Chemistry

Overview of the Science Department

Science at Haberdashers’ Crayford Academy is a large department which has an extremely broad range of experience in numerous Science disciplines. We are working collaboratively to provide the best quality Science education for our young people, to ensure we stay abreast of the latest scientific innovation and teaching practises and develop beginning teachers to tier full potential. We strive to include as much practical work as possible in the education we deliver so that students receive a hands-on approach to learning.

Meet the Science teachers

Name	Role	About them
Mr G McCormack	Head of Biology	Mr McCormack completed a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science before specialising with a master’s degree in Cancer Biology. He then went on to work in the cancer research industry (focused on cervical cancer) before becoming a teacher. Mr McCormack has been at Crayford Academy since 2019. He is passionate about medical sciences and neuroscience.
Ms Elmi	Lead Practitioner / ITT Coordinator	Ms Elmi has been at the school for almost 6 years and has completed a Biomedical Science degree. She teaches Psychology as well as Science and is passionate about Microbiology.
Ms Akinyemi	Head of Chemistry	Ms Akinyemi has been at the school for 3 years and completed her degree in Chemistry. She is extremely passionate about all things Chemistry.
Mr Marrill	Assistant Principal / Teacher of Science	Mr Marrill has been teaching for 18 years and joined Crayford Academy in 2020. Despite being a biologist, he has a passion for fireworks.
Miss Vitalino	Teacher of Science	Ms Vitalino completed a Masters degree in Chemistry and has recently joined the academy. She is eager to help students apply scientific knowledge to everyday life. She also has a particular interest in computational chemistry and the application of developing technology in modern day science.
Mr Enoh	Teacher of Science	Mr Enoh has 6 years teaching experience. He is passionate about all sciences, with a love for Chemistry. He can teach all sciences and PE making him a well-rounded general science teacher.
Ms O'Reilly	Teacher of Science	Miss O’Reilly completed a degree in Neuroscience and is passionate about the nervous system and human biology. She currently runs the KS3 STEM club after school.
Mr Otebil	Teacher of Science	Mr Otebil completed degree in science Education and recently joined the Academy. He is passionate about helping young people, electricity and practicals in science.
Mr Ogundipe	Teacher of Science	Mr Ogundipe has a degree in science and technology. He is a passionate teacher with 17 years of wealth of experience teaching in various countries.
Miss Taylor	Teacher of Science	Miss Taylor has recently joined the Academy, following her Masters degree in Astrophysics. She is passionate for general relativity, black holes and theoretical physics.
Miss N Qayum	Teacher of Science	Miss Qayum joined the school in 2022 and has been teaching since 2018. She completed a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science before becoming a teacher.
Dr A Hye	Trainee Teacher of Science	Dr Hye holds a PhD in neuroscience from King's College London and prior to teaching secondary science he was involved in research in the field of dementia (Alzheimer's disease). His work involved investigating how to diagnose dementia early so we can treat people. Dr Hye has a passion for all things science and enjoys teaching the students about the many wonders of how science fits into our everyday life.

Curriculum Statement

Key Stage 3

KS3 Chemistry begins by introducing the new Year 7 students to the secondary science laboratory with a cross curricular focus on lab safety and building basic skills which the students will utilise throughout their time in the Science laboratory. Having completed this introductory course students move on to learning the fundamental foundations of Chemistryâ€¯building on concepts such as Particles and their behaviour, Elements, atoms and compounds, Chemical reactions and acids and alkalis. Students in year 8 will study Separation techniques, The periodic table, Metals and acids and the Earth.

View our Key Stage 3 Chemistry Curriculum Map

Key Stage 4

With this knowledge students embark on their Key Stage 4 GCSE journey. They will both building on the fundamental knowledge gained at Key Stage 3 by revisiting topics such as Acids and alkalis, chemical reactions and the Earth and its environment. Students will deepening their understanding of Chemistry through the study of new topics such as reversible reactions and equilibria, Quantitative analysis and Hydrocarbons.

View our Key Stage 4 Chemistry Curriculum Map

Key Stage 5

Armed with this knowledge students that have studies both GCSE Combined Science and GCSE Chemistry (Separate Science) will be ready to take on the challenges of A-Level Science where a broader and deeper understanding of the intricate world of Chemistry. “Its all about the electrons” when students learn more about ionic and covalent bonding to include induced dipoles and London Dispersion forces. Not forgetting the beauty of aromatic compounds, the structure and bonding in benzene and electrophilic substitution to name but a few of the myriad of interesting A-Level Chemistry topics.

View our Key Stage 5 Chemistry Curriculum Map

What qualifications can be gained?

GCSE: Combined Science

GCSE: Chemistry (when taken alongside Chemistry and Physics as part of the Separate Science course.

A-Level Chemistry

How does Chemistry prepare students for the next stage of their education or employment?

GCSE Chemistry leads into A-Level Chemistry

Students that study A-Level Chemistry can progress to an undergraduate degree in several disciplines within Chemistry.

Chemistry graduates can enter fields such as:

Astronaut -Astronauts fly spacecraft or work as part of the crew.
Botanist -Botanists study all forms of plant life and have many different job roles in lots of areas.
Chemical engineer -Chemical engineers research and design machinery used to turn raw materials into everyday products.
Dentist -Diagnose and treat teeth and mouth problems, work to prevent dental disease, and promote oral health.
Geoscientist -Geoscientists study the structure of the - Earth and how it was formed over time.
Geotechnician- Geotechnicians work with geoscientists to collect and analyse data from soil, rocks and water.
Homeopath -Homeopaths create natural remedies to try and stimulate the body’s healing process.
Oceanographer -Oceanographers use knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics and geology to study seas and oceans.
Pathologist -Pathologists diagnose disease by examining cells, tissue samples, and sometimes performing autopsies
Psychiatrist -Psychiatrists are doctors who diagnose and treat patients with mental health problems.
Surgeon -Surgeons carry out operations and medical procedures on patients.

More Information

More information about our curriculum can be found by looking at our curriculum overviews

Haberdashers' Hatcham Primary