Curriculum
Year 1
Physics topics are taught in English as part of the integrated science curriculum in year 1. The physics topics taught are measurement techniques, density, energy and atmospheric pressure. These assimilate well with the biology and chemistry topics to enable the students to gain a good foundation in the scientific method.Year 2
Physics topics are taught in English as part of the integrated science curriculum in year 2. The physics topics taught are heat and electricity. These assimilate well with the biology and chemistry topics to enable the students to gain skills in scientific inquiry.Year 3
Physics topics are taught in English as part of the integrated science curriculum in year 3. The physics topics taught are light and forces. These assimilate well with the biology and chemistry topics to enable the students to master skills in scientific inquiry.IGCSE
The IGCSE is taught as a two-year course in years 4 and 5. The course is adapted to a concept led approach. In examinations, students will be required to apply physics knowledge to both familiar and unfamiliar situations. There are a limited amount of marks awarded for recalling information by memory. This aids good training for the A-Level and for developing critical thinking. Critical thinking is a transferrable skill not only for all subjects but also in everyday life.Year 4 marks the beginning of the delivery of material for Edexcel IGCSE Physics. The course is externally examined at the end of Year 5, and there is no coursework component.
Concepts of Physics covered in year 4 are Motion, Forces, Astronomy, Energy, Heat, Optics and Waves. At the end of each topic, students will sit a written assessment in their class sets. The cultural and social significance of Physics is embedded within the coverage of the syllabus. Experimental methods and techniques are further developed as the quantitative nature of the subject is given greater emphasis within the context of both problems solving and practical work. Graphical and numerical skills are a particular focus.
In year 5, the IGCSE course is completed. States of Matter, Gas Laws, Radioactivity, Electricity, Magnetism and Electromagnetism are studied this year. The mock exam is in January and it is prepared and assessed in the same way as the actual IGCSE examination giving a clear indication of what students would potentially achieve.
The higher level of demand as the IGCSE course draws to a close coincides with the new linear A-Level and many students decide to continue to study physics at the sixth form level.