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The Physics Department |
Over the past 3 years on average 44% of students have obtained a grade A. As nationally the numbers of A level Physics students has fallen in the last few years, the department has grown to 250 students. It was recognised nationally for its outstanding improvements in results and retention by the Association of College's Beacon Award in 1996 and the FEFC's inspection Grade 1 in 1994 and the self assessment Grade 1 in 1998.
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Physics
nationally 2003 |
Greenhead
2003 |
Greenhead
2002 |
Greenhead |
Greenhead
2000 |
|
|
%
A to B
|
48
|
75
|
80
|
62
|
64
|
|
%
A to E
|
93
|
99
|
100
|
95
|
97
|
Structure of the Department
Two full
time staff who have no other non-departmental responsibilities. (Other
than enrichment approximately 2 hours). One member of staff on 0.75
timetable to release for cross college responsibilities. One member
of staff on 0.5 permanent contract.
Each full time member of staff teaches 4 groups for four lessons per
week. - 4.5 hrs per group. Therefore contact time = 18 hrs + 2 hrs enrichment.
Two very well equipped laboratories.
Thirteen teaching groups, eight AS and 5 A2 (Group size Av 20).
All lessons are taught in a laboratory.
Sufficient equipment for 11 sets, i.e. students generally complete practical
work in pairs.
There is always one member of staff not teaching a class and therefore
available to help students. (Unless involved in an enrichment activity)
Formal help sessions, through out the week.
One full time excellent technician.
A complete set of past papers are provided for each student in booklet
form at the start of each pair of modules.
A complete set of written answers including the markschemes and examiners
report are provided approximately 4 weeks before the exam.
A1 students have Physics by Patrick Fullick (some groups have Breithaupt
instead) and Physics Core (published by Collins) text books. The Core
books were purchased in an attempt to help the weaker end of the year
group cope with transition from GCSE. (Questionnaires completed by students
have since showed that they were not as useful as we had hoped.
In addition to the above, students in the second year have Muncaster
(2nd or 3rd edition) plus Nuclear Physics and
Fundamental particles by Muncaster, and Relativity and Quantum Physics
by Muncaster. Some of these are historic purchases and are not necessarily
recommendations. As numbers grew, the Fullicks replaced Muncaster as
the main text. The two extra Muncaster books were purchased specifically
for PH06 and PH09 respectively and have been excellent. With the last
year jump in numbers Breithaupt was purchased as the main text for the
extra new groups. With the new specifications Relativity and Quantum
Physics are now for sale, the Nuclear Physics will help the A2's with
the synoptic module.
One member of staff is an examiner for our specifications.
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