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Biology

Head of Department: Mrs E Harling
Mrs J Armitage
Mrs A Baxter
Mrs S Gurteen
Dr L Penney
Technician: Mrs E Foster

Accommodation and resources

There are four well-equipped, specialist Biology laboratories plus a preparation room.

The school library has an excellent stock of general and specialist reference books and a wide range of science and science-related magazines and this is supplemented by the Department library which also stocks videos and computer programmes. The department also has access to computers with CD-ROM and Internet resources and makes full use of the specialist ecological facilities at Randall's Farm, Stewartby.

Lower School

The Biology department extends and develops its own scheme based on the National Curriculum. This allows a thorough preparation of the skills, knowledge and concepts required as a foundation for GCSE.

Upper School

All girls study Biology to IGCSE as part of their co-ordinated Science programme following the Edexcel Specification. Biology may be taken either as a separate IGCSE qualification taught for four periods a week, or as a Double Award qualification, where it is taught for three periods a week. The Double Award course leads to an amalgamation of the Biology, Chemistry and Physics marks presented as two identical grades.

Sixth Form

Students study Biology because it complements a wide range of other AS and A level subjects. The course gives students full and balanced knowledge and develops both existing skills from work at GCSE and new skills encouraging independent learning. It offers excellent continuity from earlier work and allows students to experience the traditional topics associated with 'A' level Biology as well as the new developments in biotechnology and genetic engineering. Practical assessment is by means of experimental work and fully researched essays. All students continuing to A2 are expected to attend a residential field course.