Aylesbury High School
Biology
Biology is the science of life, and at AHS we aim to inspire a lifelong curiosity about the natural world. Through a blend of rigorous theory, data analysis, and regular practical laboratory work, we empower our students to understand the living systems that shape our past, present, and future.
Student resources
The Google Site, Clickview, Kerboodle and Focus eLearning are only available to students and teachers at AHS with their individual login details. The Google Site provides access to lesson resources and links to our subscription websites.
| AHS only resources |
Web based quick links |
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Extension work & wider reading at Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
If you finish all the work set on Google Classroom very quickly and/or if you’re looking for Biology things to do to stop you getting bored, try out some of these suggestions.
Be Prepared for GCSE Biology
Routine consolidation
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Finish any work you didn’t complete in class. Catch up if you have been absent. All assignments are in Google Classroom.
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Read ahead, in preparation for future lessons.
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Create your own notes/mind maps/flashcards/slides. Use different colours/drawings to help remember your notes. Try a range of methods to find what works best for you.
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Use quizzes to learn specialist terminology and key ideas: e.g. Quizlet. Review your flashcards routinely.
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Talk to people about what you have learnt, even if they know nothing about the topic. Get them to ask you questions and see if you can explain the content in simple terms.
Revision activities
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Choose a topic
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RAG rate different topics, prioritising revision of those you find most difficult. Use the checklists in your booklets.
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Review the material
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Reading – If you haven't understood something or want a refresher, re-visit lesson slides, or see Physics and Maths Tutor for useful summaries.
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Videos – As an alternative to reading, watch Free Science Lessons or Cognito
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Engage with the material
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Blurt: Blurt topic content on a whiteboard/A3 paper. Use a textbook to spot the gaps.
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Create mind maps/flashcards/slides. Use different colours/drawings to help remember your notes. If you find it difficult to remember evaluation points, then prioritise these.
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Talk to a friend/family member about your work – explaining ideas to a novice is a great way to see how much you have understood.
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Write 6-marker plans – Plan 6 mark responses.
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Seneca Learning – A quick and interactive way to review key content. Access for free here.
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Take a break – then practise retrieving your knowledge!
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Quick Quiz
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Use Quizlet multiple choice quizzes or your own flashcards to check your understanding of a topic and your confidence with specialist terminology.
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Exam Questions:
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You can download past exam papers and mark schemes via the AQA website. Use the mark schemes to help further your understanding. Also, find exam questions by topic on the Physics and Maths Tutor website.
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Extension activities
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Wider Biology Reading: AHS Biology GCSE Recommended Reading List
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Magazines in the Library: such as Focus Magazine, New Scientist, Biology Today
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Podcasts: AHS Biology Recommended Podcasts
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Jstor: AHS has an online subscription to the academic database JSTOR, which provides access to more than 12 million academic journal articles, books, and primary sources in 75 disciplines.
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Research videos: AHS Biology Recommended Research Videos
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Apply Biology to everyday life: When you see or hear claims about plants, animals and ecology made by friends/in the news/on social media, ask yourself:
Core Resources
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Online Textbooks on Kerboodle
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CGP Revision Guides and Flashcards
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BBC Sounds GCSE Bitesize Biology (10 minute podcast summaries)
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Biology Clinic (Wednesdays)
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Biology Clinic ON DEMAND (book time with staff or Ambassadors)
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Year 12 and Year 13 Student Tutors
Interested in A Level at AHS?
Key Stage 5
Students choose A Level Biology because they have a keen interest in Biology as an academic subject and/or they wish to pursue a career in a Biology-related discipline.
The OCR A level course builds on any KS4 Biology course and develops further the mathematical, practical, analytical and evaluative skills in each topic.
Students also complete a series of practical assessments to enhance their experimental skills. These assessments contribute to the award of a Practical Endorsement.
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Requirements:
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Meet AHS entry criteria (44 points from top 8 GCSEs)
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Either: 7 in GCSE Biology
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Or: Grade 7 in the Biology component of Trilogy (double science)
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If you have 7 or lower for Maths, you are required to do the bespoke AHS Statistics in Context course
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Extension work & wider reading at Key Stage 5 (Years 12-13)
If you finish all the work set on Google Classroom very quickly and/or if you’re looking for Biology things to do to stop you getting bored, try out some of these suggestions.
In the Sixth Form, students are expected to complete one hour of independent study for every lesson studied. Here are some suggestions as to how you can spend your study periods:
Routine consolidation activities:
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Finish any work you didn’t manage to complete in class. Catch up if you have been absent. All assignments are in Google Classroom.
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Read ahead, in preparation for future lessons.
Ask yourself questions about your reading:
Connect: How are these ideas connected to what I already know?
Extend: What new concepts/specialist terms have I learnt?
Question: What questions do I have? Is there anything I need clarifying?
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Create your own notes/mind maps/flashcards/slides. Use different colours/drawings to help remember your notes. Try a range of methods to find what works best for you.
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Use quizzes to learn specialist terminology and key ideas: e.g. Quizlet. Review your flashcards routinely.
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Talk to people about what you have learnt, even if they know nothing about the topic. Get them to ask you questions and see if you can explain the content in simple terms.
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Extension activities (useful preparation for UCAS, interviews and university):
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Wider Biology Reading: AHS Biology Sixth Form Recommended Reading List
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Magazines in the Library: such as Focus Magazine, New Scientist, Biology Today
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Podcasts: AHS Biology Recommended Podcasts
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Jstor: AHS has an online subscription to the academic database JSTOR, which provides access to more than 12 million academic journal articles, books, and primary sources in 75 disciplines.
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MOOCs: widen your appreciation of the subject. FutureLearn is a good place to start.
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Research videos: AHS Biology Recommended Research Videos
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Apply Biology to everyday life: When you see or hear claims about plants, animals and ecology made by friends/in the news/on social media, ask yourself:
Claim: What is the claim that is being made here?
Support: What evidence is being presented? How valid/reliable/generalisable is it?
Question: What questions do I have? How could I research this?
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Revision activities:
Routine consolidation of your work gives you a head start on revision. A ‘spaced approach’ to revision, outlined in the steps given below, has been shown to be effective:
1. Choose a topic
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RAG rate different topics, prioritising revision of those you find most difficult. Use the checklists provided.
2. Review the material
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Reading – If you haven't understood something or want a refresher, re-visit lesson slides, or see Physics and Maths Tutor for useful summaries.
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Videos – As an alternative to reading, watch BioRach or Miss Estruch or our own Mrs Burt
3. ‘Transformation activity’: Engage with the material
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Blurt: Blurt topic content on a whiteboard/A3 paper. Use a textbook to spot the gaps.
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Create mind maps/flashcards/slides. Use different colours/drawings to help remember your notes. If you find it difficult to remember evaluation points, then prioritise these.
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Talk to a friend/family member about your work – explaining ideas to a novice is a great way to see how much you have understood.
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Write 6-marker plans – Plan 6 mark responses.
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Seneca Learning – A quick and interactive way to review key content. Access for free here.
4. Take a break at this point! Then practise retrieving your knowledge…
5. Quick Quiz
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Use Quizlet multiple choice quizzes or your own flashcards to check your understanding of a topic and your confidence with specialist terminology.
6. Exam Questions:
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You can download past exam papers and mark schemes via the OCR website. Use the mark schemes to help further your understanding. Also, find exam questions by topic on the Physics and Maths Tutor website.
Core Resources:
Subject intent
We follow AQA at GCSE. The course is broad, balanced and includes a diverse range of practical lessons. Topics include both plant, animal and environmental biology. The aim is that students develop a comprehensive understanding of scientific methods, how science works and how this is applied to the natural world.
Key Stage 4
The GCSE Biology course begins with the basics of Biology: Cells, Tissues, Organs and Systems. This journey started in Year 7 when these ideas were introduced at their most basic level. We then apply these concepts and ideas to more complex, whole-organism examples. All scientists must be equipped with skills that allow successful analysis of data and critical thinking to develop conclusions and hypotheses, so students take part in practical lessons. These practicals also develop motor skills in handling a range of scientific equipment. There is no coursework in Biology at KS4. However, students will complete a series of experiments to target core practical skills.
We follow OCR at A level. The course is broad, balanced and includes a diverse range of practical lessons. Topics include both plant, animal and environmental biology. The aim is that students develop a comprehensive understanding of scientific methods, how science works and how it is applied to the natural world.
Key Stage 5
Students choose A Level Biology because they have a keen interest in Biology as an academic subject and/or they wish to pursue a career in Biology-related disciplines. Building on the skills and content developed in Key Stage 4 we delve deeper into each topic. We cover the fundamentals key to plants and animals first, then apply these concepts to whole organisms. Mathematical, practical, analytical and evaluative skills are of greater importance and more emphasis is placed on these in each topic.
There is no coursework at A Level. However, students complete a series of practical assessments which fall into one of 12 groups and contribute to the award of a Practical Endorsement. The aim of these is to further develop experimental skills, such as using a microscope, dissection and data collection in the field.
Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) course implementation, learning journey & attainment.
In Years 7 and 8, students do science, but at the start of Year 9 they start their individual science courses for GCSE. Therefore, in Year 9, students begin studying GCSE Biology. The learning journey for Key Stage 3 covers the three years of Key Stage 3.
Course content
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Learning Journey
Year 9 attainment descriptors
In Year 9, even though students start their GCSE Biology course, we still give them WT/WA/WB attainment grades in order to fit in with the rest of the curriculum. Students are assessed on their ability in 3 key areas:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: scientific ideas; scientific techniques and procedures.
- Apply knowledge and understanding of: scientific ideas; scientific enquiry, techniques and procedures.
- Analyse information and ideas to: interpret and evaluate; make judgments and draw conclusions; develop and improve experimental procedures.
Please see the GCSE assessment requirements to further your understanding of how GCSE Biology is assessed.
Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11) course implementation, learning journey & assessment info.
Course content
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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Learning journey
At GCSE level, students are assessed on their ability in 3 key areas.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: scientific ideas; scientific techniques and procedures.
- Apply knowledge and understanding of: scientific ideas; scientific enquiry, techniques and procedures.
- Analyse information and ideas to: interpret and evaluate; make judgments and draw conclusions; develop and improve experimental procedures.
This link takes you to the AQA specification, which contains all the necessary course information. Assessments take place throughout the 2 years of the course, in addition to Year 10 exams and mocks in the spring term of Year 11.
How will I be assessed?
The following summary is based upon students doing the Higher papers.
| Paper 1 50% | Paper 2 50% |
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Topics 1–4:
Written exam 1hr 45 mins
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Topics 5–7:
Written exam 1hr 45 mins
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Key Stage 5 (Years 12-13) course implementation, learning journey & assessment info.
Course content
| Year 12 | Year 13 |
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Learning journey
This link takes you to the OCR specification, which contains all the necessary course information. Assessments take place throughout the 2 years of the course, in addition to Year 12 exams and mocks in the spring term of Year 13.
How will I be assessed?
We do monthly progress tests as our ongoing method, along with experimental work (PAGs)
| Paper 1 - Biological processes 37% | Paper 2 - Biological diversity 37% | Paper 3 - Unified Biology 26% | Practical endorsement in Biology |
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Written paper 2hrs 15 mins |
Written paper 2hrs 15 mins |
Written paper 1hr 30 mins |
NEA |
Subject impact
Key Stage 4
The curriculum at AHS extends beyond exam preparation; we want students to achieve the best result possible, and also be excited by the subject: inspired to investigate further and ask questions about the world around them. Alongside our student Ambassadors, the Biology Department hosts lunchtime clubs and House events for younger students. There are clinics, competitions and discussion groups for Key Stage 4 and 5. Lessons use logic problems, projects, practical sessions, quizzes and interactive lessons with hands-on tasks that encourage students to think hard. We link topics to relevant careers information and consider the environmental impact in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Investigative and practical skills acquired in KS3 are built upon with students using the Required Practicals as an important tool for linking practical and theoretical work.
Our topic booklets ensure that students spend more time applying knowledge rather than copying notes. They also provide a detailed checklist of the content for that particular part of the course. We ensure that content is secured frequently and progress is monitored with regular end-of-topic tests. This also helps students engage with a range of learning and revision methods, so they can identify which suits them best.
The department, including the technical support staff, is co-operative and works as a team with discussion every day, sharing ideas and offering each other help and advice. As a knowledge-engaged curriculum, we believe that knowledge underpins and enables understanding and the application of skills.
The AQA separate science course provides students with a firm foundation from which to progress on to A Level studies. The topics give students insight into what they will meet on the A Level course which builds on the knowledge and skills acquired at KS4.
Key Stage 5
We enter year 12 students for the Intermediate British Biology Olympiad and Year 12 and Year 13 students for the British Biology Olympiad. We also provide mock interviews and MMI (multiple Mini Interview) practice for those applying to universities with interviews. There is a MedSoc for those wishing to study Medicine at university where Year 12 students can go along and gain information about the application process from Year 13 students. As a department, we provide lunchtime clinics to support Year 12 and Year 13 students who wish to secure their understanding. Our Biology Ambassadors are key in helping with the running of our lunchtime clinics, discussion groups and programme of guest speakers. They also coordinate tutoring for our year 10 and 11 students on a 1 to 1 basis.
The OCR course provides a solid foundation on which students can move on to any course, notably Medical Sciences and Biological Sciences. The PAGs provide students with the practical skills required to move on to studying a Science subject at a higher level and the questioning adopted by OCR encourages students to apply knowledge and to ‘think outside the box’. A strong understanding at KS4 is vital for the smooth transition from GCSE to A Level. We have a Transition Programme which starts at the end of Year 11 and consists of tasks to help gain the key skills and knowledge to ease the transfer from GCSE to A Level.
As a knowledge-engaged curriculum, we believe that knowledge underpins and enables understanding and the application of skills. As a department, we define the powerful knowledge our students need and help them recall it by providing detailed checklists for the topics we teach. Quick quizzes help the students to recall key knowledge from previous topics as well as from the previous lesson. Each student from Year 9 upwards has a login for Kerboodle and many of our homework assignments are set on Kerboodle, where tasks can be set involving interactive quizzes, crosswords, drag and drop exercises which are intellectually demanding enough to challenge our A/A* students. End of topic tests are set frequently and provide a tool to monitor progress. Introduction of a more synoptic element to tests later in the course has helped students make those intrinsic lateral links across topics, vital if they are to gain a high grade at A Level.
Feedback in Biology lessons
This chart explains the types of feedback that students can expect to receive for work done in geography lessons/at home.
| Activity | Types of feedback |
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Verbal |
Teachers can provide instant feedback during lessons, either individually or to the whole class. |
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Written |
Teachers can provide detailed comments on student work, highlighting areas for improvement and offering suggestions |
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Online |
Rubrics or AI can immediately assess and suggest improvements. Students can then reflect on their own work and complete follow-up activities |
| Self-assessment | Students can reflect on their own work, identifying their strengths and weaknesses |
| Peer-assessment | Students can provide feedback to each other, learning from each other's work |
| Class work, homework, practice questions, mini-whiteboard, end of topic, end of year assessments, | Verbal, self-assessment, peer-assessment |
School values in Biology
| Boundless Aspiration | Curious Engagement | Resilient Bravery | Selfless Generosity |
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