Biology

Biology involves increasing our knowledge of living organisms, which makes it a relevant and exciting subject for all human beings to study!

Molecular biology has a huge impact on the human race, affecting the way we live our lives and raising may difficult ethical issues. The news often features biological stories relating to topics such as the development of new drugs, genetic engineering, genetic fingerprinting, forensic science and genetic counselling. Advancing our knowledge and understanding of how the body works enables us to understand the consequences when things go wrong. We are bombarded with advice on lifestyle choices but need to understand the underlying principles which may affect our decisions about how we choose to live our lives. Biology is a complex and wide ranging discipline, which makes it an interesting and worthwhile subject to study for its own sake but also opens up a huge range of possible career opportunities.

The department encourages students of all abilities to engage in Biological study, from the Year 9 pupil who will receive a stimulating introduction to biological sciences based on a practical approach, to the GCSE pupil studying biology as a separate science or part of a combined science course and on to the serious A-level student who is conscious of the range of courses with links to biology that are offered by universities and the possible future careers in biologically relevant areas.

We offer GCSE Biology to the top two groups in Years 10 and 11 and then Science and Additional Science to the other teaching groups. A range of topics is included in the AQA GCSE.

  • In Core Science topics studied are on human biology, evolution and environment and how science works.
  • Additional biology also includes studying cells, plants, energy flow, enzymes, homeostases and inheritance.
  • Further biology involves studying the exchange of materials in organisms, transporting substances around the body, microbiology and ethics.

Studying Biology in the Sixth Form provides the opportunity to find out more about ‘Biology and disease’ and ‘The variety of living organisms’ as AS level and ‘Populations and environment’ and ‘Control in cells and organisms’ at A2 level. There is a strong emphasis in the AQA specification we have chosen on ‘How Science Works’ and the application of knowledge to novel situations. The theoretical aspects of the subject are supported by ecological fieldwork and the development of investigative and practical skills, which are internally assessed. Skills developed while studying A level Biology include making observations and measurements and analysing and evaluating results, which should prove useful to most students in the future.