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Biology

Overview

Biology is the study of all living things. You will look at how individual molecules interact with each other, how they form tissues, organs and organisms, and how these organisms interact with their environment on a global scale.

Entry requirements

GCSE - Grade 6 in Maths
GCSE - Grade 6 in Biology or 6-6 in Combined/Dual Science

Learning & Assessment

Why study this subject?

Studying biology will develop your understanding of the living world and enable you to explore the applications and implications of this living science. You develop understanding of concepts at a deeper level than GCSE - If you’ve ever wanted to know how glucose is made using sunlight, or how our environment can affect our DNA, Biology is for you.

What can you expect from this A level?

Biology is a fast paced course. You will be challenged to learn something new every lesson. You will develop many skills, from mathematics and data analysis to essay writing and drawing. Biology students need to be motivated and excited by living things and how they work. As an A level course it has significant depth and you will encounter new and fascinating topics in most lessons.

What can you do with a qualification in this subject?

Although careers in healthcare (e.g. Medicine, Biomedical Scientist, Pharmacy) are often the first that spring to mind when considering Biology, the skills you develop in Biology will enable you to access many different careers. Many of our students are interested in working with animals, chemical or industrial research, engineering, psychology, environmental science and some less obvious choices such as law. All of these career paths are accessible with an A level in Biology.

Assessment

Biology is assessed by three externally marked exams sat at the end of year two. Questions expect you to be able to use a mixture of recall, maths, application and experimental data analysis.

Paper 3 also contains a synoptic essay. You will complete at least 12 required practical's over the course. These are assessed by a teacher and form an additional qualification component called ‘practical endorsement’.

Modules / Topics

Year One

Biological Molecules.
Cells.
Exchange with the Environment.
Genetic Information and Variation.

Year Two

Energy transfers in and between organisms.
How organisms respond to changes in internal and external environments.
Genetics, evolution and ecosystems.
Control of gene expression.

Trips / Visits / Enrichment

Enrichment
Marine Biology
Medics Dentists & Vets - Pre Course
Microbiology Masterclass
Women & Non Binary in STEM

Kosisochukwu Chris-Azubogu

Year 13 Student

"My favourite subject is biology, this is because I have a passion for science and healthcare. Biology highlights many mechanisms in the body which explains why the body functions the way it does. It fuels my passion to study pharmacy as it shows me how healthcare professionals advocate and educate the public in many ways, especially for the less privileged. This showed me the importance of pharmacy, which I believe to be a hybrid of both biology and chemistry."

Biomedical Scientist

Perform diagnostic tests on blood and other biological samples to assist in patient diagnosis and treatment.
Analyse experimental data to develop and validate new laboratory techniques and procedures.

Pharmacist

Advise patients on the safe and effective use of medications, applying knowledge of biological processes to individual health needs.
Monitor patient health outcomes and collaborate with healthcare providers to optimise medication treatment.

Laboratory Technician

Work with laboratory equipment to perform tests and analyses on biological samples, ensuring accurate results for research or clinical purposes.
Maintain and calibrate laboratory instruments and prepare samples for examination, adhering to safety protocols and quality standards.

Wildlife Biologist

Conduct fieldwork to observe and monitor animals' behaviour and physiological responses in their natural habitats.
Collect and analyse data to assess wildlife populations and develop conservation strategies aimed at protecting endangered species and their ecosystems.

Research Scientist

Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to advance research projects, conducting experiments and analysing biological data.
Publish findings in scientific journals and present research results at conferences.

Environmental Scientist

Investigate environmental issues, conducting field studies to collect data on ecosystems and wildlife populations.
Develop strategies for conservation and sustainability, often involving community engagement and policy recommendations.

Clinical Psychologist

Conduct psychological studies and assessments to understand behaviour and cognitive processes, utilising biological concepts to inform psychological practice.
Develop treatment plans and client interventions based on scientific principles and research findings.

Forensic Scientist

Evidence Analysis, analyse biological evidence collected from crime scenes to identify individuals and establish timelines.
DNA Profiling, DNA analysis to match biological samples to suspects, providing critical evidence in criminal cases.

November Open Evening 2026

Wednesday 4th November 2026
4:30pm - 7:00pm

Find out more

Open Evening - 2nd December 2026

Wednesday 2nd December 2026
4:30pm - 7:00pm

Find out more

16 October 2026

Up and Running - Enrichment Success

This first half term for our Year 12 students has been the most successful ever for our Enrichment programme, which takes places on Tuesday afternoons. With a range of activities covering skills development, social, physical and practical extra curricular, we have over 700 students participating in 42 activities. Ranging from British Sign Language and IBM Cyber Security to Music and Film Production and even Dungeons and Dragons, these weekly sessions are an important part of our ASPIRE programme, and develop the community and ambition of our students in their first couple of weeks as part of NSFC. A major success this year has been our running club, which builds on our sponsorship of the Great North 10k and Great North 5k runs, which happened over the Summer, and saw over 400 participants from across our colleges. The group meet weekly and have both a competitive 5k run, and a less challenging run for those who simply want to get out and get some exercise. Led by Director of Curriculum Kate Gardner, this is a great example of our students engaging in physical activities and working together as a college community. Our first student experience survey illustrated the huge success of a range of our wider enrichments with great reviews of ‘A Taste of China’ for Chinese language beginners, ‘Performance Lab’ where students prepare a Christmas showcase and Film Production which is hosted and managed by a professional production company Digital Sidekick and builds real industry leading skills.

15 October 2026

'Unloc'king our Real Potential - Student Governor Event

A selected group of students, attended a one day conference and selection event to find our new Student Governor, hosted by Unloc, a youth organisation dedicated to empowering young people with programmes designed to develop skills and experience in developing leaders and the student voice. Nadine Dosky, Lauren Dudley, Yasemin Aysa Yildiz and Niamh Richardson attended the event as part of the NSFC group and engaged amazingly throughout the day, gaining valuable experience and eventually selecting Nadine as our next Student Governor for the academic year 2026-2027. The NCG Prospective Student Governors Event was a practical and creative hybrid day that explored the key skills needed for student leadership and representation, with sessions including, ‘being a changemaker,’ ‘creating your pitches’ and ‘selecting your new governors.’ The small group of students from NSFC really benefitted from the activity led by Ben and Kellie from Unloc, and were really grateful to have been selected as potential leaders from among our fabulous students at the sixth form.

9 October 2026

Ready to Aspire

The students at Newcastle Sixth Form College are taking on a new vision for our college community, with the acronym ASPIRE, to help them succeed and really enjoy their A Level experience.

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Your courses

Biology

Overview

Entry requirements