Aims
- To encourage pupils to study living organisms and processes in a scientific manner.
- To balance subject knowledge with the development of investigative skills.
- To give pupils opportunities to design, carry out and evaluate practical experiments using a very wide variety of laboratory apparatus.
- To emphasise the importance of health and safety in the laboratory setting to ensure the wellbeing of all pupils and staff working there.
Staff and facilities
5 newly refurbished dedicated Biology laboratories are available, as well as a Sixth Form teaching room. Each laboratory is extremely well equipped, containing all basic laboratory apparatus and a variety of specialist equipment. Each has audio-visual equipment to allow the watching of videos and DVDs. An increasing amount of our teaching is delivered by PowerPoint computer presentations in the laboratories which all have fixed computer projectors to facilitate this. The staff consists of 6 full-time teachers, 2 part-time teachers and 3 highly qualified technicians.
How much time will I spend on this subject per 10 day cycle?
- Lower School – 3 lessons (3 hours) with an hour of homework
- GCSE – 5 lessons (5 hours) with 2 hours of homework
- A Level – 10 lessons (10 hours) with additional individual study
Biology in the Lower School
In the first 3 years Biology is taught as a single science. Pupils are introduced to the world of living organisms and cover many of the basic topics that are fundamental to the study of Biology.
First Year
Topics include:
- Cells
- Organs and organ systems
- Plant and animal reproduction
- Organism diversity
Second Year
Topics include:
- Variety of living organisms and classification
- Nutrient cycles
- Food chains and food webs
- Movement
- Exercise
- Diet and healthy lifestyle
- Drugs
Third Year
Topics include:
- Basic biochemistry
- Enzymes
- Diffusion and osmosis
- Diet and digestion
- Gaseous exchange
- Respiration.
Pupils are encouraged to study living organisms and processes in a scientific manner. Topics are taught balancing subject knowledge with the development of investigative skills, including opportunities to design, carry out and evaluate practical experiments. These are an integral part of our science teaching and include the use of standard laboratory apparatus as well as more subject specific equipment such as microscopes.
Biology further up the school
GCSE
At GCSE we follow the Edexcel IGCSE Specification.
Key subject aims
The Edexcel IGCSE in Biology enables students to:
- Acquire knowledge and understanding of biological facts, concepts and principles.
- Develop an appreciation of the significance of biological facts, concepts and principles and the skills needed for their use in new and changing situations.
- Appreciate the importance of accurate experimental work to scientific method and reporting.
- Form hypotheses and design experiments to test them.
- Sustain and develop an enjoyment of, and interest in, the study of living organisms.
- Evaluate, in terms of their biological knowledge and understanding, the benefits and drawbacks of scientific and technological developments, including those related to social, environmental and economic issues.
In terms of progression, the design of the course provides a basis of progression to further study in GCE Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level Biology.
A Level
At A Level we follow the AQA Biology specification. At any one time, pupils are engaged upon 2 separate lines of study, each taught by a different member of staff. Practical work is integrated into the theory lessons where appropriate. Ecology is studied partly theoretically in the classroom, but largely on a four day intensive field study course, run by the Biology staff on a marine rocky seashore on the Isle of Anglesey.
Extracurricular activities
The animal club is principally orientated towards Lower School pupils. They are taught how to look after the animals in a safe and correct manner. We endeavour to foster responsible behaviour when handling and caring for animals. If parents agree, pupils can put their name down to take one of the animals home during the holidays.
The Good Schools Guide
The Biology Department were awarded the Good Schools Guide award in 2005 for the best results at A Level achieved by boys taking Biology at an independent school. This is an award we were delighted to receive and is a testament to the hard work and expertise of staff in the department as well as the hard work of those pupils concerned.
