Biology is one of the most popular and relevant subjects in the school curriculum today and with such controversial and challenging issues as Swine Flu, BSE, GM foods, AIDS, cancer, human fertility, the Human Genome Project, environmental destruction, pollution and global warming, it touches all of our lives in some way or another. It is the science of life itself.

Biology thrives on a keen interest in the study of living organisms, an enjoyment of investigative work both in the laboratory and in the field, and an awareness of new developments and their implications to society in the 21st Century.

We incorporate ‘How Science Works’ (from the AQA specification) into our teaching of the subject, building and improving skills such as data interpretation, criticising and improving experimental design and drawing appropriate conclusions.

Many of our pupils go on to study biology related courses at university. An increasing number each year are successful in obtaining places on highly competitive courses including medicine, veterinary science, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and a variety of courses at Oxford or Cambridge universities. Other students use biology as a valuable and interesting subject to take them on to a variety of courses including Agriculture, Sociology, Archaeology, Law, Drama and Surveying.

Dr Liz Chare, Head of Biology

Stretching and Challenging our Students

We are keen to stretch and challenge are students during their time studying Biology. This particularly important for our A-level students to help them prepare for University interviews and a life in tertiary education.

1. Questioning in Class
Questioning in class is our primary and best way to ensure our students stay attentive in their classes and engaged with our lessons. We aim to foster their ability for students to think for themselves so that they are more able to tackle the applied nature of the exam questions and become good scientists.

2. Practical Experiments
The teaching of theory is frequently complemented with carrying out practical experiments. Here students can hone their practical skills and gain practice in considering how experiments need to be conducted in order for their results to be reliable.

3. Wider reading – See the Reading Lists
We encourage all our students to read beyond the syllabus. This directly helps with answering the exam questions as although the exam boards are unable to ask for information that is not directly covered by the exam syllabus, they are allowed to set these questions using unfamiliar applied scenarios. If the students have encountered the scenario before, it can help them to get to grips with the exam question more quickly.

We hugely encourage wider reading to spark students’ interest and further their understanding and enjoyment of Biology. Please see the reading list tabs. Watching of wildlife programmes such as those by David Attenborough and Horizon programmes, are also to be commended!

4. Field courses and field days
Our U6th attend a weekend’s field course in their U6th year where they learn more about rocky shore ecology and succession in sand dunes. This helps to put their understanding of ecology into practice and develop their practical skills. Field days and afternoons are also organised for the Lower College.

5. Biology lectures
Each year group has an “off the syllabus” Biology lecture to attend given by one of the members of the Biology department. One recent lecture given to the third form was on qualifying as a Vet and studying Veterinary Medicine at University.

6. The Biomedical Society
The Biomedical Society directly supports students who are applying to read Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Veterinary Science, Dentistry or Medicine or related subjects at University. Students are asked to give presentations each week on areas of interest. This helps the students speak more convincingly on the areas of interest that they have referred to in their UCAS personal statement, when asked further questions at interview. It helps foster a desire to beyond the syllabus and hone their questioning and analytical skills.

7. Practice of University examinations – BMAT and UKCAT
For our 6th form prospective medics and Vets we provide weekly sessions to help prepare them for the BMAT and UKCAT exams that some Veterinary Medicine and Medicine schools require for their courses. Although these tests are aptitude tests, and therefore by their nature are more difficult to prepare for than a normal exam, students can become more familiar and more confident in answering questions by practicing past papers.