Dulwich Difference: Experiencing the Wonder of Physics

At Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi, our educational philosophy is deeply rooted in the understanding of what influences have a direct impact on student attainment. We meticulously tailor our teaching methods to those that yield the highest outcomes for our students. This evidence-based approach is particularly exemplified in our Physics curriculum for the Senior School, where we balance direct instruction with inquiry-based learning. This blend not only deepens students' grasp of natural phenomena but also sharpens their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, significantly enhancing student achievement and setting our school apart in the educational landscape.

This week, our 'Dulwich Difference' series is thrilled to feature Aisling MacSweeney, our Sixth Form Pastoral Lead and Physics and General Science Teacher, who illuminates how our Physics curriculum is deliberately structured to challenge students and extend their learning beyond the conventional syllabus. Embark with us on this exploration of Physics at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi, where the rigour of our curriculum, inspired by findings on effective educational practices, fosters a journey of curiosity, discovery, and unparalleled learning.

Aisling MacSweeney

Senior School Physics and General Science Teacher

“Not only is the Universe stranger than we think, it is stranger than we can think.” ― Werner Heisenberg

In this article, we describe our approach to teaching Physics in the Senior school at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi, highlighting its success and the enriched learning experiences beyond the traditional curriculum.

The Physics curriculum in the Senior School is carefully sequenced from Y7 to Y13 to guide students through their understanding of natural phenomenon, encompassing forces, waves and electricity and spiralling back through these ideas at increasing complexity as students get older. It is based on the National Curriculum of England, but each topic includes ‘stretch and challenge’ material to take students beyond the expected level in every year group.

At Dulwich Puxi, our approach to teaching Physics is a blend of both direct instruction and inquiry. This ensures students are equipped with the fundamental problem-solving skills applicable across a range of situations and transfer their learning to other disciplines. There are other international schools who advocate for entirely inquiry-based learning in the sciences, whereas local schools in China often favour direct and repeated practice. At Dulwich Puxi, we recognize the need for both these strategies, which have resulted in excellent outcomes, both at IGCSE and IB levels.

In lessons, students are introduced to new concepts through discussion, demonstrations, examples and counter-examples. Many students arrive at lessons with preconceived ideas of how things work, only to be shown an example which does not fit with what they thought to be true. Assessing where each student is on their learning journey is extremely important, and through careful scaffolding, all students are challenged to master new ideas and apply their knowledge to progressively more complex problems. In addition, students are also given extensive opportunities to apply their knowledge during practical work and investigations. This means students see and experience the laws of physics, as well as giving them the chance to generate new and interesting questions to investigate.

Outside of lessons, students in Y7 – Y11 can choose to take the Bronze or Silver CREST Award across the sciences during their Elective time. This Award sees students investigating their own research question, planning their method, taking results and evaluating their process. For IB students, Physics remains a popular choice for the Extended Essay, where students conduct an individual piece of research across 40 hours and write this up in the form of a scientific paper.

Additionally, we were delighted to offer the British Physics Olympiad (BPhO) Intermediate and Senior Challenges to our Y11 and Y12 students in March this year. This competition saw Dulwich College Puxi students to competing against their peers from all over the world and test their problem-solving skills in novel situations. We are still awaiting the results, but whatever the outcome, we are proud of our students for pushing themselves forward to compete at the very top level.

Overall, physics at Dulwich College Puxi is more than just a subject; it is a journey of discovery powered by our students’ enthusiasm, curiosity and dedication. As teachers, we support and guide them on their journey, but students’ successes belong firmly to themselves. We hope physics will remain a popular subject at IB and that students from the Early years up continue to ask questions and ponder about the nature of our universe for years to come…