In Science, our curriculum intent is:
In the first year, you will learn about biological molecules, cells, how organisms exchange substances with their environment, genetic information, genetic variation and the relationships between organisms.
Throughout the year you will undertake six practical activities to reinforce your learning.
Your second year of study will centre around energy transfers in and between organisms, how organisms respond to changes in their environments, the control of gene expression and further study on genetics including populations, evolution and ecosystems.
35% – Written Exam 1
35% – Written Exam 2
30% Written Exam 3
Books:
Frank Ryan: Virolution
Lewis Thompson: How We Live and Why We Die, The Secret Lives of Cell
Richard Dawkins: The Selfish Gene
Charles Darwin: The Origin of Species
Adam Rutherford: A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived, The Stories in Our Genes
Matt Ridley: Francis Crick: Discoverer of the Genetic Code
James Watson: DNA, The Secret of Life
Lewis Thomas: The Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher
Armand Marie Leroi: Mutants: On the Form, Varieties and Errors of the Human Body
David S. Goodsell: The Machinery of Life
Ernst Mayr: This Is Biology: The Science of the Living World
George C. Williams: Plan and Purpose in Nature
Edward O Wilson: The Diversity of Life Richard Leaky: The Origin of Humankind
Bill Bryson: A Short History of Nearly Everything
Websites:
An interactive cell biology site – http://www.ibiblio.org/virtualcell/index.htm(opens in new tab)
A web site showing illustrations of many processes of biotechnology – http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/GG(opens in new tab)
Visit the world of electron-microscopy – http://www.uq.oz.au/nanoworld(opens in new tab)
Explore the genetic code – http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html(opens in new tab)
Details of the history of the best scientific discoveries – http://nobelprize.org(opens in new tab)
The site of the scientific journal – http://nature.com(opens in new tab)
Podcasts, news and interviews with scientists about recent scientific developments – http://royalsociety.org(opens in new tab)
The London Natural History Museum’s website – http://www.nhm.ac.uk(opens in new tab)
The website of the British Medical Journal – http://www.bmj.com
An A-Level in Biology will offer access to a wide range higher education options and careers and the academic rigour of science A-levels is highly valued by universities and employers, regardless of the degree or job.
A level Biology can open up a range of careers in specialist degree courses such as; medicine, veterinary science and dentistry, optometry, physiotherapy, pharmaceutical sciences, forensic science, biomedical and biological sciences, environmental health and food sciences. Having an A level in Biology can also open the door to studying many non-biological related degree courses as well.
