Physics

The Physics Department at Lawrence Sheriff School  

In the UK, as in many other countries in the world, the number of students taking demanding A level courses such as Physics has been decreasing steadily over the last twenty years. The Royal Society has stated that the number of students doing Physics at A level has decreased by 37% since 1991.

In the Physics Department at Lawrence Sheriff School, we are aiming to buck the national trend by making Physics a more intriguing option that students will want to take further. More importantly, we are aiming for results at GCSE and A level that will attract students and make them feel confident that the teaching is of an excellent quality.  

All years from Year 7 to Year 13 study Physics as a separate science. At the moment, we are studying GCSE (from Year 9 to 11) with the Edexcel 360 Specification, for which virtually all of our students are expected to achieve a GCSE in Separate Science Physics. In Summer 2008, we achieved 70% of our GCSE passes in Physics at A* or A and all 100% were A* to C.  

At A level, we have just started teaching the new Edexcel A level specification. In Summer 2008, we achieved 74% of A2 pass grades at A/B, whilst all 100% scored A to E grades. Specifications, past papers and a whole host of other goodies associated with the GCSE and A level courses that we offer are available at www.edexcel.com. 

It is often expected that such high grades should be produced by a grammar school, but it is important to note that both at GCSE and A level, we are providing positive value-added. This is particularly impressive at A level, where on average the students were 0.6 grades above their target (set on the basis of GCSE results) in Summer 2008.  

Due to the increasing popularity of the subject at AS, the number of groups at this level has increased from two (in 2006-7) to four (2009-10). Perhaps some of this has been generated by the fact that we provide many alternative methods to satisfy their appetite for the subject, such as lectures, visits, conferences, Physics Olympiad, Advanced Extension Papers and presentations.  

We also have a wonderful technician (Mrs Jeanette Gardner). 

I feel that the Physics Department at Lawrence Sheriff offers an academic and friendly approach to study, with the students always coming first.