Biology - Hurstpierpoint College

Biology

A-level Biology enables students to acquire a systematic body of biological knowledge and an appreciation of its significance. It is a subject that can provide great enjoyment and respect for all living things.

This course develops many of the topics students may already have studied and introduces some of the exciting areas of Biology in the contemporary world. For example, students may study the influence that genes have on our development, new biotechnologies, environmental issues and aspects of human health.

It is hoped the course will also help students to gain some understanding of the dynamic and exciting nature of biology today, and an awareness of the ethical, technological and economic aspects of the subject.

We follow the OCR specification and assessment is through three papers taken at the end of the two years of study.

The Biology department is housed within one building alongside Chemistry and Physics. Teaching takes place within well-equipped laboratories and the department has its own prep room and specialist technician.

Co-curricular opportunities

A group of Sixth Form biologists are entered into the Biology Olympiad competitions each year.

Hurst students have the opportunity to gain a Science CREST Award.

Trips

Sixth Form biologists take part in a residential field course in Somerset to explore ecology and conservation in further detail. In 2019 the Biology department ran a conservation trip to Madagascar with Operation Wallacea, which included one week of terrestrial conservation and one week of marine conservation.

Higher Education and career opportunities

The careers open to biologists range from pure and applied biology, teaching, medically orientated professions (including medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and nursing), environmental areas (including forestry, agriculture, marine biology and conservation) to working in industry (food, water, pharmaceutical etc), or national and local government (environmental health, land use or planning). Other higher education courses where biology is considered favourably include law, accountancy, business orientated courses, forensics and psychology.