Biology

STATEMENT OF INTENT FOR BIOLOGY

We encourage Biology students at Charters School to develop an understanding and appreciation for the life surrounding them. We offer a supportive yet challenging environment with varied opportunities to explore the natural world through research, group experiments and enquiry-lead learning.

COURSE DETAILS

Content is split into six teaching modules:

Module 1: Development of Practical Skills in biology (‘Practical Activities’) Module 2: Foundations in Biology Module 3: Exchange and Transport Module 4: Biodiversity, Evolution and Disease Module 5: Communication, Homeostasis and Energy Module 6: Genetics, Evolution and Ecosystems Practical Activities are delivered throughout the course and lead to the Practical Endorsement if students demonstrate competency in the specified Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) used by all exam boards.

COMPLEMENTARY SUBJECTS

Biology is a fascinating subject, the study of which will see you learn about the natural world and all the living things within it. Biology A Level complements many subjects including sharing content across Chemistry, Maths, Geography, Psychology and PE.

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

Gaining an A-level in this subject opens up a vast range of opportunities for both university degrees and career options, many of which can take you all around the world. Careers directly related to Biology include medical professions, pharmacy, physiotherapy, biomedical engineering, research science (life sciences), microbiology, marine biology, conservation, and ecology, environmental management, food science, agricultural engineering and zoology. The transferable skills developed would also be useful in a diverse range of careers including: law, business analysis, psychology (Biology is a requirement for some Psychology degrees).

BE INSPIRED BY EXPLORING FURTHER

Why Bees are Disappearing

Available at :http://www.ted.com/talks/marla_spivak_ why_bees_are_disappearing? language=en Honeybees have thrived for 50 million years, each colony 40 to 50,000 individuals coordinated in amazing harmony. So why, seven years ago, did colonies start dying en-masse?

A New Superweapon in the Fight Against Cancer

Available at : http://www.ted.com/talks/paula_hammon d_a_new_superweapon_in_the_fight_agai nst_cancer?language=en Cancer is a very clever, adaptable disease. To defeat it, says medical researcher and educator Paula Hammond, we need a new and powerful mode of attack.

Why Doctors Don’t Know About the Drugs They Prescribe

Available at : http://www.ted.com/talks/ben_goldacre_ what_doctors_don_t_know_about_the_dr ugs_they_prescribe?language=en When a new drug gets tested, the results of the trials should be published for the rest of the medical world — except much of the time, negative or inconclusive findings go unreported, leaving doctors and researchers in the dark.

Junk DNA by Nessa Carey

Our DNA is so much more complex than you probably realize, this book will really deepen your understanding of all the work you will do on Genetics. Available at amazon.co.uk

The Red Queen

Its all about sex. Or sexual selection at least. This book will really help your understanding of evolution and particularly the fascinating role of sex in evolution. Available at amazon.co.uk

Frankenstein’s cat

Discover how glow in the dark fish are made and more great Biotechnology breakthroughs. Available at amazon.co.uk