The Biology department is housed in a self-contained block in the south-west corner of the campus. It has four laboratories, a Sixth Form teaching room and a preparation room.
The Biology Department
The department is particularly well resourced with technological equipment. We have a large range of microscopes, including video microscopes, binocular microscopes and a flexicam. Multimedia projectors enable us to display biological images, video clips and animations to whole classes. Our wide range of practical equipment enables students to undertake many stimulating experiments. A grant a few years ago from the Wolfson Foundation enabled the purchase of some sophisticated equipment for DNA technology practicals. We can demonstrate techniques that are usually only taught theoretically. The department is fully wireless networked, and ICT is regularly used as a teaching and learning resource.
There are six teachers in the department, plus a full-time lab technician.
| Biology Department Staff | |||
 Mr D. Rhodes BSc, London Head of Dept. |
 Dr J.T. Balsdon PhD, Reading |
 Mrs D.E.C. Brigden BEd, Exeter |
 Mr A.J. Deighton-Gibson BSc, Camb. College |
 Mrs A.J. Frankpitt BSc, London |
 Miss S.J. Trueman BSc, Wales |
 Mr A.P. Rudd Lab Technician |
|
The aims of the biology department are to:
- Enable students to gain knowledge and understanding of the facts
and concepts that underpin Biology.
- Help students to develop their intellectual and practical skills. This includes:
- Handling apparatus, making measurements and observations
- Working accurately, carefully and safely
- Planning, implementing and evaluating investigations
- Recording and reporting accurately
- Interpreting data
- Researching and being able to judge different viewpoints by relating them to the available evidence
- Using ICT appropriately to aid their understanding, report writing and data presentation
- Allow students to develop an awareness of the place of Biology in
society, including moral, social and economic implications.
- Give students opportunities to practise and develop cross-curricular skills such as numeracy and literacy.
Some useful websites
http://www.aqa.org.uk – Our A Level and GCSE exam board’s website
http://www.biologymad.com – A revision resource for A Level Biology students
http://www.mrothery.co.uk – notes and information on A Level Biology
http://www.biotopics.co.uk – A web site developed to support the study of Biology in schools at all levels
http://www.ibiblio.org/virtualcell/index.htm – An interactive cell biology site
http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/GG – A web site showing illustrations of many processes of biotechnology
http://www.uq.oz.au/nanoworld – Visit the world of electron-microscopy
http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html – Explore the genetic code
http://www.mrothery.co.uk – notes and information on A Level AQA Biology ‘B’. This is not our Specification but there is substantial overlap.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/ – the BBC bitesize website has published revision resources specific to our GCSE specification.
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/ – An online textbook.
http://www.s-cool.co.uk/ – A revision web site.
http://www.chemsoc.org/networks/learnnet/cfb/index2.htm – ‘Chemistry for Biologists’ - by the Royal Society for Chemistry; this is aimed at post 16 biologists.