The Repton Physics Department currently consists of three specialist Physics-only teachers with many years’ experience of teaching to A level and beyond, in addition to colleagues teaching a wider range of Sciences including Physics. Teaching staff are ably supported by a highly experienced technician, Mr W.D. Snider.
At GCSE the AQA Physics course is offered as well as the AQA Science and Additional Science courses, taught in collaboration with Chemistry and Biology. Both courses require a substantial commitment to practical assessment and laboratory experiments and demonstrations form an integral part of the teaching. In the Sixth Form the AQA Syllabus A is the preferred course. It is not necessary to have followed a specific GCSE course as a pre-requisite, but a good grounding will be expected. Students should ideally hold at least a grade A in Physics or Science and Additional Science, along with a grade A in Mathematics at GCSE too.
Physics provides a broad training in skills that are valued by all employers; an ability to grasp concepts quickly, a determination to find coherent answers, along with problem-solving, analytical, mathematical and IT skills. Even if students decide not to move into any physics-related course or industry in the future, the skills and knowledge developed by studying physics will help in a very broad spectrum of areas of study so studying physics is a good way of keeping options open.