Biology

A level Biology
A Level
Introduction
The aims of A level Biology at Leek College is to:-
*develop your interest in and enthusiasm for Biology enabling further study or even a career in some aspect of the Biological Sciences.
* enable you to appreciate how society makes decisions about scientific issues and how the sciences contributes to society and the economy.
* help you develop and demonstate a deeper appreciation of the skills. knowledge and understanding of How Science Works.
*enable you to develop the essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of Biology and how they relate to each other.
The course preparation period is 5 hours per week, per year. This is offered as taught time along with time for you to develop existing and to acquire new laboratory skills and expertise.
Course Content
A S Units

• Unit 2 F11: Cells, Exchange and Transport.
• Module1:Cells.
• Module 2: Exchange and Transport.
• Unit F212: Molecules, Biodiversity, Food and Health.
• Module1:BiologicalMolecules.
• Module 2:Food and Health.
• Module 3:Biodiversity and Evolution.
• Unit F213: Practical Skills in Biology 1.
• Practical tasks.

A2 Units

• Unit F214:Communication, Homeostasis and Energy.
• Module 1: Communication and Homeostasis
• Module 2: Excretion.
• Module 3: Photosynthesis.
• Module 4: Respiration.
• Unit F215:Control, Genomes and Environment.
• Module 1: Cellular Control and Variation.
• Module 2: Biotechnology and Gene Technology.
• Module 3: ecosystems and Sustainability.
• Module 4: Responding tot he Environment.
• Unit F216 Practical Skills in Biology 2.
• Practical tasks.

Entry Requirements
AS and A level Biology is for those students who wish to continue with a study of Biology at Level 3 in the National Qualification Framework (NQF). The AS course has been chosen to provide progression from GCSE Science and GCSE additional science, or from GCSE Biology: achievement at a minimum of 5 GCSE's grades A*-C including Double Award Science or Biology.
However, students who have succesfully taken other level 2 qualifications in Science or Applied Science with apppropriate Biology contenetmay also have acquired sufficient knowledge and understanding to begin the AS Biology course. Other students without fromal qualifications may have acquired sufficient knowledge of Biology to enable progression onto the course.
The A2 units build on the knowledge and understanding acquired at AS. Recommended prior learning for the A2 course is successful performance at Advanced Subsidiary Biology.
Assessment
AS
Unit F211: Cells, Exchange and Transport: 30%
Unit F212:Molecules, Biodiversity Food and Health.50%
Unit F213: Practical Skills in Biology. 20%
A2
Unit F211: Cells, Exchange and Transport: 15%
Unit F212:Molecules, Biodiversity Food and Health. 25%
Unit F213: Practical Skills in Biology. 10%
Unit F214:Communication, Homeostasis and Energy. 15%
Unit F215: Control,Genomes and Environment. 25%
Unit F216: Practical skills in Biology 10%
Progression
A good grade at AS level in Biology is often a requirement of those students who are following a course of study in an BTEC National (for example, Health and Social Care), and wish to progress into Higher Education to read for a degree.
A good grade at A level Biology is a necessary pre-requisite, prior to progressing onto a more advanced course at a university. Students from Leek College who have gained a full A level in Biology have progressed onwards to read for degrees in Medicine, Osteopathy, Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry, Dentistry, Zoology, Combined Sciences, Marine Biology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Biology, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Microbiology and Genetics.
Fees
The course is free to full-time students aged 16-19.