Curriculum Overview

 

Key Stage 3 Key Stage 4 Sixth Form

Term 1: Amount of substance, atomic structure, bonding and structure

Students will gain a solid understanding of the key concepts that underpin all other topics in A-Level chemistry. Amount of substance relates to the skills required to calculate the amount of solids, liquids, gases and concentration of reactants or products in any reaction. Students also build on their understanding of atomic structure from GCSE chemistry which will then enable a deeper understanding of the bonding and structure of molecules and compounds.

Suitability assessment in the penultimate week of term; 45 min assessment on all content taught up until that point.

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  • Social
  • Cultural

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Term 2: Organic Chemistry introduction, acids, redox and periodicity

In this term the topic of organic chemistry is introduced, students will build on their knowledge of hydrocarbons by learning about isomers and further reactions of alkanes and alkenes that aren't included at GCSE. Students will also gain a basic overview of acids and redox reactions before going on to the study of periodicity; patterns that occur within the periodic table.

End of topic assessments; 45 mins.

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  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural

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Term 3: Organic Chemistry and Enthalpy

Students will start this term learning about the reactions of unfamiliar homologous series of organic molecules such as haloalkanes and alcohols. Additionally this term will include the concept of enthalpy; the study of energy changes that occur within reactions. This will entail calculations involving specific heat capacity and Hess' law.

Students will be assessed via a 40 mins online quiz based on the topics covered this term

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  • Social
  • Cultural

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Term 4: Organic synthesis, analytical techniques, reaction rates and equilibrium

In this term students will develop their synoptic skills by drawing on all organic chemistry topics to explain how organic chemicals can be synthesized from raw materials. Additionally students will learn how to analyse mass spectra and infrared spectra in order to determine the structure of organic molecules. Students will also draw upon knowledge of the factors that affect rate of reaction, and how rate of reaction can be calculated. Finally, the topic of equilibrium will be taught; students will learn how the equilibrium constant relates to the concentration of reactants and products at equilibrium.

End of topic assessment; 45 mins.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural

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Term 5: Advanced Organic Chemistry, Reaction rates

Students will begin the "2nd year content" to ensure that pace of learning is high. Having just learnt about rates of reaction, students will develop their knowledge here is order to calculate the rate of reaction based on the concentration of reactants. Advanced organic chemistry is approached by introducing students to aromatic chemistry and carboxylic acids.

No end of term assessment because of end of year mocks in term 6.

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  • Social
  • Cultural

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Term 6: Revision for mocks

Students will revise all the topics taught in terms 1 to 4. These are all the topics involved in AS chemistry.

AS Chemistry past paper exams; Breadth in chemistry and depth in chemistry papers. Each 1h30 in length.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural

Develop the individual:

Create a supportive community: