COURSES

Biology
Overview
Studying Biology gives you the opportunity to find
out more about living things, how your body works
and enables you to have a better understanding of all
the new developments in medicine and biotechnology
that are having a real impact on our lives. Biology
gives you the opportunity to study a science, but
with a background of additional science at GCSE
there is no need to do either physics or chemistry
as well. Pupils wishing to go on to study Biological
Sciences, Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science
at university must usually take Chemistry as well.
An A level in Biology will place you in a good position
when applying for university. Courses such as
Physiology, Physiotherapy, Sport Science, Zoology,
Natural Sciences, Biochemistry and Ecology are all
available to pupils who have studied Biology.
Approach
We place a great deal of emphasis on practical work.
The ‘How Science Works’ approach from GCSE is
carried on and extended at A level. You will need to
understand how investigations are planned and what
to do with the data that is collected. You will need
to be able to make observations and record these
accurately. There is a lot of application required and
analysis and evaluation of data, which will give you
practice in these skills which can then be transferred
and used in a huge variety of courses and
employment situations in the future.
Pupils who do well on this course will have developed
the ability to think critically, use data presented in a
variety of different ways and apply their knowledge
to novel situations; all excellent skills for the work
place. Where practical work is not possible because
the process cannot be seen (such as the replication
of DNA), computer-based modelling is used.
In both years there are theory exams and a unit of
coursework, which involves carrying out a set
practical task and then completing a written
examination paper based on this task.
The theory papers are mainly in the form of short
answer questions; in the final A2 paper one essay is
required.
You should be happy with performing calculations
(percentages, rates, ratios etc.) and using graphs, but
the mathematical skills required are not beyond
those required at GCSE level.
To help you monitor your progress, topic tests are
carried out across the whole year group at regular
intervals and these results are relayed to parents
in the reports. There is quite a lot of factual
information that needs to be learnt and you must be
prepared to review your notes outside of lesson time.
The Biology department is very well resourced and
well supported by three technicians. Class sizes at AS
are typically 13/14 and 8/10 at A2.
Course outline
AS
Unit 1: Biology and Disease. The key principles are
introduced here, including: cell structure, enzymes
and the way substances enter and leave cells. With
this knowledge in place pupils then move on to look
at how disease affects the body. Cholera, lung and
heart disease are all considered.
Unit 2: The Variety of Living Organisms.
Again the key principles are looked at to enable
pupils to understand how species have evolved.
The structure and function of DNA is studied and
we look at how cells divide.
The adaptations of species to their environment and
other key areas, such as the importance of surface
area and the transport of oxygen around the body,
are also studied.
Unit 3: Practical task.
18
Millfield Sixth Form Courses 2014-2015