Biology engages and inspires students. The fundamentals of Biology help you to understand contemporary issues, such as genetic modification, advances in drug therapy and climate change.
A-level Biology is a reformed two year course culminating in three written papers at the end of the second year. We follow a traditional specification which allows you to explore key areas of biology in depth leading to greater understanding. You can follow a link here to the
specification for WJEC Biology
We follow a traditional specification which allows you to explore key areas of biology in depth leading to greater understanding.
Biology can be studied with a variety of other A-level courses but we recommend you take it alongside at least one science or social science. It prepares you for a wide range of degree courses leading to careers in medicine, veterinary and forensic science, science journalism and many, many more.
Trips and Visits
Paston has strong links with the Norwich Research Park which means you will be able to take part in activities there and use their facilities. This enriches your study of Biology and helps with university applications. In previous years students have won prestigious Nuffield scholarships to take part in research at the UEA.
We also have an annual visit to a Farming Day at a local farm where students listen to talks by industry experts. Our summer field trip is a survey of Winterton Dunes and contributes towards the practical endorsement qualification.
Paston students visiting the glasshouses during a trip to the John Innes Centre, Norwich.
Paston students visiting the seed bank at the John Innes Centre, Norwich.
International field trips are a key feature for our Biology and Geography students. Recent trips have included South Africa and Honduras and most recently Madagascar, where students have contributed to real biological research projects and had opportunities to study contemporary issues such as coral reef destruction.
Paston students on an Operation Wallacea expedition to Madagascar 2017.
First Year
Between 'aardvark' and 'zorilla' (yes, there is such an animal!) there are about 30 million different kinds of living organism, yet in spite of this incredible variety, many features of their structure and biochemistry are surprisingly similar. In the first year of Biology you explore fundamentals such as cell structure, biological reactions, enzymes and DNA which help you to make sense of the big picture. You then explore how a range of biological organisms are adapted to carry out gas exchange and the digestion and transport of nutrients. The course has a large practical component and so you will become expert in using microscopes, testing for biochemicals and making biological measurements.
Paston students posing with sugar beet and sugar products during a farm trip!
Animal dissections are optional and use material from butchers and fishmongers.
Entry requirements
We strongly recommend Biology is taken with Chemistry or with any 2 of: Environmental Science, Psychology, Geography, Maths, Physics, L3 Medical Science.
Please refer to our
entry requirements for the different programmes of study.
Additional entry requirements for this course: Grade 6 (old grade B) in Biology or Additional Science GCSE and new grade 5 (or old grade C) in Maths GCSE
Second Year
In the second year of A-level Biology you explore new themes, but many build on the core concepts learnt in the first year of the course. Respiration is a feature of all living organisms and is studied in depth. This helps with the understanding of the energy transfer from plants to animals in food chains and the concept of ecosystems. This part of the course will include a field trip to measure biodiversity and you will research the influence man has on the environment and consider future implications.
Students making use of telescopes at the Little tern colony at Winterton Dunes
Students using quadrat to measure biodiversity at Winterton Dunes
You will investigate reproduction and the diversity of living organisms and you will use molecular technology to produce genetic fingerprints which will help you to appreciate how these advances assist with classification and understanding evolution. Finally you will study aspects of human physiology in depth.
Assessment
Assessment will be by 3 written examinations at the end of the course, each contributing 33% to the final A-level grade.
Component One: Energy for Life (2 hours)
Component Two: Continuity of Life (2 hours)
Component Three: Requirements for Life (2 hours)
In addition, you will be required to keep a lab book which will record all practical work undertaken. This will lead to a practical endorsement qualification of either pass or fail alongside your final A-level grade.
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