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 Science2012 Entry

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Michael’s PerspectiveCarmelisafunandfriendlyenvironmentinwhichtolearn.Thereistimetosocialisewithfriendsandplentyoftimetostudy.Biologyisafascinatingsubjectthatteachesstudentsaboutavarietyofthings.Itisbothinterestingandchallengingandveryenjoyable.FormyenrichmentIplayedbasketballwhichallowedmetoswitchofffromthinkingaboutmysubjectsandjusthavefun.ThefacilitiesandresourcesatCarmelarefantastic,youarenevermorethataminute’swalkfromacomputerandthelibrarygivesstudentsaccesstosupportandawiderangeoftextbooks.AfterIleaveCarmelIintendtostudyMedicineandbecomeasuccessfuldoctor.

Michael LeaDeLaSalle

Studying: Biology,Chemistry,Psychology

Meet the TutorsRuth Carey HeadofDepartment

Carmen Nunez

Perpetua Jones

Eve McQueen

Sue Odlin

Andrea Stiles

Gemma Palmieri

Jennifer Grant

Exam Board OCR

AS/A2 Biology

Why choose Biology at Carmel?

OurASresultsareexcellentandwellabovethenationalaverage.Outofthe230studentswhostudiedBiologytoASatCarmellastyear59%ofthemgainedA*–Cgrades.ManyofthemcontinuetoA2andlastyearoutofthe116A2students78%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

2009 AS 196 36 56 94 A2 137 38 68 97

2010 AS 223 27 47 80 A2 135 39 66 97

2011 AS 230 38 59 92 A2 116 53 78 100

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James’ PerspectiveIhavethoroughlyenjoyedmytimeatCarmel,andhavediscoveredanewenthusiasmforChemistry.Thetutorsareverypassionateabouttheirsubjectandthishasinspiredmetopursueacareerinthisfield.TheChemistryleaderboardisagreatwaytoenthusestudentstoachieveinendofunittestsandthetopfewaregivenaprizeasareward.IhopetostudyforanMCHEMattheUniversityofLiverpoolasIwishtopursueacareerinthePharmaceuticalindustryasaResearchChemist.

James LeppertWestDerbySchool

Studying: Chemistry,Biology,Maths

Meet the TutorsGill TownsendHeadofDepartment

Shaun Charles

Jim Ashbrook

Rebecca Gledhill

Graham Marshall

Exam Board OCR

AS/A2 Chemistry

Why choose Chemistry at Carmel?

BoththeASandA2resultsareoutstandingwithstudentsachieving58%A*-BatAS,and67%A*-BatA2level.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

2009 AS 139 52 79 95 A2 133 62 84 99

2010 AS 154 66 83 97 A2 105 56 77 100

2011 AS 173 58 76 95 A2 116 67 85 99

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Michael’s PerspectiveCarmelhasafriendlyatmospherewhichiseasytosettleinto.Physicsisachallengingsubjectbutthetutorsaresupportiveandarealwayswillingtohelpyouwiththework.Also,practicalsbreakupthewrittenworkandallowyoutoworkingroupsfromtimetotime.What’simpressiveaboutCarmelisthededicationofthetutors,therearetutorialsgoingonallthetimeandyoucanalwaysfindtutorstotalktooutsideoflessonsifyouhaveanyquestions.AfterCarmelIplantostudyPhysicsattheUniversityofLiverpoolandtakeupacareerinPhysics.

Michael LewisRainhillHighSchool

Studying: Physics,Chemistry,Maths,FurtherMaths,GeneralStudies&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.BoththeASandA2resultsareoutstandingwithstudentsachieving34%A*-BatAS,and64%A*-BatA2Level.Allthetutorsareveryfriendlyandapproachableandtheyhaveawiderangeofexperiencetohelpsupportyou.Thisexpertiserangesfromcareersguidance,throughspecialistsubjectknowledge,toexperienceofexaminationmarking.

Awiderangeofsupportandguidancewillbeavailableoutsideoflessons,andtutorswillhappilygiveuptheirtimetohelpyoutofurtheryourunderstanding.

What will the course involve?

Physicsisakeypartofscienceandtechnologyanditappealstothosepeoplewhowanttounderstandtheworldaroundthem.ThecoursedeliversPhysicsinastimulatingmannerwhilstensuringthatthebasicsnecessaryforfurtherstudyarecovered.Astrophysics,particlephysics,quantumphysics,andtechnologicalapplicationssuchasmedicalphysics,aresomeoftheareasthatyouwillfindparticularlyenjoyable.Youwillbegivenanexcellentsetofnotesthathavebeenwrittenbythestafftocoverthespecification.Wealsocontinuetobeattheleadingedgeofintegratingnewtechnologyintothedeliveryofthecourse.Problemsarestudied,bothinclassandforhomework,tohelpyoutoexplorehowthetheoriesareappliedtoreal-lifesituations.

Practicalworkisregularlyundertaken,viaclassexperimentsandinthepracticalunit.

Bothtests,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

2009 AS 85 48 65 94 A2 54 57 72 98

2010 AS 104 50 69 90 A2 45 56 80 100

2011 AS 116 34 59 94 A2 61 64 80 97

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Laken’s PerspectiveAtCarmelIenjoytheunconditionalsupportandaccessyoucangetfromteachersandresourceswhenyouneedthem.StudyingAppliedScienceisreallyfun,theclassesaregenerallyactive,practicalworkorresearchbased.Wedolotsofexperimentsandlearnhowtocopeinalabenvironment.OftenthereareactivitiesgoingonrelatedtothecourseforinstanceNewcastleUniversitystudentscameintotalkaboutvirologyandmicrobiologywhichhelpedimprovemylabtechniques.WhenIleaveCarmelIhopetostudyMarineScienceandbecomeacommercialdiverforrenewableenergyresources.

Laken-Louise HivesStEdmundArrowsmith

Studying: AppliedScience,Biology,Geography

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.

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Enriching Experiences

Eachyear,A2studentstakepartintheRoyalSocietyofChemistry’sOlympiadcompetitionwhichinvolvesachallengingtwohourwrittentestofchemicalknowledge.TeamCarmelalwayscomesawaywithawardsandcommendations.

InJune2011,30ASChemistrystudentsvisitedManchesterUniversitytotakeaspectroscopytour.Thestudentswereabletoseemanyofthetechniquesthattheyarerequiredtoknow,inaction,andwereabletorunsomeanalysisthemselves.

Yellowstone National Park

21BiologystudentsvisitedYellowstone,USA’spremierNationalPark,thissummer.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

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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

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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,Sciencestudentshavebeenstudyinginthenewlybuiltteachingblockwhichprovidesamodernandspacious,state-of-the-artlearningenvironment.ThefacilitiesforScienceareoutstandingwithnineverywellequippedlaboratories,twocomputersuitesandfourtutorialbases.Otherroomsalso

existforthedegreestudents.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

Students gained awards at the Chemistry Olympiad

Biology trip to Arnhem Zoo, Holland

Physics students visit CERN in Geneva

Frequently Asked Questions

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