KS5

Biology

The Biology Department is a busy part of the Science Department. We have four staff involved in the teaching of AS/A-level Biology sharing a wealth of experience in all areas of the curriculum.

We currently run OCR Biology. 

Biology A level comprises of three modules in the Lower Sixth, which form an Advanced Subsidiary (AS) course. The course is designed to be accessible to a wide range of students, and will complement subjects such as Geography, Chemistry and Sport and Physical Education.

The AS-level work is then followed in the Upper Sixth course by a further three modules which form the A2 component of the A-level. These will be at a higher and more challenging level.

Biology A-Level

The content of the Biology course is wide ranging, covering aspects of processes in both plants and animals. There is a core content which is common to all A-level syllabuses, designed to give a good basis for study for students who wish to continue into higher education and the optional area of “Applications of Genetics” which we have chosen to follow.

 Practical work

Practical work is a key component of the teaching, since it aids understanding of key concepts in Biology and helps students to develop their practical skills. Experimental work will also be assessed in the AS and A2 course. The skills assessed are those which have been developed at GCSE - Planning, Implementing, Analysing and Evaluating. This is assessed in the form of a practical exam.

Physics

The Physics Department is a busy part of the Science Department. At present we have three staff involved in the teaching of AS/A-level Physics sharing a wealth of experience in all areas of the curriculum.

Physics A level covers topics as diverse as the properties of fundamental elementary particles and astrophysical phenomena that may lead to understanding the origins of the Universe. It is also the basis for most technological developments, and is important in helping us understand some of the most important and challenging problems of our time, such as climate change and energy generation.

We currently run the Edexcel course taught using the Salters Horners context approach.

Physics AS level comprises three modules with a further three making up the full A2. In each year two modules comprise theory and are examined by exams in January and June whilst the third is a practical assessment completed in class, internally marked and then externally moderated.

Physics A level complements subjects such as Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Technology and many others. It can lead to careers in research, engineering, medicine and is widely accepted by top Universities for entry to any number of courses.

Chemistry

At A level, students follow the Salters Advanced Chemistry course. This aims to teach the key concepts of the subject through the context of everyday applications such as the development of medicines, Chemistry and Art, chemical changes in the atmosphere and so on. There is a very large practical component which gives students many opportunities to develop their practical skills. These are assessed as single tasks at AS but in the A2 year, students plan and carry out their own, in depth investigation. In addition there are opportunities to use the laboratory facilities at Essex university and to visit Chemical companies to see how the concepts taught in the classroom are applied on a large scale.

 

 

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