Biology Department

Introduction

Science At The Downs

The Science Department at The Downs School is the largest and one of the most successful departments in the school. It is housed in 7 purpose built laboratories, served by two main preparation areas.

All Science staff at The Downs School are committed to providing a balanced science education to students of all abilities, from age 11 years to age 18 years. Every student receives a thorough and rounded education in Science and is given encouragement to succeed to his or her potential. The department comprises 10 teaching staff and 4 technicians. The staff work as a team and carry out responsibilities across the department.

National Curriculum Science, based on the QCA Schemes of Work, is taught to all students at Key Stage 3. The highest achievers at Key Stage 3 are offered the opportunity to study the separate sciences, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, at GCSE.

Biology - Key Stage 3 and 4

Biology topics are covered throughout the school as part of Key Stage 3 Science and Key Stage 4 Science. From September 2006, the Science Department adopted a new and exciting course for study at GCSE. This is based on the OCR 21st Century Science suite of syllabuses.

Assessment, in Year 10, is via three unit tests. One of these is taken in January and the other in June. The tests are based on objective style questions and each test will cover aspects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Students will also take a test in May based on pre-released material. These four tests are equally weighted in their contributions towards the final assessment and are worth 66.6% in total. The remaining 33.3%, completed in Year 11, is awarded for coursework.

The coursework, in Year 10, is divided between a practical data analysis (worth 13.3%) completed in Year 11 and a case study of an important current scientific issue (worth 20%) completed in Year 10

This qualification will be obtained at the end of Year 11.

During Year 11, students will study for either of the following qualifications:

Additional Science which, together with the Science qualification for
Year 10, will result in two GCSE grades.

Or

Separate Science qualifications in Biology, Chemistry and Physics which together with the Science qualification from Year 10, will result in four GCSE grades.

Advanced Subsidiary/Advanced Level

Course Aims

• to stimulate an interest in Biology;
• to develop knowledge and understanding of Biology and the skills needed to study it,
  together with an appreciation of their significance;
• to emphasise social and applied aspects of Biology;
• to be educationally useful and complete for students who will not study Biology at higher level;
• to provide a foundation for higher education;
• to encourage a respect for all forms of life.

Entry Requirements

• BB grade in GCSE Double Science or a grade B in Biology if taken as a single science.
• C grade in GCSE Mathematics for ‘A2’.

Course Content

Advanced Subsidiary (‘AS’)

1) Molecules and Cells – cells and organelles, biological molecules, enzymes, chromosomes and the genetic code, protein synthesis and cloning.
2) Exchange, Transport and Reproduction – gaseous exchange and transport in plants and animals, adaptations to the environment, sexual reproduction in plants and animals, placental development and birth in humans.
3) Energy and the environment – modes of nutrition, energy flow through ecosystems, human influences on the environment.
4) Individual investigation

Advanced Level (‘A2’)

1) Respiration and co-ordination – Respiration, homeostasis, nervous and hormonal co- ordination.
Human health and fitness – body systems, exercise physiology and human disorders..
2) Genetics, Evolution and biodiversity – photosynthesis, classification, genetics, speciation, succession and applications of gene technology (includes a synoptic element).
3) Individual study – Carried out during a field course at the end of Year 12 and written up in the style of a scientific journal.
4) Synoptic Test – application of all knowledge gained, essay writing skills.

Assessment

Units will be assessed with a 1 - 1 and 1/2 hour written paper including short answer questions, a 10-15 mark essay to test knowledge and understanding, and long questions to test interpretation of data or information.

The individual investigation and individual study will be carried out as coursework.

Career and Higher Education Opportunities

Biological Sciences: e.g. agriculture, botany, horticulture, marine biology, microbiology, soil science, biotechnology, zoology, forestry, oceanography.
Medical Sciences: e.g. pharmacology, environmental health, genetics, nursing, nutrition, veterinary work, medicine, bacteriology.

Further information can be obtained from the Science Department.