Biology
Welcome to the Biology page.
Below you will find information on the course with a link to the Course Curriculum.
To view the Course Curriculum, please click here
Year 12
Teaching is based around building upon the skills and content taught at Key Stage 4 and go into greater depth in terms of content and complexity. There is unpicking of the simpler forms of theory taught in Key Stage 4. The Year builds in complexity and challenge and to provide a foundation for Year 13 content, which starts to border on University Level content.
Students build upon their KS4 understanding with further exploration of a range of biological concepts, including cells, infection, bioenergetics and biological molecules. The course delves into biochemical pathways and the transcription and translation of DNA. At the end of Year 12, students start to consider the core concepts necessary for the Year 13 course, including statistical analysis of results. During their first year of the A Level, students complete six of their 12 required practicals, being assessed on specific CPACs throughout. Year 12 are invited on a trip to London Zoo to consider evolutionary relationships and courtship behaviour and have the opportunity to compete in the Biology Olympiad.
Autumn |
Biological molecules Enzymes and digestion Cells |
Spring |
Genetic diversity Exchange Mass transport |
Summer |
Mass transport continued Biodiversity End of year review topics: Statistics Maths skills Required practical skills Essay skills Start the Year 13 course content on photosynthesis and respiration. |
Year 13
The Challenge in this year is to build upon the content taught in Year 12 and then being able to go into further depth and apply it to subject specific skills.
During Year 13, students focus upon a range of topics including homeostasis, ecology and nervous responses. These topics develop the knowledge acquired during Year 12 and often feed back to the learning from the five year Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 scheme of work. A further six practicals are completed, including a trip to Hampstead Heath to study ecological concepts in the field. Wider reading and learning beyond the specification are enriched by trips to a live lecture event and a Chemistry / Biology trip to the Natural History Museum.
Autumn |
Photosynthesis and Respiration Review Energy and Ecosystems Inherited changes Response to stimuli Populations and Evolution |
Spring |
Nervous coordination and muscles Homeostasis Gene expression Recombinant DNA technology |
Summer |
Revision and Public Examinations |