Key Stage Three

Biology Students study biology during one lesson each week. They follow an in-house course with opportunities to learn about subjects such as different cells and body systems; the effects of micro-organisms and diet on health; variation; interdependence of living things including the roles of photosynthesis and respiration

Students begin working towards GCSE Sciences during Year 9. Students develop understanding about scientific enquiry and evaluation, and the development of scientific ideas and their applications.

Year 7 Scheme of Work

Students will stbiology the academic year by studying cells. This topic will be preceded by an introduction to science and self-assessment will be used. This will be followed by a unit on reproduction and again self-assessment will be used to judge the student’s progress. Finally students will study adaptation and classification. The final assessment will be by examination.

Year 8 Scheme of Work

Assessments will be based on each unit and will take the form of peer assessment and tests. Students will study food and digestion, breathing and circulation and microbes and disease. This will also include a lesson on the history of science.

Key Stage Four

GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy - AQA Code: 8464 - Specifications

Course Content - What Will I Study

• This course leads to two GCSE's.
• Subject Content is organised into a component called ‘How Science Works’ and is comprised of two Biology Sections, two Chemistry sections and two Physics sections.

How will my progress be tested and examined?

• There are six written examination papers, two in each of the three sciences.
• There are at least two controlled assessment units.
• Each controlled assessment unit comprises an Investigative Skills Assignment (ISA) involving planning, practical work and a written assessment test.
• School tests and examinations will be set throughout the two year course to monitor progress. Each girl will be prepared for the level of examinations most suited to her individual aptitude.

GCSE Biology - AQA Code: 8461 - Specifications

Course Content - What Will I Study

• How Science Works.
• Biology 1.
• Biology 2.
• Biology 3.

How will my progress be tested and examined?

• There are three written examination papers. There is a controlled assessment involving planning, practical work and written assessment tests. School tests and examinations will be set throughout the course to monitor progress. Each girl will be prepared for the level of examination most suited to her individual aptitude.

Progression - How will the study of Biology benefit students’ future education and career?

• KS3 and GCSE Science courses aim to provide students with the skills to become scientifically literate young people.
• Training in analysis, understanding, evaluation, application of knowledge and data handling provide foundations for many AS/A Level subjects as well as science.
• Increasingly a minimum grade C in sciences is required for a variety of courses and training, not necessarily those related to pure sciences, at university, in further education or in the workplace.