SciencesWe offer Physics, Biology and Chemistry as A level subjects within this dynamic and contemporary curriculum area. These subjects are statistically amongst the hardest A-level subjects: you must be a very committed student from the get-go!
Physics addresses the foundation of science, engineering, and technology—unlocking the secrets behind how the universe works and why things behave the way they do. From exploring the birth and evolution of galaxies to probing the tiniest particles that make up matter and govern the fundamental forces of nature, physics considers the vast and the minuscule with equal curiosity and precision. It’s not just theoretical—physics is deeply practical, driving innovations in medicine, computing, environmental science, space exploration and cutting-edge technology. If you’re someone who thrives when faced with challenging problems and has a flair for creativity, physics offers a thrilling path forward. Whether you’re captivated by the mysteries of the cosmos or intrigued by the mechanics of everyday life, physics empowers you to understand, innovate, and shape the world to change it for the better. If you have a curious mind, strong mathematical skills, keen observational abilities, and can communicate ideas clearly, then physics is your gateway to discovery. If you enjoy learning about the natural world, about how organisms interact and depend on each other in the environment, about how these organisms evolved then Biology is for you. If you enjoy learning about the human body, how the body works at a molecular and cellular level and how the information to build a human body is passed from generation to generation, the A-level Biology is for you. It is a course that requires the development of a wide range of transferable skills such as data handling and problem solving which will provide opportunities for a range of careers and higher education courses primarily in related fields, for example medicine, biomedical sciences and the life sciences but also in other disciplines for example Law and Finance. Whenever possible students are given hands-on opportunities to develop their understanding of the subject through practical work and each year they have opportunities for off-site study through field trips, museum visits and visits to exhibitions to deepen and apply their biological knowledge. Chemistry is a multi-disciplinary subject. To be a successful chemist, you should have an enquiring and creative, scientific mind. Chemists design new molecules for new purposes, calculate the rates of industrial and atmospheric processes, and model the biochemical mechanisms that govern life processes. At A-level, you will find that the subject is a radically different discipline to the one you encountered at GCSE. You will learn how the rules of quantum mechanics govern the chemical behaviour of the elements in the periodic table and how trends and patterns in the table can be explained from fundamental principles. Subsequently, you will study the chemical reactions of carbon, ‘the atom of life’ upon which carbon-based life forms depend. We will take a mechanistic approach to understanding organic chemistry and it will be supported by advanced practical work in our state-of-the-art laboratories. We very much believe that chemistry is a practical subject, and we have wonderful technical support; you will learn how to use techniques such as reflux and distillation, and you will make pharmaceutical products such as aspirin. Chemistry is also a mathematical subject, and we will explore the use of logarithms and exponential functions to study pH and rates of reaction. We also offer an AAQ in Applied Science, which offers a practical and academic approach to science, covering key principles and applications in biology, chemistry, and physics. Students will develop hands-on skills through scientific investigations and explore contemporary issues in science. Designed to complement A Levels, Level 3 BTEC courses and other AAQs, it pairs well with subjects like Psychology and Sociology. Ideal for students aiming for higher education and careers in science-related fields. At Tallis you will receive high quality teaching from professional scientists in top class laboratories who will facilitate your preferred pathways into tertiary education. In recent years our chemists have gone on to study natural sciences at Cambridge, engineering at Imperial (a student gained a Presidential scholarship) and medicine at Leeds. We enter students for the Physics and Chemistry Olympiad each year as part of our support package for students applying for the additional testing Oxbridge, Imperial and the like require. We guarantee you an intellectually stimulating and rewarding experience enriched with the very best in post 16 practical science. |
Subject Information
Key Stage 5 Science website
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