Physics

Applications Open: - Friday 28th November 2025

Applications Close: - Friday 6 February 2026 - Please note - If you do not complete your application fully by the deadline of Friday 6 February 2026, we may not be able to consider it until August when GCSE results are published.

How to Apply:

Internal students - Applications to join our Sixth Form, via Applicaa, can be made via this link Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend (applicaa.com). PLEASE NOTE that you should use an e-mail address that you check regularly as the Applicca system will contact you with updates about your application.

External students - Year 11 Students from other schools applying to Mayfield Grammar School should apply via KentChoices using this link - https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk/login. Please note - After sending your application, you'll receive a welcome email from Applicaa asking for further information.

If you applied to us before the deadline but have not heard from us for a while please bear with us, we are working through the applications and will get back to you with our decision and advice as soon as we can. We will continue to send messages via Applicaa so please logon from time to time to check if we need some additional information from you

Applications After the deadline

Students who are interested in applying to Mayfield Grammar School for Sixth Form but have missed our application process can contact us once they have their GCSE results in August. After the publication of GCSE examinations results in August we ask that you make an appointment to discuss your application with the Sixth Form team. You need to call 01474 352896 or email admissions@mgsg.kent.sch.uk. Please check you have met our entry criteria for the subjects you want to study and read our Options Booklet under the Sixth Form tab on our website for our general entry criteria. If you meet our criteria, please get in touch, and bring your original documents for GCSE Results Summary and Birth Certificate as ID when you are offered an appointment.

Entry Requirements: -

Entry to the Sixth Form is dependent on demonstrating achievements which show general breadth of ability as well as depth in the specific courses chosen for study in the Sixth Form. For this reason you will need to have achieved all the following:

1. A minimum of 6 GCSEs at Grade 5 and above, preferably on the higher papers, in discrete subjects, with the exception of Combined Science, which counts as two subjects.

2. Grade 5 or above in GCSE English and GCSE Mathematics.

3. To have met the requirements of the individual subjects that you intend to study at A Level/Level 3, which are all, with the exception of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Languages, a minimum of Grade 6 at GCSE on the Higher papers. This is essential.

Essential skills

The most important skills that you require are the ability to manipulate data and equations, use apparatus as well as planning and evaluating experiments.

Year 1/AS

AS level is assessed through two exam papers (50% and lasting 1 hr 30 mins each). In addition to the content met in each unit, each paper will have questions which relate to the core practicals. The paper may include multiple-choice, short open, open-response, calculations and extended writing questions.

Paper 1: Mechanics, which includes motion graphs, Newton's Laws, Vectors, Equations of Motion and Work, Energy and Power and Electricity which includes Current Electricity, Ohm's Law, Resistivity, EMF and internal resistance and Potential Dividers, Nuclear Particles and Radiation, Materials, which includes Hooke’s Law, Stoke's Law and Young's Modulus and Waves and Particle Model of Light which includes refraction, total internal reflection, standing waves and lenses.).

Paper 2: Paper 2 includes synoptic questions on all topics listed in Paper 1 above as well as questions on experimental methods (including questions on core practicals).

Year 2

All students follow the same course. In Year 2 there are 3 papers to be taken at the end of the year.

Paper 1: includes building upon the knowledge of topics listed for AS as well as Further Mechanics,

Electric and Magnetic Fields, Nuclear and Particle Physics, Thermodynamics, Space, Nuclear

Radiation, Gravitational Fields and Oscillations

Paper 2 includes synoptic questions and experimental skills questions of all topics covered in Paper 1.

Paper 3: includes questions on the Optional Module chosen, which will be Astronomy

Other details

The course leading to the Advanced Physics qualification is examined through three written papers of 2 hour duration each. Paper 1 and Paper 2 contributes 34% each to the total A level mark and Paper 3 contributes 32%.

All Physics exams must have a minimum of 40% mathematics at a level above higher tier GCSE maths. Pupils who do not take A Level Mathematics are expected to have achieved at least a grade 6 in Mathematics at GCSE and be prepared to develop their mathematical skills. We strongly recommend that students taking Physics also take Mathematics to at least AS level. However, each unit is supported by Maths notes and highly numerate students have been successful in taking Physics without Mathematics. As an A-level student you are responsible for your own learning. This responsibility includes reading around the subject material taught in class and going beyond the limits of the syllabus.

Grade 7,7 in Combined Science GCSE or 7 in Physics

Students wishing to study 3 Sciences will need Grade 7 in all GCSE Sciences.

Students wishing to study 2 Sciences will need Grade 7 in both the chosen Sciences.

We strongly advise that students taking AL Science have at least a grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics.

University requirements

These are some of the typical entry requirements: Bristol AAA ; Nottingham A*AA-AAA; Durham A*AA; Warwick A*AA - these are part of the Russell group universities. Royal Holloway AAB-AAA. Kent BBB .

Links to Further Education

Law, Accountancy, Banking and Financial Services; Mathematics, Chemistry, Design and Technology and Biology. However, a wide range of other subject combinations is also possible.

Career Options:

Law, Accountancy, Banking and Financial Services; Mathematics, Chemistry, Design and Technology and Biology