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An engineering specialism within a grammar school

Biology Department at Ripon Grammar School
Ripon Grammar School Crest

  

Biology

Biology is the study of living organisms and how they work. The news is often full of exciting developments in this science. Modern biology, based on genetics and DNA is, and will be, important for our future.

Aims of the Department

Simply stated, we aim to encourage students to enjoy the subject, develop thinking skills, encourage an awareness of and respect for the environment, lead a healthy life and have a good foundation for a biological career if desired.

Biology image - Malham

Lower School or KS3

All pupils are taught Biology, by specialist Biology teachers, as a separate science. We teach the full range of topics needed for Key Stage 3 SAT exams plus extra to stretch the students, stimulate them and widen their experiences within the subject.

After the SAT exams we start the GCSE syllabus for the last few weeks in year 7.

Upper School or KS4

At GCSE most students take Biology, Chemistry and Physics as three separate sciences and are taught for 3 periods a week by specialists. A small number of pupils study GCSE Science (Core) and Additional Science instead of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, again taught by specialists in each subject. We are following the AQA specifications. Coursework makes up 25% of the final mark for GCSE Biology and is done entirely in lessons.

Timing of exams for GCSE Biology:
Module B1 Year 10 (June)
Module B2 Year 11 (January)
Module B3 Year 11 (June)

Sixth Form or Post 16

The Biology department is large and active at this level. Many students, both from within our school and entering from other schools in the sixth form, choose this popular subject. We use the AQA syllabus B specification. Coursework makes up 15% of the final mark for A level.

Results are excellent and large numbers go on to study biology-related subjects at university

Timing of exams for A level Biology external exams:
AS Module 1 Lower Sixth (January)
AS Module 2 Lower Sixth (June)
AS Module 3 Lower Sixth (June)
A2 Module 4 Upper Sixth (June)
A2 Module 5 Upper Sixth (June)
A2 Module 7 Upper Sixth (June)

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities are very wide and many of our students have progressed to careers in medicine, veterinary science, dentistry, environmental and ecological work, genetic engineering and related topics, biochemistry, forensic science, etc

Internet links

There are many good links but a few widely used ones are:

www.amazing-grades.com - web portal containing sites for all subjects at GCSE and A level
www.s-cool.co.uk – GCSE site
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/biology - GCSE site
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/biology - KS3 site