Science• AtCarmel,Biology,Chemistry,PhysicsandAppliedScienceare

groupedwithintheFacultyofScience

• Eachcourseaimstodevelopasoundunderstandingofscientificprinciplestoprepareyouforanincreasinglycomplexworld

• Yourprogresswillbeconstantlyassessedtoensureyouachieveyourfullpotential

• Excellentpassratesareobtainedinallsubjectsyearonyear

• MoststudentsprogresstoHigherEducationcoursesincludingpurescience,engineering,medicine,computing,mathematicalandsportsrelateddegrees

25 Yearsof inspiringindividuals

1987-2012

25 Yearsof inspiringindividuals

1987-2012

AS/A2 Biology AS/A2 ChemistryAS/A2 PhysicsBTEC Level 3 Applied Science2013 Entry

Rachel’s PerspectiveCarmelisagreatenvironmentforstudentstolearn.Thereisanexcellentsupportnetworkforstudentswithinthecollege-tutorsofferextratutorialstodiscusscertainsubjecttopicsortoanswerquestionsaboutspecifichomeworkassignments.Biologyinparticularisafascinatingsubjectthatcoversawiderangeoftopicsthatarerelevantineverydaylife,andIhavefoundthatBiologyisawell-respectedsubjectformanyuniversitycourses.ThefacilitiesatCarmelhavereallyimpressedmesinceI’vestudiedhere,thereisaccesstocomputersineverybuildingandthelibraryoffersasilentstudyareawhichisespeciallyusefulneartoexamtime.AfterIleaveCarmelIaimtostudyDentistryatuniversityandIhopetopursueasuccessfulcareerinthefield.

Rachel VernazzaStGregory’sCatholicHighSchool

Studying: Chemistry,Biology,History,ExtendedProject

Meet the TutorsRuth Carey HeadofDepartment

Carmen Nunez

Perpetua Jones

Eve McQueen

Sue Odlin

Andrea Stiles

Gemma Palmieri

Exam Board OCR

AS/A2 Biology

Why choose Biology at Carmel?

OurASresultsareexcellentandwellabovethenationalaverage.Outofthe219studentswhostudiedBiologytoASatCarmellastyear58%ofthemgainedA*-Cgrades.ManyofthemcontinuetoA2andlastyearoutofthe145A2students77%achievedA*-Cgrades.Youwillbetaughtbyanenthusiastic,caringteamwhoarecommittedtoyoursuccessinthesubject.Membersofthedepartmentareexperiencedexaminersandmoderators.Youwillhavetheopportunitytoexperienceawealthofenrichmentactivities–seethecollegewebsiteforsomeofourlatestexcursionsincludingavisittoChesterZooandtripstoLondon,Holland,CostaRicaandYellowstoneNationalPark,USA.

What will the course involve?

Youwillenjoyawiderangeoflearningexperiences,includingpracticalwork,practiceexamquestions,comprehensiveprintednotesandinteractivefunactivities.

TheAScoursecoversfundamentalbiologicalprinciplesandhowthisknowledgeisusedinthe21stcentury,forexample,instemcellresearch.AtASLevel,youwillstudyawidevarietyofunitsfromcellsandmammaliantransport,throughtoevolutionandhealthanddisease.AtA2,youwillstudymoredetailedaspectsofBiology,andtheirapplicationsinmodernscientificresearchareemphasised.

Homeworkissetregularlytotestyourunderstandingandyouwillbegivenfeedbackonyourprogress.Anextensivesupportsystemisinplacetohelpyouachieveyourpotential.

How will I be assessed?

TheAScourseismadeupofthreemodules.OnetheorymoduleisexaminedinJanuaryandtheotherinMay.Throughouttheyearyouwillcarryoutpracticalinvestigationswhichcontributetoyourpracticalexammark.Thiscomponentisintendedtodevelopskillsinplanning,implementing,analysingandevaluatingexperimentalwork.AtA2,afurtherthreemodulesarestudied,2theoryand1practical.

Where does this course lead?

TherearemanycareersforwhichBiologyiseitheressentialorveryuseful-medicine,nursing,dentistry,physiotherapy,healtheducation,veterinaryscience,agriculture,pharmacy,pharmacology,bio-chemistry,PE,psychology,speechtherapy,forestry,biotechnology,foodscience,microbiology,laboratorywork,radiographyandteaching.

How successful are our Biology students?

Level Number % A*-B % A*-C % A*-E of entries

2010 AS 223 27 47 80 A2 135 39 66 97

2011 AS 230 38 59 92 A2 116 53 78 100

2012 AS 219 40 58 90 A2 145 60 77 99

Daniel’s PerspectiveFromtheatomtocomplexmoleculesandfromacidstoexplosions,youhaveagreatopportunitytostudyawidespectrumofchemistrywhilstappreciatingjusthowmucheachmemberofstaffisdedicatedtopushingeachandeverybuddingchemistinthedepartment.Carmeloffersacomfortableandrelaxedenvironmentinwhichyoucanwork;withsupportivestaffandextensiveresources,studyingchemistryhasbeenmademucheasier.CarmelCollegeisagreatplacetolearnifyoustrivetoachieve;withplentifultutorialsandallthesupportyourequire.Gettingthegradesforuniversityquicklybecomesareality.Iwishtoreadmedicineatuniversityandbygaininganunderstandingofchemicalscience,Ihavetakenastepclosertoachievingmydreamofbecomingadoctor.

Daniel PearsonDeLaSalleSchool

Studying: Chemistry,Biology,Maths

Meet the TutorsGill TownsendHeadofDepartment

Shaun Charles

Jim Ashbrook

Paul Garai

Graham Marshall

Exam Board OCR

AS/A2 Chemistry

Why choose Chemistry at Carmel?

BoththeASandtheA2resultsareoutstandingwithstudentsachieving71%A*-CatAS,and76%A*-CatA2Level.Theseresultsaresignificantlyhigherthanthenationalaverageandmuchgreaterthanthoseofotherlocalcolleges.TheChemistrytutorsareextremelycommittedtoensuringthatyouwillbegiventhehelpyouneedtoachieveatyourhighestpossiblelevel.

Allthetutorsareveryfriendlyanddevelopgoodrelationshipswithstudents,sotheywillsupportyoufullyandensurethatyouaresuccessful.OnememberoftheChemistryteamisanexperiencedOCRexaminer,whichisextremelyvaluablewhenhelpingtoprepareyouforexternalexaminations.

What will the course involve?

Youwillbegivenacomprehensivesetofinteractivenotes,whichprovideadetailedcoverageofthecoursespecification.Thenotesalsoincludemanypracticequestionsthatwillallowyoutoconsolidateyourunderstandingofthematerialbeingcovered.Regularpracticalsessionswillhelptodevelopyourchemicaltechniquesandlaboratoryskills,whichwillbeinvaluableforfuturesciencerelatedcareers.Thesepracticalsessionsarecloselylinkedtothetheorytaughtinlessonsasthisprovesaneffectivewayofdevelopingyourgraspof

thetheoreticalconceptscovered.Regularhomeworkandendoftopictestsareusedtoinformbothyouandyourtutorofyourprogressinthemodule.

How will I be assessed?

TheAScourseconsistsof2modules,onewhichisexaminedinJanuarytheotherexaminedinJune.Thecourseworkelementofthissubjectisassessedthroughouttheyearbyaseriesofassessedpracticals.LikewisetheA2coursecontains2modules,oneexaminedinJanuarytheotherinJune.OnceagainthecourseworkelementisassessedthroughaseriesofpracticalassessmentswhichoccurthroughouttheA2year.

Where does this course lead?

Aswellasbeinganimportantsubjectinitsownright,Chemistryisanessentialrequirementformedicine,dentistry,andveterinaryscience.Inthepastourstudentshaveentereduniversitytofollowmanydifferentcourses:-pharmacy,medicine,dentistry,physiotherapy,analyticalchemistry,purechemistry,forensicscience,biologicalandenvironmentalsciences,law,engineeringandbusiness.

How successful are our Chemistry students?

Level Number % A*-B % A*-C % A*-E of entries

2010 AS 154 66 83 97 A2 105 56 77 100

2011 AS 173 58 76 95 A2 116 67 85 99

2012 AS 182 47 71 90 A2 143 59 76 97

Fiona’s PerspectiveOneofthebestthingsaboutCarmelCollegeisthatallthestaffarefriendlyandwillingtohelpifyouhaveanyproblems.IlikestudyingPhysicsA-LevelasitcoverssomeinterestingareasthatIhadn’tlookedatduringGCSE,andtherearelotsofresourcesavailabletomakesureyouareontrackandunderstandthecontentofthelessons.Therearealsolotsofdifferentenrichmentactivitiesavailablerelatingtomostofthesubjectsyoucanstudy,sothecollegeoffersmanyopportunitiesforyoutogainexperienceofotheraspectsofthesubjectthatarenotonthespecification.

Fiona TownsendAltrinchamGrammarSchoolforGirls

Studying: Physics,Maths,Economics,Psychology,CriticalThinking

Meet the TutorsEdward SwannHeadofDepartment

Charlie Burton

Mala Sandhu

David Seddon

Jamie Bickley

Exam Board OCR

AS/A2 Physics

Why choose Physics at Carmel?

ThePhysicsdepartmentatCarmelisexcellentandstudentstakingPhysicsarehighlysuccessful.BoththeASandA2resultsareoutstandingwithstudentsachieving61%A*-CatASand65%A*-CatA2.Allthetutorsareveryfriendlyandapproachableandtheyhaveawiderangeofexperiencetohelpsupportyou.Thisexpertiserangesfromcareersguidance,throughspecialistsubjectknowledge,toexperienceofexaminationmarking.

Awiderangeofsupportandguidancewillbeavailableoutsideoflessons,andtutorswillhappilygiveuptheirtimetohelpyoutofurtheryourunderstanding.

What will the course involve?

Physicsisakeypartofscienceandtechnologyanditappealstothosepeoplewhowanttounderstandtheworldaroundthem.ThecoursedeliversPhysicsinastimulatingmannerwhilstensuringthatthebasicsnecessaryforfurtherstudyarecovered.Astrophysics,particlephysics,quantumphysics,andtechnologicalapplicationssuchasmedicalphysics,aresomeoftheareasthatyouwillfindparticularlyenjoyable.Youwillbegivenan

excellentsetofnotesthathavebeenwrittenbythestafftocoverthespecification.Wealsocontinuetobeattheleadingedgeofintegratingnewtechnologyintothedeliveryofthecourse.Problemsarestudied,bothinclassandforhomework,tohelpyoutoexplorehowthetheoriesareappliedtoreal-lifesituations.

Practicalworkisregularlyundertaken,viaclassexperimentsandinthepracticalunit.

Tests,homeworkandprojectsusingICTareregularlysettomonitoryourperformance.

How will I be assessed?

AtbothASandA2Level,threeunitsareexamined,twotheoryandthethirdunitisbasedonpracticalskills.ExamsaretakenintheJanuaryandJuneofeachyear.

Where does this course lead?

PhysicsisafascinatingsubjecttostudyathigherlevelandPhysicsgraduatesareindemandbecauseoftheirintelligence,analyticalskillsandprovenabilitytosolveproblems.Physicsisanessentialrequirementforanumberofcareersandinthepastourstudentshaveenteredabroadrangeofareasincludingmedicine,engineering,architecture,computerscienceaswellasphysics.

How successful are our Physics students?

Level Number % A*-B % A*-C % A*-E of entries

2010 AS 104 50 69 90 A2 45 56 80 100

2011 AS 116 34 59 94 A2 61 64 80 97

2012 AS 100 40 61 86 A2 60 48 65 97

Jemma’s PerspectiveThethingIlikeaboutstudyingthissubjectisyouarenotstuckwithjustonescience;youstudyPhysics,BiologyandChemistry.Ialsoenjoythe100%coursework;althoughitischallengingthereisnoextrastressofexams.ThissubjectisalsoveryexperimentbasedwhichIreallyenjoy.IhavealsohadtheopportunitytovisitFiddlersFerryPowerPlantwhichreallyhelpedwidenmyscientificknowledge.Carmelhasafriendlyatmosphere,andalthoughyouarepushedhardtoachieveyourbest,thesubjecttutorsarereallyeasytotalktoandwillhelpyououtifyouneedit.WhenIleave,IamgoingontoChesterUniversitytostudyAnimalBehaviour.

Jemma ChesworthNewton-le-WillowsCommunityHighSchool

Studying: BTECAppliedScience,A2EnglishLiterature,Photography

Meet the TutorsJim AshbrookHeadofDepartment

Rachel Dickinson

Daryl Doyle

Technical Support Staff:

Paul Whorton

Lynn Parr

Jackie Wilcock

Mark Kelly

Exam Board EDEXCEL

BTEC Level 3 Applied Science

Why choose Applied Science at Carmel?

CarmelCollegehasastrongtraditionofsuccessfulscienceteachingovermanyyears.Thisisaverywellstructured,practicalsciencecourseleadingtonationallyrecognisedqualificationsequivalentinstandardtoASandA2ScienceGCEs.

ThecoursecoversallthreesciencesofBiology,PhysicsandChemistrybutinan“applied”context.Thatmeansthatyouwilllearnthescienceina“reallife”contextthroughspeciallydevelopedassignments.Youwillsometimesworkonyourownandsometimesinsmallgroups.Wewillteachyoutheresearchandstudyskillsyouwillneedforsuccess.Therewillalsobeopportunitiestovisitscientificworkplacestolearnhowscienceandscientificskillsareusedprofessionally.Suchvisitswillallowyoutogainideasaboutcareeropportunitiesinscience.AswellasusingICTforpresentingyourwork,youwillalsobeencouragedtouseitforresearchandformonitoringandrecordingexperimentalwork.

Youwillbenefitfromextensivesupportandguidancethroughoutyourtimeonthecoursebothduringlessonsandthroughthecollegetutorialsystem.Weprideourselvesontakingapersonalinterestinyoursuccess.

What will the course involve?

Inyear1youwillworktowardsthenewLevel 3 BTEC Certificate in Applied Science.Thisiscomprisedof3units:Unit1:Fundamentals

ofScience;Unit2:WorkingintheScienceIndustry;Unit4:ScientificPracticalTechniques.

Inyear2youwillextendyourworktowardsthenewLevel 3 BTEC Subsidiary Diploma in Applied Science with3furtherunits:Unit11:PhysiologyofHumanBodySystems;Unit3:ScientificInvestigation;Unit22:ChemicalLaboratoryTechniques.

How will I be assessed?

Allunitsare100%assignmentbased,withnoformalexaminations.Clearobjectivecriteriaareusedtoassesscompetencyinallthekeyscienceareasandyouwillbeabletoseehowyourachievementsbuildupasthecourseproceeds.Therewillbeplentyofopportunitytoshowprogress.

Where does this course lead?

BTECLevel3AppliedSciencewillprepareyouforacareerinmanyscience-basedindustriesandorganisations.ItwillalsosupportthosewhoareinterestedinothercareersforwhichscienceisimportantsuchasPrimaryTeaching,Childcare,Nursing,SportsManagementorSportsTraining.ManyformersciencestudentshaveprogressedtouniversitytostudyawiderangeofsubjectsincludingForensics,Construction,AnimalBehaviour,Biochemistry,PhysiotherapyandBiomedicalSciences.OtherstudentshavechosentofollowApprenticeshipsinLaboratoryWorkorEngineering.

What other activities do Science students get involved in?

AtCarmelweprovidestudentswithmanyopportunitiestobecomeinvolvedwithexternalactivities.TheserangefrominvolvementintheNuffieldBursaryScheme,vocationalworkplacements,tocompetitionssuchasthePhysicsOlympics.AllthedepartmentsregularlyundertaketripsandlocaldestinationsincludeDaresburyAtomicLaboratories,FiddlersFerryPowerStation,andChesterZoo.Opportunitiesforoverseasvisitsexistandrecent“excursions”haveincludedBiologytripstotheAzores,HollandandCostaRica,plusasciencetriptoCERNinGeneva.

Wehavestronglinkswithallthelocaluniversitiesandsousetheirexpertisewheneverpossible,forexample,theChemistrydepartmentusesthespectroscopyequipmentinbothManchesterandLiverpoolUniversities.

Enriching Experiences

Eachyear,A2studentstakepartintheRoyalSocietyofChemistry’sOlympiadcompetitionwhichinvolvesachallengingtwohourwrittentestofchemicalknowledge.TeamCarmelalwayscomesawaywithawardsandcommendations.

InJune2012,15ASChemistrystudentsvisitedLiverpoolUniversitytomaketheirownmagneticnanoparticlesandinvestigatethestrangebehaviourofaferrofluid.Theyalsolearnedaboutbuckyballsandtheapplicationsofnanotechnology.

Yellowstone National Park

21BiologystudentsvisitedYellowstone,USA’spremierNationalPark,lastsummer.Yellowstoneistheworld’smostactiveareaforgeysers,mudpotsandhotsprings.Theysawmanyofthesevolcanicfeaturesincludingthefamous“OldFaithful”,whicheruptsevery90minutestoheightsof200ft.

Aswellasthesephenomenalsights,YellowstoneisfamousforitswildlifeandthestudentssawBaldEagles,Osprey,Bison,Elk,Moose,Chipmunks,andtotopitallaGrizzlyBear.TheywerealsoabletoseeWolvesandBlackBearsfeedinginawildlifesanctuary.

ThestudentsexperiencedthegrandscaleoftheAmericanWildernessbutalsohadaninsightintotheAmericanwayoflifethroughlivinginlogcabins,eatingamazingbreakfasts,shoppingatsmalltownstores,andvisitingarodeo.

Asthestudentssaid-itwas“awesome”,“atripofalifetime”,“somethingIwillneverforget”.

Chemistry Enrichment

The Nuffield Bursary Scheme

Eachyeararound5-8ofCarmel’smostdedicatedandhighachievingSciencestudentssuccessfullygainaplaceontheNuffieldBursaryScheme,whichisorganisedbySETPOINT.ThestudentstakepartinafourweekpaidprojectduringthesummeroftheirfirstyearofALevels.Theprojectisthenwrittenupandpresentedataregionalfinal.Therearearound200applicantsperyearacrossMerseyside,CheshireandWarrington,withonly100placementsavailablewithinScienceandIndustry.

In2010,studentTomSyderwasaskedtoexhibithisprojectattheBigBangScienceFestivalinLondon.

TheBiologydepartmentvisitedCostaRicaduringEaster2010.Thetripwaspartlyworkandpartlypleasure.ThestudentsfirstworkedwithagroupofCostaRicansonaTurtleConservationprojectgoingoutonnightpatrolstofindtheturtleslayingtheireggs.Theeggswerethencollectedandtakentoasafeplacetohatchtoprotectthemfrompoachers.Duringthedaythestudentshelpedmakeanewturtlehatcheryandremoveddriftwoodfromthebeachtogiveclearareasonwhichtheturtlescouldlaytheireggs.

ThenitwasofftoCahuitabeachforsomefunincludingsnorkellingoverthecoralreef.Thestudentsalsodidarainforestwalkandsawmonkeys,poisonoussnakesandawidevarietyofplants.

ThethirdstopwastheSarapiquiActivityCentrewherethegroupstayedindeluxetentsintherainforest,goingtosleeptothesoundsoftreefrogs,cicadasandhowlermonkeys.StudentsandstaffgotthechancetoswingthroughthetreesonzipwiresforaRainforestCanopyTour–votedthebestactivityoftheholiday!

Costa Rica

What are the entry requirements for these AS courses?

Biology: YouwillneedgradeBinGCSEBiologyorBBinCore&AdditionalScience(notApplied)plusgradeCsinGCSEMathsandEnglishLanguage.

Chemistry: YouwillneedgradeBinGCSEChemistryorBBinCore&AdditionalScience(notApplied)plusgradeCsinGCSEMathsandEnglishLanguage.

Physics: YouwillneedgradeBinGCSEPhysicsorBBintwoacademicGCSESciences(notApplied)plusgradeBinGCSEMathsandgradeCinGCSEEnglishLanguage.

BTEC Level 3 Applied Science: YouwillneedgradeCs(orequivalent)inGCSEMaths,EnglishandScience.

What is the Science Faculty like?

FromSeptember2009,Sciencestudentshavebeenstudyingintherecentlybuiltteachingblockwhichprovidesamodernandspacious,state-of-the-artlearningenvironment.ThefacilitiesforScienceareoutstandingwithnineverywellequippedlaboratories,twocomputersuitesandfourtutorialbases.Otherroomsalsoexistforthedegreestudents.Themajorityofthelaboratories

“belong”toasingledepartmentandyouwillthereforegenerallyattendthesameroomthroughouttheweekforyourlessons.Allroomsinthenewbuildingareequippedwithinteractivewhiteboards,multi-mediaprojectorsandwirelessinternetconnectionenablinginternetresearchtobedoneinthelaboratories.

What support will I receive in the Science Faculty?

Tutorswithinsciencewill“gotheextramile”toensurethatyouwillsucceed.Individualandsmallgroupsupportsessionsaretimetabledinthesciencetutorialbase.Inadditiontutorswillmakethemselvesavailableshouldyoufeelthatindividualhelpisrequired.RevisionskillstutorialsareprovidedtohelpyoutodevelopthetechniquesthatyouwillneedtosucceedbothatALevelandinHigherEducation.

Tutorshaveregularcontactwithyourparentsandwillkeeptheminformedregardingyourprogress.Enrichmentsessionswillbeprovidedtoextendeventhemostable,includingpreparationfortheBMATexamsandcompetitionssuchasthePhysicsOlympiadandASNationalCompetition.

More InformationThespecificationsforBiology,ChemistryandPhysicscanbeobtainedfrom:

www.ocr.org.uk

ThespecificationforAppliedSciencecanbeobtainedfrom:

www.edexcel.com

Biology Department trip to London

Chemistry Olympiad 2012

Biology trip to Arnhem Zoo, Holland

Physics students visit CERN in Geneva

Frequently Asked Questions