A Level Biology

Staff within the Department

Ms Knight – Head of Biology

B.Sc. Biology, Dip.T.

Mr Jones

B.Sc. (Hons) Biology with Applied & Analytical Chemistry, P.G.C.E. (Secondary) Science/Chemistry

Ms Sagajllo

B.Sc. (Hons) Science with Secondary Education

Ms Yeong

B.Sc. (Hons) Biological Sciences. P.G.C.E. (Secondary) Science/Biology

Ms Kumar

 

Biology is the study of living things. The A level course explains how living things work at different levels of complexity, such as:

· Molecules and structures inside cells and the biochemical pathways that make them work

· How organs in body systems work together to carry out life processes such as digestion, excretion & respiration

· How living things, including humans, interact with each other and their environment

· What happens when parts of the body do not function properly & how we can use our knowledge to treat human disorders

· How we can manipulate genes in animals and plants to solve problems such as crop productivity & genetic disorders

 

Students of Biology need to be both dedicated and interested in the subject. Strong organisational and time management skills are required. Mathematical skill and logical thinking is useful, as is the ability to write extended pieces of writing.

Practical skills are essential in any A-level Science subject, including Biology.

Research skills are necessary, as is the ability to evaluate data and sources.

 

We follow the AQA specification.

AS Biology, 7401 and A-level Biology, 7402

Link: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/biology-7401-7402

 

Course outline:

	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
Year 12	Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic Acids Water Surface Area to Volume Ratio Cell Structure Cell Division Transport Across Membranes	Gas Exchange Digestion and Absorption Mass Transport Genetic Diversity Immune System	Species and Taxonomy Biodiversity DNA, Genes and Chromosomes Protein Synthesis
Year 13	Stimuli and Response Nervous Co-ordination Skeletal Muscles Homeostasis Photosynthesis Respiration Energy and Ecosystems Nutrient Cycles	Inheritance Populations Gene Expression Mutations Using Genome Projects Gene technologies	Revision and examination practice

 

 

Activities to do at home  

Biology is very easy to get involved with at home:

• You could subscribe to a biological journal written specifically for students aged 14-19 years old – Biological Sciences Review  http://www.bsr.manchester.ac.uk/
• You could get inspired by carrying out simple home experiments: 

https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/experiments_all

• There is a great series of youtube videos, uploaded under the title “Crash Course”

 

There are a large number of inspiring and interesting books related to Biology available to read. Some to get you started could include:

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks

Elephants on Acid by Alex Boese

Bad Science by Ben Goldacre

Botanicum (Welcome To The Museum) by Kathy Willis (Author), Katie Scott (Illustrator)

 

 

 Enrichment Activities and Trips

Year 13 Residential Field Trip

Year 12 Field Trip

 

Career Paths

Agricultural research	Dietician	Zoologist	Marine biologist
Botanist	Pharmacist	Physical therapist	Wildlife biologist
Forest service	Lab technician	Chiropractor	Fisheries biologist
Soil scientist	Coroner	Podiatrist	Animal trainer
Horticulturist	Forensic scientist	Exercise physiologist	Physician
Veterinarian	Pathologist	Nutritionist	Nurse

 

In addition to the Biology-related careers above, studying Biology can help people enter the following fields:

Journalism	Environmental Science	Pharmaceuticals	Medicine
Research	Ecology	Communication	Technology
Museum	Conservation	Nutrition	Education