The AQA A Level Biology course has been developed to follow on from the Combined Double and Separate GCSE Chemistry courses. It will develop a candidate's knowledge and understanding and provides a pathway to further study in a wide variety of subject areas. It covers a wide variety of different topics from the different types of cells and how they are structured within organisms to how those organisms interact between themselves and the environment around them. Near the end of the A-level course students also look at the genetics involved with gene mutations and how different populations may arise and how traits are passed on from parents to offspring. Biology is the study of living things, but not just animals and plants. Students learn about the molecules that make living things work, the cells that they’re made from, the systems within plants and animals, and the interconnections between organisms. Biology is different from physics and chemistry, in that living things don’t always do what you expect them to do. You can’t test one organism and assume all the rest will be the same, so students learn about the statistical analysis behind making claims. Within the A-level course, there are eight different topic areas that students will cover. Within year 1 students covering the first four topics, and within the second year, students covering topics 5-8. The topics are taught as individual topic areas but throughout the two-year course students are then expected to make more in depth links between topic areas, as the examinations will expect fluidity between the content taught in the course. In the first year of A-Level Biology students cover; 1. Biological molecules, 2. Cells, 3. Organisms exchange substances with their environment and 4. Genetic information, variation and the relationship between organisms. Year two of the course students will cover: 5. Energy transfers in and between organisms, 6. Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments, 7. Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems and 8. The control of gene expression. Students are encouraged to become independent practitioners, exploring their own ideas and direction within their work. Students will have 5 hours a week of taught lessons and will supplement this through 4 hours of independent study.
Grade 5 in Maths GCSE, Grade 5 in English Language GCSE and two Grade 6s in Science GCSE to include Biology or Combined Science.
There are two separate assessment areas within the ALevel Biology course; three terminal examinations and the practical endorsement. The weighting for the examinations is shown below.
About Education Provider
| Region | South East |
| Local Authority | West Sussex |
| Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Gender Type | Co-Educational |
| Address | Kingston Lane, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 6YT |
The AQA A Level Biology course has been developed to follow on from the Combined Double and Separate GCSE Chemistry courses. It will develop a candidate's knowledge and understanding and provides a pathway to further study in a wide variety of subject areas. It covers a wide variety of different topics from the different types of cells and how they are structured within organisms to how those organisms interact between themselves and the environment around them. Near the end of the A-level course students also look at the genetics involved with gene mutations and how different populations may arise and how traits are passed on from parents to offspring. Biology is the study of living things, but not just animals and plants. Students learn about the molecules that make living things work, the cells that they’re made from, the systems within plants and animals, and the interconnections between organisms. Biology is different from physics and chemistry, in that living things don’t always do what you expect them to do. You can’t test one organism and assume all the rest will be the same, so students learn about the statistical analysis behind making claims. Within the A-level course, there are eight different topic areas that students will cover. Within year 1 students covering the first four topics, and within the second year, students covering topics 5-8. The topics are taught as individual topic areas but throughout the two-year course students are then expected to make more in depth links between topic areas, as the examinations will expect fluidity between the content taught in the course. In the first year of A-Level Biology students cover; 1. Biological molecules, 2. Cells, 3. Organisms exchange substances with their environment and 4. Genetic information, variation and the relationship between organisms. Year two of the course students will cover: 5. Energy transfers in and between organisms, 6. Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments, 7. Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems and 8. The control of gene expression. Students are encouraged to become independent practitioners, exploring their own ideas and direction within their work. Students will have 5 hours a week of taught lessons and will supplement this through 4 hours of independent study.
Grade 5 in Maths GCSE, Grade 5 in English Language GCSE and two Grade 6s in Science GCSE to include Biology or Combined Science.
There are two separate assessment areas within the ALevel Biology course; three terminal examinations and the practical endorsement. The weighting for the examinations is shown below.