mathematical modelling skills to predict future growth or collapse in the economy. Specialist Physics teachers are in very short supply. As a Physicist employment will not be a problem!
During the Sixth Form we offer the girls the opportunity to take part in the Liverpool Physics Olympics and to attend relevant Institute of Physics and university lectures.
Physics is taught in three very well resourced laboratories, with experimental work or demonstration forming the basis of almost every lesson. Data-logging equipment, computer simulations and the Internet are used to enhance the teaching of Physics wherever possible.
Aims of the Physics Department
- To encourage pupils to experience the fascination of Physics and how it underpins our daily lives, and be led to an understanding of its relevance to the development of our future world
- To develop in pupils a sense of curiosity, enabling them to develop their ability to investigate and solve problems and leading them to a logical explanation and analysis of their observations
- To enable pupils to fulfil their academic potential by developing their subject knowledge and their practical, literary, mathematical and ICT skills where relevant to Physics
- To develop in pupils environmental concerns and a realisation that there are both positive and negative effects in scientific developments
- To understand how physicists throughout the centuries have developed the theory behind the Physics we know today by observing phenomena and building on each others' knowledge
- To create a happy, safe and caring environment within the laboratory where pupils can discuss freely, respecting other pupils' viewpoints, and where they develop a concern for the welfare and safety of both their peers and the wider community.
Head of Physics - Mrs J Custard Courses Offered GCSE (AQA)
A2 / AS (AQA)
GCSE (Edexcel)
Physics
Physics
Astronomy