Physics

The Physics Department at Caterham is one of the most successful in the country.

Our students achieve consistently excellent results and we have received no less than six Good Schools Guides Awards in the last three years. However, there is much more to Physics than examinations and our aim is to help students see the beauty and power of Physics and its uses in the world outside of school.

To achieve this we run a busy programme of co-curricular events. Our CSI Club (Caterham Science Investigators) attracts large numbers of students who relish the chance to engage in hands-on science. This year students are undertaking programming and robotics for two lunchtimes per week. In the Winter we run Astronomy Club and in the Summer Rockets Club in which students design, build and fly their own rockets. Our Problem Solving Club gives students the chance to develop their own solutions to unusual problems, whilst a series of challenging and stimulating lectures, given by teachers and outside speakers, introduces them to the world of Physics beyond A-level.

The enthusiasm of our students helps them to achieve well academically. Last year 91% of our GCSE students achieved A* or A whilst two-thirds of our A2 students managed A* or A in their exams. This success has brought increasing numbers of students and we now have more than 100 students studying the subject in the Sixth Form.

For our most able A-level pupils we run regular stretch and challenge sessions to prepare them for interviews at the top universities, and every year our students achieve places at Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College.

We have five specialist teachers and the excellent support of a designated Technician. We are fortunate to teach within a new building with five dedicated physics laboratories and a spacious prep room.

The First and Second Years have two lessons a week rising to three in the Third, Fourth and Fifth Years. Pupils generally study the Edexcel IGCSE Single (Triple) Award course, with some opting for the IGCSE Double Award (Combined) course at the start of the Fifth Year. In the Sixth Form we follow the OCR A specifications, with eight periods a week in both years. 

Biographies

 

Mr Philip Comerford, Msc, Teacher of Physics, Head of Townsend

Philip first studied Physical Sciences at the University of Limerick whilst concurrently studying Education, leaving his undergraduate degree as a qualified teacher. After studying a M.Sc. in Science Communications at Dublin City University, Philip moved to the UK taking the co-ordinating lead, and teaching within the science department of a Bedfordshire Middle School. Previously he has also taught Physics at Bradfield College, whilst also being quite involved in the boarding community there. In addition to his classroom teaching Philip is Housemaster of Townsend; the boarding house for boys in the Third and Fourth Year. Outside of school Philip is often found either mountain biking, snowboarding or wakeboarding.

Dr Marc Scott, MPhys, PhD, Teacher of Physics

Dr Christopher Sinclair, MSc, PhD, Teacher of Physics

Miss Hannah Walters, BSc, Teacher of Physics, Assistant Head of Underwood

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