Exeter Mathematics School are delighted to host Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell on Friday, 29th March and would like to invite sixth form students to join us for a special talk about her discovery and career at the Northcott Theatre, Exeter University from 1100 to 1215
Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, the astrophysicist recently awarded the Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Pyhsics, is a role model and champion for young students and particularly for women in science throughout the world. Best known for her discovery of pulsars — rotating neutron stars that appear to ‘pulse’ since the beam of radio waves they emit can only be seen when it faces the Earth. Her observation, made together with her supervisor, Antony Hewish, is considered to be one of the greatest astronomical discoveries of the twentieth century.
Target Audience: sixth form students within reach of Exeter
How to get involved: If you’d like to bring your sixth form students along to this free event, please email events@exeterms.ac.uk by Thursday, 28th February to let us know how many tickets your school will require along with whether you have any special access requirements.
Target Audience: students from Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset that stand out for their achievement in and/or enthusiasm for physics.
Format: five enrichment days held at EMS spread throughout the year
Aim: to provide students, that might otherwise be isolated, with a community of like-minded peers to explore challenging and interesting physics.
How to get involved: teachers are invited to nominate students towards the end of the summer term of year 7. Further nominations may be possible in later years, subject to available space. Email events@exeterms.ac.uk
Capacity: 64 (16 per year)
Following the success of Exeter Mathematics School’s Maths Student Community, EMS began a Physics Student Community as of September 2016.
The aim of our PSC-SW is essentially is to bring together and inspire able physics students from across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, forming a community of learners who will work together, share ideas, attend masterclasses and receive mentoring; delivering a fascinating insight into the exciting field of physics!
Teachers frequently identify students within their settings who stand out from the crowd and who can find themselves working in isolation. Our aim is to bring these students together, to enable them to work with peers who are similarly able and motivated, to provide stimuli which will deepen and broaden their appreciation of physics and its related fields and to demonstrate how physics relates to their lives.
It is our intention to support students throughout their secondary school career, regardless of whether or not they decide to apply for a place in our 6th form.
We are pleased to confirm that we will be continuing the PSC-SW for students in Year 8 through to 11 in the 2018/19 academic year.
If you have been part of the PSC for the academic year 2017-18 in Years 8-10, you will automatically be moved up into the next year group. Update paperwork will be sent out in the second half of the summer term. Nomination forms for the new Year 8 PSC 2018/19 have been sent to schools.
This programme is teacher nominated only; we cannot accept applications from students directly. If you are a teacher and would like to nominate a student, please email: events@exeterms.ac.uk to check that you are on our distribution list to receive the information.
Students nominated will attend a series of enrichment days at EMS. During the classes, students are introduced to Physics beyond the normal curriculum and are encouraged to think about, debate and explore challenging concepts and ideas.
| DATE | TIME | EVENT |
| Thursday 27th September 2018 | 1315-1530 | Launch Event |
| Thursday 15th November 2018 | 1030-1430 | Enrichment Day |
| Thursday 20th December 2018 | 1230-1630 | EMS Christmas Lectures |
| Thursday 14th March 2019 | 1030-1430 | Enrichment Day |
| Thursday 9th May 2019 | 1030-1430 | Enrichment Day |
| DATE | TIME | EVENT |
| Thursday 13th September 2018 | 1030-1430 | Enrichment Day |
| Thursday 1st November 2018 | 1030-1430 | Enrichment Day |
| Thursday 20th December 2018 | 1230 – 1600 | EMS Christmas Lectures |
| Thursday 7th February 2019 | 1030-1430 | Enrichment Day |
| Thursday 28th March 2019 | 1030-1430 | Enrichment Day |
| DATE | TIME | EVENT |
| Saturday 15th September 2018 | 1230 – 1600 | Enrichment Day |
| Saturday 24th November 2018 | 1230 – 1600 | Enrichment Day |
| Thursday 20th December 2018 | 1230 – 1600 | EMS Christmas Lectures |
| Saturday 16th March 2019 | 1230 – 1600 | Enrichment Day |
| Saturday 4th May 2018 | 1230 – 1600 | Enrichment Day |
| DATE | TIME | EVENT |
| Saturday 15th September 2018 | 1230 – 1600 | Enrichment Day |
| Saturday 24th November 2018 | 1230 – 1600 | Enrichment Day |
| Thursday 20th December 2018 | 1230 – 1600 | EMS Christmas Lectures |
| Saturday 16th March 2019 | 1230 – 1600 | Enrichment Day |
| Saturday 4th May 2018 | 1230 – 1600 | Celebration Event |
Target Audience: students within reach of Exeter that have the potential to reach an 8 or 9 in their GCSE physics but need some additional support or inspiration to do so.
Format: 14 lessons per year at EMS from 1600 to 1730, approximately fortnightly throughout the autumn and spring terms of year 10 and 11.
Aim: to enable students to achieve better GCSE grades than initially predicted and to therefore have greater opportunities in Further and Higher education
How to get involved: teachers are invited to nominate students towards the end of year 9.
Capacity: 34 (17 per year group)
Exeter Mathematics School offers a GCSE enhancement course for able Physics students in Years 10 and 11 for the academic year 2017/18. Students who are nominated should be capable of achieving an A*, but should be those that would benefit from additional support and inspiration to do so.
Students will have the opportunity to work with EMS staff to develop their academic skills and support their progress towards A* grades in their GCSEs.
During a series of workshops and group sessions, students will have the opportunity to develop a deeper and more connected understanding of GCSE content. Supported by EMS staff, students will be provided with the stimuli to broaden their application of Physics and its related fields, whilst encouraging their development as problem-solving physicists; thereby preparing students for further study of Physics.
If you have been part of our Year 10 enhancement programme you will automatically progress into next year’s Year 11 group. Nomination forms for the new Year 10 cohort for the academic year 2019/20 will be sent to schools later in the academic year. If you require a copy of the nomination paperwork, please email events@exeterms.ac.uk.
Lessons will run from 1600-1730 approximately 14 times over the year. Dates for 2018/19 will be finalised soon.
Please note that by joining the community, students are committing to attending all of the sessions outlined.
Thursday 27th September 2018 1:15pm – 3:30pm Year 8 Launch Day
Thursday 15th November 2018 10:30am – 2:30pm Enrichment Day
Thursday 20th December 2018 12:30pm – 4:00pm (TBC) EMS Christmas Lectures
Thursday 14th March 2019 10:30am – 2:30pm Enrichment Day
Thursday 9th May 2019 10:30am – 2:30pm Enrichment Day
Thursday 13th September 2018 10:30am – 2:30pm Enrichment Day
Thursday 1st November 2018 10:30am – 2:30pm Enrichment Day
Thursday 20th December 2018 12:30pm – 4:00pm (TBC) EMS Christmas Lectures
Thursday 7th February 2019 10:30am – 2:30pm Enrichment Day
Thursday 28th March 2019 10:30am – 2:30pm Enrichment Day
Saturday 15th September 2018 12:30pm – 4:00pm Enrichment Day
Saturday 24th November 2018 12:30pm – 4:00pm Enrichment Day
Thursday 20th December 2018 12:30pm – 4:00pm (TBC) EMS Christmas Lectures
Saturday 16th March 2019 12:30pm – 4:00pm Enrichment Day
Saturday 4th May 2018 12:30pm – 4:00pm Enrichment Day
Saturday 15th September 2018 12:30pm – 4:00pm Enrichment Day
Saturday 24th November 2018 12:30pm – 4:00pm Enrichment Day
Thursday 20th December 2018 12:30pm – 4:00pm (TBC) EMS Christmas Lectures
Saturday 16th March 2019 12:30pm – 4:00pm Enrichment Day
Saturday 4th May 2018 12:30pm – 4:00pm Enrichment Day
All sessions run from 1600-1730 at EMS:
Monday 24th September
Monday 8th October
Monday 29th October
Monday 12th November
Monday 26th November
Monday 10th December
Monday 21st January
Monday 4th February
Monday 25th February
Monday 11th March
Monday 25th March
All sessions run from 1600-1730 at EMS:
Monday 17th September
Monday 1st October
Monday 15th October
Monday 5th November
Monday 19th November
Monday 3rd December
Monday 14th January
Monday 28th January
Monday 11th February
Monday 4th March
Monday 18th March
Monday 1st April
Target Audience: Year 10 and 11 students in the Exeter & East-Devon area
Format: An afternoon with four rounds in a team-based inter-school competition
Aim: to have fun, be challenged, enjoy Physics in a buzzy environment!
How to get involved: teachers are invited to enter teams of 4 students
Capacity: 80 (20 teams)
Target Audience: year 12 and 13 students in the Exeter & East-Devon area
Format: An afternoon with four rounds in a team-based inter-school competition
Aim: to have fun, be challenged, enjoy physics in a buzzy environment!
How to get involved: teachers are invited to enter teams of 4 students – see below for more information
Capacity: 80 (20 teams)
Date: 21st March 2019, 1200 – 1600 at Exeter Phoenix
If you’re an A Level student looking to test your Physics skills and knowledge, then the KS5 Physics Challenge is the place to do it! There will be an estimation round, a practical challenge and a very hard questions round – noting that year 12 and 13 content will be covered. We would like to invite teachers to nominate up to two teams to take part in the challenge and up to two reserve teams. Please note that students will need to be accompanied by a teacher on the day.
Target Audience: Year 10 students with GCSE target grades of 6 or above for Maths and Physics
Format: 6 one-day workshops with weekly online assignments in between and additional, optional online tutorials
Aim: to encourage student into higher education to study physics and to help students to work independently
How to get involved: Email events@exeterms.ac.uk. Taster sessions being held in local schools early November – please get in touch to book a time.
Capacity: 18
Target Audience: year 12 and 13 students with A-level target grades of B or C
Format: 4 one-day workshops with additional, optional one-line tutorials
Aim: to consolidate Physics concepts under the guidance of experienced tutors; improving exam technique; improving students’ confidence and ability in Physics
How to get involved: teachers are invited to nominate students in the spring term
Capacity: 20
All workshops will run from 0900 to 1630 at EMS on: Saturday 9th March, Saturday 30th March, Monday 8th April, and Tuesday 9th April. Students will be provided with lunch and refreshments at each workshop.
In addition to the four workshops at EMS, Isaac Physics provide weekly online video tutorial support for all students on any Ogden Isaac Programme to offer assistance with assignments that have been set by their Ogden Isaac Tutor.
Exeter Mathematics School, Rougemont House, Castle Street, EXETER EX4 3PU.
There is no cost to the students. This project is entirely funded by the Department for Education via Isaac Physics.
Students who are currently in year 12 or 13, who attend a state funded school/college, and whose target grade for Physics and Maths is B/C are invited to apply for this program. Please note that numbers are limited and priority will be given to those students who meet any of the following criteria:
Click here to visit the Isaac Physics website and book your place!
