Biology

Intent

Students should become interested in the natural world and develop skills of analysis, communication and enquiry. As students go through the school their knowledge of biological processes and practical skills should improve. They should be as prepared as possible for their public exam and have the option to continue to A level.

Throughout their school experience of Biology, they continue to explore the natural world, feel prepared for their exams and ready for tertiary education in whichever academic field they have chosen.       

 

General aims:

• To ensure students are best placed to tackle their formal exams in Y11 and Y13
• To foster an interest in the natural world and their own health
• To be available to support students throughout their course
• To track students and make them aware of their progress
• To return all work set within one week to ensure feedback is meaningful

 

Curriculum summary

 

Year 8

Topics from KS3 national curriculum are taught with the aim to stretch students in subject knowledge and to develop their practical skills. Areas of study are as follows:

• Health and Lifestyle
• Biological Processes
• Reproduction and Inheritance

This is based on the AQA Activate! Course.

 

Year 9

Students embark on AQA GCSE Biology (9-1). The following topics are studied:

• Cell Biology: cell structure, cell division and transport in a cell
• Organisation: digestive and cardiovascular systems in mammals and non-communicative diseases

There is a one-hour lesson each week with various teaching styles adopted to help students progress. Shills of analysis, communication and enquiry are developed throughout the year.

Progressive is assessed during class time via TfL and formal assessment is conducted at the end of each topic of work.

 

Year 10

The AQA course continues:

• Plant organisation: plant transport and photosynthesis
• Respiration and metabolism
• Homeostasis: nerves, hormones and lant growth substances
• Ecosystems: food chains, population size and pollution

There are two one-hour lessons each week and practical work is conducted in order to fulfil the GCSE requirements of the course. A 90-minute exam is conducted at the start of the summer term in order to assess progress and forms the basis for an end of year predicted grade.

 

Year 11

The GCSE will be taken at the end of the year (two exam papers) so there is a strong emphasis on revision especially after the first term. Topics taught in this year are:

• Infection and response: diseases, drug development and vaccines
• Inheritance, variation and evolution

An intensive revision programme is followed in the run up to the exams. Throughout the year exam skills are further developed to ensure students feel fully prepared for the 2 exam papers.

 

A link to the AQA GCSE Biology syllabus is below:

GCSE Biology 8461 | Specification | AQA

 

A level (Y12 and Y13)

This is a subjected often needed by potential medics, vets or dentists although students do study the subject as their only A level science or indeed with the aim of studying the subject beyond A level. The subject is ever changing and thus class tasks will develop the skill of application alongside the deepening of the understanding of biological processes.

 

 

Students follow the AQA course. Topics are continued and developed from GCSE starting with biochemistry and cell biology. Throughout the course practical work aims to strengthen knowledge, develop communication skills and allow application skills to be practised. Exams are at the end of the second year and consist of 3 papers:

• Paper 1 (based on Y12 work)
• Paper 2 (based on Y13 work)
• Paper 3 (based on application and practical skills)

 

A link to the AQA A level Biology syllabus is below:

AS Level Biology 7401 | Specification | AQA

 

There are also opportunities to attend a lecture day and outside competitions are made available throughout the academic year.

 

D McMahon

Head of Biology