Chemistry

GCSE Chemistry is taught over three years at Brighton College. We follow the AQA syllabus, with the overwhelming majority of pupils following the triple award route leading to a GCSE in Chemistry.

The course is currently modular and pupils sit external GCSE examinations in Years 10 (Lower Fifth) and 11 (Upper Fifth). This will change from September 2012, however, when all GCSEs must be assessed linearly: pupils will therefore take all of their GCSE exams at the end of the Upper Fifth.

The GCSE course is split in to three modules: C1, C2 and C3. We do not teach them in sequential order, however, and have carefully developed our own scheme of work, which progresses through the topics in a logical and spiralled fashion, facilitating pupils to construct a scaffold from which they can build on prior learning and develop their skills gradually but completely.

All pupils receive three Chemistry periods per week over the span of the GCSE course. These consist of one single and one double lesson, which allows for regular practical work to be consolidated by theory and application of scientific understanding. We issue the pupils with carefully selected textbooks, workbooks and revision guides to arm them with all the information they require to succeed, and to help them on the way to becoming self-sufficient learners.

Fourth Form (Year 9)

The principal aim of the Fourth Form is to equip pupils with the fundamental skills and knowledge that they will require to become successful chemists at GCSE and beyond. Topics include:

• Atomic structure & the periodic table
• The mole
• Formulae & equations
• Structure & bonding
• Rates of reaction
• Introductory organic chemistry
• How science works

Pupils have the opportunity this year to take part in the RSCs Top of The Bench - a national competition to find Britain's finest 14-16 year old chemists.

Lower Fifth (Year 10)

This year, pupils apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired in a more focused way, concentrating on areas of the GCSE syllabus such as:

• Fuels
• Polymers
• Chemical analysis & quantitative chemistry
• Electrolysis

Extension opportunities include the RSCs Yr 10 Chemistry Challenge and the Top of The Bench competition.

Upper Fifth (Year 11)

With the culmination of the GCSE course, the Upper Fifth year is of integral importance to the pupils' academic profiles but a key aim of this year is also to instill the confidence in our pupils to go on to study Chemistry at A level. Whilst covering every corner of the GCSE syllabus and revising material from previous years, we seek to extend learning and the development of skills into AS material wherever possible. Where pupils struggle with GCSE Chemistry, less emphasis is placed on extension work and much additional support is provided to help pupils achieve the very best grade possible at the end of the Upper Fifth.

Topics studied this year include:

• The periodic table
• Enthalpy
• Chemical equilibria
• Further analysis & quantitative chemistry
• Further organic chemistry

This year pupils can get involved in numerous extension activities such as: essay and presentation competitions; lectures on advanced topics such as atmospheric chemistry and the pharmaceutical industry; the Top of The Bench competition; and involvement in a school "spectroscopy" day.