KS4

GCSE Course Followed: Biology

Specification: AQA (Syllabus code 8461)

Why Choose GCSE Biology

GCSE Biology offers a broad base of Biological areas to ensure students are informed about key issues in Biology and the implications for humans and other organisms. It provides students with the greatest range of biological areas for further study at university and beyond. It provides access to a wide range of vocational careers in many different fields such as agriculture, forestry, medicine, conservation and biotechnology. Biology also develops critical thinking, organisational skills, analytical skills and practical skills too.

All students will study:

Cell Biology
Organisation
Infection and Response
Bioenergetics
Homeostasis and Response
Inheritance, Variation and Evolution
Ecology

Key Stage Four Curriculum Overview

Year 10

	NAME OF TOPIC	KEY CONTENT OF THE TOPIC	ASSESSMENT POINTS
HT1	Ecology 4.7.1.2, 4.7.1.3 4.7.2.1 4.7.4.2, 4.7.4.3 Organisation in animals 4.2.2, 4.2.2.2, 4.2.2.3	Abiotic and Biotic factors, Food webs and trophic levels Pyramids of Biomass Transfer of Biomass Animal tissues organs and organ systems exemplified by the Circulatory system.	Test at end of topic Test at end of topic
HT2	Non-communicable diseases 4.2.2.4, 4.2.2.5,4.2.2.6, 4.2.2.7 Infection and response 4.3.1.1, 4.3.1.2, 4.3.1.3, 4.3.1.4, 4.3.1.5,	Health issues, the effect of lifestyle on non-communicable diseases and cancer Communicable diseases in plants and animals	Test at end of topic Test at end of topic
HT3	Infection and response 4.1.1.6 4.3.1.6 4.3.1.7, 4.3.1.8 4.3.1.9 4.3.2.1, 4.3.2.2 4.3.3.1 4.3.3.2	Culturing Microorganisms Human defence systems Vaccination, antibiotics and painkillers The discovery and development of drug Production and uses of monoclonal antibodies Detection and identification of plant disease Plant defence responses.	Test at end of topic
HT4	Bioenergetics 4.4.1.1, 4.4.1.2 4.4.1.3 Bioenergetics 4.4.2.1, 4.4.2.2 4.4.2.3	Photosynthesis Respiration, Metabolism and response to exercise	Test at end of topic Test at end of topic
HT5	Cell division 4.1.2.1, 4.1.2.2, 4.1.2.3	Chromosomes, Cell division and Stem cells	Trial Exam
HT6	Homeostasis and response 4.5.2.1, 4.5.2.2 4.5.2.3,4.5.3.1, 4.5.3.2, 4.5.3.3	Nervous system The brain The Eye Homeostasis Control of body temperature Human endocrine system Control of blood glucose Maintaining water balance and nitrogen balance in the body	Test at end of topic

Year 11

	NAME OF TOPIC	KEY CONTENT OF THE TOPIC	ASSESSMENT POINTS
HT1	Homeostasis and response 4.5.3.4 4.5.3.5 4.5.3.6 4.5.3.7 4.5.4.1 4.5.4.2	Hormones in human reproduction Contraception The use of hormones to treat infertility Negative feedback Plant hormones coordination and control Use of plant hormones	Test at end of topic
HT2	Inheritance Variation and Evolution 4.6.1.1 4.6.1.2 4.6.1.3 4.6.1.4 4.6.1.5 4.6.1.6 4.6.1.7	Sexual and asexual reproduction Meiosis Advantages and disadvantages of sexual and asexual reproduction DNA and the genome DNA structure Genetic inheritance Inherited disorders
HT3	Inheritance, Variation and Evolution 4.6.1.8 4.6.2.1 4.6.2.2 4.6.2.3 4.6.2.5 4.6.3.1 4.6.3.2 4.6.3.3 4.6.3.4 4.6.3.5 4.6.3.6 4.6.3.7 4.6.4	Sex determination Variation Evolution Selective Breeding Genetic engineering Theory of evolution Speciation The understanding of genetics Evidence for evolution Fossils Extinction Resistant Bacteria Classification of living organisms	Test at end of topic
HT4	Ecology (continued) 4.7.2.2 4.7.2.3 4.7.3.1 4.7.3.2 4.7.3.3 4.7.3.4 4.7.3.5 4.7.5.1 4.7.5.2 4.7.5.3 4.7.5.4	Biodiversity Waste management Land use Deforestation Global warming Impact of environmental change Maintaining Biodiversity Factors affecting food security Farming techniques Sustainable Fisheries Role of Biotechnology	Test at end of topic
HT5		Revision and exam technique practice
HT6	NA		GCSE exams

Recommended Revision Guides for GCSE

Pupils have access to the online textbook through Kerboodle. There are revision materials available on Office 365. Revision guides are available from bookstores such as W.H.Smith and Waterstones. As long as it is AQA Biology GCSE specific and it is in a style that appeals to your child, then it will be suitable. Particularly recommended is the Oxford University Press Revise: AQA GCSE Biology Revision and Practice

Oxford Revise: AQA GCSE Biology Revision and Exam Practice

Support available for GCSE Students

Drop-in sessions are available if students need to seek advice or support. Students should ask their biology teachers about these sessions. Students could also be paired with a sixth form mentor if they request it.