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Physics
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Physics

As Sir Arthur Eddington said in a Stars and Atom lecture in 1928 "I ask you to look both ways.  For the road to a knowledge of the stars leads through the atom;  and important knowledge of the atom has been reached through the stars."  In the physics department we encourage pupils to be inquisitive, developing their skills of investigation through the processes of research, experimentation and analysis.  Pupils develop a love for learning and discovery that allows them not only to cover the curriculum but also to extend their interests beyond the specified topics and learn about ideas and areas that they enthuse about;  often this results in a pupil-led lecture evening.

Enthusiastic teachers who have a passion for the subject, working in modern, well-equipped and comfortable laboratories, help instil an understanding and way of thinking that enables pupils to appreciate that what they see is not always as it seems!

We enter interested pupils in the British Physics Olympiad in the Michaelmas term, and the Physics Challenge paper in the Lent term:  current pupils have been selected for the Senior Physics Challenge at Cambridge University, and younger pupils visit @Bristol and experience a visiting planetarium!

Guest speakers are invited to talk to our pupils as part of the Science Society lecture series;  previous visitors have included Dr Mark Lewney 'Guitar Physicist', Lynne Long from Birmingham University Physics department, Tim Naylor (Norman Lockyer Professor of Astrophysics and Head of the School of Physics at the University of Exeter), and Diane Ashton from the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining spoke about 'Smart materials, Composites and Communication Materials'.

A number of journals such as Materials World, Physics World, Catalyst, Physics Review and New Scientist are all available within the department and supplement books that we hold in our own departmental library.  Reading is an essential skill that we encourage all pupils to nurture, in order to support and extend their knowledge of the subject.

When you play sport and decide how fast you need to run and in which direction you need to go, you are applying some of the basic laws of physics!  How do you catch a cricket ball so that it does not hurt your hand?  Do you ever stop to ask "I wonder why"?  If you have then Physics is for you!

Staff profiles

Julie Gresswell taught in co-educational boarding and day schools before arriving at King's from the north of England in 2006 to be head of department.  Previously she has been a head of year and in charge of girls' welfare, head of house and junior science co-ordinator.  She has marked and moderated A Level exam papers for OCR, and has a passion for medical physics and making physics fun!  A young family and a husband who is a housemaster keep her busy outside the classroom, as well as her interest in horse riding and rugby (from the sidelines only).  She runs the King’s College equestrian team who compete in regional events on a regular basis, but is also aiming to be able to stand up on a surf board in the near future!

Matthew Lang came to King's from Exeter University, where he did a research degree in medical physics.  He is passionate about ensuring all pupils are aware that physics is the most important subject.  After all, what could be more important than understanding how everything in the universe works;  he is always looking for new and exciting experiments to demonstrate this!  As well as being head of academic ICT, he is a driving force behind TREC (The Renewable Energy Cabin) at King's.  A former Great Britain fencer, his sporting endeavours now stretch to coaching cricket, hockey and athletics.  To wind down he likes nothing more than spending time with his young family and playing loud rock music.

Rebecca Grove came to teaching and King's following work in research and development for the Ministry of Defence.  Having undertaken part of her university studies in America contributing towards astronomical research papers, she has a keen interest in space technology and cosmology.  She loves the outdoors and now finds herself assisting with the Army cadets, coaching hockey and netball, and volunteering on Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.

Terry McHenry who originally graduated in English from Bath Spa University.  However after years of living in denial he was forced to admit he was a physics geek and had to go back touUniversity to rectify things. He does find the ability to criticise poetry an advantage when discussing quantum mechanics.  Terry only came into teaching a couple of years ago, having had previous careers in the worlds of finance and spice trading.  He can therefore advise you on investments and tell you the price per kilo of turmeric.  He has a particular interest in the physics of the very large, i.e. astronomy, as well as the physics of the very small, particles and such stuff.

Terry is a qualified swimming coach and helps out at the school pool.  This term he is also coaching the Senior Colts Bs rugby team, who are showing signs of a return to glory.  Terry enjoys cycling, swimming and lifting weights in his spare time.  However with two young sons, he no longer has any spare time.  He is currently looking into the possibility of enjoying himself in a parallel universe.

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