Key Stage 5
A Level Biology
Qualification: A-level Biology (OCR A)
A Level Biology at Saltash Community College follows the OCR A specification. This is a topic-based approach to teaching, encompassing a range of modules and practical skills which will prepare students for further study in Biology.
It is split into 6 modules that are spread over the 2-year course. Each module is split into a series of units. These modules are:
Year 12:
- Module 1 – Development of Practical Skills – This module consists of a series of practical tasks carried out within lessons and is teacher assessed and reported separately to the performance at the A Level
- Module 2 – Foundations in Biology
- Module 3 – Exchange and Transport
- Module 4 – Biodiversity, evolution and Disease
Year 13:
- Module 5 – Communication, homeostasis and energy
- Module 6 – Genetic, evolution and ecosystems
Teaching is split between two teachers and split into different units. A test will occur after the completion of each unit.
Autumn Term 1:
Teacher 1 – Module 4
- Unit 10 – Classification and Evolution
- Unit 11 – Biodiversity
Teacher 2 – Module 2
- Unit 2 – Basic Components of living things
Autumn Term 2:
Teacher 1 – Module 4
- Unit 11 – Biodiversity (continued)
- Unit 12 – Communicable Disease
Teacher 2 – Module 2
- Unit 3 – Biological Molecules
Spring Term 1:
Teacher 1 – Module 3
- Unit 7 – Exchange Surfaces and Breathing
Teacher 2 – Module 2
- Unit 4 – Enzymes
Spring Term 2:
Teacher 1 – Module 3
- Unit 8 – Transport in animals
Teacher 2 – Module 2
- Unit 5 – Biological Molecules
Summer Term 1:
Teacher 1 – Module 3
- Unit 9 – Transport in Plants
Teacher 2 – Module 2
- Unit 6 – Cell Division
Summer Term 2:
Teacher 1 – Revision and Mocks
Teacher 2 – Revision and Mocks
Autumn Term 1:
Teacher 1 – Module 6
- Unit 19 – Genetics of living systems
- Unit 20 – Patterns of inheritance and variation
Teacher 2 – Module 5
- Unit 17 – Energy for biological processes
- Unit 18 - Respiration
Autumn Term 2:
Teacher 1 – Module 6
- Unit 21 – Manipulating genomes
Teacher 2 – Module 5
- Unit 13 – Neuronal Communication
Spring Term 1:
Teacher 1 – Module 6
- Unit 22 – Cloning and Biotechnology
Teacher 2 – Module 5
- Unit 14 – Hormonal Communication
Spring Term 2:
Teacher 1 – Module 6
- Unit 23 - Ecosystems
- Unit 24 – Populations and sustainability
Teacher 2 – Module 5
- Unit 15 - Homeostasis
- Unit 16 – Plant Responses
Summer Term 1:
Teacher 1 – Revision of previous units
Teacher 2 – Revision of previous units
Summer Term 2:
Teacher 1 – Revision of previous units
Teacher 2 – Revision of previous units
Assessment:
OCR A Level Biology is assessed by four components (3 exams and 1 practical component). These are:
Exams:
- Paper 1 – Biological Processes (H420/01) – 2 hours 15 minutes
This paper is worth 100 marks and split into two sections.
Section A – multiple choice (15 marks) and Section B – short answer questions and extended response questions (85 marks). This paper covers Module 1, 2, 3 and 5
- Paper 2 – Biological Diversity (H420/02) – 2 hours 15 minutes
This paper is worth 100 marks and split into two sections.
Section A – multiple choice (15 marks) and Section B – short answer questions and extended response questions (85 marks). This paper covers Module 1, 2, 4 and 6
- Paper 3 – Unified Biology (H420/03) – 1 hour 30 minutes
This paper is worth 70 marks. This is in one section and includes short answers and extended response questions. This paper covers Modules 1-6.
- Practical Endorsement
This non-exam assessment component rewards the development of practical competency in biology and is teacher assessed. Learners demonstrate competence in the range of skills and techniques carried out in lessons.
Homework:
Students will be given a range of homework, including exam-style questions, revision activities and self-study. Students will be expected to work at least 1 hour outside of lessons for each hour spent in lessons.
A Level Chemistry
Qualification: Chemistry B (Salters) A Level (Code: H433)
Exam Board: OCR
Papers to be sat in year 13:
- Fundamentals of Chemistry (01) (110 marks) 2hr15, 41% weighting
- Scientific literacy in Chemistry (02) (100 marks) 2hr 15, 37% weight
- Practical skills in Chemistry (03) (60 marks) 1hr 30, 22% weighting
Further to this, students will participate in a range of practical skills over twelve core practicals, which will contribute to them achieving a pass or fail in their Practical Endorsement. This is assessed and reported completely separately to the A-level grade.
Chemistry B (Salters) is ‘context-led’. Chemical concepts are introduced within a relevant context, based on contemporary issues in chemistry. Students study chemistry in a spiral way so that chemical ideas, introduced in an early topic, are reinforced later. The ‘drip-feed’ approach to teaching and learning chemical principles allows candidates to revisit a particular topic several times during the course, each time taking their knowledge and understanding a step further. Each assessment unit contains a variety of chemical ideas. As the candidates have been accustomed to learning their chemistry in context, the examination questions are also set in context.
Homework:
Past exam paper questions booklets are set every fortnight. Core practical planning and writing-up form part of the extra homework.
End-of-unit assessments are to be revised with plenty of advanced notice.
Autumn term:
- Elements of Life: Amounts of substance (moles), electron configuration, bonding, equilibria, emission and mass spectra.
- Developing fuels: thermochemistry • simple organic chemistry • electrophilic addition • gas volume calculations • shapes of organic molecules, σ- and π-bonds • structural and E/Z isomers • heterogeneous catalysis and dealing with polluting gases.
Spring term:
Elements from the sea:
- Halogen chemistry
- Redox chemistry & electrolysis
- Equilibrium
- Atom economy
Ozone story:
- Composition by volume of gases
- The electromagnetic spectrum and the interaction of radiation with matter
- Rates of reaction
- Radical reactions
- Intermolecular bonding
- Haloalkanes
- Nucleophilic substitution reactions
- The sustainability of the ozone layer
Summer term:
What’s in a medicine:
- Further organic chemistry
- Mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy
- Organic synthesis, preparative techniques and thin layer chromatography
- Green chemistry
Chemical Industry:
- Aspects of nitrogen chemistry
- Kinetics
- Equilibrium constant calculations
- Effects of factors on the rate and equilibrium yields of reactions; consideration of the best conditions for an industrial process
- Analysis of costs, benefits and risks of industrial processes.
Autumn term:
Polmers and Life:
- More organic chemistry
- Acid–base equilibria
- Amino acid and protein chemistry
- Optical isomerism
- Enzyme catalysis and molecular recognition
- The structure and function of DNA and RNA
- Structural analysis.
Oceans:
- Dissolving and associated enthalpy changes
- The greenhouse effect
- Acid–base equilibria and pH
- Solubility products
- Entropy
Spring term:
Developing metals:
- Redox titrations
- Cells & electrode potentials
- D-block chemistry
- Colorimetry
Colour by design:
- The chemical origins of colour in organic compounds
- Aromatic compounds and their reactions
- Dyes and dyeing
- Diazonium compounds
- Fats and oils
- Gas–liquid chromatography
- Carbonyl compounds & reactions
- Organic synthes & polyfunctional compounds.
Introduction to the Advanced Notice Article: The article changes each year and will be assessed both directly and also the associated chemistry in the second exam paper.
A Level Physics
Qualification: A-level Physics (9PHO)
Exam Board: Edexcel
Papers to be sat in year 13:
- Paper 1: Advanced Physics I (01) (90 marks) 1h45, 30% weighting
- Paper 2: Advanced Physics II (02) (90 marks) 1hr45, 30% weighting
- Paper 3: General & Practical Principles (120 marks) 2hr 30, 40% weighting
Further to this, students will participate in a range of practical skills over sixteen core practicals, which will contribute to them achieving a pass or fail in their Practical Endorsement. This is assessed and reported completely separately to the A-level grade.
The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Physics consists of three externally examined papers and the Science Practical Endorsement. A concept-led approach. This approach begins with a study of the laws, theories and models of physics and finishes with an exploration of their practical applications.
Homework:
Past exam paper questions are set every fortnight. Core practical planning and writing-up form part of the extra homework.
End of unit assessments are to be revised for with plenty of advanced notice.
Autumn term:
- Working as a Physicist: quantities and units; supporting practical skills
- Electric circuits: Current & charge; Potential difference, electromotive force & power; current-potential difference relationships; resistance and resistivity; Internal resistance, series & parallel circuits & the potential divider
- Mechanics: Rectilinear motion; Momentum; Forces; Work, energy & power.
- Waves and the particle behaviour of light: nature of waves; transmission & reflection of waves; superposition of waves; particle nature of light
Spring term:
- Gravitational fields: Universal Gravitation
- Materials : Fluids; solid materials
Summer term:
- Thermodynamics: Specific Heat capacity; Internal energy, absolute zero & change of state; gas laws & kinetic theory
- Nuclear & Particle Physics: Electrons & Nuclei; Particle Physics
Autumn term:
- Electric & Magnetic Fields: Electric fields; capacitance;
- Nuclear radiation: Nuclear decay
- Further Mechanics: Momentum & energy; Motion in a circle
Spring term:
- Electric & Magnetic Fields: magnetic fields
- Space: Astrophysics; Cosmology
- Oscillations: Oscillations;