Chemistry A-Level (AQA) Chemistry at Queen Mary’s High School is great subject for combining theory with practical work, and extends beyond the requirements of the AQA course to prepare students for further study. Last year, 40% of the cohort achieved A*/A grades and 64% attained A*-B grades. Thirteen students have continued to study a Chemistry-related degree such as Pharmacy or Chemical Engineering, and seven attained a place to read Medicine or Dentistry. University destinations included University of St Andrews, University of Birmingham and King’s College, London. Chemistry students are well supported with enthusiastic teaching staff, a weekly Chemistry clinic and the opportunity to be a subject ambassador for KS3 and GCSE students. We also attend lectures at the University of Birmingham, have welcomed visiting university lecturers, and invite students to enter the Royal Society of Chemistry’s annual Olympiad (last year, students attained one silver and two bronze awards). Staff have over sixty years’ teaching experience between them, and bring experience from such as scientific publishing and forensic science to their teaching. Course Overview • Physical Chemistry, atomic structure, amount of substance, bonding, energetics, kinetics, chemical equilibria, thermodynamics, rate equations, equilibrium constants, electrode potentials and electrochemical cells. • Inorganic chemistry: periodicity, group 2, and group 7, period 3 elements and their oxides, transition metals, reactions of ions in solution. • Organic chemistry: alkanes, halogenoalkanes, alkenes, alcohols, organic analysis, optical isomers carbonyls and carboxylic acids, aromatics, amines, polymers, amino acids and DNA, organic synthesis, NMR and chromatography. • Practical content: 12 required activities completed during the course in specified fortnightly practical lessons which focus on the skills and techniques universities are seeking Assessment Model Six hours written examination spread over three exam papers: • Papers 1 and 2: 35% each of total grade; questions include long and short answers. • Paper 3: 30% of total grade, including practical techniques (data analysis), multiple choice questions and questions on any area of specification • Additional endorsement of practical skill on certificate. Career Opportunities Chemistry is a requirement for degree level courses in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary science. In addition, Chemistry provides a solid platform for a wide range of careers including law, accountancy, forensics, pharmacology, chemical engineering, food science, materials science, IT, banking, journalism, toxicology and geology
About Education Provider
| Region | West Midlands |
| Local Authority | Walsall |
| Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Gender Type | Girls |
| Address | Upper Forster Street, Walsall, WS4 2AE |
Chemistry A-Level (AQA) Chemistry at Queen Mary’s High School is great subject for combining theory with practical work, and extends beyond the requirements of the AQA course to prepare students for further study. Last year, 40% of the cohort achieved A*/A grades and 64% attained A*-B grades. Thirteen students have continued to study a Chemistry-related degree such as Pharmacy or Chemical Engineering, and seven attained a place to read Medicine or Dentistry. University destinations included University of St Andrews, University of Birmingham and King’s College, London. Chemistry students are well supported with enthusiastic teaching staff, a weekly Chemistry clinic and the opportunity to be a subject ambassador for KS3 and GCSE students. We also attend lectures at the University of Birmingham, have welcomed visiting university lecturers, and invite students to enter the Royal Society of Chemistry’s annual Olympiad (last year, students attained one silver and two bronze awards). Staff have over sixty years’ teaching experience between them, and bring experience from such as scientific publishing and forensic science to their teaching. Course Overview • Physical Chemistry, atomic structure, amount of substance, bonding, energetics, kinetics, chemical equilibria, thermodynamics, rate equations, equilibrium constants, electrode potentials and electrochemical cells. • Inorganic chemistry: periodicity, group 2, and group 7, period 3 elements and their oxides, transition metals, reactions of ions in solution. • Organic chemistry: alkanes, halogenoalkanes, alkenes, alcohols, organic analysis, optical isomers carbonyls and carboxylic acids, aromatics, amines, polymers, amino acids and DNA, organic synthesis, NMR and chromatography. • Practical content: 12 required activities completed during the course in specified fortnightly practical lessons which focus on the skills and techniques universities are seeking Assessment Model Six hours written examination spread over three exam papers: • Papers 1 and 2: 35% each of total grade; questions include long and short answers. • Paper 3: 30% of total grade, including practical techniques (data analysis), multiple choice questions and questions on any area of specification • Additional endorsement of practical skill on certificate. Career Opportunities Chemistry is a requirement for degree level courses in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary science. In addition, Chemistry provides a solid platform for a wide range of careers including law, accountancy, forensics, pharmacology, chemical engineering, food science, materials science, IT, banking, journalism, toxicology and geology
