A Level chemistry builds upon the material covered at GCSE chemistry and extends it into many areas, dividing the subject into its three traditional areas of inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. The work in the Lower Sixth year covers the fundamental principles of these three areas, with the Upper Sixth work then building and expanding on them.
Pupils in the department regularly enter a range of internal, local, national and international competitions such as the practical Royal Society of Chemistry Analytical Competition and the Salters’ Top of the Bench Competition. In addition, pupils participate in examination-style challenges such as the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge and the RSC Chemistry Olympiad in which pupils often achieve coveted gold awards.
The sheer range of required skills means there is rarely a set career path for a chemist; people who have studied chemistry at A Level and beyond follow careers in many different sectors. Chemistry remains a vital component for medical applications, but chemists may continue their education and complete more specialised degrees. Some will do research; many others go on to follow a diverse range of careers such as law, banking and finance, publishing, or teaching, to name a few.
Exam board: AQA
Subject: A Level Chemistry
Beyond the curriculum
A variety of different trips are organised for pupils, including university laboratory sessions, lecture demonstrations and conferences. Additionally, pupils regularly enter several chemistry competitions held at local universities.
The chemistry department works very closely with the physics and biology departments as part of science, running the ever-popular lower school science club. Outreach work at local primary schools is regularly undertaken by sixth form pupils to promote the study of chemistry.
