Introduction

Biology is the study of the living world.  Do you know why we function the way we do and behave in ways we don’t always understand?  Studying Biology will help answer the many questions we all have about how the body works and how we interact with the environment around us.

As the world in which we live rapidly changes, we will study how Biology is at the forefront of these changes.  We will look at MRSA in our studies of antibiotic resistance; discuss the issues concerning the use of stem cells from embryos in medical research and treatments and students will make judgements concerning embryo screening, cloning and genetic engineering, including GM crops.

Our studies will help us to make informed decisions about the world we are living in, as we evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of technological developments.  We will use our scientific knowledge and understanding to investigate the effects of science in addressing industrial, social and environmental issues.  Lessons consist of a mix of theory and practical work where you will be encouraged to develop many skills such as experimental techniques, observation and communication, investigating problems and questions in a logical way and working in a team.

The GCSE course covers all fundamental biological concepts while keeping up to date with advances in the modern scientific world and therefore provides an ideal basis for further study.  It also opens up an exciting range of career choices, particularly in the health and food industries, such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary work, psychology, sports sciences and food sciences.  Skills learnt in science can be useful in almost any job that requires using equipment, planning, solving problems, teamwork and report writing, such as the Armed Forces, manufacturing industries, care work, work with plants and animals and laboratory work.

Examining Board

AQA – specification 4411

Assessment

Examination: 75%

Pupils will complete three papers of 45 minutes of short, structured questions. The first two papers are the same papers completed by students on the Science and Additional Science Course.

Centre-Assessed Unit: 25%
As for Science and Additional Science, students will probably complete several ISAs and PSAs and must submit one of them for the Biology qualification.

Course content

Unit One

• How 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 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?

Unit Two

• What 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?

Unit Three

• How 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 microorganisms used to make food and drink?
• What other useful substances can we make using microorganisms?
• How can we be sure we are using microorganisms safely?

Homework

Please see Science and Additional Science for details.