Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Subjects

Biology - Sixth Form

Aims of the Course

The study of Biology to Advanced Level gives the student an understanding of the major biological concepts and an awareness of the role of biology within the sciences and in the wider world. Biology is a wide-ranging subject, overlapping into many other discipline such as Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Geography and Psychology. Research and development in Biological Sciences is rapid and so for the student this is an exciting and up to date subject with many new advances. The aim of the AS and A2 courses is to give the student the skills to evaluate the information available and to be able to distinguish between reliable and unreliable evidence and to be clear about the implications and applications of this ever increasing body of knowledge. In order to do this the student is given a sound basis of knowledge in Biology and the opportunity to develop their own understanding of the major systems and concepts. In addition the practical skills that the students develop throughout the course allow them to learn from direct experience. They will also put them in good stead should they wish to pursue a career in any of the scientific disciplines. There are many ethical and moral implications of the work of the modern biologist in areas as diverse as environmental protection, food production, genetic engineering and reproductive biology and A level students are required to consider these throughout the course.

Scheme of Assessment

We accept students onto the course if they attain a grade B or higher in GCSE Double Science or Biology.

The course is modular (see table overleaf). All students are taught by two Biology teachers. Students in year 12 take the first module, Foundation Biology, in January, followed by the other two AS modules in June. The Transport module incorporates a planning exercise, in which the student is required to plan an investigation, and a practical examination. In addition to practical run in lessons to reinforce and enhance theory, one lesson a fortnight is devoted to a practical task in which students practise those skills necessary for the practical examination and the planning exercise. There is a microscopy masterclass in the autumn term to give students a chance to develop their microscope skills further.

After the June examinations the students take part in a genetics laboratory day in school in which they carry out some up to date biotechnology procedures including genetic transformation of bacteria and DNA electrophoresis. In the autumn term of year 13 students visit the Human Genome Project at the Sanger Institute near Cambridge. There is a three day residential field course at Flatford Mill in November of year 13. Students take the Central Concepts module in January of year 13 and Applications of Genetics and Unifying Concepts in June. The Unifying Concepts module is synoptic and incorporates all the work covered at AS and in Central Concepts. To assist the students in drawing together knowledge and understanding from the many different areas of the syllabus we run a symposium in the spring term in which the students listen to a research talk from a visiting speaker and the principle examiner for OCR Biology gives a presentation on the skills needed for success in the synoptic paper. They are also given some synoptic tasks of their own to present.

Throughout the course students are guided into a more independent approach to learning in preparation for higher education or work. They are encouraged to read widely and extend their own knowledge beyond the confines of the syllabus and to appreciate the overriding significance of Biology and Biological Sciences.

For further details please see Dr. H. Huckvale, Head of Biology

AS Modules
Biology Foundation Unit 2801	Human Health and Disease Unit 2802	Transport Unit 2803/01
Cell Structure Biological Molecules Enzymes Membranes Protein Structure and Function Nuclear Division Ecosystems	What is Health? Diet Gaseous Exchange Exercise Smoking and Disease Immunity	Mammalian transport systems The Heart Transport in Plants
1.5 hours exam: January	1.5 hours exam: June	Practical Examination Unit 2803/03 1.5 hours exam: June

A2 Modules
Central Concepts Unit 2804	Applications of Genetics Unit 2805/02	Unifying Concepts in Biology Unit 2806/01
Energy and Respiration Photosynthesis Populations and their interactions Genetics, Gene control and Meiosis Evolution and National Selection	Options available are: Variation Selective Breeding Genetic Diversity Genetic Engineering Human Genetics	As its name suggests this a synoptic paper which tests candidates knowledge and understanding of all parts of the syllabus and gives candidates an opportunity to demonstrate the connections between different areas of Biology.
1.5 hours exam: January	1.5 hours exam: June	Practical Examination Unit 2806/03 1.5 hours exam: June