Purpose

The Chemistry Department aims to provide students with a strong foundation in chemical principles and scientific thinking. Students develop their analytical skills, logical reasoning, and a clear understanding of the role chemistry plays in everyday life and global challenges. The curriculum is delivered through engaging instruction and meaningful practical work in well-resourced and purpose-built laboratories and prepares students for future studies and responsible participation in a scientifically informed society.

Content

In Year 9, students begin their GCSE Chemistry course. They'll consolidate their knowledge of the mysteries of matter, explaining why solids, liquids, and gases behave the way they do and get hands-on experience with their first Core Practical, where they'll master distillation and chromatography—techniques to separate and identify different substances in mixtures. They'll then turn their focus to the secrets of atoms and how different elements bond together to create new substances. Students will also encounter Organic Chemistry for the first time by looking at crude oil and learning how this natural resource is transformed into fuels. Finally, they'll explore how we obtain different metals, how they take part in redox reactions and consider their use in everyday life and in cutting-edge technologies.