Chemistry

Course summary

Why study Chemistry at William Farr? Chemistry is at the heart of modern life. It helps us understand how our bodies work, create new materials, develop life-saving medicines, and design everything from advanced alloys to cosmetics and sustainable packaging. It fuels major global industries and provides an excellent foundation for medical, scientific, and technical careers. The subject links naturally with Physics, Biology, D&T and Geography, offering plenty of opportunities to think creatively and tackle real-world challenges. Chemistry is a demanding but highly rewarding subject, building the analytical and evaluative skills that universities and employers value. At William Farr, Chemistry is taught by passionate specialist teachers who bring the subject to life through engaging lessons and hands-on experimentation. You’ll gain valuable laboratory experience through the practical endorsement, and access outstanding enrichment opportunities such as the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Chemistry Olympiad and the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, ideal for stretching your skills and standing out from the crowd. What will you study? Across the two-year course, you’ll explore the building blocks of matter and discover how chemical principles shape the physical world, covering atomic structure, bonding and quantitative chemistry; kinetics, equilibria and thermodynamics; organic functional groups, synthesis and analysis; periodic trends, redox reactions and transition metals; and the advanced practical skills needed to plan, carry out and evaluate experiments.