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1.
To provide an inclusive curriculum committed to ensuring that all those who have the
potential can participate and achieve their aims within the School.
2.
To give a thorough grounding in the principles of physics and astronomy, together with the
associated experimental, observational, mathematical and computational skills, in a manner
which is interesting and stimulating for students and which conveys the excitement and
universality of the subject.
3.
To provide experience in the use of physics to solve practical problems.
4.
To equip students with the ability to evaluate results critically and to communicate the
conclusions coherently.
5.
To encourage students to plan their work and make the gradual transition from a school
environment to a mature, professional style of working with the minimum of supervision
which is more closely related to the working environment.
6.
To foster interactions between students and staff to provide a supportive, friendly and
motivating atmosphere, where feedback can be uninhibited, and where the experience of
the staff is recognised and valued.
7.
To keep abreast of developments in the teaching of physics and the GCSE and A-level
curriculum.
8.
To enable students to seek employment in a variety of occupations. We seek to be aware of
the needs of prospective employers and to develop students’ transferable skills through the
study of physics, giving them flexibility in the choice and development of their careers.
(Transferable skills include numeracy, the ability to analyse and solve problems, the
development of written and spoken communication skills, and computer literacy.)
Equality and Diversity
The School is a diverse community with a shared commitment to promote and respect equality,
dignity and diversity. These commitments apply to all staff, students and any other members of the
School and visitors to the School, and they extend to every aspect of the School’s internal and
external activities.
The School is committed to ensuring that all persons associated with the School are treated equally,
regardless of their age, colour, ethnic or national origins, sex, sexual orientation, marital status,
family responsibilities, disability or impairments, or political or religious beliefs.
Our Partnership – The Student Charter
Our Student Charter, developed through a partnership between students, the Students’ Union and
the University, outlines what you can expect from the University and the Students’ Union, what is
expected of you and what to do if things do not meet your expectations. You should take a look at all
the expectations of the Student Charter, which are outlined at the following link:
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/studentcharter
Valuing your Student Voice
We pride ourselves on the high level of engagement that exists between our students, the Students’
Union and the University, and we work together to enhance the Cardiff experience. We give
students the opportunity to express their opinions and be partners in the decision-making of the
University. In particular, we have Student Academic Representatives in every School who meet with
Staff to feed back what you like and don’t like about your programme. We ensure that you have
adequate opportunities to provide feedback on all elements of your programme and hold a number
of student surveys throughout the year to make sure we are always working in the best interests of
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our students. The feedback you provide is listened to and valued, and we endeavour to make it clear
how students’ views and comments have been acted upon. We also engage our students in the
planning, implementation and evaluation of programmes, through which we continue to enrich the
educational experience at the University.
https://intranet.cardiff.ac.uk/students/campus-life/give-your-feedback
Communicating with your School and the University
You can expect the University to communicate with you clearly and accurately, and to respond in a
timely manner to correspondence from you. You should check your official University student email
regularly to ensure you are kept informed. Make sure you inform the University promptly of any
changes to your circumstances, including changes to your mobile phone number in case we need to
send you a text message.
The Student Intranet is your communication hub and makes it easier for you to find information
about the University, news and updates.
https://intranet.cardiff.ac.uk/students
Most School communication with students outside lectures or laboratories is through email, and you
are advised to check your University email account each working day. If you use a personal address
or mobile device, ensure your University email is appropriately routed to forward messages. Some
lecturers also post notices on Learning Central. The School might occasionally send a text message to
your mobile phone in cases where we have had to change arrangements at short notice (e.g.
cancellation of a lecture through staff illness). The School uses social media to give out general
information or again “in an emergency” to inform you of a cancelled lecture.
Our Facebook account name is ‘PHYSX Dept’ which can be found via
www.facebook.com/cardiffschoolofphysics
The School also has a twitter account: @cardiffPHYSX
The School web site is also a good resource. Click on the Undergraduate page of the following.
http://www.astro.cardiff.ac.uk/teachingandlearning/
General Office – Room N/1.04
The School’s General Office is located centrally in the building and is normally open from 9.00 a.m. to
5.00 p.m. (but closed from 12.30-1.30). It is a good point of contact for students seeking general
advice and also for submitting work.