Chemistry will teach students about the world around them, from tiny electrons to the chemistry of manufacturing on an industrial scale. Pupils will need strong mathematical skills which will be used to calculate values as well, predict the outcome of reactions and represent quantities which we cannot physically see in order to explain the real world properties of materials based on their interactions at an atomic level. Chemistry students will follow the OCR Chemistry A specification. The first term will introduce pupils to a more developed model of the atom than they have studied at GCSE level. This will enable them to understand bonding and explain the patterns and trends in the properties of elements within the periodic table. They will be examined on this in the January of year 12 and this examination will account for 30% of their entire AS grade. Students will then move on to study more complex situations and ideas which build upon the basics learnt in the first unit. Throughout the year students will be required to carry out practical tasks which will allow them to evaluate their methods and the risks involved, to record data to appropriate levels of precision and interpret the data they record.