Page 32 - Year 10 Course Brochure 2023-2025

SEPARATE SCIENCE – BIOLOGY

OPTION

COURSE CONTENT This interesting and exciting course covers eight main topics – cell biology,
organisation, infection and response, bioenergetics, homeostasis and response,
inheritance, variation and evolution, and ecology. Students carry out ten required
practicals throughout the course, which they are asked questions about in their
examinations at the end of Year 11. There is a mathematical element to this course,
and students are expected to be able to carry out a certain number of specific
calculations, such as percentage change, by the end of Year 11. Students are also
expected to be able to work with very small numbers confidently.

APPROACH TO TEACHING All GCSE Biology groups are taught by highly-experienced and passionate Biology
AND LEARNING teachers, all of whom are Biology specialists. During the course, students will
experience a mixture of practical and theory lessons. Students will not just be
taught the content that they need to master in order to achieve success in their
examinations at the end of Year 11, but also the exam technique and revision skills
required to really show off their ability. Student learning will be linked to real life
situations, to illustrate how the field of biology applies to everyday life. Technology
will also be used to support student learning, as will opportunities for outside
learning.

ASSESSMENT Students studying this course sit two written examinations – each 1 hour 45
minutes long – at the end of Year 11. Each paper contains a mixture of different
question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions,
calculations and extended open-response questions. Each paper is out of 100 marks
and is worth 50% of the qualification.

FURTHER INFORMATION This course provides students with one 9-1 GCSE grade. Students who study this
course must also study GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics. GCSE Biology, GCSE
Chemistry and GCSE Physics form a trio of qualifications known as GCSE Separate
Science.

EXAM BOARD AND AQA | GCSE | Biology | Specification at a glance
SPECIFICATION Specification:
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/biology/specifications/AQA-8461-SP-2016.
PDF
CONTACT Ms L McEwen
Head of Biology
mcewen.l@millfieldschool.com

30 YEAR 10/11 COURSE GUIDE