Please watch the video below to view some of the more frequently asked questions about these subjects, then scroll down to the forum below to submit any of your own questions.
Thank you for watching. If your question was not covered in the video, then please use the "add comment" button below to ask one of our teachers for help. Staff will be live on the forum from 6pm to 8pm on Friday 16th October and will then be checking for questions throughout the weekend (although response times will not be as quick). The forum will close at 4pm on Monday 19th October, after which you can email any questions to admissions@kesbath.com
For General Enquiries: The forum below is intended for subject-specific questions. If your query is more general, then please post it on the Admissions and General Enquiries forum and one of our admissions team or senior teachers will get back to you.
RETURN TO THE SIXTH FORM VIRTUAL OPEN EVENING WEBPAGE
Click here to access the main Subject
Q&A Forum menu.
Please note that any comments posted below will be visible to all users. Although your name will not be displayed in the forum, please do not post any comments that contain personal information about you or your child
Comments
Good evening, I am Mrs Richardson, the Head of Physics at KES. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Posted by Mrs S Richardson, 16/10/2020 at 17:40
Will current Kes pupils in year 11 be given advice as to their suitability to study science subjects in sixth form?
Posted by GuestK614, 16/10/2020 at 18:14
If you have any reservations about your suitability to study science subjects at A level, I always recommend that you speak to your science teacher as they know you best and can talk you through the options. In general, if you have a keen interest in the subject and feel you have coped well with the GCSE course, we will encourage you to give it a go.
Posted by Mrs S Richardson, 16/10/2020 at 18:38
What grades have been achieved in physics? Heard the other subjects and the overall but missed this.
Posted by Guest343, 16/10/2020 at 18:39
Over five years we have averaged 25% A* and over 80% A*-B. In 2019, nearly 30% of our students achieved the top grade of an A* and over three-quarters secured an A*-B grade.
Posted by Mrs S Richardson, 16/10/2020 at 18:45
Although these are excellent results, the thing we are most proud of is how many students choose to study a Physics-related course at university.
Posted by Mrs S Richardson, 16/10/2020 at 18:50
Thanks. My son wants to do Comp Sci at uni, and plans to do Maths, Further Maths, Physics & Comp Sci at A level. I'm very heartened by your second response!
Posted by Guest343, 16/10/2020 at 18:58
We have lots of students studying that combination of subjects - they go very well together. Electronics might also be of interest to your son as it is the only AS we offer...Mr Haynes can provide more information on that. (Currently over half of the electronics set are studying Further maths, physics and computing as their other subjects)
Posted by Mrs S Richardson, 16/10/2020 at 19:01
indeed!
Posted by Guest343, 16/10/2020 at 19:25
I really enjoy studying astrophysics as a part of the Physics GCSE, and I also really enjoyed doing a separate GCSE in Astrononmy, and I was wondering if there will be an oportunity to do an Extended Project Qualification in Astrophysics/Astronomy? Or will this be covered in a apart of the A-level syllabus?
Posted by Guest248, 16/10/2020 at 18:46
Astrophysics is awesome and in the course that we follow, the OCR A course, there is an opportunity to study it and an introduction to Cosmology in Year 13. We also offer the Extended Project Qualification, starting in Y12, so there is an opportunity to delve into an area of Astrophysics that interests you. We have supported many students before on EPQ's and one of of team would be happy to support you if you decide to pursue this interest in this way.
Posted by Mrs S Richardson, 16/10/2020 at 18:56
Hello, I'm Mr Oehler, the Head of Chemistry and I look forward to answering any questions you may have this evening.
Posted by Mr M Oehler, 16/10/2020 at 17:52
Hello, what grades at GCSE do I need to study the 3 sciences?
Posted by Open Day guest, 16/10/2020 at 17:55
Hello, there is no specific grade requirement to study any of the sciences, but you should feel confident that you could cope with the content and difficulty of the course. As a guide, a minimum of a grade 7 would certainly be good indicator that you would have the potential to be successful.
Posted by Mr M Oehler, 16/10/2020 at 18:01
Is it a good idea to do two sciences at A level - Chemistry and Biology, when my child is doing double science for GCSE?
Posted by GuestK639, 16/10/2020 at 18:33
I think that doing two sciences can be a good match. My best advice would be to choose the subjects that you're best at and that you really enjoy, if they happen to be the sciences, then great! As far as double science goes - your child will have studied a little less in terms of content than those doing separate science and there will be some work to 'catch up on', but their teachers will help them with this and if they enjoy both Biology and Chemistry and they feel confident enough in their own ability, I would recommend it.
Posted by Mr M Oehler, 16/10/2020 at 18:38
Your child is welcome to approach me directly (or by email) if they want any further advice.
Posted by Mr M Oehler, 16/10/2020 at 18:39
One of the first topics we cover in Biology in Year 12 is biochemistry and we find pupils who are also studying Chemistry find this topic easier as they have a greater understanding of structures and bonding.
Posted by Miss P Kirby, 16/10/2020 at 18:40
I'm Miss Kirby and I am Head of Biology and I am also here to answer any questions you may have.
Posted by Miss P Kirby, 16/10/2020 at 17:58
Hello, are there any biology fieldtrips? Also does the syllabus cover any forensic biology?
Posted by Guest359, 16/10/2020 at 18:21
In Biology we run a 4 day residential fieldtrip at the beginning of Year 13 to Pembrokeshire to cover the ecology section of the course and complete two of the required practicals on location. We also run a day trip to 'We the Curious' formerly Explore at Bristol to complete a Question of Taste workshop where pupils complete PCR and gel electrophoresis experiments. This also takes place in Year 13.
Posted by Miss P Kirby, 16/10/2020 at 18:35
I'm afraid the A level course which we study - AQA - only covers a small amount of forensic Biology. We cover PCR, Gel electrophoresis as ways of amplifying DNA and separating fragments as well as touching on sequencing methods.
Posted by Miss P Kirby, 16/10/2020 at 18:38
Hi, do you have to write lots of essays in biology?
Posted by GuestK757, 16/10/2020 at 18:23
There is one essay in Biology in the final paper - it is worth 25 marks. It is actually a nice aspect of the exam as it allows students to demonstrate their detailed understanding. There is a choice of two titles each year, each one being very vague to allow pupils the opportunity to write about what they know.
Posted by Miss P Kirby, 16/10/2020 at 18:34
Apart from this the questions are a maximum of 6 marks as they are at IGCSE or GCSE level
Posted by Miss P Kirby, 16/10/2020 at 18:38
Good evening I'm Mr Haynes, Head of Electronics, and I'm looking forward to answering any of your questions.
Posted by Mr R Haynes, 16/10/2020 at 18:00
Where can I see the syllabus for Electronics?
And what is the overlap or not with DT? - i.e. is it a useful combination?
Posted by GuestK713, 16/10/2020 at 18:05
We follow the Eduqas specification which can be found on their website or if you have access to our VLE you will find it on the electronics page. There is minimal overlap with DT. The analogue part of the course covers several operational amplifier circuits, the NE555 timer chip as well as MOSFETs and power supplies. The digital part of the course covers logic gates, flip-lops, counters and includes Boolean algebra and Karnaugh maps. The microcontroller section uses a Pixaxe chip and involves simple programming using flow charts as well as circuit construction. Pupils in the past have studied both DT and electronics and found it useful.
Posted by Mr R Haynes, 16/10/2020 at 18:10
Thank you. And what proportion of the course is theory vs practical (i.e. building stuff)?
Posted by GuestK713, 16/10/2020 at 18:37
Most lessons involve a practical, which involves building and testing a circuit on a prototype board. These boards have lots of rows of connections allowing circuits to be built without the need for soldering. All pupils have use of an oscilloscope and signal generator. The practical coursework (one task in each of the three topic areas) involves a more extensive build and testing regime and would take several lessons. The coursework accounts for 20% of the overall AS, but students learn so much from the process that it really helps them with the exam questions. Pupils also choose their own circuit, with advice so that it will fulfil the marking criteria, making it a very enjoyable process.
Posted by Mr R Haynes, 16/10/2020 at 18:44
Hi, my child plans to study Maths(with Further Maths), Computing, Physics and Chemistry. Is it possible for them to also study Electronics during Year 12, or would this be too much work or not fit in the timetable?
Posted by GuestK788, 16/10/2020 at 18:48
Unfortunately the timetable only allows pupils to study 4 subjects (5 with further maths) so it would not be possible to do electronics as well.
Posted by Mr R Haynes, 16/10/2020 at 18:54
Good evening - the school's timetable limits the number of A level choices to 4 (or 5 if you include Further Maths). Narrowing options down from 10 /11 subjects at GCSE to 4 or 5 can be very challenging, but I think choosing 6 might be a step too far. If your child does want to keep an 'extra' qualification going, then perhaps they could complete an EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) instead.
Posted by Mr M Oehler, 16/10/2020 at 18:59
Hello - great video! What field trips are planned for the different sciences over the courses?
Posted by GuestK648, 16/10/2020 at 18:19
In Biology we run a 4 day residential fieldtrip at the beginning of Year 13 to Pembrokeshire to cover the ecology section of the course and complete two of the required practicals on location. We also run a day trip to 'We the Curious' formerly Explore at Bristol to complete a Question of Taste workshop where pupils complete PCR and gel electrophoresis experiments. This also takes place in Year 13.
Posted by Miss P Kirby, 16/10/2020 at 18:24
Thanks! In light of the COVID restrictions, there are unfortunately little to no outreach opportunities being offered by organisations at this time. However, we are hopeful that once restrictions relax, we will be able to visit the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories in Oxfordshire once again to enjoy their Particle Physics masterclass. This is always well-received by the students, giving them an insight into the exciting work being done by the UK's version of CERN.
Posted by Mrs S Richardson, 16/10/2020 at 18:25
Hello - as far as Chemistry is concerned, there is no set 'field trip', but we do visit the Chemistry Department at Bristol University and spend a day there in their undergraduate laboratories. Last year, the pupils manufactured aspirin and novocain. There are also some competitions that we take teams of pupils to.
Posted by Mr M Oehler, 16/10/2020 at 18:25
Hello, to study Biology at university, is it necessary to study Chemistry A-level as well as Biology A-level?
Posted by GuestK643, 16/10/2020 at 18:32
No it is not necessary. Universities would not make this a requirement. Obviously there is some overlap between Biology and Chemistry at A level which can benefit pupils, however, a number of pupils do Biology without Chemistry and achieve top grades.
Posted by Miss P Kirby, 16/10/2020 at 18:43
Miss Kirby, Mrs Richardson, Mr Haynes and I would like to thank you for engaging with us tonight and for all your excellent questions. If there is anything else you would like to ask, please feel free to do so on this forum and we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as we possibly can before 4pm on Monday.
Posted by Mr M Oehler, 16/10/2020 at 20:02