Skip to content

Chemistry

Introduction to Department:   

The Chemistry Department aims to ignite curiosity, awe and wonder. Chemistry is a fundamental science of matter and life, driving everything from biological processes to the materials we use daily.

Chemistry teaching at BWS aims to give all pupils a strong understanding of the world around them, whilst allowing them to acquire specific and transferable skills to think scientifically, analytically and critically. This empowers them to become informed decision-makers, independent thinkers and responsible citizens. The KS3, GCSE and A level chemistry courses will foster a strong subject knowledge which will enable them to gain an understanding of scientific processes in addition to the relevance, uses and implications of Chemistry, today and for the future.

We aim to provide a broad curriculum that is balanced, knowledge-rich and carefully sequenced, enabling students to consolidate and successfully build upon their knowledge and skills. Teaching is evidence-based and scientific enquiry skills are taught, developed and embedded alongside core scientific knowledge. Our students achieve success in external examinations whilst gaining the high-level knowledge and understanding required for further study, employment or training beyond school, and for active participation in society. A large percentage of chemistry students carry on their studies of STEM subjects including chemistry, chemical engineering, medicine, pharmacy, biochemistry and other related subjects.

Results & Achievements:  

Our students are encouraged to make the most of the extra curricula activities available. This year we sent a team of 5 year 12 and 13 students to the national chemistry race competition who, through great teamwork, won the Rugby School competition. We had great success in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge with 11 copper, 10 silver, 7 gold award. We also had 1 roentgenium award, putting the student in the top 0.5% of all entrants. This follows the strong tradition with there being 3 roentgenium winners over the last 5 years. This year we had a strong entry into the Chemistry Olympiad with 10% of our year 12 entries achieving a gold award, 30% getting a silver award and 36% a bronze.  

A mixed year group KS4 team travelled to Portsmouth Grammar School for the RSC Top of the Bench competition this year. From a field of sixteen schools there were only four awards available, and our boys took one of them, the Chemical knowledge prize. 

Whole school results including chemistry for 2024-2025 can be found here.

Extra- and super-curricular:   

There is a wide array of science enrichment opportunities available throughout the year to further the interest of the students, and to help develop transferable skills for their personal development, for example:  

  • Lunchtime STEM Club (Year 7 & 8)  
  • iMechE Lecture (Year 10 & 11)  
  • National Scientific Thinking Challenge (Year 10) 
  • Top of the Bench Competition (Year 9, 10 & 11) 
  • Chemistry mentoring (Year 11 / sixth form) 
  • Chemistry Olympiad (sixth form)  
  • Cambridge Chemistry Challenge (Year 12) 
  • Schools’ Analyst Competition (Year 12) 
  • Twilight session at Southampton University (Year 12) 
  • STEM Careers Day (sixth form)  
  • BWS Chemistry Race (sixth form) 

Recommended reading list:   

  • The disappearing spoon…and other true tales from the Periodic Table, Sam Kean, Black Swan, ISBN: 978-0552777506 
  • Chemistry for Breakfast: The amazing science of everyday life, Dr Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim, Greystone books ISBN: 978-1778401916 
  • Stuff Matters: The Strange Stories of the Marvellous Materials that Shape Our Man-made World, Mark Miodownik, Penguin Books, ISBN: 978-0241955185 
  • The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York, Deborah Blum, Penguin Books, ISBN: 978-0143118824 
  • H2O: A biography of water, Philip Ball, Phoenix Paperbacks, ISBN: 978-0753810927 
  • Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History, Penny Le Couteur, Jay Burreson, Penguin Publishing Group ISBN: 978-1585423316 
  • AQA GCSE Chemistry student book, Lawrie Ryan, Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-19-835938-8 
  • A level Chemistry for OCR A, Rob Richie, Dave Gent, Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-19-835197-9 

Bristol Universities Molecule of the Month website. Each month since January 1996 a new molecule has been added to the list on this page, which makes this one of the longest running chemical websites.  

Learning by Key Stage   

KS3 – In Year 7, students have one, or in some cases two, science teachers who deliver an engaging, practical-oriented and knowledge-rich overview of all three sciences through twelve exciting modules, including Cells and Organisms, Acids & Alkalis and The Earth in Space.

In Year 8, students are taught Chemistry by a specialist teacher. We follow our own dedicated course aligned with the National Curriculum. Topics studied include The Periodic Table, Chemical Changes and Metal Reactivity.

KS4 - From Year 9 to Year 11, all students are taught by specialist staff who deliver the AQA specification. The course is studied over three years and is assessed in two written examinations in the summer of Year 11.

The topics studied are:

1. Atomic structure and the periodic table

2. Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter

3. Quantitative chemistry

4. Chemical changes

5. Energy changes

6. The rate and extent of chemical change

7. Organic chemistry

8. Chemical analysis

9. Chemistry of the atmosphere

10. Using resources 

The course deepens the understanding students have of all manner of scientific processes and problems. It provides students with a challenging scaffold to build ideas upon whilst also giving the opportunity to embed practical work and real-world application to elements of theory.  

KS5 – The A level curriculum is designed to inspire students, nurture their passion for chemistry and lay the groundwork for further study in fields such as chemistry, medicine, environmental science and pharmacy.

Students study the OCR Chemistry A specification. Practical skills are integrated throughout and assessed through the required practicals, which form the Practical Endorsement, as well as through questions in the written papers. A-level provides a strong foundation for further study of Chemistry, or related subjects at university. Chemistry is widely regarded as a challenging facilitating subject by UK universities, and a strong grade is highly valued by leading institutions.

There are some important differences between GCSE and A level Chemistry. Topics that are studied in a descriptive, qualitative way at GCSE are, at A level, studied in a quantitative manner, with equations being applied. This means there is a greater mathematical content.

The A level is split into 6 modules:

Module 1: Development of practical skills in chemistry 

Module 2: Foundations in chemistry

Module 3: Periodic table and energy

Module 4: Core organic chemistry

Module 5: Physical chemistry and transition elements

Module 6: Organic chemistry and analysis

Staff 

Head of Department: Dr C Maunder cmm@bishopwordsworths.org.uk  

Teachers:  

Cookie Policy