Chemistry - Bedford Modern School

Chemistry

To inspire the chemists of the future through excellent teaching and a range of teaching and learning experiences
To provide a secure and stimulating environment for students of all ages and abilities to flourish and to achieve their best
To spark intellectual curiosity through experimental work, giving students hands on experience of the laboratory
To equip students with an awareness of the importance of the subject in the wider world.

Our Science Centre provides the perfect backdrop to teaching the chemists of the 21^st century
Well-equipped laboratories allow us to place experimental work at the fore of lessons
Three specialist Sixth Form laboratories give our A Level students access to facilities and apparatus comparable to undergraduate teaching facilities
Six full-time teachers bring a wealth and variety of expertise to the classroom, including experience of academic research and public examining
Our full-time technician is dedicated to providing practical activities which make full use of our well-resourced facilities.

A Level Curriculum

We follow the OCR Chemistry A Specification which aims to:

Further develop students’ GCSE knowledge whilst introducing them to new concepts and challenging previously held theories
Develop competence and confidence in a variety of practical, mathematical and problem solving skills through the Endorsed Practical work where students build up a portfolio of their laboratory work over the two years
Develop their interest in and enthusiasm for the subject, inspiring them to go on to pursue Chemistry-related disciplines and careers
Understand how society makes decisions about scientific issues and how the sciences contribute to the success of the economy and society.

The student-led Sixth Form Science Society organises a variety of activities, from the Years 6-8 Science Fair to the Sixth Form Science Dinner
Twilight support sessions – led by Chemistry teachers, these are sessions where students can come along to get help with specific areas of the course
The Chemistry Olympiad, run by the Royal Society of Chemistry takes place in January and is open to all Sixth Form Students
The Cambridge Chemistry Race competition, run by the Chemistry Department at Cambridge University. A competition for a selected team of Sixth Form students to compete against other schools nationally in solving Chemistry based problems.

Each year a significant proportion of students go on to study Chemistry or a related discipline at university including: