Chemistry

Sixth Form
The department follows the Salters Advanced Chemistry course and has done so successfully (with a 100% pass rate) for the last sixteen years, since the course was first introduced in 1993. Salters Chemistry is a lively and interesting course with great emphasis on the applications of Chemistry, including all the latest developments taking place. Chemistry is made to seem relevant and necessary in our everyday lives as we study a wide a variety of topics, including Medicines, Agriculture, Changes in the Oceans and  Atmosphere and Industrial Chemistry, to name but a few.
 
The course consists of 13 teaching units, the first six of which are taught in the AS course during the first year of the Sixth Form. The other 8 are covered in the A2 course as well as an additional unit, Visiting the Chemical Industry, which includes a short visit to one or two local companies to see at first hand,  Chemistry in the workplace.
 
There is a great deal of emphasis on the practical side of Chemistry in this course and throughout the two years the pupils are involved in a wide range of activities that are designed to include laboratory work, data analysis and ICT exercises. They are internally assessed in practical work in both the AS and A2 years. In the first year, they carry out ‘Chemistry in Practice’ exercises, during which they are assessed in five skill areas, and in the second year they do a four week ‘Individual Investigation’ on a topic of their own choice.
 
In addition to the practical assessment, there are four written exams, two papers at the end of the AS course and two during the A2 year. These Unit exams are entitled ‘Chemistry for Life’, ‘Chemistry of Natural Resources’ (both AS Units), ‘Chemistry of Natural Products’ and ‘Chemistry by Design’ (A2 Units).