At no time in history has the science of life been so visible and so important to human life and the future of our planet. Newspaper, magazines, and television feature biology prominently every day.
Biology is the study of life and living things and here at St. Augustines Catholic College the Biology department encourage pupils to develop enquiring minds, personal, social and research skills in a caring and supportive environment. We aim to offer a variety of learning experiences which incorporate ICT, Citizenship, Work related learning.
‘Biology is the only science in which multiplication means the same thing as division’ ~ Unknown
‘Equipped with his 5 senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science’ ~ Edwin Powell Hubble
Mission Statement
Biology, as a science, is one of the most fundamental subjects. Pupils throughout their lives will need a knowledge of the subject and the skills which studying it provide. The Biology department, in an atmosphere of caring and support, aims to enable all pupils to fulfill their potential.
Philosophy of the Biology department
Young people will be disadvantaged without a good knowledge of Science and scientific practice. It is a vital part of our culture, of society, and as such is a major part of any curriculum. Biology is an integral part of that science curriculum. Studying Biology gives the opportunity for students to learn about themselves and their role in the biosphere. It encourages them to think about their impact on and responsibilities for the environment. Biology gives students the understanding that they need to make decisions on controversial issues and helps them to prepare them for their role as responsible citizens in the future. Planning scientific investigations and analysing results enables students to understand fair testing and to be methodical and logical in their reasoning. It also develops their communication and numeracy skills.
Science is a core subject, along with English and Mathematics, of the National Curriculum and can be seen in the 1988 Education Act as a vital component of a "balanced and broadly based curriculum" which prepares pupils for the "opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life".
Aims of the Biology department
The Biology Department aims to enable all pupils to acquire biological skills and knowledge and to provide opportunities for them to use these skills to undertake practical work and answer questions with confidence, enjoyment and success. Pupils are encouraged to think for themselves, to be inquisitive and ask questions and to be prepared to use their understanding to make ethical and moral decisions. The style of teaching in the Biology department is organised so that pupils start with firm understanding and familiarity with basic terms and concepts and build upon this to improve their level of understanding. They are encouraged to recognise any difficulties of understanding as they arise and to ask for help in overcoming them. Opportunities are provided for regular practice and review of basic biological knowledge by termly tests. Practical based tasks are also set which require the planning of investigations and analysis of results.
We hope that our course will allow and encourage our pupils to develop most of the following:-
A positive attitude towards Biology which encourages confidence and enjoyment
An understanding of how their bodies work and their biological relationship to other organisms
An understanding of the variety of life and the basic biology of other groups of organisms
An understanding of their role and responsibilities to the environment
A willingness and ability to work independently and co-operatively and to produce skills to investigate biological ideas and draw valid conclusions from results
An ability to understand biological concepts, to apply them and to communicate them in a variety of ways