Chemistry

Events

Every year, chemists compete in the International Chemistry Olympiad in which several students in the past have obtained excellent results, ranking them amongst some of the best students in the country. In February 2009, Joanna Sadler (Commendation), Freya Ferguson, Charlotte Mason, Amy Miller, Frances Ng, Rachel Wilkinson, Shirley Yick (all bronze), Hannah Al-Yousuf, Sen Chanthirakumar, Elizabeth Jefferys, Clare Thakker (all silver) all participated very successfully. Susan Sun did particularly well to achieve a Gold award.

During the spring term OHS entered 2 teams of year 9 students into a Go4SET project in which they were all awarded Silver CREST certificates for their 10 week projects on Water Conservation. One of the teams consisted of Sarah Barron, Laura Covill, Marion Jenkyns, Eleanor Leydon and Emily Tough, whilst the other (who won the pupil's choice award) consisted of Alice Farmery, Jess farmery, Claudia Gleeson, Anna Klucnika, Izzi Miao and Immy Sharp.

On Tuesday 17th March 4 year 8 students, Imogen Black, Isabel Mclennan, Laura Pittard and Lily Zhong, all participated in the Salters' Chemistry Challenge at Oxford University. They did extremely well competing against 11 other schools and then attended an exciting Chemistry lecture.

The top Chemistry student in Year 12 (2009/10), Jessica Creak, is certificated and awarded a small prize at S. Parks Road, Oxford together with top students from other schools.

The top Year 9 Science student at Oxford High School, Anna Klucnika, is presented with her Certificate at Rutherford Appleton Laboratories

Every year, A’level chemistry students participate in Nuffield Bursary Projects, organised by the Oxford Trust. They have an opportunity to spend between 4 and 6 weeks during the summer holidays in a University department doing a piece of research. Michelle Parker participated in this year’s scheme studying a project on DNA base sequencing techniques.

Four year 10 students, including Jennifer Collister, Melissa Hamill and Olivia Hawkes will all participate in the residential 'Salters' Chemistry camp during the summer. These courses involve groups of 50 students doing lots of exciting chemistry experiments.

On Thursday 7th February 2008 Year 8 students went on a trip to the London Science Museum. They participated in an ‘Energy workshop’ which coordinated with one of the topics studied at school. Students also had the opportunity to visit other sections of the museum as well as watching the IMAX presentation of ‘Deep Sea’.

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. The year 7 students frequently go for a visit to a lecture run by the junior department involving lots of spectacular experiments.

Primary Liaison 'Air' Project (June 2009)

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, one of which has been modernised last year. 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.

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, leaning skills and enjoyment. In Years 9-11 Chemistry is taught as a separate component from the other science disciplines. Students study the AQA 'Additional Science' GCSE specification and experience a new type of internally assessed practical work.

Sixth form chemistry is a very popular option with 27 students in Year 12 and a further 21 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 September 2009, 6 students obtained places to read Medicine including Shirley Yick (Oxford), Clare Thakker and Hannah Al-Yousuf (both Cambridge). Joanna Sadler went on to read Chemistry, Frances Ng Natural sciences at Cambridge and Elizabeth Jefferys, Biochemistry at Oxford.

The examination board is OCR and from September 2009 all students will be studying a brand new specification which will culminate with the opportunity to obtain a new A* grade at the end of the two year course.