Biology & Life and Health Sciences | The Royal Belfast Academical Institution

Department

Biology

Level

KS3, KS4, KS5

Head of Department

Mr G. Russell

Members of Dept

Mr A. Scott, Mr D. Scott, Mrs A. Moorhead (Head Technician), Mrs J. Muise (Vice-Principal), Mrs S. Alexander (Technician), Ms L. Cadeira (Technician)

Gallery

Why study Biology?

The study of Biology allows pupils to develop a wide-range of transferable skills that make biologists versatile and competitive in the job market. Areas where career opportunities exist include: Research, Health Care, Environmental Management and Conservation, Education, Biotechnology, Forensic Science, Business and Industry, Economics, Mathematics, Politics, Journalism and Art.

What Biology offers?

Key Stage 3

In Year 8 and 9, Biology is taught as part of Science. There are eight classes per Year group with each class taught Science 6 periods per week (2 per science subject) by 3 teachers. All notes are in the form of booklets which allow the pupils to be introduced to all three Sciences in a stimulating and productive sequence.

Year 8 Topics:

What is Biology?
Biodiversity
Organs of the body
Nutrition & Food tests
Healthy Brain & Sense organs

Year 9 Topics:

Respiration
Respiratory system
Digestive system
Circulatory system
Reproductive system

There are eight Year 10 classes. Pupils have 2 periods of Biology per week, taught by a subject specialist. Continuous assessment in the form of topic tests is used for formative and summative purposes. There is also an end-of-year examination. The marks in all assessments allow a final summative evaluation of each pupil to help inform decisions regarding GCSE subject choices.

Year 10 Topics:

Health
Cells
Genetics
Plant Structure & Photosynthesis
Plant Reproduction.

Key Stage 4

Pupils are taught GCSE Biology by subject specialists and are timetabled for 4 periods of Biology per week. We deliver CCEA’s Revised GCSE Biology Specification. Details can be found at http://www.ccea.org.uk/biology/

Single Award Science

Alternatively, pupils may elect to study Single Award Science instead of the individual science subjects at GCSE level. This course covers smaller amounts of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Details can be found at https://ccea.org.uk/science-single-award

Key Stage 5

Pupils follow the CCEA Revised GCE Biology Specification. Details can be found at http://www.ccea.org.uk/biology/

A-level Biology is relevant, not only in the fields of science, engineering and medicine, but also to areas of commerce and the public service in which problem-solving and practical skills are valued.

The full A-Level comprises the AS level (studied during Year 13) and the second half of the course, referred to as A2 (studied during Year 14). Although the AS can be taken as a “stand-alone” qualification without progression to A2, the majority of the pupils who complete AS Biology at RBAI continue with their Biology studies to A2 level.

Exam Success

GCSE Biology Success

Congratulations to Year 12 on a very good set of GCSE results (99% A*-C and 66.7% A*-B).

A-Level Biology Success

Congratulations to Year 14 on another excellent set of A-level results (100% A*-E and 82.4% A*-C)..

Life and Health Sciences

Pupils now have an alternative option in the form of the CCEA Life & Health Sciences A-level. This was developed with industry in response to the needs of the growing life and health sciences sector in Northern Ireland.

Life and health science related industries make up over 25% of Northern Ireland’s total economic output and include a diverse range of public and private businesses and employment opportunities, including pharmaceutical, chemical, agricultural, dental, nursing, environmental and allied health professions.

We offer the GCE Single Award qualification where pupils complete six units: three at AS level and three at A2.

More information can be found on the CCEA website: https://ccea.org.uk/post-16/gce/subjects/gce-life-and-health-sciences-2016

Beyond the Classroom

Every year, all AS Biology pupils and staff embark on a field trip to Portaferry as part of their AS Biology studies. Specifically, the boys carry out a transect and shore profile of a rocky shore near Lee’s Wreck.

In recent years, all the A2 Biology pupils have been fortunate to visit the QUB School of Biological Sciences where they have been afforded the opportunity to carry out gel electrophoresis using DNA samples.

The Biology Department has enjoyed participating in many activities outside of the curriculum. We have had an increased number of boys taking part in a wide variety of competitions and projects, in collaboration with external organisations such as Sentinus and Queen’s University. Examples include the BHSCT Healthcare Debate and Online Biology Challenge.