Chelmsford County High School for Girls

A foundation grammar school and specialist college

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Subjects

Biology - GCSE

We follow the OCR syllabus for GCSE Biology (syllabus number 1980) which consists of:

  • Core Topics: cell structure, digestion, respiration, transport, ecology, homeostasis, inheritance and evolution
  • Extension Topics: human physiology, diversity and adaptation, microbes and food, microbes and disease (Extension Option A)

The extension topics are taught alongside the core topics, thus presenting the students with a sensible, integrated course.

The emphasis is on:

  • Biological facts and ideas: students need to acquire a sound factual base and then be able to apply those facts to new situations and to express their ideas clearly, with precision and employing the correct technical biological vocabulary;
  • Planning and carrying out a range of scientific investigations and analysing results;
  • Organising and presenting information clearly and using ICT where appropriate;
  • The benefits and drawbacks of scientific and technological developments. The role of specific biologists in scientific breakthroughs.
Coursework

This is worth 20% of the overall result. It involves a number of practical investigations which enable the students to plan their own work and analyse the results. It gives them an opportunity to show their practical skills. Typically our students only have to complete two investigations in order to attain the high marks that reflect their ability.

Examination

There are two examination papers:

  • Paper 1: (1 hour and 30 minutes) consists of structured questions from the Core Topics
  • Paper 2: (45 minutes) consists of structured questions from the Extension Topics

Some of the GCSE syllabus content is taught during the Key Stage 3 course at CCHS (for example blood and circulation is covered in Year 9). This means that in Year 10 it is simply revised and the roles of Galen and Harvey expanded on. This has two implcations: students have more time to explore the more demanding topics met for the first time at GCSE and it means our course from Year 7 - 11 works as a whole. Students must retain all their notes throughout Key Stage 3 and 4.