Biology

The Biology course will foster the development of some of the key skills that students will need for their forthcoming A Level Biology course. Students will also be introduced to the depth and complexity of A Level content and have a chance to practise their study skills by reviewing examples of key resources and producing Cornell notes.

Lessons have also been designed to develop some of the practical understanding and data presentation techniques that will be needed by students to be successful in passing the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) that accompany their A Level course.

Students will also study some genetic engineering and cloning techniques, which will prepare them for encountering these topics at A Level.

Lesson Outline: 3 lessons per week, plus access to teacher support outside of these times.

Project Outcome: A portfolio of completed and marked worksheets and notes which can be referred to again during an A Level Biology course.

Week 1: The key skills of understanding microscopy calculations and how to do accurate biological drawings will be developed. Other key Mathematics skills for Year 12 A Level Biology will be covered this week, including how to calculate standard deviation, and represent and interpret variability in data graphically.

Week 2: Key practical terminology and concepts e.g. validity, accuracy, resolution and uncertainty will be explored. The correct presentation of experimental data in tables and graphs will be practised. We will also look at the ethics of using living organisms in biology experiments and evaluate the ethics of the use of untested drugs.

Week 3: Key resources for studying A Level Biology will be explored, including via Biofactsheets, Khan Academy and Bozeman Science videos. The importance of wider reading, including of scientific papers in journals, via jstor, will also be explored. Extracting key information from text and videos is a key study skill for A Level and students will have opportunities to practise this, by producing Cornell notes, 5-5-1 summaries and generating questions for discussion in lessons.

Week 4: Exciting modern applications of Biology will be studied this week, including the techniques of genetic engineering and plant and animal cloning. Practical work and theory work will be carried out.