Staff Members
- Mr Coltart – Curriculum Leader Science
- Ms Lyall – Chartered Teacher
- Dr Smith
- Mr Russell
Progression Pathways
The range of courses and levels studied in S3 to S6 is detailed in the following progression pathway:
Pupils at James Gillespie’s High School can study Physics at the following levels: National 3, National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher as detailed in the progression pathway above. In addition to pupils gaining knowledge in many areas of Physics, they will also gain problem solving and practical skills which will prove invaluable as they progress on to further education and the work environment.
Resources
In addition to the text books detailed in each course section below, pupils can access revision materials, summary notes and learning outcomes via the website Edmodo. This is an online educational environment used by most teachers and students in our faculty. Pupils set up their own Edmodo account and join the correct group for their subject and course using a specific code which their teacher provides. A link to the login page is here: Edmodo.
National 3,4,5 Physics
The National Physics courses consist of three main units as shown below. The National 4 Physics course also has an additional Added Value Unit (AVU).
- Electricity and Energy
- Waves and Radiation
- Dynamics and Space
Additional information on the courses and assessment can be found on the SQA website: N3 SQA N4 SQA N5 SQA
Textbooks: ‘National 5 Physics’ by Arthur Baillie, HODDER GIBSON and ‘National 4 Physics‘ by Arthur E. Baillie HODDER GIBSON.
Revision Guide: ‘How to Pass National 5 Physics‘ HODDER GIBSON
Revision Websites:
- BBC bitesize: National 4
- BBC bitesize: National 5
CfE Higher Physics
The CfE Higher course consists of 4 units:
- Our Dynamic Universe
- Particles and Waves
- Electricity
- Researching Physics
Additional information on the courses and assessment can be found on the SQA website: CfE Higher SQA
Textbook: ‘Higher Physics for CfE’ by Paul Chambers, Iain Moore and Mark Ramsay, HODDER GIBSON.
Revision Guide: ‘How to Pass Higher Physics for CfE‘ HODDER GIBSON
Revision Websites:
- BBC bitesize: CfE Higher
- Scholar login
CfE Advanced Higher Physics
The CfE Advanced Higher course consists of 4 units:
- Rotational Motion and Astrophysics
- Quanta and Waves
- Electromagnetism
- Investigating Physics
Additional information on the courses and assessment can be found on the SQA website: CfE AH SQA
Revision Guide: ‘Bright RED CfE Advanced Higher Physics‘ BRIGHT RED
Revision Website: