How We Learn Physics at Dulwich College Beijing’s Senior School

At DCB, students learn physics throughout their education, with dedicated classes starting in Senior School. Physics, the study of matter, energy, and forces, is integral to understanding the world and how it works— from powering our homes to the gravitational forces governing the universe. Understanding all this goes beyond exams, equipping students with critical thinking skills and the ability to apply knowledge in meaningful and relevant ways.

From Newton’s law of gravity to Einstein’s General Relativity, physics has shaped our understanding of the universe, inspiring even more theories and models that allow us to understand our world better. Here at DCB, we introduce our students to these discoveries and challenge them to go further. 

Years 7 to 9: Building the Foundations

In Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9), our students follow a modified English National Curriculum and study a newly revamped KS3 Science syllabus through three primary branches of Science: Physics, Biology, and Chemistry. As we've mentioned in our previous piece about Biology, topics from the three subjects are studied in sequence throughout the year. At DCB, we go beyond textbook learning by emphasising metacognitive skills, enabling our students to learn how to learn and to think critically and independently about what they've researched. They are encouraged to observe, ask questions, develop hypotheses, and apply scientific reasoning to real-world problems. 

During these years, key topics covered include:

• Energy
• Electricity
• Forces
• Space
• Heat Transfer
• Waves

Physics serves as the backbone of scientific understanding, supporting both Chemistry and Biology. The principles of physics allow scientists to make precise calculations and predictions across disciplines, reinforcing its significance in scientific exploration.
 

Key Stage 4: Advancing Scientific Understanding

Building on these foundations, students continue to expand their knowledge in Key Stage 4, where they take the IGCSEs (International General Certificate of Secondary Education). As part of their IGCSEs, our Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11) students choose between two science pathways: the Double Award or the Triple Award. All students will delve into all three Science subjects – Biology, Chemistry, and Physics – and are instructed by specialised teachers in each discipline. 

The primary difference between the two pathways lies in the depth of scientific content covered, time allocation and the number of IGCSEs awarded. Students who opt for the Triple Award have additional three hours of science per week and earn three IGCSE certificates, while those in the Double Award earn two. However, both groups study the same fundamental topics, including:

• Forces and motion
• Electricity Waves
• Energy resources and energy transfer
• Solids, liquids and gases
• Magnetism and electromagnetism
• Radioactivity and particles.
• Astrophysics

This stage lays the groundwork for students who wish to pursue scientific fields in higher education, developing analytical and problem-solving skills essential for future study.

Key Stage 5: IB Diploma and the A Levels

In Key Stage 5, or Years 12 to 13, students have the option to take either the IB Diploma Programme or, from the next academic year, the A Levels, building on the knowledge and skills they acquired in IGCSE. These programmes will not just help prepare students for a multitude of career paths, spanning research, engineering, healthcare, and technology, but also the skills to help them in university and beyond.      

But what's the difference between Physics in the IB and Physics in A Levels?

As we've mentioned before, A Levels focus on depth of knowledge, encouraging specialisation and preparation for university studies in related fields. Here, Physics is taught as a standalone subject with a strong focus on content knowledge and analytical skills within traditional disciplines within physics such as mechanics, electricity, waves, and practical or laboratory skills.

The IB Diploma Physics is more holistic, exposing students to this most fundamental experimental science, which seeks to explain the universe itself – from the very smallest particles to the vast distances between galaxies. It emphasises interdisciplinarity and the integration of theory with practical and investigative skills, in alignment with the IB learner profile, which aims to develop students who are inquirers, knowledgeable thinkers, and communicators.

It requires students to learn from five different themes: 

• Space, motion and time
• Particulate nature of matter
• Wave behaviour
• Fields and
• Nuclear & Quantum Physics. 

The curriculum includes core topics. Depending on their personal goals and advice from our university counsellors, students can opt to choose between Standard Level and High Level (HL). HL students can also opt for additional higher-level topics, along with options that allow students to explore areas like General & Special Relativity in further detail. 

Learning Beyond the Classroom 

Read more about our students' visit to CERN here.

Mr George Were, our Physics Lead in Senior School, also shared how here at DCB, opportunities for learning not only extend outside the classroom, but also beyond the continent as well. "We were the first school in China to visit CERN (one of the world's largest and most respected centres for scientific research) which was an invaluable learning opportunity for our Physics students. As the site of the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest particle accelerator, it offered a live view of physics theories in action, from the Higgs boson to quark-gluon interactions. Observing these experiments in real-time demystifies complex concepts and sparks a deeper interest in the fundamental components of the universe. Moreover, CERN's role as a centre for international scientific collaboration highlights the importance of teamwork across disciplines and borders, potentially guiding students toward exciting careers in physics, engineering, and beyond. This experience not only educates but also inspires and connects our students to a global scientific community."

At DCB, we strive to instil a passion for discovery in our students. Whether they choose to become physicists, engineers, or innovators in other fields, our physics program equips them with the skills and curiosity needed to explore and shape the world.

As Stephen Hawking said, "Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious."

This article is part of a three-part series on how we learn science in Senior School here at DCB.