Subject Overview
The Kent College Physics Department is dynamic and progressive and looking to move Physics in the school into a new era. We aim to give our students an opportunity to develop their skills and understanding of a subject that is challenging and becoming increasingly more relevant to our everyday lives. Quantum Physics has filtered down into our everyday lives through the use of LED technology in our TV’s, and computer screens. The ‘A-Level Science live’ lectures we went to in London addressed the topic of the new OLED screens and their energy efficiency.
The aim of our department is to produce students with enquiring minds and a set of problem-solving skills so that when they go off to university they will be able to rise to any challenge that they are faced with. Ideally, we are trying to encourage students to go into STEM related subjects at the top universities but we are equipping them with transferable skills that will apply to all subjects
We benefit from three well-equipped laboratories and a dynamic teaching team providing skills, knowledge and invaluable preparation for a career in related fields.
| KS3 | GCSE | iGCSE | Pre A level / Pre IB | IB | A Level | Cambridge Technical | Pre U |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
What skills will I learn?
- High level problem solving skills
- Practical skills
- Analytical skills
- The ability to think clearly and logically
- A methodical approach to work, with a high level of accuracy.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- An excellent understanding of statistics and relevant computer packages.
- Research and Organisational skills
What else will I get to do?
- As a department we are always looking to take Physics beyond the classroom initially by teaching beyond the confines of the curriculum, but also with our super-curricular activities that include: Lego League competitions for KS3; STEM club for KS3; Electronics club for KS4 & 5.
- We also offer short workshop courses on various topics in conjunction with the University of Kent, which have included a series of astronomy workshops for KS4&5 that have taught students how to create and analyse scientific images of star fields. Students learnt how to plot light curves for stars to identify exo-planets. Pupils also have the opportunity to attend the Kent College Lecture each year which last year was given by Chris Lintott FRAS ( Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford and broadcaster) on the subject of the Zooniverse which encourages the general public to take part in scientific research. Students met Chris before the event for a Q&A session with two students carrying out a formal interview with him. The success of this programme has led to funding being given to start up an Astronomy Club.
- The most recent project we have started running with the University of Kent is an Architecture research project looking into Urban albedo. Students get to design and build a scale model of a building to see how it affects the albedo of the universities scale model of a small area of London.
Visiting Lecturers
- Chris Lintott - University of Oxford
- Dirk Froebrich - University of Kent
Trips
- We run an annual trip to CERN each year where we…
- Students in Yr 12 have to opportunity to visit the Royal Society Summer Science exhibition each year to inspire them to take a future pathway in a STEM related subject.
- We also regularly take trips to various STEM fairs, lectures in London and at other universities.
The next step..
Physics is such a broad subject it can lead to any career from Working in the city to becoming a Nobel Laureate.
Meet the Head of Physics..
Rupert Champion
Have a question?
If you would like to discuss details of your child's care with us, send us a message and we will gladly answer your questions.