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The Chemistry Department aims to inform, stimulate and challenge pupils of all abilities and to provide them with opportunities to improve skills, both mental and practical, that will be useful not just in their academic careers but also in everyday life.
Pupils are encouraged to become confident citizens in a technical world, able to develop an informed interest in matters of scientific interest.
Programmes of Study 
Enrichment
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In the Lower School, science is compulsory. From September 2008 we will follow the Edexcel IGCSE Double Award Syllabus (4SC0) and teaching commences in the Shell (Year 9). The chemistry course covers all aspects of the exam board's syllabus but is also designed to stretch and stimulate pupils and so looks beyond this. There is a particular emphasis upon practical work.
In the Sixth Form we follow OCR's A Level Chemistry ‘A’ specification, (H434). Pupils are placed in sets according to ability (a maximum of twelve in each) and teaching is split equally between two subject specialists. In addition to studying theoretical aspects, pupils pursue an extensive course of practical work, some of which is assessed and contributes to the final A Level grade.
Upper and Lower Sixth pupils may also work towards the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Chemistry Olympiad papers. These stretch the most able candidates and enable them to really demonstrate their scientific flair.
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All pupils are encouraged to read widely, enabling them to more fully appreciate chemical, medical and related issues and advances. Our libraries are well stocked with modern and up to date texts which fully support all of the courses we deliver but also go well beyond these for the interested reader, and those who may be preparing for entry to Oxford, Cambridge, to read Chemistry, the medical sciences and so on.
A full range of resources is available that caters at the one extreme for pupils taking their first steps in science and, at the other, for pupils interested in looking at current undergraduate texts as used in our most prestigious universities. Other activities, lectures and optional tutorials, encourage the development of skills essential for life beyond the Sixth Form. Pupils are challenged to think as young scientists, and not merely to pass exams. Pupils interested in applications to read the sciences or medical sciences at University are offered particular support and encouragement including tutorials.
Immediately after the summer examinations, the Lower Sixth attend a Science Symposium offering a choice of fascinating and cutting edge lectures from the fields of chemistry, biology, physics and medicine. These are designed to stimulate further interest in science and focus the thoughts of students as they begin the process of applying to University.
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