Curriculum
Broad General Education
In S1 and S2, you will study a combined science curriculum which allows pupils to develop their interest in and understanding of the living, material and physical world. This includes looking at Processes of the Planet, Properties and Uses of Substances, Chemical Changes and Earth’s Materials.
You will be given opportunities throughout the course to demonstrate your understanding in collaborative and investigative activities, and are assessed through a range of means. The course aims to help you develop key scientific literacy, numeracy and practical skills, enabling you to become a scientifically literate citizen with a lifelong interest in science.
In S3 you will have chosen to specialise in chemistry. You will continue to develop an understanding of key concepts in chemistry including Chemical Changes and Structure, including Bonding and pH.
Senior Phase
In S4 you will study chemistry under different topics at National 4 or National 5 level:
- Chemical Changes and Structure – including formula and chemical calculations
- Nature’s Chemistry – including hydrocarbons and energy from fuels
- Chemistry in Society – including metals, electrochemistry and nuclear chemistry
Pupils will also complete a practical assignment allowing them to demonstrate their research, practical and report writing skills within chemistry.
At Higher level, you will continue to develop your interest and understanding of chemistry and relevant skills under the following units:
- Chemical Changes and Structure – including bonding and rates of reaction
- Nature’s Chemistry – including chemistry of cooking
- Chemistry in Society – including equilibrium and enthalpy
Pupils will also complete a practical assignment allowing them to demonstrate their research, practical and report writing skills within chemistry.
Advanced Higher chemistry gives you the chance to further your interest in chemical interactions as well as develop your analytical skills through the following units:
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry and Instrumental Analysis
Pupils will also complete an experimental project allowing them to demonstrate their research, practical and report writing skills within chemistry.
Learning Experiences
Pupils will take part in a variety of learning opportunities in the classroom including experimental work, classroom discussions, group tasks, research tasks and scientific investigations.
Pupils will be supported and challenged by staff to maximise their potential within chemistry, making use of home learning task to consolidate the learning in class.
Life and Work
Chemistry will allow you to explore careers in:
- Chemistry (physical, analytical, organic the list goes on and on!!)
- Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Forensic Science
- Geology
- Hairdressing
- Medicine
- Veterinary medicine
- Pharmacology
As well as careers directly using your chemistry knowledge, studying chemistry allows you to develop many transferable skills such as numeracy, communication and problem solving.
Resources
All classroom resources will be posted on relevant Google Classrooms, from S1 – S6, this includes summary sheets, problem sheet and tutorial booklets and external revision sites.
SQA Chemistry – links to past papers, course specifications and understanding standards can be found here: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/45720.html
BBC Bitesize – useful revision tool for exploring key concepts: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zmf3cdm
Scholar – online revision resources, available via GLOW https://scholar.hw.ac.uk/
