Chemistry enjoys a very high profile at Abingdon School with over 70 boys regularly opting to follow the AS course. There is a track record of high academic standards. Last year the School provided five out of the top ten students in the Edexcel A2 level. For the last two years the School has provided a representative for the Great Britain team in the International Chemistry Olympiad. Around five boys a year move on to read either Chemistry at Oxford or Natural Sciences at Cambridge. Similar numbers opt to read Chemistry at other universities. The department aims to develop the boy’s interest in the subject outside of the classroom. There is a long standing research project held in conjunction with the Chemistry Department at Oxford University and boys are encouraged to participate in external competitions. A regular series of lectures is organized by an active Chemistry Society.
The Chemistry department occupies a suite of four laboratories together with three associated prep rooms, store rooms and an office for the head of department, all situated on the first floor of the science block. One of the laboratories was built in 1991 and all the others have been modernised and refurbished within the past ten years or so. Each laboratory is equipped to a high level with standard equipment needed up to A level and most reagents for GCSE. An extensive range of other chemicals is kept centrally and put out into labs as required. There is a complete range of all the specialised equipment needed for advanced work, together with such items as an IR spectrometer, GLC and rotary evaporator which are used mainly for project work. Each laboratory has its own data projector, video and networked computer. In addition to the standard issues of class texts there are several other sets to which classes have access, and a large collection of reference books for the use of staff and senior pupils.
The next stage in the School’s development plan is to build a new science centre. Plans are already in place and this is due to be completed by September 2013.
The department currently comprises six well-qualified graduate chemists. An important feature is the assistance of two experienced technicians who work full-time during the School terms and a large portion of the holidays.
Further Information
Further information about the chemistry department curriculum can be found in the curriculum documents available for download on the main curriculum page