COURSES

IGCSE (Edexcel)

The 3rd, 4th and 5th form pupils follow the Edexcel IGCSE course. This course is composed of five main parts.

1. The Nature and Variety of Living organisms – the characteristics and variety of living organisms

2. The Structures and functions in living organisms. This includes the study of cell structure, cells, tissues and organs, how substances move into and out of cells, nutrition, respiration, gas exchange, the blood, heart and transport in plants, the function and structure of the kidney, the nervous system and eye.

3. Reproduction and inheritance – this topic covers the study of plant and human reproduction, genetics and inheritance.

4. Ecology and the environment – including food chains, food webs and the Carbon cycle as well as the effect of humans on the environment – acid rain, global warming and the pollution of water causing eutrophication.

5. Use of Biological resources – the role of microorganisms in food production, how crop yield can be increased and fish farms. How selective breeding can be used to create animals or plants with desired characteristics, how genetically modified plants and animals can be created and their uses and the cloning of animals and plants.

Triple Award
Triple award Biology is where students are awarded one full GCSE for Biology. This is an extension of the syllabus above. The same topics are studied but there is a little more detail compared with the dual award course. For example, students not only study the eye but also understand how focussing works. When studying nutrient cycle, in addition to the Carbon cycle, they also study the Nitrogen and water cycles.

AQA A-level

AS-Biology

AS Biology it worth 300 UMS marks and is comprise of three Units – two theory units and a practical examination. The students study the following subjects:

Unit 1
1. Causes of Disease
2. Enzymes and the digestive system
3. Cells and transport of substances into and out of them
4. Lungs and lung disease
5. Heart and heart disease
6. Immunology

Unit 2 (140 UMS marks)
1. Variation and genetic diversity
2. DNA and Cell division
3. Transport of gases in animals and transport in plants
4. Classification

Unit 3 (referred to as 3X – worth 60 UMS marks)
Practical examination – this comprises of a practical exam completed in the school time in the Lent term. Students then complete a practical exam paper that is taken under exam conditions but completed within school time.

A2 Biology

Unit 4 (worth 100 UMS marks)
1. The reactions of photosynthesis
2. The reactions of respiration
3. Populations and Ecology
4. Food chains, webs and Ecosystems
5. Nutrient cycles
6. Ecological Succession

U6 Field course – Autumn Term
The Ecology material covered in Unit 4 is supported by the U6th field course. At the beginning of the Autumn term of the U6th year we attend a field course in Pembrokeshire. We study rocky shore ecosystems as well as succession in sand dunes. All the teaching and equipment is provided by the field centre who deliver first-rate teaching of this material.

Unit 5 (worth 140 UMS marks)
1. Response to stimuli and the Nervous system
2. Muscle contraction
3. Homeostasis
4. Oestrous cycle
4. Protein synthesis
5. DNA technology including genetic therapy, cloning and genetic fingerprinting

Unit 6 (referred to as 6X – worth 60 UMS marks)
This is the practical examination taken at A2. Similar to AS, the practical exam is conducted under exam conditions in school time and the exam paper is taken in lesson time.