Sheffield High School

Science

Biology

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Through each Key Stage we aim to develop an interest in, and enthusiasm for, biology. Our students acquire scientific skills, knowledge and understanding for progression to further learning.

Key Stage 3 schemes of work are developed to prepare students for later study at GCSE but also to promote an interest in ‘Biology in the Wider World’. To this end, the Biology Department develops a resource of current articles of interest from newspapers and scientific journals. Our students are encouraged to add to this resource during their time at the school.

Key Stage 4 and 5 schemes of work are developed around the GCSE and AS/A2 specifications respectively. We have a large number of Sixth Form students taking AS/A2 Biology: we are expecting more than 60 students to embark on the Year 12 course in September 2009. Most of these take up places in Higher Education to study medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, physiotherapy, biomedical science and other science-related courses, although a few will have studied Biology as their only science at A-level. Each year some students achieve 100% in AS/A2 modules. In the last five years we have had students with GCSE or A-level marks within the top five in the country.

Extra-curricular activities take place at every key stage. These include:

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  • National competitions – recently we have had two winners at national level for: 1) designing a poster and 2) a pathogenic microbe
  • Inter-house competitions with a biological theme during Science Week in March
  • Visiting lecturers for KS4 and KS5
  • Local university visits for years 12 and 13 to do practical work – the most recent visit to date, engaged them in making necklaces from their own DNA

In 2009 we linked up with the Department of Biomedical Science at the University of Sheffield in a training module for their PhD students. This will benefit our students by exposing them to young science role models and inform them about cutting-edge research findings and we have already had one interesting talk on cystic fibrosis by a PhD student at the end of her first year.

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If you would like to see Katie Wensley’s poster on Salmonella, please click here (211.2 KB .pdf file)