Biology

Biology is the study of life and living organisms, encompassing their structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, identification, and taxonomy. It's a subject relevant to everyone.

At Westbourne, our Science curriculum provides pupils with a comprehensive understanding of the natural world, encouraging curiosity and developing both practical and investigative skills. In Key Stage 3, pupils have one Biology lesson per week, which serves as a foundation for further study. At Key Stage 4, pupils can choose to study Biology as a single GCSE or as part of the AQA Combined Science GCSE.

The Westbourne Science Department follows the AQA KS3 Biology syllabus to prepare pupils for GCSE study. Key topics include:

• Year 7: Cell structure and function, body systems, and reproduction.
• Year 8: Health and lifestyle, ecosystem processes, adaptation, and inheritance.

GCSE Biology (Years 9-11) covers:

• Cell biology
• Organisation
• Infection and response
• Bioenergetics
• Homeostasis and response
• Inheritance, variation, and evolution
• Ecology

Pupils are assessed at the end of the GCSE course through two 1 hour 45 minute papers, each worth 50% of the final grade. Combined Science pupils will sit two 1 hour 15 minute Biology papers, which together make up one-third of their overall grade. Two tiers are available for both courses: Foundation (grades 1-5) and Higher (grades 3-9).