Westholme School - Chemistry

Chemistry

Chemistry is studied by all pupils from Years 7 to 11 and the subject is one of the most popular choices at AS and A2 level. We have modern, fully-equipped teaching laboratories and lessons are taught by well-qualified subject specialists. Our emphasis is on the enjoyment of Chemistry by using teaching methods that range from the traditional to the modern. Each laboratory possesses an interactive whiteboard and internet access. Access to a set of lap-top computers allows pupils to use ICT, especially data-logging equipment.

There is a particularly strong emphasis on practical work. Pupils are taught Chemistry as a separate science throughout the school. In Years 7 9, our lessons are based on the Materials and their Properties section of the National Curriculum for Science and all pupils take the national Standard Attainment Tests (SATs) at the end of Year 9. Our results are consistently way above the national average. In years 10 and 11, most students study the AQA Chemistry specification and are entered for the Higher Tier papers. Small numbers opt to take GCSEs in Science followed by Additional Science rather than take all three sciences separately. Most of our pupils achieve A* or A grade and the pass rate is usually 100%.

Chemistry is a very popular option at AS and A-level and our results are excellent most students achieve A or B grades. Studying chemistry at A-level opens up a wide choice of careers and the vast majority of our A-level students continue with their study of science at university on courses ranging from Medicine to Chemical Engineering or Chemistry itself.

In order to expand our pupils experiences beyond the laboratory, we organise trips to see the impact of Chemistry upon our lives and the environment. Recently, Year 7 have visited Catalyst: The Museum of the Chemical Industry at Widnes and, as part of their GCSE course, our pupils have toured Castle Cement near Clitheroe and viewed their vast limestone quarry.

We also encourage pupils to participate in competitions such as the Chemistry Olympiad (Upper Sixth) and Young Analyst (Lower Sixth). The latter gives our Sixth Form students the opportunity to work in university laboratories using equipment unavailable in schools. We have experienced success in both these competitions, winning Bronze and /or Silver medals each year in the Olympiad and winning the North West Regional Final in the Young Analyst Competition. Our three students then went on to participate in the National Final at Edinburgh , where they were placed third. For younger pupils, we enter the Salter's Festival of Chemistry (Year 8) and Chemquiz (Years 8-11), again achieving success. One of our Year 10 students attended a Salter's Chemistry Camp at Birmingham where she had the chance to carry out fun chemistry experiments in university laboratories and visit a chocolate factory.

CHEMISTRY IN ACTION

Year 9 visited Hanson Cement, Clitheroe as part of their GCSE Chemistry course. The girls were able to see how limestone is turned into cement, starting from rock in the quarry to powder in bags and silos. It gave the girls the chance to see chemistry in action on a grand scale and to experience the working conditions in this important branch of the chemical industry dust and more dust!