Biology
Science teaching is split into topic areas in Years 7 and 8 then taught as separate subjects with discrete lessons from our Foundation Year in Year 9. In Years 10 and 11 we study the AQA GCSE course. At A level, we have a total of eight classes following the AQA Syllabus. Biology is constantly advancing and almost every day, we hear about a breakthrough in the news, whether it be related to health and medicine, environmental challenges, or agriculture. Biology is relevant to us all. An understanding of DNA, genetics, and the principles of gene manipulation will enable pupils to join and perhaps lead the debate on future technologies. The subject also enables us to assess the impact that organisms, including humans, have on each other and their environments. By understanding the ways in which molecules interact, we can appreciate the complex biochemistry and physiology that underpin the survival and success of organisms in their environments. Biology equips us to make more informed decisions about our own health and lifestyle, as well as the way we interact with the world around us.
Year 9 - Foundation Year
Students will now have separate lessons in each Science subject and will be taught Biology by specialist teachers who will be sharing their academic interest in, and passion for the subject. This year aims to build a strong foundation of both knowledge and understanding and therefore begins by covering the basic building blocks of life – Cells. We then move on to learn about how cells work together in tissues and organ systems. Students are always fascinated to find out about the functioning of their own bodies and the risks associated with disease such as diabetes and coronary heart disease. The year finishes with a favourite topic where we learn about communicable disease. Students are often taken aback by some of the gruesome details but end up very much enjoying this topic as we can all relate to vaccinations, catching illness and since the Covid pandemic, the workings of lateral flow tests!
The image below shows part of the Biology Learning Journey – indicating how Year 9 follows on from Year 8 content and then builds towards Year 10 topics.
Timetable
Over a fortnightly timetable students receive:
- 4 hours of guided classroom learning
- 2 x 40 minutes of guided independent homework
Biology and Beyond
To Read
- ‘Secret Science: The Amazing World Beyond your Eyes’ Dara O’Brien
- ‘The World’s Most Pointless Animals’ Philip Bunting
- ‘Super Simple Biology: The Ultimate Bitesize Study guide’ DK
- ‘Own your Period’ Chella Quint
To Watch
- Blue Planet I and II – a focus on the seas and oceans – BBC iPlayer
- Life in the Undergrowth – BBC
- Cognito videos – YouTube videos using a novel animated approach to talk through GCSE content
To Listen
- Bio Eats World podcast – Amazon music
- Inside Science – BBC Sounds
To Visit
- The Natural History Museum – London
- The Science Museum – London
To Research
- How can eating different forms of carbohydrate change the risk of diabetes?
- What can people do to reduce their risk of a heart attack?
- How can we protect ourselves from catching diseases?
Key Stage 4
In Years 10 and 11, students work through the GCSE Biology course for which Year 9 provided a foundation.
We start Year 10 by learning about the two chemical reactions that are so central to life on Earth – Photosynthesis and Respiration. Our investigation into the impact of light on the rate of photosynthesis is a great opportunity for students to show their understanding of experimental set-up whilst the practical on health and exercise helps them to understand how fitness can be measured. We next move on to learn about several aspects of human anatomy and physiology linked to the hormonal (endocrine) and nervous systems. This topic is academically interesting in itself but also teaches students much about their own bodies including how hormones control blood sugar, water levels and the menstrual cycle. Students will also appreciate the basics of the nervous system and how reflex arcs help to protect us from danger. Year 10 studies end with a focus on Ecology. We position this topic here to hopefully benefit from some nice weather as there are several opportunities to carry out practical work out of doors. Students are always very interested in issues surrounding pollution and climate change and frequently have a great deal of prior knowledge about these factors.
In Year 11, students use their understanding of food webs and energy flow as a base to learn about food production. We cover the ethics of animal treatment alongside sometimes conflicting considerations of efficiency. The course then moves on to reproduction and inheritance where we learn how a broad range of organisms breed and pass on their genes. Students will then learn about genetics and its determining impact on certain characteristics including when things go wrong with genetic diseases. This is always a popular topic as all students can consider their own characteristics and those of their family. Variation in both humans and other organisms comes from both genetic and environmental factors. Students learn that this variation allows evolution to take place by a process of natural selection, as suggested by Charles Darwin. Once the course is completed we have time to thoroughly consolidate and review. Students will have opportunities to improve exam technique and revisit content in novel contexts.
Exam board/Qualification: AQA GCSE Biology 9-1
Specification: 8461
Timetable
Over a fortnightly timetable students receive:
- 4 hours of guided classroom learning
- 2 x 40 minutes of guided independent homework
Biology and Beyond
To Read
- ‘A Short History of Nearly Everything’ Bill Bryson – a great, accessible read that covers a huge range of topics across Science
- ‘Own your Period’ Chella Quint
- ‘Bad Science’ Ben Goldacre – very good on medical trials and the placebo effect in particular
- ‘30-Second Zoology’ Mark Fellowes – concise but well detailed
- ‘The Virus’ Ben Martynoga – Learn about viruses including Covid-19
- ‘Genetics: Breaking the code of your DNA’ Carla Mooney and Samuel Carbaugh – understand more about how genetics contributes to our characteristics
To Watch
- Life on Earth – Attenborough’s seminal series – BBC iPlayer
- Blue Planet I and II – a focus on the seas and oceans – BBC iPlayer
- Cognito videos – YouTube videos using a novel animated approach to talk through GCSE content
To Listen
- BBC Inside Science – a huge range of episodes available via BBC Sounds
- In Our Time – available via BBC Sounds, discussions with experts cover many topics including a broad selection relating to Biology and Science in general – BBC Sounds
- 5 Live Science Podcast – news stories from the world of science – BBC Sounds
To Visit
- Downs House, Orpington, Kent – Home of Charles Darwin, lovely gardens and many interesting items alongside information on Darwin’s work on Evolution by a process of Natural Selection.
- Howletts/ Port Lympne – wildlife parks with strong conservation programmes and offering various behind-the-scenes experiences (at a cost!)
To Research
- How do different types of exercise impact health?
- How can I change my lifestyle to help the planet?
- Why don’t plants run out of nutrients in nature?
Key Stage 5
At Invicta, we study the AQA A Level Biology course. This follows on well from the AQA GCSE course with clear links where A Level topics build on the foundation of knowledge and understanding from GCSE. The course starts with topics designed to build a base of knowledge that will be referred to in later sections. We learn about the biochemistry of molecules, cell ultrastructure and immunology. The second half of Year 1 then moves on to transport and exchange where we learn about the anatomy and physiology of the circulatory and gas exchange systems in mammals, fish, insects, and plants. Year 12 finishes with a topic on biodiversity and variation including some ecological investigations.
In Year 2 we study respiration and photosynthesis alongside nutrient cycles to understand energy transfers in Biology. We then study the responses of organisms to their environment including both hormonal and neurological changes. The final topics focus on genetics and evolution including study of classical genetics and genetic techniques developed in the modern era. The AQA course covers more genetics than equivalent courses, meaning that, in our opinion, it is a better foundation for future study in fields related to Biology.
Exam Board/Qualification: AQA A Level Biology
- 3 papers x 120 minutes at the end of Year 13
- Paper 1 – Topics 1-4
- Paper 2 – Topics 5-8
- Paper 3 – Topics 1-8 including essay
Timetable
Over a fortnightly timetable, students receive:
- 10 hours of guided classroom learning
- 10 hours of guided independent homework
Biology and Beyond
To Read
- New Scientist magazine – especially if you study more than one Science subject. Students can get a big discount if you subscribe.
- Biological Sciences review – aimed at A level Biology students so the level and content is specifically chosen to broaden the course and to review it.
Books
- ‘Trust me, I’m a (Junior) Doctor’ Max Pemberton
- ‘Who we are and how we got here’ David Reich
- ‘The Epigenetics Revolution: How Modern Biology is Rewriting Our Understanding of Genetics, Disease and Inheritance’ Nessa Carey
- ‘The Selfish Gene’ and ‘Climbing Mount Improbable’ Richard Dawkins
- ‘CRISPR’ Yolanda Ridge
- ‘Direct Red’ Gabriel Weston
- ‘Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology’ (E. N. Marieb)
- ‘Bad Science’ Ben Goldacre
- ‘The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat’ Oliver Sacks
- ‘P53’ Sue Armstrong
- ‘CURE’ Jo Marchant
- ‘Lessons from the Lobster: Eve Marder’s Work in Neuroscience’ Charlotte Nassim
- ‘Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees’ Thor Hanson
- ‘How to Walk on Water and Climb up Walls: Animal Movement and the Robots of the Future’ David Hu
- ‘Eyes to see’ Michael land
To Watch
- Anything that David Attenborough has done with the BBC Wildlife team!
- Interested in medicine? Some of the fictional shows such as House and Grey’s Anatomy actually cover many real-life (although somewhat improbable) situations.
- Derren Brown: Fear and Faith – on YouTube
- The Island – movie
- GATTACA – movie
- The Martian – movie
- Decoding Annie Parker – movie
- Creation – movie
- Contagion – movie
To Listen
- The Natural Selection – podcast from the University of Exeter’s centre for Ecology and Conservation
- Aping Evolution – Prof Steve Jones takes a sceptical look at the new science of evolutionary psychology – BBC Sounds
- Radiolab – revealing documentaries and compelling stories about Science
- This Week in Virology/ Microbiology/ Parasitism / Evolution – Professor Vincent Racaniello, Higgins Prof at Columbia University talks to various guests
- The Life Scientific – Jim Al-Khalili talks to a leading scientist about their work and motivations
- Neuropod – neuroscience podcast
- Genepod – genetics podcast
To Visit
- Natural History Museum – London – ever changing displays with a focus on education
- Kew gardens – London – see various ecosystems and a huge variety of plant life
- Downs House, Orpington, Kent – Home of Charles Darwin. Stand in Darwin’s Office – left in its original state.
- Howletts/ Port Lympne – wildlife parks with strong conservation programmes and offering various behind-the-scenes experiences (at a cost!)
To Research
- Why not base an EPQ on Biology? There are so many things that could be researched including matters relating to health, conservation, evolution and neuroscience.
- Research the vast range of careers linked to Biology – the display in the corridor outside of AG4 has a big display with information and interviews with scientists working in the various jobs.
Careers
We have a wealth of information on our Careers page - Please click here to visit.
