Advancing Physics is an exciting modern course, supported by both text books and CD-ROMs. Pupils taking this course are strongly advised to choose maths as one of their other A-level options.

In the first year, 'Communication' looks at electric circuits, waves and images,including some simple optics. 'Designer Materials' looks at materials and how their properties are related to their uses and their structures. Superposition phenomena of waves are studied in 'Wave and Quantum Behaviour' with a brief account of the quantum behaviour of photons and electrons. 'Space, Time and Motion' develops classical mechanics, including vectors. Experimental skills are developed throughout the AS course.

In the second year, 'Models and Rules' covers radioactive decay, capacitor discharge, energy and momentum, oscillations, gravitational fields and circular orbits.'Matter in Extremes' considers how kinetic theory explains the behaviour of matter in probabilistic and mechanical terms. These ideas are extended to high and low temperatures. 'Fields' covers ideas about electromagnetism, electric fields and potential. 'Fundamental particles of matter' covers atomic, nuclear and sub-nuclear structure, with attention to ionising radiation and risk.

Assessment

The first two modules are each assessed by written papers with the second also testing skills of data handling and measurement. The third module involves two short coursework tasks: a presentation about a material and an analysis of some experimental data.

The next two A2 modules are assessed by written examinations which also include synoptic elements and a comprehension / data analysis section. In the last module, pupil's work is assessed by two coursework tasks: a practical project to investigate a physics problem of their choice and a research report into an aspect of physics which interests them.