Biology

*IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM WEALD OF KENT GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOR SEPTEMBER 2024 APPLICATIONS*

Students can join Weald of Kent Grammar School at our Tonbridge Campus.

Applications Open: - 15 November 2023

Applications Close: - 15 January 2024

Entry Requirements: - If you wish to join the Weald of Kent Sixth Form you must have a minimum of a Grade 5 in English Language or English Literature and a Grade 5 in Mathematics. In addition, students also need to achieve an Average Point Score (APS) of 5.5 to be comprised of their best 8 GCSE results.

How to Apply: - Applications are made through Applicaa. Please see the school website for more information: https://www.wealdofkent.kent.sch.uk/sixth-form/application

Open Event: - Our Sixth Form Open Evening is 14 November 2023.

Issues that are biologically based continually crop up in everyday life. We study examples such as cystic fibrosis and place their contexts within the science of Biology. Our course is about turning A Level students into mature and effective biologists. We present the key concepts underpinning Biology today combined with a structured approach to learning the wider skills needed by the modern biologist. Students benefit from learning Biology in the context of real life situations which emphasizes the need for independent work and background reading.

Topics are based on a storyline or contemporary issue, such as risk and cardiovascular disease, with biological principles introduced when required to aid understanding of the context. In this way, information is presented in manageable chunks and grafted onto existing knowledge, leading to better understanding.

Employing a wide range of teaching and learning styles, activities introduce content, skills and experimental techniques. Biology students will undertake regular hands-on practical work, and as a minimum, must undertake 12 core practical activities. Students will develop their practical skills during the course and will need to demonstrate competence in various techniques in order to gain Science Practical Endorsement.

There are 3 written papers and no coursework. All papers may include: multiple-choice; short open; open-response; calculations and extended writing questions. All papers will also include questions that target mathematics at Level 2 as well as questions that target the conceptual and theoretical understanding of experimental methods.

Paper 1 (33.3% weighting)

• Topic 1: Lifestyle, Health and Risk

• Topic 2: Genes and Health

• Topic 3: Voice of the Genome

• Topic 4: Biodiversity and Natural Resources

• Topic 5: On the Wild Side

• Topic 6: Immunity, Infection and Forensics.

Paper 2 (33.3% weighting)

• Topics 1- 4

• Topic 7: Run for your Life

• Topic 8: Grey Matter

Paper 3 (33.3% weighting)

• Topics 1-8

• Synoptic questions that may draw across different topics

• Question based on a pre-release scientific article

For success in A Level Biology, students should have achieved a Grade 7 in GCSE Biology or a Grade 77 in Combined Science. It is strongly recommended that students also have a Grade 7 in Chemistry to help them with their understanding of biochemical properties of organisms.

Biology A Level can lead to a wide variety of careers in Biology related fields such as Ecology, Scientific Research, Environmental Science, Biochemistry and Sports Science to name but a few. It prepares students for studying biology related degree courses at university and provides a solid understanding of biological concepts needed for Veterinary Science and Medicine.