BIOLOGY

Year 9 Course Outline

Pupils explore: Cells, tissues and organs; Transport across membranes; Photosynthesis; Respiration and gas exchange; Digestion and enzymes; the circulatory system and exercise; Transport in plants.

Years 10 and 11 Course Outline

Pupils explore the following areas during Year 10: Communicable diseases; Genetics; Cell division, cloning and genetic engineering; Evolution and natural selection; Distribution and adaptations of organisms.

Pupils explore the following areas in Year 11: Food chains, webs and pyramids, food production; Sampling methods; Decay and the carbon cycle; Human impact on the environment; The nervous system; Control and co-ordination in plants; Homeostasis; Reproduction.

Skills Required and Developed

Pupils in Years 9 and 10 follow the AQA GCSE in Biology. This course has no required NEA element, and is assessed terminally. Throughout the course, it is expected that pupils will:

• develop their knowledge and understanding of Biology and its effects on society

• develop an understanding of the importance of scale in Biology

• apply their knowledge and understanding of the nature of science and of scientific processes; including their understanding of the relationships between hypotheses, evidence, theories and explanations, and their awareness of risk and the ability to assess potential risk in the context of potential benefits

• apply their observational, practical, modelling, enquiry and problem-solving skills and understanding in laboratory, field and other learning environments

• develop their ability to evaluate claims based on science through critical analysis of methodology, evidence and conclusions both qualitatively and quantitatively

• develop their skills in communication, mathematics and the use of technology in scientific contexts.

External Assessment

At PGS about 80% of pupils are entered for each of the three sciences separately for AQA GCSE. The remainder of the cohort is entered for a qualification called Combined Science GCSE. Although the pupils take examinations in each of the three sciences separately, the results in these examinations are combined to give a total score that is converted to a double grade. Typically, pupils in the Upper and Middle band sets take separate science qualifications, but the final decision for individual pupils is made based on performance during Year 10 and the Year 10 summer examination. The separate science qualifications at PGS provide an additional level of challenge that many of our pupils find stimulating and can help pupils demonstrate high academic ability in Science. However, we are sensitive to pupil attainment and the reduced content of the Combined Science course means that there is a greater chance for success as there is more time to focus on the challenging concepts. Pupils following the Combined Science route can also devote greater focus to their attainment in other subjects. Furthermore, the summation process can be useful in helping gain a better overall grade than would be obtained separately. The Combined Science examination does not disadvantage in terms of the opportunity to take any form of science education further at A Level.

Beyond the Classroom

There are cross-curricular links with the Pastoral Curriculum, PE, Geography, Chemistry, Physics and Technology. All Year 10 pupils compete in the national Biology Challenge Competition. Trips are arranged for appropriate exhibitions. Year 11 are taken out of the classroom to conduct sampling activities.

Further Information

Miss R Poole, Head of Biology, Tel 023 9236 4225, Email r.poole@pgs.org.uk

Exam Board Website https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse