Biology

Overview

In the Biology Department, we aim:

To develop an enjoyment of, and interest in, Biology.
To provide a safe learning environment;
To develop an understanding of scientific methods, skill and capabilities.
Encourage pupils to become independent learners;
To allow understanding of some of the main areas of Biology, so pupils are able to make use of Biology in new and changing situations in today’s society.
To give pupils a scientific training, either as an end in itself or as an appropriate foundation for further study of Biology or related subjects at KS4, A Level and beyond.

Staff

Name	Role
Mrs J McCluney	Head of Department
Mrs N Craig	Senior Teacher
Mr R Milliken	Senior Teacher
Mrs K Young	Teacher
Mrs A Ward	Teacher
Miss Z Wilson	Teacher
Miss K McDowell	Lab Technician

Curriculum

Exam board: CCEA

The specification is designed to promote continuity, coherence and progression within the study of biology. The A Level award provides a basis for the further study, at tertiary level, of biology and related courses. For those progressing directly into employment, an AS or A Level award is relevant not only in the fields of science, engineering and medicine, but also to areas of commerce and the public service in which problem-solving and practical skills are valued.

The specification helps to provide an understanding of how biological developments affect the environment. The specification also contributes towards an understanding of ethical and cultural issues, thus adding to a full and rounded education.

Revision Materials

We would encourage pupils to make extensive use of past papers as part of their independent study routine. These can be accessed at:

https://ccea.org.uk/post-16/gce/subjects/gce-biology-2016/past-papers-mark-schemes

The specification is useful for revision purposes and can be accessed at:

https://ccea.org.uk/post-16/gce/subjects/gce-biology-2016

There are a number of revision guides that accompanies the course, which may be purchased either online or in local book shops.

AS1: https://www.amazon.co.uk/CCEA-Unit-Biology-Student-Guide/dp/147186300X/ref=la_B00CTPU9QE_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528748192&sr=1-3

A21: https://www.amazon.co.uk/CCEA-Unit-Biology-Student-Guide/dp/1471863034/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

Exam board: CCEA

This specification encourages pupils to be inspired, motivated and challenged by following a broad, coherent, practical, satisfying and worthwhile course of study. It encourages them to develop their curiosity about the living world and provides insight into and experience of how science works. It enables pupils to engage with biology in their everyday lives and to make informed choices both about further study in biology related disciplines and about their careers.

Facilities

There are five specialised biology laboratories in the school that are well resourced with up-to-date equipment, allowing a wide range of practical activities for all Key Stages. There is a greenhouse in the department that provides a range of species of plants for experimental work.

Science Reading List

Key Stage	Topic	Books
3	Chemistry	Horrible Science – Chemical Chaos
3	Biology	Horrible Science – Blood, Bones and Body Bits The Human Body Book by Steve Parker The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf
3	Physics	Horrible Science – Fatal Forces and the Fight for Flight Horrible Science – Shocking Electricity
3	General	The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Science New Scientist – Do Polar Bears Get Lonely? New Scientist – What Eats Wasps? Bad Science by Ben Goldacre It’s Not Rocket Science by Ben Millar
4	General	Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
4	Human Biology	The British Medical Association Illustrated Medical Dictionary The Human Body Book by Steve Parker McMinn’s Colour Atlas of Human Anatomy
4	Plant Biology	Creeping Killers: Extreme Plants (Extreme Biology) by Louise Spilsbury
5	Human Biology	The British Medical Association Illustrated Medical Dictionary McMinn’s Colour Atlas of Human Anatomy The Origin of the Species by Charles Darwin and Richard Hawkins

Careers

There are a variety of career opportunities open to those who study biology. Some careers or jobs might use the science knowledge you have gained while studying biology, for example, detail of human organ systems or plant structure, but there are others which require you to use the skills you have learnt through studying the subject, for example, problem solving, data management or working with others.

The following is a list of possible careers you might think about, however, they are merely suggestions and certainly the list is not exhaustive.

Health Professional: medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, radiography, dietetics, psychology, pharmacy, ophthalmology, podiatry, nursing
Health related: forensics science, biomedical science, pathology, microbiology, genetics, molecular biology, biotechnology, environmental health, genetic counselling, clinical physiology
Animal: veterinary, farming, marine biology, zoology
Plant: botany, tree surgery, environmental management, conservation, biodiversity officer, landscape gardening, ecology
Other: science research, teaching, lecturing, pharmaceutical/medical sales, science journalist, food industry

Trips / Visits / Competitions

GCSE Fieldwork

As part of the CCEA GCSE Biology course, pupils take part in fieldwork in the school grounds, where they work in small groups to do a variety of sampling techniques. These include:

Pitfall traps
Sweep nets
Beating trays
Quadrats

A Level Fieldwork

During the AS course pupils visit Greenmount Agriculture College in Antrim to complete an A-level Biodiversity Workshop and also gain experience of fieldwork techniques. This trip is designed to align with the AS 2 unit

Competitions

Pupils have the opportunity to take part in a variety of competitions and events such as STEM quest, Sentinus young innovators, Biology week events from the Royal Society of Biology, Pfizer superbugs competition, the UK Biology Challenge and RSPB Big Schools Birdwatch.

Society of Biology Competition

Every year we enter Year 11 pupils into the Biology Challenge run by the Society of Biology. It is an online competition which aims to encourage an interest in biology beyond the school curriculum and stimulate curiosity in the natural world.