Chemistry courses have been taught at the Upper Secondary School of Chemistry since its establishment in 1953. Originally, two disciplines – one purely technological and the other purely analytical – have grown to the current varied supply that responds to the needs of the labour market while allowing pupils higher degree of specialization and professional training. The town of Pardubice is located in a region with a highly developed chemical industry. Chemicals and related businesses are our strategic partners with whom we work intensively on several levels. The most important partner is Synthesia a.s. Pardubice, as well as SYNPO a.s. Pardubice. An important partner is the University of Pardubice, which is located near our school, especially its Faculty of Chemical Technology.

Applied Chemistry

This traditional specialization has been offered by the school continuously for almost 60 years.

A four-year, full-time study is finished with a final exam at EQF level 4. After two years the students continue their studies according to one of these syllabuses:

• Analytical chemistry
• Pharmaceutical substances
• Chemical-pharmaceutical production
• Analysis of chemical and biological materials
• Forensic technology and expertise
• Surface treatment of materials

Number of admitted pupils in the school year 2019/2020: 140

Characterization of the specialization

The universality of this study programme enables the graduates to be prepared for work in both industrial companies and small private enterprises, in state and community service, in research and development, in supervisory laboratories and other places where wide chemical and technical knowledge, skills and adaptability are required. The graduates are well prepared for further education of chemical and technical disciplines at universities.

Profile of the graduate

The graduate is a fully-educated chemist, whose education is oriented into one of the specializations presented in the school educational programme. Students gain technical, economic and managerial skills, together with a high level of computer and communication skills, and language preparation.

Curriculum in brief details

Students of all disciplines acquire very solid foundations of chemistry (general, inorganic, organic) during the first and second year. Since the second year of study, analytical chemistry has been taught in all subjects, where inorganic and organic qualitative analysis, gravitational analysis, volumetric analysis and instrumental analysis are gradually being discussed. Analytical Chemistry is a profile subject for students in the field of Analytical Chemistry and Analysis of Chemical and Biological Materials. In all disciplines, chemical technology is taught at the second year of study. Chemical technology, the content of which is focused on specific issues in accordance with the specialization, is a profile subject for the students in the fields of Pharmaceutical Substances and Chemical-Pharmaceutical Production. Technical training is taught in the first to third year of study. In the third year, physical chemistry is included, and in the fourth-year bioorganic chemistry or special organic chemistry according to the focus.

Theoretical teaching of chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry and technical preparation is supplemented in practical year with practical lessons in laboratory exercises.

Pupils in the field of Pharmaceutical substances have some other specialized subjects such as drug chemistry (theory + laboratory exercises) and pharmacognosis. Related Fields Besides these two subjects, chemical-pharmaceutical production also has pharmacology.

The field of analytical chemistry is in addition to the chemical basis of microbiology (theory and laboratory practice) and toxicology. Related field the analysis of chemical and biological materials has a subject of the same name in the 4th year, the theoretical teaching of which is also supplemented by laboratory exercises.

Field Forensic Technology and Expertise is supplemented by the Forensic Analysis, including Laboratory Exercises, as well as Legal Teaching, Criminology and Safety and Shooting Preparation.

In the third year, a continuous four-week vocational practice (in May), which pupils take in companies, is included in all fields. The output from this practical work is an expert report, which is then presented at the school. Subject Professional Practice is classified.

The basis for teaching chemistry at the SPSCH is high. In addition to specialized classrooms equipped with Smart boards and several ICT classrooms, there are seven specialized laboratories: Chemistry Laboratory, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Laboratory of Chemical Techniques, Microbiological Laboratory, Laboratory for Drug Analysis and, last but not least, (liquid and gas chromatograph, capillary electrophoresis, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, Raman spectrometer, atomic absorption spectrometer, several UV / VIS spectrophotometers, automatic titrator, pH-mV meters, polarimeter, conductivity meters and other instrumentation).

Students in all disciplines gain very solid expertise as well as laboratory skills.

A compulsory foreign language in all disciplines is English. Since the second year, language teaching has been expanded by professional terminology.

 In addition to the EQF 4 level, the school also offers chemistry education at EQF level 3 in the form of a three-year Chemistry course in Business Chemistry. Graduate of the branch is a full-fledged chemist, is capable of servicing machinery and equipment in the processing and processing of raw materials and products in chemical production and in various branches of manufacturing industry of chemical or similar character. The graduates of this field find a wide use of pupils in industrial enterprises and in small private companies. Specialization for individual employers is ensured by practical training, running from 2nd year in real operation within the framework of professional training – at the workplaces of Synthesia a.s. Theoretical instruction is focused on the following subjects: chemistry, chemical technology, technical preparation and analytical chemistry.

The ratio between theoretical and vocational training is balanced. After passing final examinations, the pupil receives an apprenticeship certificate. Graduates have the opportunity to continue their studies in a two-year branch of Chemistry Operator in the form of a combined study, culminating in a maturitní zkouška. They will receive full secondary vocational education (level EQF 4).

Internationalisation

Every year number of Applied Chemistry students take part in Erasmus+ VET mobilities (Erasmus+ VET Charter since 2018),  School exchange and Strategic Partnership projects. Teachers are developing their professional and personal skills during Erasmus+ staff training, job shadowing mobilities around the Europe annually. The school is cooperating with organisations in Slovakia, North Macedonia, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy and Cyprus.

The school actively organises activities for Internationalisation at home. Every year there are number of students who are hosted for their Erasmus+ VET training. Teachers are implementing CLIL methodology in chemistry classes.

Take a Virtual tour to see our school facilitites.