Biology
The biology department consists of two laboratories and a conservatory for the growing of plants and as a work area for boys. The department also has its own storage and preparation rooms. Biology is taught by two full time biologists.
All boys study biology in the third form (Year 9), in four sets based on their performance in mathematics. During this year boys cover a number of units of the OCR GCSE syllabus. This gives them a good grounding in biology irrespective of their ability on entering the school.
In the Fourth and Fifth Forms (Years 10 & 11) there are three sets which are mixed ability. Although biology is not a compulsory subject most opt to take biology as a GCSE, with the majority gaining a B grade or better.
Biology is also offered at AS and A2 level and follows the OCR syllabus.There are approximately 12 students in each year and the department regularly prepares successful candidates for Oxbridge entrance.
A level field work includes trips to Kew Gardens, Watlington Hill and an SSSI in the Chilterns.
At Kew pupils are able to see a range of important crop plants such as rice, coffee, bananas and cotton as well as seeing some more unusual plants such as the Titan arum, the plant with the largest flowering structure in the world.
Biology is seen as a requirement for those going on to study medicine, veterinary science or biochemistry but it also useful for those wishing to study a much wider range of subjects.
P J Easton BSc
Head of Biology