PHYSICS
Skills In Physics, we aim to stress the process of scientific investigation. Large parts of the course are taught in context, where students learn through facing problems and having to find their solutions, rather than purely collecting information and memorising details. This approach involves a lot of practical and investigative work to encourage students to test their ideas, apply knowledge to novel situations and communicate their understanding clearly.
Content The IGCSE Edexcel Physics course is taught over three years. The course includes eight major topics: forces and motion, electricity, waves, energy resources and energy transfer, states of matter, electromagnetism, radioactivity and astronomy. Our programme allows us to explore some ideas more widely and to greater depth and is designed to interest, enthuse and encourage students. Some additional material is also included to help students gain a fuller understanding of the practical uses of the physics concepts they study; earthquakes and resonance, for example.
Enrichment Students’ knowledge and skillsets are expanded through a broad variety of extra-curricular activities during the IGCSE course. We host a wide range of external speeches that our students can attend during Science Week. They have the opportunity to spend a week in Florida, looking at the Physics behind activities such as indoor skydiving and space travel. Year 11 can participate in the Physics Challenge, which offers the best physicists a chance to stretch themselves further, and are offered the chance to come to Cambridge University’ s“ Physics at Work” event. We also run occasional trips to other destinations, such as CERN, and help students apply for summer courses and work experience to extend their understanding.
54 THE MIDDLE SCHOOL | AT SEVENOAKS