Biology

Welcome

Biology is the study of life! In Biology we consider what organisms are made of, how they work and how they interact with each other.

The Biology department teaches students in Years 9, 10 and 11 AQA separate GCSE Biology. This course covers a range of Human, Animal and Plant Science as well as considering Genetics, Evolution and Environmental Biology. In Years 12 and 13 we follow OCR’s A-Level Biology course which develops all the ideas met at GCSE, but offers opportunities for more detailed understanding and development of advanced practical skills.

Students who have studied Biology have gone on to a whole range of related courses at University, including Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Anatomical Sciences, Genetics, Virology, Microbiology, Midwifery, Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Sciences and Marine Biology.

- Mr Smith, Head of Biology

What We Do

Above and beyond the GCSE and A-Level syllabuses, the department offers opportunities to investigate theories and ideas experimentally. Every year we support Extended Project (EP) students carrying out original scientific research, examples of which can be viewed below.

Practicals form an important part of lessons and at A-Level, much of the tutorial programme is given over to carrying out dissections or Drosophila breeding programmes, investigating genetic crosses. We have superb sampling equipment and Sixth Formers regularly trap moths and small mammals in their study periods. Currently, Year 12 students visit the Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve (NNR), to study succession on the sand dune systems. Students in Years 10 and 13 get the opportunity to test their biological knowledge nationally in The Biological Challenge or Olympiad events.

In addition, we also run the Life in the Vines project in partnership with the Royal Society, the University of Exeter and Silverton Vineyard.