Biology

a picture of two students and a teacher looking at a model of the human body

Biology is the study of life itself and with recent pioneering developments in genetics, stem cell research and biotechnology, it is an exciting time to study this dynamic science.

The advancement of scientific technologies has also demonstrated how interconnected all organisms are, the importance of biodiversity and the care we need to give our ecosystems in order to protect our world for future generations. To understand this interconnectedness we study a huge variety of really interesting topics such as physiology, organic molecules and ecology. This knowledge base is essential for careers in sustainability, healthcare and scientific research

 

Throughout all years, investigative and practical work is key, with every lesson taking place in specialised laboratories; we pride ourselves on excellent high quality practical work. The department has access to a field studies classroom which is adjacent to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) woodland.

After the general science course taught in Year 7, Biology is taught by subject specialists through to the Sixth Form. 

 

The standard Key Stage 3 criteria is not appropriate for our academic students, so the Department has created a more challenging enquiry based scheme of work for our Year 8 students; this also suits the learning styles of our students making sure they are active and learn by doing with investigative skills and practical work being core to every lesson. The Department selects topics that the students have a keen interest in and that will help them in the future such as microbiology, biodiversity and human physiology.

GCSE commences in Year 9 following the Edexcel International GCSE, with practical work remaining an important part, building on the theory as they go through Years 10 and 11. All Year 10 pupils take part in the Biology Challenge competition, in which most boys usually gain an award from Gold to Bronze.

Biology is an incredibly popular subject at post-16 studies due to its diverse nature, excellent academic results and future career opportunities. The Department ensures our class sizes are small so that the needs of every individual student can be met, maximising progress. 
 
Biology is fundamentally an experimental subject and in Year 12 and 13 pupils will follow the AQA A Level specification that allows us to carry out a large number of practical activities which we use to link theory to reality. The A Level Biology builds on the knowledge gained from GCSE, turning our pupils into great biologists; being able to investigate the living world at all levels using many different approaches and techniques.
 
Topics for the first year of the course: Biological molecules, cells, organisms exchange substances with their environment, genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms. Pupils also complete six required practical activities.
 
Topics for the second year of the course: Energy transfers in and between organisms, organisms’ response to changes in their internal and external environments, genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems and the control of gene expression. Pupils also complete six required practical activities.
 
Some of the ecological topics and skills are taught on a three day field course run by the Field Studies Council in Year 12.  Here pupils will also complete their own individual investigation, where they will pick a research question then develop the method, collect the data and analyse the results. The write-up will be done on their return to school, this counts for some of the required practical elements of the course and the practical qualification that goes along with the course. The individual investigation helps pupil develop independent working skills and allows them to understand what it is like to be a true research scientist, an excellent preparation for university.

Biology is an incredibly popular subject at post-16 studies due to its diverse nature, excellent academic results and future career opportunities. The Department ensures our class sizes are small so that the needs of every individual student can be met, maximising progress.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma course is followed for our Year 12 and Year 13 students with both the Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) courses being available. The IB Biology course builds on the knowledge gained from GCSE, turning our students into great biologists; being able to investigate the living world at all levels using many different approaches and techniques.

At one end of the scale is the cell, its molecular construction and complex metabolic reactions. At the other end of the scale, biologists investigate the interactions that make whole ecosystems function. While the scientific method may take on a wide variety of forms, the emphasis is on a practical approach; undertaking a wide array of practical work such as DNA fingerprinting, genetic modification, immobilised enzymes, dissections and much more.

Ecological theory and practical skills are taught on a four-day field course at a Field Studies Centre. Students will also complete a piece of coursework (worth 20% of their final grade) known as the individual investigation, where they will design their own research question, develop the method, collect the data and analyse the results. This helps the students develop independent working skills and allows them to understand what it is like to be a true research scientist, an excellent preparation for university.

Through the Nature of Science part of the course, students learn to not take information at face value, they begin to understand the theories that our biological concepts are based on, how these theories have been established; through scientific communication, global co-operation and thorough testing. This leads to many discussions on the discoveries that remain to be made and the progress that will occur in the 21st century; discoveries that may well be made by one of our own students.

Future careers

The field of Biology offers an abundance of exciting career paths with endless possibilities. In the healthcare sector, one can explore diverse options such as physiotherapy, medical research, optometry, biomedical science, medicine, dentistry, pathology, neuroscience, genetics analysis, and prosthetics, among others.

For those with a passion for the natural world, Biology also presents various specialisations like Marine Biology, Ecology, Microbiology, Virology, and Zoology, where students can make significant contributions to understanding and preserving our planet’s biodiversity.

Beyond traditional biological careers, studying Biology equips students with analytical skills that have far-reaching applications. These skills open doors to fields like law, accountancy, teaching, advertising, and more.

Beyond the classroom

In our Biology department, a wealth of enriching activities awaits those with a passion for the subject. Biology Week is a school-wide event featuring talks, games, and competitions. We offer many clubs for different year groups including; early morning bird-watching for all year groups, Entomology & Animal Club for the younger years, and Higher Education Biological Enrichment for those in Year 12 and 13 who wish to expand their biological knowledge beyond the syllabus; this also helps prepare those who have university entrance procedures.
 
Pupils can also join international competitions like MiSAC (Year 8), Biology Challenge (Year 10), Intermediate Biology Olympiad (Year 12), and Biology Olympiad (Year 12 and 13), where many achieve gold and silver awards.
 
For those pupils interested in healthcare there are regular meetings run by Year 12 and 13 pupils but open to all year groups as part of HOCSOC (Healthcare Orientated Careers Society) with visiting speakers, we believe that getting a grounding of all the healthcare elements is more beneficial at this stage in their career, due to the interdisciplinary nature of healthcare, rather than just focusing on one particular sector.
 
We also enter pupils into many Midlands-based competitions such as the Warwick Group Biology Essay Competition, University of Birmingham Big Biology Quiz and the University of Birmingham Medicine and Healthcare Quiz. We organise wildlife trips within the UK, and more exotic trips such as scientific research trips to Ecuador, French Guyana and Madagascar with Operation Wallacea. 

Meet the Head of Department

Ms Ferguson

Ms Ferguson is a dedicated educator with a passion for Biology.  Her diverse career and academic studies (MSc Distinction Hydrogeology, BSc 1st Hons Biology with French) have given her a thorough understanding of biology both in the classroom and in the field.   

She is a highly experienced teacher having held positions as Head of Lower School Science, Head of Careers and the most recent progression to Head of Biology. She believes in inquiry-based learning and loves to incorporate practical work into her lessons to engage and inspire the students. She has positive aspirations for the future, aiming to create students that respect the biodiversity of the world.

Helen Ferguson - Head of Biology

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