Chemistry

The Chemistry department aims to provide a worthwhile and challenging experience for all students whether or not they go on to study Chemistry beyond the school.

The ideal chemist should be an expert practitioner, a competent mathematician, and should have the ability to articulate chemical concepts through the written and spoken word. It is these skills that we aim to build up in our students during their study of chemistry at Loretto School not just in their academic careers but also in everyday life.

The department is made up of 2 full time members of staff and one part time member and supported by two technicians.

Teaching and Learning

In the Second form, the emphasis is on developing key skills and basic principles.

The Third Form continues to study fundamental principles in the Autumn term and then embarks on the WJEC GCSE course in the Spring term.

In the Fourth and Fifth Forms pupils continue to study WJEC Chemistry. There is the opportunity to sit the Science, Additional Science and Chemistry Award. Classes are set by ability for GCSE Sciences.

In the Lower Sixth Form & Upper Sixth pupils take GCE AS Level Chemistry and GCE A2 Level Chemistry - AQA Specifications. Pupils are tested in January and June and there are practical assessments throughout the year refining their experimental techniques and procedures; culminating in a final exam. The average set size is about 10 students.

Activities and Enrichment

There are workshops for sixth form and GCSE year groups.

The Sixth Form attends The Royal Society of Chemistry Christmas Lecture. The Upper Sixth visit Edinburgh University to see the instrumentation techniques which are used to identify chemical compounds; this is relevant to one of the sections in the A2 course. There is a visit to the Glasgow Science Centre and visiting lectures.

The Fourth Form visit Grangemouth oil refinery to see Chemistry in Action.

Head of Chemistry: Susannah Ward

Susie studied Chemistry at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. After working as a chemical researcher for Kodak Ltd, London, she was commissioned for six years in the British Army. After retraining at Bath University, she taught Sciences in schools in Wiltshire before moving North to become Head of Chemistry at Loretto in 2006.

Chloe Reid

Chloe studied Environmental Chemistry at Edinburgh University. Having graduated, she went traveling for five months to various countries including Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and America. On her return to Edinburgh, she worked for a year with Standard Life before doing Teacher training at Moray House in 2006. She joined Loretto School in 2007.