GCSE
All pupils study Biology in years 9, 10 and 11. The subject is allocated four 55-minute periods per two-week cycle in year 9. Our year 10 pupils may now opt to study towards the Science and Additional Science qualifications as an alternative to studying towards qualifications in all three separate sciences. The amount of teaching they receive will depend upon their chosen route. No setting by ability is carried out.
The syllabus taught for GCSE Biology is that of AQA (4411). All candidates are expected to enter for the higher tier papers, which allow award of grades up to and including A*. The subject is allocated six periods per fortnight in years 10 and 11.
The subject content of this specification is presented in four sections: the procedural content (‘How Science Works’) and three sections of substantive content, Biology 1, Biology 2 and Biology 3. However, it is intended that the procedural content is integrated and delivered in the context of the content in Biology 1, Biology 2 and Biology 3:
Biology 1How do human bodies respond to changes inside them and to their environment?
What can we do to keep our bodies healthy?
How do we use/abuse medical and recreational drugs?
What causes infectious diseases and how can our bodies defend themselves against them?
What determines where particular species live and how many of them there are?
Why are individuals of the same species different from each other?
What new methods do we have for producing plants and animals with the characteristics we prefer?
Why have some species of plants and animals died out?
How do new species of plants and animals develop?
How do humans affect the environment?
Biology 2What are animals and plants built from?
How do dissolved substances get into and out of cells?
How do plants obtain the food they need to live and grow?
What happens to energy and biomass at each stage in a food chain?
What happens to the waste material produced by plants and animals?
What are enzymes and what are some of their functions?
How do our bodies keep internal conditions constant?
Which human characteristics show a simple pattern of inheritance?
Biology 3How do dissolved substances get into and out of plants and animals?
How are dissolved materials transported around the body?
How does exercise affect the exchanges taking place within the body?
How do exchanges in the kidney help us to maintain the internal environment in mammals and how has biology helped us to treat kidney disease?
How are micro-organisms used to make food and drink?
What other useful substances can we make using micro-organisms?
How can we be sure we are using micro-organisms safely?
The schemes of work that we adhere to for each year group only include material that is appropriate for that particular year. This means that a section may be covered ‘piecemeal’ across years 9, 10 and 11.
The centre-assessed unit consists of the internally assessed ‘Investigative Skills Assignment’ (an externally set test taking 45 minutes) and ‘Practical Skills Assessment’.
The syllabus taught for the Science and Additional Science qualifications is again that of AQA. However, pupils opting for this course will receive just four periods of teaching in each science per fortnight.
