Subject Pages
Physics
Highworth Physics Department has supported many successful students who have subsequently gone on to study Physics or a related degree at a traditional university, including Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London.
Students that study Physics develop a scientific approach to interpret the world, striving to understand the application of study through developed models and concepts. The lessons use real examples to relate concepts to the student’s lives. Alongside the concepts, lessons also develop key transferable technical skills in areas such as planning, uncertainties and data analysis.
Recent Physics trips abroad, e.g. CERN, Switzerland have produced exciting extra-curricular opportunities for upper school students to explore the weird and wonderful world of particle Physics, as well as developing their knowledge of international scientific opportunities.
KS4 students also have the opportunity to participate in STEM competitions and attend the Big Bang Fair at local venues. We encourage students to participate in engineering residential courses offered by providers such as the “Smallpeice Trust”, University summer camps and work experience for KS5 students.
Staffing
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Head of Science |
Mr A Donovan |
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Head of Physics |
Dr M Brown |
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Teachers
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Mr B Ellis Mr A Hope Mr L Norton |
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Prefects
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William Darcey Edward Maryam Eve Natasha |
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Ambassadors
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Joanna Y11 Johanna Y11 |
Curriculum Map
Click here for the Science Curriculum Map (Years 7-9)
Click here for the Physics Curriculum Map (Years 10-13)
Key Stage 3
Content
Key Stage 3 Science is taught as a combined Science course in Year 7 and Year 8. Students study topics from each of the three scientific disciplines. In Year 9 the students transition to having separate science lessons with specialist teachers in preparation for starting their GCSE courses.
Our Key Stage 3 course follows the Key Stage 3 Science National Curriculum content, please click here for more information.
Year 7 Topics
- Forces
- Electricity
- Energy
- Waves
- Particles
- Compounds and Mixtures
- Earth
- Movement and Cells
- Interdependence and Plant Reproduction
- Variation and Human Reproduction
Year 8 Topics
- Forces
- Magnetism and Electromagnetism
- Energy
- Waves
- Matter
- Reactions
- Earth
- Breathing and Digestion
- Respiration and Photosynthesis
- Evolution and Inheritance
Year 9 Topics
- Energy Stores and Changes in a System
- Conservation and Dissipation of Energy
- National and Global Energy Resources
- Changes of State and the Particle Model
- Internal Energy and Energy Transfers
- Particle Model and Pressure
- Atomic Structure
- Atoms and Nuclear Radiation
- Hazards and Uses of Radioactive Emissions
- Nuclear Fission and Fusion
In Year 9 Physics lessons, students will study a range of topics which review and build on Key Stage 3 knowledge and prepare them for their GCSE Physics course. There are many opportunities for developing problem solving skills, scientific literacy and the scientific application of maths skills and data handling. Students will advance their practical skills through a range of practical activities relevant to the topics studied.
Assessment, Marking and Feedback
Students are continuously assessed by their teachers during a range of classroom activities but their progress is formally monitored using end of topic tests and the end of year exam, marked using common mark schemes.
Feedback has its main focus on science learning objectives and outcomes since our aim is to improve performance in Science. We aim to be positive, developmental (showing the student how to improve further) and specific.
We assess targeted pieces of work (either class or homework but not class notes) focussed on difficult concepts, open-ended or challenging activities or data analysis. Self and peer assessment are used to review straightforward tasks.
Key Stage 4
Content
The expectation is that all students will study AQA GCSE Physics (8463) as a separate science award, taught by specialist Physics teachers.
The course aims to:
- develop students’ interest in, and enthusiasm for, Physics
- develop a critical approach to scientific evidence and methods in Physics
- enable students to acquire and apply skills, knowledge and an understanding of how science works and its essential role in society
- enable students to acquire scientific skills, knowledge and the understanding necessary for progression to A Level Physics and other courses
Students on this route will be assessed in two final examination papers, each worth 50% of the final grade. Each 1 hour 45 minute exam paper incorporates practical skills questions alongside the subject content and will assess students through multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open response style questions.
Assessment, Marking and Feedback
Students are continually assessed by their teachers during a whole range of activities. In addition their progress is monitored by:
- Common Tests – given to all students as indicated in the Scheme of Work. Tests are marked using common mark schemes.
- Examinations – taken each year by all students at an appropriate time for the course. Internal exams are set using past exam papers and mark schemes wherever possible. Exam percentages are entered onto the relevant year database.
Specification
Please click here for the AQA GCSE Physics specification
A Level
Content
At Key Stage 5 we offer a two year AQA Physics A Level (7408). This course builds upon GCSE knowledge but seeks to inspire students, nurture a passion for Physics and lay the groundwork for future study in science or engineering. At A Level, students are required to learn and retain a large body of factual information and to be able to employ creative and analytical thinking skills. There is however, no pre-requisite for external students to have followed the AQA GCSE course prior to joining this A Level course in the Sixth Form as concepts from the GCSE course that arise at A Level are reviewed in lessons and in detail when required.
This course is designed to encourage students to:
- develop their interest in and enthusiasm for Physics, including developing an interest in further study and careers in the subject
- develop and demonstrate a deeper appreciation of the skills, knowledge and understanding of How Science Works
- develop essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of Physics and how they relate to each other
- appreciate how society makes decisions about scientific issues and how Physics contributes to the success of the economy and society
Practical skills are an important element of the course and there are 12 standard practical tasks that students will undertake across the two years. Practical skills demonstrated by the students in these tasks are formally assessed through the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) throughout the two years to award the separately reported Practical Endorsement.
The entire A Level course is assessed by three 2 hour terminal examinations. Papers will cover the knowledge, content and application of Physics concepts and include a mix of long and short answer questions, along with a number of multiple choice sections. The content, methodology and data analysis from the 12 standard practical tasks are formally assessed in the terminal examinations.
Assessment, Marking and Feedback
Students are continually assessed by their teachers throughout their lessons and independent study tasks. Past paper questions are regularly used in lessons and independent study tasks, with feedback given.
In addition progress is monitored by:
- Common Tests – given to all students as indicated at the end of each topic. Tests are marked using common mark schemes.
- Year 12 End of Year Examination – taken by all students Term 6. Internal exams are set using past exam papers and mark schemes wherever possible.
Required practical tasks are formally assessed using CPAC. Marks are formally recorded and feedback is given.
Specifcation
Please click here for the AQA A Level Physics specification
Research Stars
Exam Support
Advice
We highly recommend that students independently attempt past paper questions throughout their courses at Key Stages 4 and 5.
We encourage students to use the Google Classroom where teachers provide additional resources throughout the year to support their courses.
We encourage students to use both GCSEPod and Educake to support independent study and revision.
On request, teachers are happy to make themselves available for students to meet them for short one-off tutorials outside of lesson times.
Key Stages 4 and 5, Science Support sessions run at lunchtimes, where students are able to bring past paper questions and topics to teachers and prefects who will be able to assist them.
Past papers
GCSE:
Please click here for the GCSE AQA Physics specification
A Level:
Please click here for the A Level AQA Physics specification
Useful external links
www.cram.com – we have set of revision cards for GCSE. Author “HPhysics”
www.educake.co.uk – your Biology, Chemistry and Physics teachers will give you your login
Seneca - https://senecalearning.com/en-GB/
Physics and Maths Tutor - https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/
Isaac Physics - https://isaacphysics.org/
Free Science Lessons-
Careers
Potential careers
“Physics is a highly numerate subject requiring logic and practical skills. As such it is a well-considered, enabling qualification which can lead to some of the following careers:
- Accountancy
- Aeronautical Engineering
- Architecture
- Astrophysics
- Banking
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Clinical Engineering
- Computing
- Defence Employment
- Electrical Engineering
- Geophysicist
- IT Consultant
- IT Systems Engineer
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Physicist
- Medicine
- Meteorology
- Nuclear Engineering
- Quality Control Scientist
- Researcher
- Solicitor
- Teacher
- Veterinary Medicine
Careers with Physics from the IOP Website:
Extracurricular
Clubs
Science Club for KS3 Physics – Tuesday Lunchtime in C124
Engineering and Physics Society (KS5) – Weekly in C233
STEM Club – F1 in Schools – Tuesday after school
Key Stage 3 Science/Physics Support – Monday Lunchtime C124
Key Stage 4 Physics Support – Thursday Lunchtime in C131
Key Stage 5 Physics Support – Wednesday Lunchtime in C131
Trips and visits
CERN Trip – 2019
Cambridge Aim Higher Trip – Autumn 2019
Big Bang Fair – 2018, 2019