Electronics

Electronics is available at Key Stages 4 and 5 only with students beginning the GCSE course during the summer term of Year 9. Students are encouraged to develop extensive conceptual knowledge together with the skills of circuitbuilding and troubleshooting to solve problems. There is a strong emphasis on practical skills with students developing exceptional levels of independence and resilience in their studies.

Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11 GCSE)

Students follow the  WJEC Eduqas  (9-1) syllabus which includes a 20% coursework element. By developing core skills and providing ample opportunities for practical work, the GCSE Electronics specification encourages learners to develop confidence in, and a positive attitude towards, electronics.

Throughout, the focus is to build up all the knowledge, understanding and skills required to ensure progression from Key Stage 3 National curriculum science and mathematics requirements to A Level. 

Electronics is taught through practical discovery-based learning which ensures that all students aspire to produce their best work, with the quality of Year 11 coursework being exceptionally high.

Topics covered include

• Electronic systems and subsystems
• Circuit concepts
• Resistive components in circuits
• Switching circuits
• Application of diodes
• Combinational logic systems
• Operational amplifiers
• Timing circuits
• Sequential systems
• Interfacing digital to analogue circuits
• Control circuits

GCSE Electronics Specification

Key Stage 5 (Years 12-13 A Level)

Students are required to have gained at least a in 7 in Physics GCSE to be eligible to take this course at A Level

Students follow the WJEC/Eduqas A Level curriculum which covers a broad spectrum of essential topics across both digital and analogue aspects of electronics. It encourages learners to develop confidence in, and a positive attitude towards, electronics and to recognise its importance in their own lives and in today’s technological society.

The course is 80% written examination and has a 20% NEA project work element. This is a short programming piece at the end of Y12 with an extended project completed over several months in Y13.

Topics covered include 

A Level Electronics Specification

Co-curricular activities

Students are encouraged to undertake their own projects over lunchtimes; the lab will be open and teacher supervision is available.