Welcome to the Biology Department

Introduction
The Biology Department together with other sciences is located on the third floor of the main building whose labs include specialist Biology laboratories. The whole science floor enjoys wireless access to the school’s computer network. We aim to convey enthusiasm for the subject, using a variety of practical, experimental work to stimulate pupils’ curiosity and help them to experience science at first hand through their own investigative work. Biology starts as a discrete subject in the Third Form.

Third Form (Key Stage 3)

Pupils follow a course which includes but goes beyond the National Curriculum for Biology. The course covers: Plants and Photosynthesis, Ecology, Microbes, Skeleton, Reproduction and Heart Start First Aid Certification. This provides a firm basis for the further study of Biology at GCSE. Pupils begin their GCSE course in the last term of the 3rd Form.

National Curriculum

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Fifth-Forms (Key Stage 4) examination 2012

At GCSE pupils are prepared for the OCR Gateway linear specification at Higher or Foundation level, which builds on the work studied in the first three years. Topics covered at this level include:

Cells, Human Biology(Circulation, Respiration, Nutrition, Nervous System, Homeostasis, Skeleton), Microbes, Genetics and Evolution, Photosynthesis and Plant Transport.

Course work consists of Science in the News. (20% of the final grade) and during their practical work pupils score points towards Can do Tasks (13.3% of the final grade).

OCR specification

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Fourth Forms (Key Stage 4) New Syllabus

At GCSE new syllabus pupils are prepared for the Edexcel linear specification at Higher or Foundation level, which builds on the work studied at Key Stage 3. Topics covered at this level include:

Unit B1: Influences on life - Classification, variation and inheritance; Responses to a changing environment; Problems of, and solutions to a changing environment

Unit B2: The components of life - The building blocks of cells; Organisms and energy; Common systems

Unit B3: Using biology - Control systems; Behaviour; Biotechnology

Coursework consists of controlled assessment units. Pupils will carry out two such activities with the best work submitted. This counts for 25% of the final grade.

Edexcel specification

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Sixth-Form

GCE ‘A’ Level Biology

To join the A level Biology course pupils must have at least a grade B in Biology (triple science option) or AA in science (double science option). Biology is a very popular course in the Sixth Form. At A Level we follow the Edexcel specification. Choice of this subject is important for science related careers such as Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine.

Students studying Biology sit examinations in all units at the end of the Upper Sixth. There is one group who sits the AS exam at the end of lower sixth. There is also a coursework required at A level (20%) consisting of practical activities carried out in lessons under controlled conditions and written report on a scientific issue (for A1) and an individual study (for A2).

Topics covered include:

Lifestyle, Health and Diet, Genes and Health, Reproduction and Stem Cell Use, Plant Structure, Resources and Biodiversity and Evolution and Speciation.

Edexcel specification

SNAB online

Chemguide.co.uk

s-cool revision

Internet Resources

The Biology section of the school Learning Resources website includes a wide range of supporting material, such as lesson notes, PowerPoint files, sample exam papers and past exam papers together with marking schemes.

The Science Society

The Society run by the students aims to promote enjoyment of all three sciences beyond the classroom. The Society consists of around 30 members. A programme of very interesting lectures offers an opportunity to interact with leading scientists and see the most spectacular experiments.