Department of Biology
About the department- Why study Biology at AS or A-level?
- What topics will be covered?
- Entry requirements
- What can I do with A-level Biology?
- Biology Olympiad
- Visits and Speakers
- Student comments
- Examination results
- Student destinations
- Open evening leaflet
About the department
- We are a team of enthusiastic, dynamic, innovative and experienced staff, many of whom are current A-level examiners.
- We provide a supportive environment to help you to reach your full potential.
- There are 14 specialist biology teachers, who teach more than 700 students taking Biology and Applied Science courses. The numbers studying Biology have grown from 360 in 1996 to currently about 700. This is in direct contrast to the national trend, where figures have fallen over recent years.
- Our results are way above the National levels/averages!
- We offer a variety of extension projects, including the Biology Olympiad. We also organise visits to A-level conferences at universities, arrange visiting speakers and organise practical sessions at local universities.
Why study biology at AS or A-level?
- The department will offer the AQA AS and A-level courses in Biology.
- The AS courses are one year courses which are completed in the first year.
- The full A-level courses last for two years. The AS results count towards the full A-level qualification achieved after two years of study.
- Students will get the opportunity to particpate in practical work and fieldwork.
- If you plan to follow a science or medically related degree course at university, Biology is very desirable and a considerable advantage.
- If you plan to take Chemistry at A or AS-level, Biology is a complementary subject which will help to reinforce many similar skills.
- The course is also suitable for students with an interest in human biology.
What topics will be covered?
AS
Unit 1: Biology and disease
- Pathogens and disease
- Digestion and enzymes
- Membranes and transport
- Heart and lungs
- Blood and immunity
Unit 2: The variety of living organisms
- Classification, variation and genetic diversity
- DNA and meiosis
- Biochemistry and cellular organisation
- Mitosis and the cell cycle
- Gas exchange and water transport in plants
- Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance
Unit 3: Coursework
This unit will assess the ability to:
- demonstrate and describe ethical, safe and skilful practical techniques
- make, record and communicate reliable and valid observations and measurements with appropriate precision and accuracy
- analyse, interpret, explain, and evaluate the methodology, results and impact of their own and others' experimental and investigatory activities in a variety of ways.
A2
Unit 4: Populations and Environment
- Investigating populations
- Respiration and photosynthesis
- Energy, ecosystems and nutrient cycles
- Genetics
Unit 5: Control in cells and organisms
- Nervous and hormonal control
- Receptors
- Muscle contraction
- Homeostasis
- DNA, protein synthesis, and gene mutations
- Gene regulation, gene cloning and gene therapy
Unit 6: Coursework
Skills as AS Unit 3
Further details: AQA Specifiation at a glance : Full AQA specification
Entry requirements
Currently the largest department in the college and largest Biology department in the country, we welcome all students, whatever their background or career aspirations. All we ask is that they should have already gained a grade C pass in GCSE Mathematics and Biology or CC in Dual Award Science at the higher tier of study and have met the college entry requirements.
What can I do with A-level Biology?
Many of our students go on to study biology related courses at university. An increasing number of students each year are successful in obtaining places on highly competitive courses including medicine, veterinary science, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and a variety of courses at Oxford or Cambridge universities. The following courses are typical of the variety of biology related courses taken up by our Biology students:
| Medicine Biological Sciences Sports Science/Health Pharmacy Forensic Science Biochemistry Biomedical Sciences Pharmaceutical Science Natural Science Veterinary Science |
Dentistry Microbiology Radiotherapy Physiotherapy Environmental Optometry Neuroscience Nursing Podiatry Audiology |
Other students use biology as a valuable and interesting subject to take them on to a variety of courses including:
Agriculture, Geology, Sociology, Psychology,Archaeology, History, Law,
French, Fine Art, Accounting, Music, Management Studies, Chemistry,
Teaching, Art, Marketing, Drama and Surveying. Some students take a
GAP year before entering university and others have gained employment.
Some have taken on training courses with the Armed Services or Police.
Click
here to view the destinations of biology students who left us in the
summer.
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Student comments
What advice would you give to a new student?
"Listen in class and keep on revising because if you go on to A2 the work will crop up and surprise you!"
"File all work in folders and take time to revise all key points"
"The course is challenging but fun if you are willing to work hard to achieve"
"Study hard and enjoy. The work required is hard but the effort you put in will be worth it."
"Attend all lessons, listen attentively and do all the homework set"
What have you enjoyed most about your course?
"The fieldtrip was awesome, lessons were exciting yet informative"
"The experiments and videos"
"Learning new topics and working with other students"
"The teacher was excellent and the work was good"
"Class participation"
AQA Biology
'During my time at Greenhead I have enjoyed the Biology AQA course. The packs provided are very useful, containing all the information required for each module and the staff are very helpful if you have any problems.
I also study Salters Chemistry and Physics and took AS Mathematics last year which aided the Physics course'.
'AQA is great if you like to learn in a highly structured manner. You are fully supported by teachers and given plenty of help whenever you need it.
AQA Biology is extremely interesting covering a wide range of topics from evolution of species to photosynthesis and digestion.
Support material for AQA Biology is excellent. The college intranet offers many power point presentations and diagrams. Each topic is covered by typed note booklets and plenty of course specific text books are provided'.
