Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Peter Edmunds

@peteredmunds.bsky.social

1.1K followers 190 following 150 posts

Physicist & Head of Physics. Author. Compulsive maker of resources. Physics teachers are unicorns; look after them. 🦄 Hundreds of free teaching resources at sciencedoctor.school.blog, ranging from KS3 science to KS5 physics.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Nov 14

Things are getting busier here, so here’s a reintroduction.

I’m Pete, a head of physics who believes that teaching is hard and should be made easier.

That’s why I made sciencedoctor.school.blog. There’s no point in us all making the same worksheet/booklet.

KS3 science - KS5 physics. Check it out!

4 8 28

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · 1d

Schools are *not* ready for this:

-Open homework in google chrome
-Right click and go to "search with google lens"
-Google lens pops up on the right side and answers the question

Massive implications for homework. This was an Isaac physics "A level challenge 2" question.

1 2 3

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · 22d

I’d agree, although there’s not much quantum stuff. The issue has been that grade boundaries for an A* has been as low as in the low 60% range (bearing in mind that only the top 10% ish of students get this). That becomes quite demotivating for a lot of students

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · 22d

(There's a mix of question types in A level physics - the trend over the last few years is that the level of difficulty have bordered on undergraduate level difficulty. Lots of complaints have been raised about this - if anything the level of AQA exams have been far far too hard recently)

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · 22d

Thank you again for raising this - I've been so frustrated at their response that I'm grateful a bit of pressure is being applied. Many students nationally will have been disadvantaged by this....

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · 22d

For context, I have made my concerns clear to AQA. They doubled down on "Some type 1a supernovae are brighter than expected".

They are dimmer.

We shouldn't *have* to appeal to voices of authority to help here - it's a clear error. The AQA astro teaching guide correctly says this on page 41.

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · 22d

This is the question that I was hinting there were issues with.

It's from this years AQA astro paper. In my opinion there is no correct answer.

Prof. Lintott has very kindly spent time writing to AQA about this. It's a poor error.

Check if any of your students are on mark below a boundary...

Chris Lintott @chrislintott.bsky.social · 23d

Astronomers! This year’s A level physics exams included the following question which seems dodgy to me. Anyone got a sensible answer?

Exam text: Which provides evidence for the existence of dark energy?
Tick one box.
1. Some type 1a supernovae are brighter than expected.
2. Hubble's constant changes with time.
3. The light from some galaxies is blue-shifted.

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · 24d

(I'm absolutely certain there's a mistake in the question I've listed and AQA are doubling down on it...)

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · 24d

Does anybody do the Astro option for AQA A level?

If so, I recommend taking a look at question 3.3 of the most recent years exam.

When you have, let me know your thoughts....

1 1

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · 28d

Thanks for ordering! I think stock has arrived today on Amazon - hopefully it'll arrive sooner that October

1 1

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · 28d

Order here:

amzn.to/48e3vMV

(As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases)

AQA A-level Physics Organise and Retrieve Your Knowledge: Ideal for the 2026 and 2027 exams (Collins A level Revision)

amzn.to

2 1

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · 28d

I've taught this course since the spec changed and know it like the back of my hand. The notes and mark schemes match the language expected from AQA.

I also love the balance of core notes and independent practice - I think a lot of revision guides get this balance wrong

1 1

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · 28d

***BOOK RELEASE DAY***

The book I've always wanted for AQA A level physics is out. It has:

-A page of notes, a page of questions *and* a QR code to a video lesson on each topic
-A page on each required practical, with example calculations
-A full set of exam papers
-Answers

1 1 3

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Sep 4

🚨🚨Out next week🚨🚨

I'll be very excited to finally see the physical product

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Aug 31

I’m glad it’s been useful!

Reposted by Peter Edmunds

Brett Handley @physicsmrh.bsky.social · Aug 31

This has been a massive help to me over the years ... #SciTeachUK #ITeachPhysics

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Aug 31

My annual reminder that sciencedoctor.school.blog is there to help with your back to school planning.

Over 500 freely downloadable worksheets, booklets and resources across KS3 science to KS5 physics.

Worth sharing with new teachers/colleagues?

Science Doctor

Secondary school physics worksheets & science teaching resources

sciencedoctor.school.blog

1 1 4

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Aug 31

Science Doctor

Secondary school physics worksheets & science teaching resources

sciencedoctor.school.blog

1 8

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Aug 14

AQA A level physics teachers - how we feeling on results day?

3 1

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Jul 18

The slow decline of sciencedoctor.school.blog traffic over the summer term!

Have a good summer all!

2 1

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Jul 1

“Have I read anything you’ve written?”

“Probably not unless you’re taking AQA A level physics”

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Jul 1

Harper Collins author party this evening. Very out of my comfort zone but very enjoyable!

1 7

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Jul 1

As if by magic, the science textbook authors found each other and made sanctuary from the novelists!

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Jul 1

Harper Collins author party this evening. Very out of my comfort zone but very enjoyable!

1 2

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Jun 25

Annual reminder that sitting down and answering the exam papers that your students have just sat is *excellent* CPD

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Jun 24

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Jun 24

Looking for things to spend the department budget on before the end of the year?

I've just found out that my KS3 science workbook is on sale on Amazon!

Some schools have found it useful for easy cover etc. (or just as class sets for classwork/homework)

amzn.to/4emz9Jk

The Science Doctor KS3 Science Workbook (The Science Doctor KS3 Science Workbooks)

This book combines the content in the biology, chemistry and physics "Science Doctor" KS3 workbooks and features an additional “practical science” chapter. Covering the majority of the science in the...

amzn.to

1 1

Peter Edmunds @peteredmunds.bsky.social · Jun 9

Haven’t had a chance to speak to many of my lot - how did people find AQA A level paper 2 in physics?

georgemottram.bsky.social @georgemottram.bsky.social · Jun 9

Just spoke to my y13 they did not like P2

1 1