Biology

Pupils will learn about biological molecules that are essential to life, including sugars and other carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, and the role of enzymes in catalysing the chemical reactions in which these substances are used and made.

Pupils learned that photosynthesis in producers makes glucose, a type of carbohydrate, which is used to make biomass and as a fuel for cellular respiration.

This unit covers the structure and function of sub-cellular components in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and explores DNA as the genetic material of organisms. It explains genetic terms, protein synthesis, and how genetic variants influence phenotypes.

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

Pupils will learn about dominant and recessive alleles, and how to use models of single gene inheritance to make predictions about the genotypes and phenotypes of offspring.

Pupils learned about flower structure, wind and insect pollination, fertilisation, seed and fruit formation and dispersal.

This unit covers the structure and function of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, DNA as the genetic material, and key genetic terms. It also explains protein synthesis, genetic variants, and how DNA structure affects proteins. The emphasis is on using models to explain scientific concepts.

DNA and the genome

Pupils will learn about human and plant defences against pathogens, the role of white blood cells in the human immune system, and the use of vaccination to protect against communicable diseases.

Pupils learned about some common non-infectious diseases, factors that increase the risk of developing lifestyle diseases and steps we can take to help prevent them, including the impacts of smoking on the human body, and asthma and its risk factors.

This unit explores health and disease, including communicable and non-communicable types and their interactions. It examines lifestyle impacts, disease spread, evaluates cardiovascular treatments, and highlights the importance of risk evaluation, peer review, and effective communication of results.

Health and disease

Pupils will learn how substances essential for chemical reactions, and the products of the reactions, are transported into, around and out of the human body.

Pupils learned about differences in the cell structures of eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms.

This unit explores the roles of sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids in the synthesis and breakdown of biological molecules. It covers enzyme action, transport in organisms, hypothesis development, and data interpretation. Emphasis is on planning experiments and presenting explanations.

Biological molecules and enzymes

Pupils will learn how the components of the human nervous system enable us to respond to changes outside and inside our bodies.

Pupils learned about biological molecules that are essential to life, including sugars and other carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, and the role of enzymes in catalysing the chemical reactions in which these substances are used and made.

This unit covers the human circulatory system, its link to the gas exchange system, and the adaptations of the heart, blood vessels, and blood components. It explains transport mechanisms like diffusion, osmosis, and active transport, and the need for exchange surfaces in multicellular organisms.

Transport and exchange surfaces in humans

Pupils will learn how hormones and glands of the human endocrine system enable us to coordinate and control changes in our bodies.

Pupils learned how substances essential for chemical reactions in living cells, and the products of the reactions, are transported into, around and out of the human body, and the implications of surface area:volume ratio.

This unit explores the structure and function of the nervous system, including the CNS, reflex arcs, and the eye. It covers brain structure, common eye defects, and the challenges in treating nervous system damage. It also addresses ethical considerations.

Coordination and control: the human nervous system

Pupils will learn more about photosynthesis in producers, including a two-stage model of the process and the requirements and products of each stage.

Pupils learned how the components of the human nervous system enable us to respond quickly to changes outside and inside our bodies.

This unit explores hormonal control by the endocrine system, including blood sugar regulation by insulin and glucagon, and the roles of thyroxine and adrenaline. It covers the importance of maintaining a stable internal environment and compares types 1 and 2 diabetes and their treatments.

Coordination and control: hormones and the human endocrine system

Pupils will learn more about aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration, including the chemical reactants and products of the processes, and practical ways to measure the rate of cellular respiration in living cells.

Pupils learned how hormones and glands of the human endocrine system enable us to coordinate and control changes in our bodies.

This unit explores photosynthesis as the basis for food and biomass, examines cell structure and adaptations in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, and covers the photosynthesis process. It focuses on using models and theories to develop hypotheses, interpret data, and present reasoned explanations.

Photosynthesis: requirements and products

Pupils will learn about growth through cell division, mitosis as part of the cell cycle, cancer as the result of changes in cells that lead to uncontrolled growth and division, and the formation of gametes by meiosis.

Pupils learned about what the genome is, what it’s made of and where it’s stored, more detail about the chemical structure of DNA, and the relationship between an organism’s genome and its phenotype.

This unit covers key genetic terms, single-gene inheritance, and genetic crosses, including probability and ratios. It explores how most traits result from multiple genes and sex determination in humans. The unit also includes interpreting data and using models to solve problems.

Inheritance, genotype and phenotype

Pupils will learn about unspecialised cells in animals and plants, how they become specialised, and potential benefits and issues with using stem cells in medicine. 

Pupils learned about dominant and recessive alleles, and how to use models of single gene inheritance to make predictions about the genotypes and phenotypes of offspring.

This unit covers mitosis and the cell cycle in growth, cancer as uncontrolled cell division, and the role of mutations in genetic variation. It explains meiosis in gamete formation and chromosome reduction. The emphasis is on recording observations and interpreting patterns to draw conclusions.

Cell division: mitosis and meiosis

Pupils will learn about the roles of hormones in human reproduction, including control of the menstrual cycle, and other uses of hormones such as in in contraception.

Pupils learned about growth through cell division, mitosis as part of the cell cycle, cancer as the result of changes in cells that lead to uncontrolled growth and division, and the formation of gametes by meiosis.

This unit explores the function of stem cells and the importance of cell differentiation. It discusses the benefits and risks of stem cell use in medicine, evaluates applications of science, and considers the personal, social, economic, and environmental implications of scientific decisions.

Stem cells and differentiation

Pupils will learn about random genetic mutation as a source of heritable variation, and that evolution occurs through the natural selection of genetic variants linked to advantageous phenotypes that are best suited to the environment.

Pupils learned that (phenotypic) variation between individuals of the same species means some individuals are better adapted to compete, which can lead to natural selection and cause the heritable characteristics of a species to change (evolve) over generations.

This unit explores evidence for evolution, including fossils and antibiotic resistance. It covers selective breeding, Darwin and Wallace’s contributions to natural selection, and evolution as changes in inherited traits over time. It also examines how scientific theories evolve over time.

Fossil evidence, selective breeding and explaining evolution

Pupils will learn about biomass transfer including calculating the efficiency of transfers between trophic levels. They will learn about human impacts on the environment, food security and biotechnology to help maintain biodiversity and achieve food security.

Pupils learned about interdependence within ecosystems and how plants and animals are adapted to their environment. Pupils undertook ecological sampling to estimate population sizes and looked at the impact of humans on biodiversity.

This unit explores ecosystem organisation, biotic and abiotic factors, material cycling, and the role of decomposers. It covers methods for identifying species and measuring their distribution. Emphasis is on selecting appropriate techniques, accurate measurements, sampling, and fieldwork practices.

Biology

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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.