Trinity School Electronics Department

AS/A2 LevelInformation for entry

Sept. 2014

Electronics

AS/A2 Level choices evening

Electronics“The biggest shortage on the planet today is competent engineers,” says Robin Saxby, CEO of ARM. (ARM chips power many smartphones)

“There’s a declining interest in engineering degrees at the very time we’re expanding and needing the people,” says John Dickson, CEO of Lucent Microelectronics.

“Today, not only is the industry experiencing a period of scarce availability of human resources, some even imagine a future slow down in growth because of insufficient availability of skilled and trained people,” says Pasquale Pistorio, CEO of STMicroelectronics.

AS/A2 Level choices evening

ElectronicsTrinity was one of the first schools in

the country to teach A level Electronics 30 years ago

Few other schools have a purpose built Electronics Laboratory used

only for teaching AS / A2 level – and it’s a really nice place to learn!

Why pupils choose AS / A2 Electronics

Some select it as a fourth subject (knowing little about it) yet many decide to study it at university.

They enjoy computing and want to learn more about how a microcontroller works and how to program it using a flow chart and assembly language. E.g. wondering about PICAXE, a Raspberry Pi or a Beaglebone Black!

They already have a curiosity or interest in the subject –from hobby, home, primary, secondary

DT/Science/STEM or a club activity.

What do I study in Electronics ?

• Analogue circuits ( filters, amplifiers, signal processing, power supplies)

• Digital circuits ( logic gates, counters, memory circuits)

• Microcontroller circuits - Programming• Communication circuits - Radio,

Television / Video, Digital Communications

What do I need to be able to study Electronics ?

• Electronics is a demanding academic / practical subject

• It is a completely new subject – no previous knowledge is required.

• It is not Physics or DT or ICT/Computing.• Good at Maths / Further – GCSE grade A recommended• Good at Physics – GCSE grade A recommended• Above all else – large amounts of enthusiasm for E L E C T R O N I C S!

How is the course structured ?

For AS Level

3 modules (2 written papers + coursework) .

36.5%27%

Coursework

+ +36.5%

Paper 1

Simple Systems

36.5%Paper 2

Signal Processors

We have 2 very good textbooks.

The author is the Chief Examiner

What are the results like ?• Outstanding, even at Trinity….

• This summer we achieved 62.5% A*, 100% AS

Since 2009……• NO grades below B – only 1 this summer.• Highest achieving A/A* department in the

school over the past 7 years

What do pupils do when they leave ?

• Many decide during the two years that they want to study Electronics / Computer Systems Engineering at university –students really do “switch on” to this subject!

• Many students get sponsorship through university.• Some go to Oxford / Cambridge & will specialise

when able to do so in Electronic Engineering.• Many study other branches of engineering - it helps

foster interests in a wide range of areas.• It teaches you to solve problems…..

Where are they now?Class of 2013…..• Lloyd Abbott - Imperial - Electronic and Electrical Engineering• Harley Day – Imperial – Biomechanical Engineering• George Gillams – Southampton – Software Engineering• Costa Georgiou – Surrey – Aerospace Engineering• Kent & Allen Zhong (twins) – UCL – Electronic and Electrical Engineering• James Humphries – York - Electronic Engineering• Preshe Muhunthan – UCL Electronic Engineering with Computer Science• Shaun Flint – Plymouth – Computer and Information security (Ethical

hacking?)

Some destinations once graduated…• Tom Dell - Mclaren - Electronic Systems engineer• Darmesh Malamm – CEO Bigcalc• David Sansome – Software Engineer at Google• Adam Turner – Engineer at Cambridge Consultants

Have a look at some of the most successful projects

tackled by our students…..

…or any of the other things on show

Resistance is Futile...

This is the Department of Connection!