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Einstein
ME Pitkin
R Benson
N Henderson
D Young
The de Havilland 106 Comet at
The Museum of Flight
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"... most of the fundamental ideas of physics are essentially simple and may, as a rule be expressed in a language comprehensible to everyone." (Albert Einstein) Of all the experimental sciences none is more fundamental than Physics. It is the subject which describes the nature of the physical world and even how it came into being - there are now physical models for the first millisecond of creation. A study of Physics ranges from the sub-nuclear worlds of quarks and gluons through the properties of the everyday world of solids and liquids to stars, galaxies and the universe as a whole. In addition to these deep philosophical ideas, Physics has an immense impact on our life-style, and is quite incredibly useful . The understanding Physics gives of physical reality underpins much of modern life - electricity and electronics, communications, transport, energy resources, textiles, food production and medicine are strongly influenced by developments in Physics. I hope that by navigating your way through this section of our website you will gain an insight into Glenalmond's Physics Department and get a flavour of how we approach this fascinating subject. A visit will give you an even better idea of what we do, so please come and see us sometime! Mary Pitkin Senior Mistress and Head of Physics |
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Mary Pitkin, B Sc (Hons.) C Phys M Inst P, Head of Physics
I was educated at St Joan of Arc Grammar School, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire and then Manchester University. I have taught previously in two mixed Comprehensive schools, a boys' comprehensive school and a girls' independent school.
I spent 18 years at Sutton High School, where I was Head of Science and Head of Physics. In addition to that I was responsible for curriculum planning, staffing and writing the school timetable. I came to Glenalmond in 2000 -just in time to see the foundations laid for the new Science Centre. My first job was overseeing the move of the Physics Department into its new accommodation. |
Roger Benson, Teacher of Physics
I graduated from the University of Nottingham in 1979 with a 2.1 in Pure Physics. I initially spent two years as a trainee Accountant in Nottingham then returned to the University of Nottingham in 1981 to do my PGCE and took up my first teaching post at Wilsthorpe School in Long Eaton, Derbyshire. After 3 years I moved to Nottingham High School , which is an HMC Day School with 800 boys between 11 and 18. In 2001 Annabel and I moved to Glenalmond and I took up my current post in the Physics Department, a few months before the move into the new Science Centre. |
Nicola Henderson, Teacher of Physics.
I was born and educated in Ireland where I attended the Holy Family Convent School for Girls. I subsequently attended St. Patrick's University in Maynooth, Co Kildare where I was awarded a B.Sc. in Physics and Biology. Following a move to London I worked in St. Paul 's School, Barnes before studying for my PGCE at the University of Surrey . I taught in Gunnersbury Boy's School before moving up to Scotland . I taught for two years in Breadalbane Academy and Auchterarder Community School before being appointed as a Teacher of Physics in Glenalmond. |
David Young, Physics Technician.
I came to Glenalmond in July 2000 as a handyman and applied for and gained the position of Physics Technician in 2001. I am also the Water Treatment Technician and Swimming Pool Technician for the College during which time I have completed various courses for Physics, including GCSE support. Before coming to Glenalmond I worked as a Handyman / Driver / Grounds man at Croftinloan Prep School in Pitlochry. In 1999 I was a Dive Technician for a Dive School in Jersey . My responsibilities included looking after all the school equipment and servicing customers' equipment and before then I worked in industry as a Maintenance Engineer. |
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Welcome | Staff | Aims | Curriculum | Activities
Aims and Objectives The aims of Glenalmond College 's Physics department are: -
- to stimulate the student's interest in, and enjoyment of, Physics;
- to enable students to acquire knowledge and understanding of physical concepts and principles and the ability to apply concepts to explain unfamiliar phenomena and information;
- to adopt, whenever possible, a 'discover by experiment' approach to Physics, linked to theoretical developments, to give an understanding of the methodologies of Physics;
- to develop the ability to select and use information from a variety of sources, to form hypotheses, predict outcomes and to solve problems;
- to develop the ability to collect, present and interpret experimental and empirical data;
- to develop the ability to communicate, in a variety of forms, physical ideas and arguments logically and concisely;
- to promote an appreciation of the way in which Physics may be applied to solve problems;
- to enable students to recognize and evaluate some of the social, environmental and economic effects and political and ideological and ethical implications of the applications of Physics;
- to enable students to appreciate the strengths and limitations of the scientific approach;
- to enable students to appreciate the links between Physics and other subjects particularly Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry;
- to help students to become confident citizens in a technological world, able to take or develop an informed interest in matters related to Physics;
- to prepare and encourage students to embark upon Physics-dependent courses up to and beyond degree level;
- to help students to understand that the concepts of Physics are constantly developing;
- to help students to realize that they are entitled to access any area of Physics without discrimination.
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Welcome | Staff | Aims | Curriculum | Activities
Curriculum 2nd Form Physics is taught as part of a Co-ordinated Science programme. Pupils are taught by one teacher and have 4 lessons per week. 3rd Form Pupils have 3 Physics lessons and one prep. per week. They use "Physics for You" by Keith Johnson. The content of their course can be downloaded as a .pdf file 4th and 5th Year At the end of the 3 rd Year pupils are divisioned for the Sciences. Each division is taught by specialist teachers towards either G.C.S.E.s in Physics, Chemistry and Biology as THREE separate G.C.S.E. subjects or towards Double Award Co-ordinated Science, this equivalent to TWO G.C.S.E. subjects. All divisions will have 3 lessons of Physics every week taught by a specialist Physics teacher. We follow the AQA syllabus in both Physics and Co-ordinated Sciences. They continue to use "Physics for You" in the 4 th Year; this is supplemented by "Physics for AQA" by Patrick Fullick in the 5 th Year. Copies of both of these syllabi can be download as PDF files using the links below. .PDF of GCSE Physics | GCSE Co-ordinated Sciences GO to AS/A2 PHYSICS or HIGHER PHYSICS AS/A2 PHYSICS The course is taught in 8 periods per week in both Lower and Upper Sixth This course, known as Salter Horner's Advanced Physics (SHAP), has been developed by the University of York Science Education Group and was first examined by EDEXCEL in 2001. This course is a new and stimulating approach to Physics with an emphasis on up to date contexts and applications of Physics. We feel that this reflects our individual approach to Physics and the image of the department we have been developing since our move into Glenalmond's new Science Centre. Those who are already taking this course report that their students find it stimulating and have also achieved higher grades in their final examinations. Download a .pdf of the course details: SHAP Welcome | Staff | Aims | Curriculum | Activities |
For assessment and teaching purposes the course is divided into 6 units as shown below:
UNIT |
AS/A2 UNIT
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Topics covered |
% of final grade |
1 - Physics at work, rest and play
(assessed by examination) |
AS |
• The Sound of Music
• Technology in Space
• Higher, Faster, Stronger |
33.3% of AS
and 16.7% of A level |
2 - Physics for Life
(assessed by examination) |
AS
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• Good enough to eat
• Digging up the past
• Spare Part Surgery |
33.3% of AS
and 16.7% of A level |
3 - Working with Physics
(assessed internally) |
AS
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Coursework assessment comprising
• Report of a visit
• Experimental skills |
33.3% of AS
and 16.7% of A level |
4 - Moving with Physics
(assessed by examination)
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A2
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• Transport on track
• The Medium is the Message
• Probing the Heart of Matter |
15% of A level
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5 - Physics from Creation to collapse
(assessed internally and by examination) |
A2
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• Practical project (10%)
• Reach for the Stars
• Build or Bust |
20% of A level
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A2
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Examination ONLY |
15% of A level |
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The mathematical content of our course is kept to a minimum, making it suitable both for those who intend to study the Physical Sciences or Mathematics at a higher level and for those who intend to pursue a career in the Biological Sciences, Medicine or Veterinary Science. The course places just as much emphasis on the correct use and comprehension of scientific language and ideas as it does on analytical and numerical skills. Students follow a practical programme which includes both experimental work designed to support their understanding of the principles of Physics and experiments which develop specific laboratory skills. We do not run a traditional practical session at one time during the week. Practical work can be carried out during any of the timetabled lessons. The practical skills of candidates are assessed internally. Welcome | Staff | Aims | Curriculum | Activities Entry Requirements We would normally expect students taking A Level Physics to have either gained a B grade in GCSE Physics in addition to a grade C in GCSE Mathematics. |
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| Below are details of some of the trips and activities that have taken place in the department over the recent past. Astronomy Day
We welcomed Dr Jill Russell (O.G.) and Dr Francisco Diego to Glenalmond. They bought with them the Cosmic Dome, an inflatable planetarium. During the course of the day all pupils had the chance to see a presentation in the Cosmic Dome and Francisco, who is a research astronomer, ran a workshop for all of the 6 th Form Physicists on the Life and Death of a Star. After prep. Jill and Francisco took to Front Slopes with Coll's telescopes and organised pupils, staff and parents in a session of real observation. Physics Supper
We welcomed Dr Fred Loebinger of Manchester University Physics Department to Coll. Fred is a Particle Physicist, working at Manchester and CERN. He is also Admissions Tutor for the Physics Department. Fred spoke to the 6th From General Studies group in the afternoon and he was our After Dinner speaker at our first Physics Department Supper. The Supper was held in the Conference Room; all 6 th Form Physicists and Physics staff were present along with our specially invited guests. The title of Fred's talk was 'The Sex Lives of Photons and Gluons'; it was in fact an introduction to and brief history of Particle Physics starting with the first discoveries made at Manchester in the early years of the last century and finishing with the present day. |
5 th Year Visit to Cruachan Power Station
At the start of the Michaelmas term in 5 th Year we study the Generation of Electricity both by conventional and alternative methods. As part of this work we take the 5th Year to Cruachan Power station near Oban. The power station cannot be seen from the road because it is inside the mountain! Cruachan is a pumped storage power station. |
Mills Observatory, Dundee
The Salter Horner's AS Physics Course requires students to write a report on a visit they have made to somewhere that uses Physics. This year we visited the Mills Observatory in Dundee . This is the only full time public Observatory in the U.K. During the course of the evening the Lower 6th Physicists were able to observe the Moon and Saturn through the Observatory's refracting telescope; they also had a presentation on the Solar System seeing many pictures taken with the various telescopes at the Observatory and also had the opportunity to talk to the resident Astronomer there and to look round the Observatory's exhibition of refracting and reflecting telescopes. |
Museum of Flight
On Field Day we took the whole of the 3rd form to the Museum of Flight at East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian . We arrived a few days after Concorde and were lucky enough to be given a sneak preview of the aircraft. In addition to that we were taken on an extensive tour around the museum and learnt a great deal about the history of flight. We also saw the Glenalmond Glider that was given to the Museum a few years ago. This glider once belonged to the CCF and was apparently catapulted up front slope!
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