Chemistry
Events
Y9 Scientist of the Year
Congratulations to Nisha Hare (Year 10) who was selected as Oxford High School ‘Y9 Scientist of the Year (2011)’. Nisha represented the school at an award ceremony at the beginning of November. Another girl in Year 13 attended a similar ceremony becoming Oxford High School’s ‘Chemist of the Year’; she is currently applying for Natural Sciences at Cambridge.
Cambridge Chemistry Challenge
In the summer our AS students competed in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge. Seventeen students took part; both Jennifer Collister and another girl in Year 13 were particularly successful gaining a Silver award, with most others gaining Copper awards.
‘Salters’ Chemistry Camps
Congratulations to Emma Long, Mairead Rae and Emily Davenport who all successfully obtained places at this year’s residential ‘Salters’ Chemistry camps at a variety of Universities across the country. These courses involve groups of 50 students doing lots of exciting chemistry experiments.
Chemist of the Term
The current ‘Chemist of the Term’ award for students who have made excellent contributions in class were awarded to Maja Donaldson, Alice Limb and Nisha Hare.
AIR
A liaison project on the topic of AIR is organised by the junior and senior science departments. All new year 6 students spend a morning in the laboratories of the senior department with some producing poster presentations for display at the start of the autumn term.
Science Activity day at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories
Four OHS students Anna Hausel, Phillipa Duckett, Annie Hart and Caitlin Fooks all took part in a Science Activity day at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories.
‘Salters’ Chemistry Challenge
Heather Tough, Katherine Klemperer, Sophie Teall and Ella Wilson, all participated in the ‘Salters’ Chemistry Challenge at Oxford University. They did extremely well competing against 11 other schools and came second in one of the competitions; they then attended an exciting Chemistry lecture.
Science Activity day at Oxford University’s Chemistry and Materials Department
A team of six students Nisha Hare, Jemima Gasson, Charithra Chandran, Helene Greenwood, Ella Recher and Ruth Warner all took part in a Science Activity day at Oxford University’s Chemistry and Materials department.
iChemE Science Essay Competition
Congratulations also go to one of our Year 11 students who won the iChemE Science essay competition. Over 100 students took part and Georgina came first (also winning £50 worth of Amazon vouchers)
Science Museum in Birmingham (‘Think-Tank’)
Year 8 recently enjoyed a trip to the Science Museum in Birmingham (‘Think-tank’). The 3D IMAX presentation on ‘Bugs’ was very informative and the girls enjoyed the Palaeontology. They were also able to take their own fingerprints and do a forensic science workshop to investigate a theft.
International Chemistry Olympiad
Every year, chemists compete in the International Chemistry Olympiad (run in January) in which several students in the past have obtained excellent results, ranking amongst some of the best students in the country. This year we had a record entry of eighteen students (many from year 12). There were some excellent performances including Lynn Zheng and Poppy Mallinson who received Gold and Silver respectively.
Extra Curricular
Junior Science Club
Junior Science Club has been a great success this term with Y7 and Y8 students enjoying some extracurricular science activities, including a visit from an expert who gave a talk on Owls.
Senior Chemistry Club
Senior Chemistry Club has also been very enjoyable with a group of students who have been investigating Olympiad style problems. Many thanks for all the help from Mrs Whittington and Mr Hobbs as well as the considerable input from Mr Barlow, Mrs Bell and Mrs Carder.
Personnel
| Dr M R Rushton (HoD) FT | Teaching A level and GCSE. Enjoys travel and lots of sport. Takes extracurricular chemistry club. |
| Mr J Hobbs FT | Teaching A level, GCSE and general science. Enjoys skiing, surfing and takes extracurricular junior science club. |
| Mrs C M Creak PT | Teaching GCSE and General Science. Enjoys all types of sport and takes general studies squash and badminton. |
| Mrs C Carder | Senior Science and Chemistry Technician: Enjoys badminton and learning bridge. Supports the junior and senior science club. |
Facilities and Resources
The department occupies 3 of the 8 science laboratories. Independent learning is strongly encouraged and there are several software packages (networked) as well as other resources for students to access in order to support their knowledge and understanding. There is also a small suite of computers within the science department which is extensively used.
The department now benefits from the purchase of a periodic table display and interactive console which is proving very popular amongst the students.
Curriculum
All girls take chemistry as part of their General Science course in Years 7 and 8. Topics include Purification, Elements and Compounds (Year 7) together with Acids, Metals, Hydrogen and Rocks (Year 8). The emphasis is on plenty of practical work, learning skills and enjoyment.
In Years 9-11 Chemistry is taught as a separate component from the other science disciplines. In Year 11, students study the AQA ‘Additional Science’ GCSE specification which involves an internal assessment of practical work; this course however is in its final year. New specifications began in September 2011 and our current Year 9 and 10 students are studying the AQA iGCSE Certificated Double Award Science course.
Sixth form chemistry is a very popular option with 42 students in Year 12 and a further 25 in Year 13. Some go on to take Chemistry as a degree whilst others wish to do Medicine, Veterinary Studies, Dentistry and other Chemistry related courses. In August 2011, 7 students obtained places to read Medicine including Matilda Carr, Rebecca Littlewood, Rachel Spiro and Lynn Zheng who all obtained places at Cambridge. 3 students went on to do Chemistry or Chemical Engineering with Abigail Schofield obtaining a place at Oxford. 5 students successfully applied to do either Natural Sciences or Biochemistry with both Poppy Mallinson and Sophie Stowell obtaining places at Cambridge.