AS/A Level Course Content
Biology
We follow the AQA Specification for A Level Biology (7402). It is a 2 year course and students sit their external assessments in Year 13. Students will have 6 biology lessons a week which will comprise of theory and practical based learning. There are 12 required practicals that students will complete during the course.
Biology looks at how living organisms, both animals (including humans) and plants, function and interrelate. Much of the work involves many of the new developments in genetics and biotechnology. It should not be studied in isolation. Biology should be related, in a wider sense, to the needs of people. Relevant and important aspects of modern life are stressed, including those of a personal, social, environmental, economic and technological nature.
Year 12 Topics
1. Biological Molecules
- Biological Molecules
- Nucleic Acids
2. Cells
- Cell Structure
- Transport across Cell Membranes
- Cell Recognition and the Immune System
3. Organisms Exchange Substances with their Environment
- Exchange
- Mass Transport
4. Genetic Information, Variation and Relationships between Organisms
- DNA, Genes and Protein Synthesis
- Genetic Diversity and Adaptation
- Biodiversity
Year 13 Topics
5. Energy Transfers In and Between Organisms
- Photosynthesis
- Respiration
- Energy and Ecosystems
6. Organisms Respond to Changes in their Internal and External Environment
- Responses to Stimuli
- Nervous Coordination and Muscles
- Homeostasis
7. Genetics, Populations, Evolution and Ecosystems
- Inherited Change
- Populations in Ecosystems
- Populations and Evolution
8. The Control of Gene Expression
- Gene Expression
- Recombinant DNA Technology
Chemistry
We follow the AQA Specification for A Level Chemistry. It is a 2 year course and students sit their external assessments in Year 13. Students will have 6 Chemistry lessons a week which will comprise of theory and practical based learning. There are 12 required practicals that students will complete during the course.
You will develop and enhance your knowledge in 3 main areas: physical, organic and inorganic chemistry.
You will learn in detailed about topics such as: atomic structure, bonding and chemical equilibria as well as electrode potentials and electrochemical cells in physical chemistry, while you will study the periodic table in detail through topics like periodicity, transition metals and the reactions of group 1 and 7 helping to develop your passion for inorganic chemistry. In organic chemistry you will cover a broad range of topics learning about a variety of functional groups and their reactions. In addition you will learn about different spectroscopy and chromatography techniques.
There will be large amounts of hands on experiences and you will have the opportunity to learn and use practical skills to link theory with practice, deepening your knowledge and understanding in the world of chemistry.
Year 12 Topics
Physical chemistry; Atomic structure, calculations, bonding, energetics, kinetics, equilibria
Inorganic chemistry; Periodicity, Group 2 and 7 elements
Organic chemistry; Alkanes, halogenoalkanes, alkenes, alcohols, organic analysis
Year 13 topics
Physical chemistry; Thermodynamics, Kc Electrode potentials, electrochemical cells
Inorganic chemistry; Period 3 elements, transition metals, reactions of metal complexes
Organic chemistry; Optical isomerism, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, aromatic chemistry, amines, polymers, proteins, DNA, NMR spectroscopy