Chemistry
Chemistry
“Chemistry begins in the stars. The stars are the source of the chemical elements, which are the building blocks of matter and the core of our subject.” Peter Atkins
Realise it or not, we are all chemists. Every time we exercise, light a fire or cook a meal, we perform chemical reactions. It is difficult to think of any product introduced in recent times that did not require the innovative efforts of a chemist at some stage in its production. From the invention of the catalytic convertor, to the discovery of antibiotics and the development pharmaceuticals, chemists have played, and will continue to play, a vital role in shaping the modern world. Chemists hold the key to solving many of the World’s problems.
As with all Sciences, Chemistry involves the study and discovery of our world and our universe. The rules are sometimes obscure and it is the scientist’s job to find them out, and then to use them effectively in solving new problems. That, therefore, is the basic approach we use throughout the school; there is a heavy reliance on pupils actually doing the experiments, modelling and analysing the results, and looking for the patterns beneath. As such, our pupils do a lot of practical chemistry in our four well-equipped laboratories. From the introduction of the Bunsen burner early in Year 7 right through to redox titrations and organic synthesis in Year 13, our pupils are guaranteed to gain a hands-on experience throughout their time at Wellington.
At A Level, students follow the OCR specification. This course takes a content-led approach and is designed not only to be a stand-alone qualification but also to give pupils an excellent preparation for degree courses in a variety of areas. It is structured in such a way as to maintain interest, curiosity and enjoyment in the study of chemistry through extensive practical work and supporting theory.
In common with other sciences, most GCSE students follow either the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification (8462) or the AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy specification (8464). These courses provide thorough, far reaching and yet accessible course content. There is no coursework, although practical and investigative skills will be assessed in questions in the written papers.
At KS3, pupils develop a strong grounding in the subject, studying a range of topics including particle theory, elements and compounds, separating mixtures, acids and bases, types of chemical reactions and reactions of metals.