After five successful years, the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge has added a new twist to the Senior Physics Challenge by inviting teachers to join in.
After five successful years, the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge has added a new twist to the Senior Physics Challenge by inviting teachers to join in.
Physics teachers came to the Cavendish Laboratory in July to sit alongside the cream of the UK’s A-level physics students and see for themselves how the Senior Physics Challenge takes students to the limits of their maths and problem-solving skills – but keeps it fun.
The Department hopes that, after taking part in the Teacher Development Days, schools and colleges will feel more confident in supporting students who want to apply for a place to study physics at University.
“It’s great to have these practicals with an extra twist, these mechanics problems that go a little bit further,” said Vanessa Owen, Head of Physics at Downe House, Berkshire (right in photo), who hopes to run a physics enhancement event for schools in her local area.
“It’s very illuminating – the materials are really very good, we can use them to extend our own students and enrich their experience. It’s not just the practical examples that are useful – it’s also seeing the approach and the rigor needed to tackle them,” she added.
“For us, this is about finding ways to give better support to our high-achieving students” explained Andrew Wood, of Dane Court Grammar School, Kent (left).
“I’ve got lots of new strategies to help our students develop their problem-solving skills. It’s also been really helpful to see how these skills would be tested in an admissions interview.”
Supported by The Ogden Trust, the Senior Physics Challenge was set up to stretch, enthuse and inspire high-achieving A-level physicists.
The residential summer school is designed to be a challenge for the most able pupils, to whet their appetite, keep them motivated, and encourage them to apply to study physics at university.
During the day physics problem solving and Lab classes are held at the Cavendish Laboratory, along with 3 or 4 general physics and research lectures.
The intensive tuition emphasises the development of problem-solving and experimental skills, which are especially sought after in students applying to study physics at Cambridge University.
In the evenings students are accommodated as the guests of some of the Cambridge Colleges.
Dr Anson Cheung (centre), who developed the scheme together with Professor Mark Warner, said: “Participants tackle 1st year undergraduate level problems and practicals.
"To solve them they need to use their maths skills in new ways and bring together different parts of their A-level knowledge, giving them a taste of university-style physics.”
Eliza McIntosh, a 2nd year PhD student who volunteered as a demonstrator to help the students tackle unfamiliar problems, explained: “The participants here are really involved, really keen to understand and to learn another side to physics that they haven’t seen before.
“It’s really good for them to see what else they can do with what they know.
“The demonstrators are here to help, but also to stretch them – everyone’s a winner. Everyone should go away challenged and enthused.”
- Applications for the SPC: schools are invited to nominate one or two of their students who have already shown some aptitude for physical and mathematical thinking. They should have demonstrated promise at GCSE and during their AS year, and must be taking Physics and Mathematics forward to A2. Further Maths is not required as many schools do not offer it.
- The SPC is run with the generous support of Corpus Christi, Fitzwilliam, Newnham, Pembroke, Queens’ and Trinity Colleges, the Department of Physics and The Ogden Trust.
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