Biology

Biology is the study of life, which includes the structure, function, and origin of living organisms.

Biology is taught as a separate subject by science teachers in Year 7 and by specialist biology teachers to all pupils up to Year 11. We also have around 100 students studying Biology in our 6^th form.

At CGS we have high expectations for our students and are proud of their excellent results. The majority of students achieve an A* or A grade at GCSE and an A*-B grade at A-Level.

KS3 Biology

Our KS3 course is based on the 2014 national curriculum. The course has been designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills required to access the Science GCSEs. Students study the following biology topics in Year 7 and 8.

Year 7

Biology Term 1: Living Systems	Biology Term 2: Diet and Health	Biology Term 3: Genetics and Evolution
Using a microscope Looking at animal cells Looking at plant cells The role of diffusion Adaptations of unicellular organisms Cells, tissues, organs and systems The human skeleton Muscles Muscles and movement Joints	A balanced diet The human digestive system Digesting food Bacteria and digestion Food tests A closer look at the food groups Malnutrition and obesity Energy requirements Drugs Drug misuse	What is a species? Variation within a species Heredity Chromosomes, genes and DNA The DNA model Adaptation Natrual selection and evolution Selective breeding Extinction Gene banks and biodiversity

Year 8

Biology Term 4: Photosynthesis, respiration and circuations	Biology Term 5: Reproduction and growth	Biology Term 6: Ecosystems
Photosynthesis Leaves and photosynthesis Minerals from the soil Gas exchange in plants Breathing Aerobic respiration and energy Anerobic respiration in humans and micro-organisms Exercise, asthma and smoking The circulatory system and blood The heart	Reproduction Reproduction in plants: flowers and pollination Fertilisation and see and fruit formation Seed dispersal Reproduction in humans: male and female sex organs Gametes and fertilisation Menstruation Gestation (pregnancy) Healthy pregnancy Birth	Ecosystems Food chains Food webs and pyramids of numbers The importance of insects in crop pollination Populations Effect on human population increase on the environment Bio-magnification including water pollution Air pollution Effects of climate change Protecting the environment

KS4 (GCSE)

We start our key stage 4 courses in Year 9. We follow the AQA GCSE biology course, where students study topics including;

1. Cell biology

1.1 Cell structure

1.2 Cell division

1.3 Transport in cells

2. Organisation

2.1 Principles of organisation

2.2 Animal tissues, organs and organ systems

2.3 Plant tissues, organs and systems

3. Bioenergetics

3.1 Photosynthesis

3.2 Respiration

4. Infection and response

4.1 Communicable diseases

4.2 Monoclonal antibodies

4.3 Plant disease

5. Homeostasis and response

5.1 Homeostasis

5.2 Plant hormones

5.3 The human nervous system

5.4 Hormonal coordination in humans

6. Inheritance, variation and evolution

6.1 Reproduction

6.2 Variation and evolution

6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution

6.4 Classification of living organisms

7. Ecology

7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition

Students sit their final exams in the Summer of Year 11. There is also a practical assessment component which for students sitting their final exams in 2018 and beyond involves the completion of a series of assessed practical tasks during the course and keeping a record progress in a lab book. Students completing their final exams before this date will continue to complete an individual controlled assessment.

A level Biology: Please see the Sixth Form section of our website: sixth-form-subject-information

Extracurricular

The A-Level course includes an opportunity to attend an ecology field studies four-day course at a field studies centre in Somerset. Further enrichment is provided through a KS3 Science Club, a Zoo Trip in Year 7, and the schools celebration of British Science Week.

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