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BIOLOGY

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT:
DR K WEATHERLY
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STAFF:

Teaching Staff: Mrs D Varley, Ms D Walker, Mr A Robertson

KEY STAGE 3:

Biology is taught as part of the overall KS3 Science Curriculum. Please see the Science page for further details.

KEY STAGE 4:

Biology at KS4 is taught either as part of the AQA GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy) or the AQA GCSE Biology (taken as the 'Triple Science' option). In both courses, the students will study the topics listed below, however those opting for the Triple Science route will study some of these topics in more depth. Both routes include content based around “How Science Works” and there are 7/10 required practical tasks (depending on the route taken) that all students must carry out in class time. They will be assessed on these in their exams at the end of year 11. All exams are terminal and will be sat at the end of year 11, there are no exams in year 10 and there is no coursework.

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Year 10 topics

  • Cell biology

  • Organisation

  • Infection and response

  • Bioenergetics

Year 11 topics

  • Homeostasis and response

  • Inheritance, variation and evolution

  • Ecology

KEY STAGE 5:

AQA A Level Biology


At KS5 our students are entered for the 2-year AQA A-Level Biology Course. We do not offer an AS. This course is excellent preparation for any Science, Engineering or Maths based university course. It also equips our students with the necessary study skills to go on to read any other challenging, academic course at university e.g. Law.


In year 1  students will study:

  • Biological molecules

  • Cells

  • Organisms exchange substances with their environment

  • Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms

In year 2  students will study:

  • Energy transfers in and between organisms

  • Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments

  • Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems

  • The control of gene expression


Pearson BTEC Level 3 Applied Human Biology​


At KS5 students can study the 2-year extended certificate in Applied Human Biology. This course is excellent preparation for a career in the health science sector e.g. occupational therapy, clinical biomedical science and more. The course gives students a broad understanding of biological principles including cells, tissues and practical microbiology


In year 1 students will study:

  • Principles of Human Biology – externally assessed

  • Practical Microbiology and Infectious Disease – internally assessed – coursework


In year 2 students will study:

  • Human Biology and Health Issues – externally assessed

  • Human Reproduction and Fertility – internally assessed

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